city scan november 2012

Hobby Classes Around Town

Wills indiA

FAsHion WeekTrends in

Indian wear for women

Meet Mohit Arora, City entrepreneurBrewed Fresh at Rockman’s Beer island

Tips on Healthy eating with ishi khoslaRenault’s duster sweeps the Market

PlUs

Volume 1. Issue 2. November 2012. Rs 50

sunita & kohelikaThe k2 Factor in design & interiors

HomeBakers

luxury bicycles for well-heeled riders ErmEnEgildo

ZEgnasuits Made to order

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publisher & editorNavin Berrymanaging editorPriyaanka Berry features writers Varalika Vij Anupriya Bishnoibusiness development Saurabh Jaindesign Ashok Saxena Neelam Aswani

Cityscan is printed and published by Navin Berry, on behalf of Cross Section Media Pvt. Ltd. Printed at Rakesh Press A-7, Naraina, Phase II, New Delhi. Cityscan is published from IIIrd Floor, Rajendra Bhawan, 210, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi - 110002. Tel: 91-11-43784444. Fax: 91-11-41001627, 41001628. E-mail: [email protected]

This issue of Cityscan contains 96 pages plus 4 pages cover

Dear Reader,

Whoever said that “happiness cannot be travelled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed’ was right. For us at CityScan, happiness came as an experience of living through each challenge to bring forth the copy in hand. A thousand thanks to all those who readily picked up the inaugural issue of CityScan last month, assuring us that the re-launched title is a polite hit after all. The appreciation, however, brings with it added responsibility and we promise to travel the road ahead with gusto!

Coming straight to this issue, the suave mother and daughter team, Sunita and Kohelika Kohli, make our cover story and show us how the merger of experience, expertise and innovation can provide new meaning to architecture and interior aesthetics. We discover the best of desserts at The Big Chill Café; talented home bakers in the city and our all-time favourite meethai shops to satisfy your sugar craving this festive season. We also bring to you the glam quotient through a trend update on Indianwear for women from the Wills India Fashion Week. Capturing the craze for custom designed and bespoke creations, we explore the making of an Ermenegildo Zegna Made-to-Measure suit.

For more, join us in our leisure pursuit of selected interest classes across Delhi and catch up on cars, real estate on the Dwarka Expressway, restaurant launches and city events with our newly incorporated sections. There is our regular sprinkle of fashion, food, people, art and leisure elements which you would discover as you read this issue.

We avoided the temptation to focus on Diwali shopping per se, and instead looked around for more lasting encounters in the city. And even as we look ahead in anticipation to get your feedback on this issue, we wish you a Happy Diwali and all that goes along the festive season – more shopping, more fun and more indulgence!

Priyaanka BerryManaging Editor

november 2012|CityScan|3

contents october

highlights… 6 MARCH AHEAD Indianwear Trends for

Women This Season

22 ERMEnEgilDo ZEgnA Made to Measure

26 giTA CHoPRA Indian Menswear

Designer Launch

36 lUXURY BiCYClES For the Well-heeled Riders

38 CoVER SToRY Sunita and Kohelika Kohli

The K2 Factor in Design & Interior

44 SiCiS The Art Mosaic Factory

60 RoYAl FABlES An Exhibition to Promote

Artists and Designers of Royal Descent

64 6 HoME BAKERS Scrumptiously Sinful Cakes

and More

70 Big CHill CAFÉ 7 Dessert Wonders

76 RoCKMAn’S BEER iSlAnD Brewed Fresh for Draught-Starved Beer Enthusiasts

4|CityScan|november 2012

3826

64 22

Hobby Classes Around Town

WILLS INDIA

FASHION WEEKTrends in

Indian wear for women

Meet Mohit Arora, City EntrepreneurBrewed Fresh at Rockman’s Beer Island

Tips on Healthy Eating with Ishi KhoslaRenault’s Duster Sweeps the Market

PLUS

Volume 1. Issue 2. November 2012. Rs 50

sunita & kohelikaThe K2 Factor in Design & Interiors

HOMEBAKERS

luxury bicycles for well-heeled riders ERMENEGILDO

ZEGNASuits Made to Order

47 KnoW YoUR BRAnD CRABTREE & EvELyn LLADRó

in SToRE (REPEAT) 12 Women Accessories 28 Men Accessories 30 Him and Her 48 Home Interiors 54 Electronics & Gadgets 57 Children Trends

96 DUTY FREE SHoPPing

98 Don’T MiSS

PlUs

contents october

78 CRiTiC’S CRUnCH Restaurant Launch

82 HoBBY HUBS in DElHi ...Tracked Down

90 MoHiT ARoRA City Enterprise

94 REnAUlT’S DUSTER Sweeps the Market

86 DElHi SPEAK

89 HEAlTH AnD WEllnESS

92 REAl ESTATE


Cover Picture Courtesy Sunita and Kohelika Kohli

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women apparel

Black MagicIf you want to make a strong statement amid the celebrations this season, then swap cliché colour with an eclectic ebony ensemble. Whoever believes black is not a hue for merry-making is in for a chic shock. This sooty yet reliable colour has been redefined in more ways than one, making it perfectly befitting for any ceremonious occasion. With cultural references galore, be it the flamboyant flamenco-flair Ritu Kumar lent with voluminous tiered underskirts, accented with baroque baubles or the Arabian, abaya-inspired looks rendered by Anand Kabra, who teamed a shawl-like draped kurta with pallazzo’s sealed with his signature Hyderabadi zardosi borders. If a mix of modern and ethnic is your cup of tea then make sure you go for the right balance. Pick western-inspired silhouettes merged with Indian embellishments—refrain from outfits with rhinestones, halters and pants all rolled into one, it’s a shortcut to confused disaster.

While designer Samant Chauhan stayed true to tradition showcasing handwoven silks and cottons uplifted with gold zari, Calcutta-based, Kiran Uttam Ghosh took a more contemporary route with the delicate use of sheer layers intermixed with subtle sequins, lurex, and resham embroidery; her renditions work brilliantly for the cocktail hour.

Glints of gold add luxury to black, so traditional jewellery is a fail-safe addition. But if you want to shake things up a bit, then throw in some pearl strings and drops to give your look a polished poise, as you know black and white spell elegance like nothing else. Or weave in colour with precious stones—go bold with these pieces, if you are going for the hit of hues then make it large.

Pair these coal-like creations with either nude, metallic or black extras. No matter how brave you are feeling stay away scarlet stilettos, and purple purses—Indianwear is all about elegance so don’t lose sight. The best thing about wearing black is that it’s always easy to make it your own, it doesn’t overpower, it empowers.

March aheadA quick look at the indianwear trends for spring/summer 2013—stay a step ahead, and update your festive wardrobe now!

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Bloom WorthyRoses are red, violets are blue, and they are all here to woo you! No one can deny the charm of a floral pattern, recall Maharani Gayatri Devi in her hand-painted chiffon saris or more recently the darker overtones seen on Aishwarya Rai in the movie Gu-zaarish, created by none other than the vintage romanticist, Sabyasachi. Well this time around we see a range of offerings.

From Payal Pratap Singh’s folk vision of Haryanavi-inspired silhouettes smattered with pink and white prints on cotton and net to James Fer-riera’s romantic retelling of the English rose on a vanilla satin sari. The options are many, each more unique in its nature than the next. And for those of you who find florals too sweet and girlish, veteran designer Ritu Kumar, serves up an entire collection re-plete with Renaissance blossoms which are seamlessly merged into paisleys for an Indian touch. Further embel-lished with zardosi and brocade borders and the concoction created is one that the Indo-Italian chamber

would be proud of. For evening go for deep sepia tones and digital floral

prints on velvet and other rich fabrics. Add a rosette or some appliqué daisies to your blouse for a day time get together or a soiree, ala Payal Pratap Singh and Nachiket Barve respectively.

When it comes to accessories, go with either vintage-inspired pieces, a framed purse or a gilded minaudiere and kitten heels, or ring in some gothic glamour with embellished extras like Dolce Gab-bana’s embroidered black pumps and box-clutches. Keep the jewllery more simple and delicate, stay away from overtly designed pieces as it tends to clash with the statement of the print. Delicate multi-strand necklaces or bracelets and chandelier earrings are just about all you need to complete the look. Just be careful of running the risk of being too loud, restraint is delightful thing. As Coco Chanel said, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory.”

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For evening go for deep sepia

tones and digital floral

prints on velvet and other rich fabrics. Add a rosette or some

appliqué daisies to your blouse for a day time get together or

a soiree, ala Payal Pratap

Singh and nachiket Barve

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women apparel

Tribal TrajectoryGujarat found a stronghold in the col-lections this fall, and the love affair with Kutch’s kaleidoscope continues into the season ahead. This time, the references are more varied, Anupama Dayals adivasi-inspired tribal printed sari was a prime example of the folksy sentiment in the air. The blouse with a masai choker-inspired neckline was a clever twist—you can mimic the look with an embroidered bib necklace, wear it as low or high as the neckline so it seems like a part of the outfit. Payal Pratap Singh’s innovative use of Kutchi thread embroidery matching with unexpected shapes showed the bigger picture. Her debut show collec-tion was an amalgamation of cultures, right from Haryanavi shirt kurtis to Gujarati kotis, she traversed a vast trend land, only to set the most coveted cue for the season. A range of navy and beige was spruced up with colourful geometric accents and feisty florals. But it was the overall vibe of the col-lection that brought a breath of fresh air—fussfree ethnic garb one could wear through the day, for work and pleasure. Mumbai boy, Nachiket Barve may be known for his more modest designs, but recently he has adopted a more confident and sexier approach, and this collection confirmed the shift. Multi-dyed saris were the star buy on the ramp. With graphic ornamentation and basket weave textures he tapped into the folk fever much like others.

For daytime chic, there is nothing else that will make you feel as fierce and fabulous as a hint of tribal glamour. You can play with the intensity of the look as much as you want, strut a mirror-worked choli with a plain dip-dyed sari or go all the way with some print, colour and texture ala Payal Pratap Singh’s offerings.

As demonstrated by Ritu Kumar, who accessorized her collection with baal phools, there is something divine about incorporating antique jewellery pieces into fusion indianwear. So engage in some unexpected adornment with the likes of haath phools, pajebs, toe-rings and other forgotten treasures.

For daytime chic, there is nothing else that will make you feel as fierce and fabulous as a hint of tribal glamour.

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women apparel

The Lehenga-Kameez cocktail

Here’s a hybrid that will sweep you off your feet. A cross between a salwar kameez and a lehenga choli, fashion is seriously advocating a mix of these two ubiquitous attires. The choli and the salwar team has already been played around with in the past, now its time for the kurta and the lehenga to join forces. An offshoot of the Mughlai style long kurti worn with shararas underneath. The only difference this season is that the kurta’s are hemmed a few inches below the knees and the lehenga only about peeks from underneath. This cre-ates an illusion of length so its best worn with flats or if you need the elevation, then ensure the heels are hidden under the lehenga.

Manish Malhotra’s collection, “Mijwaan” showed this pairing at its best, with sleek high-collared, long-slitted kameez’s donned with kali-daar lehengas edged with wide borders—it was pure nobility with intricate chikankari work as the highlight. The deccan-based Anand Kabra too showed this heady combination of the lehenga-kameez.His came in a punchy platter of chartreuse, indigo, vermillion, vanilla and chocolate punctuated with zari and zardosi in antique gold, copper and bronze. Un-like Malhotra’s statuesque lines, Kabra went with a godet-panelled flare for the kameez as well as the lehenga, a very forgiving silhouette that will suit any shape or size. Samant Chauhan was on a similar wavelength, however the hem of his lehenga and kameez is uni-form, which works well for anyone who is tall. But the shorter lot will seem to drown in the length, creating levels gives the illusion of height, so avoid this style if you are very petite.

Since the look oozes regalia, pick accessories and jewellery accordingly. Dainty evening flats or Pun-jabi juttis are the best companion for this look, but if you chose not to wear flats with this outfit, go for sleek pencil heels and not platforms or wedges, as the chunkiness will not be complimentary. As arm candy a glossy minaudiere or a box clutch are go-to grabs, but even a simple miniature drawstring pouch is sure to fit the bill beautifully.

An offshoot of the Mughlai style long kurti worn with shararas underneath. The only difference this season is that the kurta’s are hemmed a few inches below the knees and the lehenga only about peeks from underneath.

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women apparel

The divine drapeIndia is the land of drapes, from dhoti to sari, there is really a lot we can do with a simple piece of cloth alone. Even though the sari is by far the most elegant and versatile silhouette, the whole nine yards have become a tad encumbering for new-age city dwellers to adopt as everyday attire. So our homegrown designers are giving the ubiquitous drape a vision of their own. Simplifying to make it more suitable to our urban lives. Nachiket Barve’s jumpsuit sari was probably the story of the spring 2013 shows. There were many under the spell of the simplicity and style of an electric crimson all-in-one with chiffon sash running over one shoulder. Aided with some crystal-studded baubles and you could prance into a

party while kohlapuri’s and a sling bag could turn it into lovable loungewear—that’s the versatility of this garment.

Arjun Saluja took a similar approach in terms of simplification, replacing the pleats and petticoat with a pair of pants, and the result was a minimal, crisp cotton version which looked board-room ready. All you need is an oversized envelope clutch and a sharp hairdo and you will be ready to make some reverberating decisions.

Suneet Varma’s nymph-like avatar takes a glamorous stand. Lace, corsetry, sheers… all spell sexy. A mini lace sari draped over sheer tights and topped with a corset, try this if you dare and take the plunge if you have a penchant for the extraordinary. And if you like the idea of a drape over trousers, then sample Kiran Uttam Ghosh’s more subtle statement. She too shows her love for sheers with a crinkled organza drape, but the jersey crepe blouse and trousers are more modest and super comfortable, add in some ethnic jewels to take the look up a notch.

So bid adieu to worries over how to dance the night away in your nine yard sari and save that for a more sober affair. For a night of revelry opt for some nouveau styles that keep you looking graceful and at ease. u

by CARoL SINgH

A mini lace sari draped over sheer tights and topped with a corset, try this if you dare and take the plunge if you have a penchant for the extraordinary.

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women accessories

Aldo attractsAn ankle bootie from Aldo with just the right amount of colour and suede leather is all that it takes to be feminine these days. Slip into these booties and leave your environ in awe!PRICE: on request. WHERE: ALDo, Select CITYWALK, Saket/DLF Promenade, Vasant Kunj/Pacific Mall and other exclusive stores across Delhi/NCR.

vanilla moon hits with zipped bootiePrepare yourself in advance for the chilly winds that are on their way and pamper your feet with this pair of sassy and cool ankle boots from vanilla moon, crafted out of suede leather.PRICE: Rs 4,990. WHERE: Vanilla Moon, DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

let’s learn how to get BooTie-liCioUs this season!Feel mesmerized with the latest

collection of booties

Get Fendi-ed the Victorian styleFendi takes the colour innovation to the next level with a mix of complementary colours craf ted out of spazzolato Italian leather in this stylish and elegant bootie.PRICE: Rs: 79,114. WHERE: Fendi, DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

One... Two... buckle my bootie!Fashion is now all buckled up with these Charles & Keith boo-ties which come tied up at the back. The best way to get ‘high’ with fashion fever this winter.PRICE: on request. WHERE: Charles & Keith, Select CITYWALK, Saket/ DLF Promenade, Vasant Kunj/Shoppers Stop, Rajouri garden, New Delhi.

gucci gets patternedThis high-heeled bootie in black brocade suede with padded sole and leather lining from Gucci is surely going to be most desirable among ladies. So if you know what is in fashion, you also know what’s topping the chart!PRICE: on request. WHERE: gucci, DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj/The oberoi Hotel, New Delhi.


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A bag that makes you

brag!Simple yet highly stylish Gucci’s new range of bags promise to bring class with sophistication to every woman.

PRICE: on request. WHERE: gucci, DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

Belt that’s an instant object of lust

Fashion furPunch the fashion nausea while fighting the chilly winds with these irresistible pair of leather and fur crafted gloves by ovS. PRICE: Rs 1,399 WHERE: oVS, Ambience mall, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

Tumi tote!This Centro Padua Map leather bag from Tumi has got an urban feel, look and function and can be carried elegantly both with the formal and informal look. PRICE: Rs 20,000. WHERE: Tumi, DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

Gucci glove syndromeMade in Italy, these black leather, silk lined gloves is enough to make a fist full of fashion. Add this to your ward robe for the new season.

PRICE: on request. WHERE: gucci, DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

Belt it rightMade out of genuine leather, these unisex belts from Paul Smith are setting the town on fire. Tie it up to keep the fashion statement intact.

PRICE: Rs: 8,900 onwards. WHERE: Paul Smith, DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

Bag coming straight from the Milan runwaysMade out of saffiano leather, this bag from Fendi’s 2jours collection stands for versatility and enduring style.

PRICE: 5,95,071 approx. WHERE: Fendi, DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

Alexander Mc Queen ensures that who so ever wears these feels like a queen. The belt with the golden imprints will add the charm to any outfit. Style it up on the top of a skirt, a denim or a dress.

PRICE: on request. WHERE: Kitsch, DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

women accessories

leather lUsTs

know what’s hot selling in the market. This is

what we call the hot-stop for all your

fashion blues!


women accessories

Mirari- THE MIRRoR oF TRADITIoNMade out of diamonds, 18 karat gold, rubies and sapphires, these pair of earrings along with Zambian cabochon emeralds ring from the house of Mirari are what any woman would barter her tantrums for!PRICE: Earrings on request/Ring for Rs 80,700. WHERE: M-1, Lower ground floor, M-block Market, greater Kailash-1, New Delhi.

Jewellery has been worn by indian women since ages as a part of their tradition. We, following that legacy, are here with those pieces of adornments which will make sure that a unique style is established, apart from just carrying the heritage!

Where there is a woman

there is a pair of Piaget

Crafted out of 18 karat white gold, diamonds and sapphires this pair of ring and earring is all that you can ask for. PRICE: on request. WHERE: Piaget, DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

Get close to nature with Rose

This bracelet and diamond ring are from the house of rose’s collection - ‘The Colours of Life’. exquisite

tanzanite’s, emeralds, rubies, pearls and intense dia-monds are delicately entwined by precious gold

to create glorious pieces of possession worthy of celebration.

PRICE: on request. WHERE: Rose, DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

lUxURiAnTJewellery


A ToUR WiTH TraditionThis festive season, clad into traditionalism with unique traditional jewellery.

Are you well armed?Beautify your arms with the baju bands crafted with great thought and care, designed by Jewels by Anu.

PRICE: On request. WHERE: Jewels by Anu, S-183, Panchsheel park, New Delhi.

Waist-ful of diamonds!This waist band by P.P. Jewellers is a perfect fusion of conventional and contemporary design that is crafted using different shades, cuts and designs in stones. Made with a combination of yellow gold, kundan and ruby, this

waist band is synonymous with magnificence, elegance and beauty.

PRICE: on request. WHERE: P.P. Jewellers, gurudwara road, Karol Bagh/ Rani Jhansi road, Sadar bazaar and other

exclusive outlets across New Delhi/NCR.

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BAnds!Unlike westerners we do not have to

remain confined to limited accessories to make a style statement. We have waist and arm bands to add glam to any kind of attire. This season, let

the traditionalism pave its way from head to toe.

MUgHAL STYLE gets amalgamated with modernity!Made out of baroque pearls with a fusion style of mughal and contemporary arrangement of gemstones by Apala is among the women favorite pick.PRICE: Rs 19500. WHERE: Apala, Hauz Khas Village New Delhi/ galleria Market, gurgaon.

Diamond dazzles!Gitanjali’s maang tika with green and white diamonds will make women go weak on their knees. Brighten this season of festival with lights and diamonds.

PRICE: on request. WHERE: All Nakshatra outlets across Delhi/NCR.

women accessories

Maang tikas!The range of Indian jewellery is as extensive as the Indian tradition. From bangles to anklets, hand rings to toe rings, waist bands to arm bands, maang tikas to neck pieces, Indian women are really blessed when it comes to the variety in jewels. Approach this festive season all decked up the Indian way!

Colourful co-existenceCelebrate this season with the collection of maang tikas from Jewels by Anu crafted out of colourful and precious stones and emeralds!

PRICE: on request. WHERE: Jewels by Anu, S-183, Panchsheel park, New Delhi.


women makeup

Styleseeker by M.A.CEye shadow duos by M.A.C create brilliant, sultry effects punctuated with fluidline. Available in creamy-beige, neutral gold, chestnut brown, golden orange, bronzed red, bronzed violet, platinum silver and black plum shade, this vivid fall colour collection is influenced by the spirit and style of a global wanderer.PRICE: Rs 1,650. WHERE: M.A.C , Select CITYWALK, Saket/Ambience mall, Vasant Kunj and other exclusive stores across Delhi/NCR.

Roseraie Des Délices by LancomeAs if taken directly from the enchanted garden, this eye shadow range from Lancome strikes a playful balance between sophistication and seduction. Subtle and sheer, these shades are inspired by the fresh rosebuds and more voluptuous shades of fuchsia. While one is comprised of tender green, pistachio and mint hues for a delicate feel, the other draws from pink tones and vibrant fuchsia for a more sensual look. Let the eyes talk the lauguage of sensualism!PRICE: Rs 2,200. WHERE: Lancome, Select CITYWALK, Saket/DLF Promenade, Vasant Kunj/Ambience mall, gurgaon and other exclusive outlets across New Delhi/NCR.

mischievous eyes with estee LauderCreate an enviously infinite

eyeshadow collection and play with high-impact colour and texture

combinations with the new ‘Pure Color EyeShadow’ Palettes. The

complete Pure Color EyeShadow collection has 62 shades. So which

look are you going to try today?PRICE: Rs 3,493. WHERE: Select CITYWALK, Saket, New Delhi.

Bring all the shades home this season with this assortment of coloured eye shadows!


men apparel

suit with a soul

ermenegildo ZegnaMade to measure


What does a made-to-measure suit have that a ready made suit doesn’t? Well to start with, you simply can never achieve that perfect fit in a factory made suit. The Italian luxury fash-ion mammoth Ermenegildo Zegna promises to deliver more than you ever

wanted in your suit – in just about four weeks and a cost starting from Rs. 1,50,000. Post the fabric selection and measurement sessions, a unique customised suit, with the client’s name hemmed in would be ready and delivered at the individual’s city boutique, where it would undergo the final inspection and alterations.

If you are impressed already, this fact would enthral you all the more - by the time a fine-looking Ermenegildo Zegna suit ends up hanging in an exclusive store in Milan or New Delhi, over 250 peo-ple would have worked on it. The Zegna hands-at-work begin their journey from shearing the wool, weaving it, bundling and dying it, knitting it, cutting it, ironing it over and over again, and scrutinizing it with a slim needle to repair any tiny setback others eyes might have overlooked. Now consider this – that suit you’re seeking to personalise would already have travelled around the globe, being derived from a ewe in New South Wales, Australia, a cashmere goat in Inner Mongolia or a vicuna in the Andes.

This excellence in tailoring lies within the brand’s 11 decade tra-dition of premium craftsmanship and definite quality standards. Presently managed by the fourth generation of the Zegna kin, the caretakers respect the clients form and needs like never before.

The designers at Zegna believe that the best way to make a well-fitted suit is to fabricate it out of a lot of little pieces. This explains why their suit consists of a 100 pieces, with the lining alone consist-ing twelve.

men apparel

our fathers and grandfathers got their ‘quality suits’ made by a pet tailor. This tailor knew all the latest styles and understood the taste, preferences and body type of their clients. So much so, that before the rush of ready-made garments in the late 1980’s, every man in India virtually wore tailored suits. The craze for personalisation is back again - this time with the expertise of a French darjee and a promise of delivery within a month.

ermenegildo Zegna

Three acclaimed tailored styles to ensure each distinct taste is catered for:Roma This international best-selling tailored executive style comes with a neo classical silhouette. The jacket is cut with a fuller definition and sits lower on the body, emphasising the lin-ear angle of form. This fashion ideally goes with slim silhouette pleated trousers.

Milano Suited for an athletic form, this style offers angular and narrow cut shoulders with a shirtsleeve construction, and a shorter jacket sitting higher on the body. It can be perfectly complemented by slender flat fronted low-rise trousers.

Couture If you want to go for a highly tailored look, with a slender waist and silhouette, couture style is for you. It would give you a softer natural shoulder construction and higher arm-holes. The sophisticated Neapolitan tailoring would show in the overlap-ping panels and the hand stitched curved ‘Barchetta’ chest pocket.


men apparel

What is ‘su Misura’?

The Su Misura custom tailored service was initiated way back in the 70’s, giving a client a chance

to choose the fabric, styles and details that gives a garment an individual character. If you’re thinking what all elements

of a suit one can possibly personalise, note that there can be an air of fine distinctiveness in the sleeves, buttons, length of the suit, collar, pockets and seams. The designers will be there for you to decide on the shape and material of the buttons, rear vents and buttonholes on the sleeves, whether you need

a single-breasted or a double-breasted jacket style, shape of the pockets and cuff on the bottom of your pants.

Even the width and weight of a tie, the shape of the collar and the location of the monogram

on the shirt can be selected. Vanity no apologies gentlemen!

A fabric that nobody else ownsErmenegildo Zegna presents the Ermenegildo Zegna Vellus Aureum Trophy to breeders who create increasingly high-quality wools. Only fleeces under 13.9 microns (1 micron is one millionth of a millimeter) from the top Merino producers are admitted to the finals.The fleeces chosen after a strict inspection by the Zegna wool mill in Trivero (Italy) are then transformed into a limited number of fabric cuts (not more than 50 a year). These cuts are offered to Zegna’s ‘Su Misura’ clients all over the world who enjoy the privilege of a fabric exclusively for them. Apart from the brand logo and the name of the fabric, they would even weave the customers name on the selvedge of each cut.


Making of the suitselection of fabric and styleNever doubt Zegna on variety, for you can literally choose from more than 70 0 ref ined fabrics (including 20 0 seasonal ones that are on hand to meet high expec-tations and to satisf y individual preferences) . To maintain sanity, seek for help from the Zegna experts who would update you on the latest seasonal fabrics. Post the selection of the cloth, a style that compliments the customer’s body type and personality is chosen and is further improved upon through unique details and special touches.

MeasurementThe efficient staff at the Zegna store has undergone detailed training sessions to ensure that this delicate task of calculating dimensions is performed accurately for an ideal custom-tai-lored fit. Once the measurements are taken, the information is collected, codified and transmitted to a central computer that is then transformed into a first garment project. The computer then crafts the most favourable cutting operations, which is performed with utmost precision and respects the most delicate of fabrics. Further, all garments are controlled one by one, codified and matched with linings and sent to the sewing department.

TailoringWhat makes Zegna’s ‘Su Misura’ dress making so unique is the sincere attention that each garment receives. Every bit of clothing is tested during the sewing process and the artisan’s precious experience is utilized to make the most of the unique fabrics, functionality of various parts of the garment and the right elasticity. All linings and accessories are made of natural fibers, cotton, horsehair, and silk to en-sure unparalleled softness. All finishing touches are done by hand, stitch by stitch, down to the sewing of the inside label that bears the customer’s name. The charm of that name stitched is undeniable.

Subsequently, your unique ‘Su Misura’ suit would be ready and transported to your nearest Zegna store.

men apparel

suggestion for the seasonEach season, Zegna presents new collections of fabrics in recommended combinations to create a perfect look. For Fall/Winter 2012-13, the brand suggests Trofeo 600 - a lustrous blend of superfine Australian wool and top-quality silk.

AND THEY oFFER CUSToMISED ACCESSoRIES Too!Su Misura Tie One can personalise his tie for there are four widths, four different lengths and 50 types of fabrics to opt from. The weight of the tie depends upon the type of lining used and construction technique applied. You can personally ask for the tab to be embroidered with your monogram. A ‘Su Misura’ tie, entirely made by hand, gets ready for delivery in a few weeks.

Shoes and Belts It could not get more lavish than this. The customer can choose any of the three exclusive footwear styles: Derby, Oxford and Moccasin. All of them are carefully constructed using the high performance “Good Year technique”. The materials used are generally classic leathers such as calf and suede and even ostrich and alligator. Ask for your choice of lining and sole. The fire branded monogram of the owner on the bottom completes it. The belt is a critical addition necessary to achieve a completely cordial look. The minimum time needed to prepare a unique creative Zegna pair of shoes is 6 weeks. We suggest you to book yourself way in advance! u

by VARALIKA VIJ


men trends

Can you picture how your man’s shadow would look against a white wall, and then frame the garment ac-cordingly? Gita Chopra, a brilliant designer and a passionate entre-preneur, has made this perfection possible with her first ever ethnic menswear collection ‘earth & sky’.

reflection of nativityThis collection takes form in kurtas, achkans, bandgalas, and a smart range of waistcoats, which a man can wear proudly at a tra-ditional wedding ceremony or just for a leisurely walk on the sidewalks of the city.

The range of garments resonates the sensibilities of contemporary indian-ness, which embodies the inherent rich tradition and also thinks outwardly. The use of pure and classic fabrics like silk, linen, cashmere, velvet and brocade accentuates the refine-ment of the outfits. The list of designing accomplishments include tonal threadwork embroideries with a slight glimmer of metal; warm brocade achkans enhanced with rich zardozi collars; fine pleating and multi-di-mensional techniques for kurtas developed exclusively by the designer. A refreshing way to start the festive season for the desi bloke, we must say!

Elegant huesit wasn’t a day’s work for Gita to decide on the colours that will define her garments. she explains, “The colours came from the conscious and were borrowed both from the sun and the sky.” so if you’re the de-signer’s next muse, you are likely to flaunt rich and subtle whites, browns, greys and blacks pushed to saturation with stunning glimpses of purple, indigo, sage and olive in the most unusual combinations.

Form & Colour…Earth & Sky…

Textile & Romance


men trends

The Designer Element During her 15 year stint with the business of home furnishing and textiles, designer Gita Chopra developed a unique talent of surpassing dimension with fabrics by building layers, a controlled and sophisticated colour palate and an exalting adherence to quality. With the standards of up keeping the age old Indian techniques of embroidery, weaving and printing, Gita ensures that not a stitch is out of place. Having mastered the art of fine detailing and controlled colour coordination, Gita’s invention in form of ‘Earth & Sky’ is a perfect rendezvous of a time-honoured product with a modern man. Explaining the course of execution for the collection, Gita says, “I’ve gone back to the Indian concepts of paisleys and motifs. Although I worked non-stop for three months towards this project, my creativity never hit a road block and flowed uninterruptedly. It felt like it was waiting to happen.” Though all the creations are close to her heart, the talented designer managed to tell us her personal favourite in the collection –achkans. “My achkans have a bold lining with strong colours underneath, making it a confident piece of garment.”

by VARALIKA VIJ

“I’ve gone back to the Indian concepts of paisleys and motifs. Although I worked non-stop for three months towards this project, my creativity never hit a road block and flowed uninterruptedly. It felt like it was waiting to happen.”

Cost, no fearAs explicated by designer Gita, Earth & Sky is “high on quality and really affordable”. So a head turning garment would not burn a hole in your pocket. This pack of affordable luxury contains – Casual kurta range from Rs. 2700 – Rs. 6600Classic kurta set range from Rs. 9600 – 15,600Cashmere waistcoats from Rs. 12,600- 15,600Cotton silk waistcoats from Rs. 5,400Bandgalas from Rs. 18,600Sherwanis from Rs. 21,600

WHERE: The Visaya, N82, Panchshila Park, New Delhi, 011-41390000 u


men accessories

French classic by Porshe Design!French classic luggage is pure luxury. This sophisticated, accentuated surface textured bag by Porshe Design has won an award for outstanding product design and engineered luxury handcraftsmanship.

PRICE: on request. WHERE: Porsche Design, DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

Montblanc’s tote!Two spacious compartments divided by a large zipper pocket and a large

front pocket with branded duffle-coat toggle is what makes this bag from montblanc most sought-after.

PRICE: on request. WHERE: Montblanc, The Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi.

Get fastened with BlackberrysAdd a zing to your attire and complete your formal look with these pair of Blackberrys cufflinks.

PRICE: Rs 1,695. WHERE: Blackberrys, greater Kailash/ South Extension and other exclusive stores across Delhi/NCR.

Canali’s luxuriant cufflinksDesigned in different designs, these lavish cufflinks from Canali will make every guy look like a spoiled-brat.PRICE: Rs 14,000 onwards. WHERE: Canali, DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

MenMandates

Bleu montblancBlue is considered as the favourite colour for men. Hence, these cufflinks from Montblanc falls automatically amongst their most desired accessory.PRICE: Rs. 5,15,000 onwards. WHERE: Montblanc, The Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi.


brogues, the sneaker style!Marks & Spencer has come up with this limited collection of leather brogue trainer shoes in the sneaker style for styling both the men’s formal and informal look.

PRICE: Rs 2999. WHERE: Marks & Spencer, DLF Place, Saket/ DLF Promenade, Vasant Kunj/ Ambience mall, gurgaon and other exclusive stores across New Delhi/NCR.

Crocking with CrocsThe ‘LoPro Slip-On Sneakers’ by Crocs is a versatile shoe that can take you from a lunch date to watching sports with the guys and everything in-between. No matter what your weekend brings, you can be comfortable, stylish and ready for it all.

PRICE: Rs 5995. WHERE: Crocs, Select CITYWALK, Saket/ DLF Promenade, Vasant Kunj/ The great India Place, Noida and other exclusive stores across Delhi/NCR.

Dior’s Chiffre Rouge is

the next bIG thing!

Christian Dior’s meticulous concern for technical performance,

an everlasting design teamed with the

formal vocabulary of Dior Homme, combine

to make this watch an unprecedented re-writing of

classical watch making.

PRICE: Rs 6,18,000. WHERE: Dior, DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj/Ambi

Mall, gurgaon/MgF Mall, gurgaon and other dealer stores across Delhi/NCR.

men accessories

Sizzle the Sisley wayThis smart shoe with a look of leather

and denim cloth from Sisley makes you jet-set-go for a perfect

day-out!

PRICE: Rs 3,999. WHERE: Sisley, Ambience mall, Vasant Kunj/ Moments Mall, Kirti Nagar and other exclusive stores in Delhi/NCR.

Buck’s trunksE n g l i s h premiership of luxury now lands in Delhi with the old-school manual of hand-craft,

v intage styl ing, pedigreed sobriety and

understated elegance with Buck’s range of fine trunks.PRICE: Rs 28,600 onwards. WHERE: Buck's, Eros Hilton, New Delhi.

him & her

Indulge in a lemony rubThis stimulant and cooling soap has the goodness of lemon and the therapeutic properties of lemon-grass essential oil. Besides fighting bacterial growth and skin infections, the refreshing bar by Nature’s Co. softens rough, chapped skin and has an uplifting fragrance which helps in relieving aches and stress.

PRICE: Rs. 295. WHERE: Nature’s Co., Select CITYWALK, Saket/ order online on www.thenaturesco.com

Soaps - Handmade and handcraftedWho knew a pack of soaps could make such a pretty gifting option! The attractive ribbon packing encloses a set of three fine handmade soaps by Iraya – the mildly exfoliating oatmeal soap (for all skin types), citrus punch soap for reviving a dull complexion (for normal to oily skin) and the de-stressing lavender soap(for

all skin types). Keep all of them in your bath to use the fragrance that matches your mood.

PRICE: Rs. 450. WHERE: Iraya, DLF Promenade, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi

Chunk of real cocoaThese mini chocomania heart-shaped soaps by Body Shop are made up of real cocoa butter and exfoliating coconut shell that polishes and appeases your skin. Put beautifully in a pack of four, gift them or use them with sheer love.PRICE: Rs. 595. WHERE: Body Shop, Select CITYWALK, Saket/Ambience Mall (Vasant Kunj, gurgaon)/ great India Place Mall, Noida and other exclusive stores across Delhi/NCR

Organic bar for sensitive skinIdeal for children and adults with sensitive and irritation-prone skin, this creamy organic baby soap is a perfect blend of avocado and coconut. The organic avocado oil penetrates the skin evenly and effortlessly and coconut oil restores the skin's PH balance, making it an ideal piece of ointment for the winter season.

PRICE: Rs. 395. WHERE: Kama Ayurveda, 22-A, Khan Market, New Delhi


BE A soAPsTARWe chose the prettiest, most fragrant and gentle natural cleansers to boost up your wits during the bath time. Pick up the one which catches your fancy the most and spoil yourself in the deluge of a warm water soak and aromatic froth.

Delicate pampering with the fragrance of peoniesTake a whiff of this flower-shaped bar and you would

recall a blooming peony bud. It contains real peony extract from Drome (France). The

subtle composition of this soap by L’Occitane washes the hands and body without drying them. Plus it also acts as a decoration for your bathroom!

PRICE: 610. WHERE: L’occitane, DLF Promenade, Vasant Kunj/

Select CITYWALK, Saket/ Shop No. 69/A, Khan Market, New Delhi

Choose from a selection of six 100% bio-degradable shower gels by body Shop. The refreshing fragrances include – lemon and thyme, mint and cucumber, watermelon and eucalyptus, fig and rosemary, pear and lem-ongrass, apricot and basil.

PRICE: Rs. 390 for 250 ml

him & her

refreshing shower gel with the bold notes of Deep Impact’s fragrance by oriflame.



‘Warm Amber bath gel’ by mary Kay creates a rich lather, is gentle enough for daily use and suitable for every skin type.


Bath Gel Blast

The Kiehl’s bath and Shower Liquid body Cleanser in Coriander is a sure solution to dry and sensitive skin for the upcoming winter season.


Hydrate yoUR liPs

Deliciously zesty Dragon Fruit Lip butter by body Shop for lips that are super soft and flaunt a natural pink shade.

PRICE: Rs. 255

vichy Aqualia Thermale Lip

balm enriches the texture of your

lips.

PRICE: Rs. 490Iraya orange and Citrus Lip balm with oils of

jojoba, castor, wheat germ and beeswax.

Price: Rs. 245 mary Kay Tinted Sunscreen Lip balm with SPF 15 in natural and poppy shades.

PRICE: Rs. 375

WHERE: Body Shop - Select CITYWALK, New Delhi/Ambience Mall (Vasant Kunj, gurgaon)/ great India Place Mall, Noida and other exclusive stores across Delhi/NCR

Iraya - DLF Promenade, New Delhi

Oriflame - Contact your nearest Oriflame consultant or SMS Oriflame to 59994

Mary Kay – Call 0124-6784900 to get in touch with Mary Kay independent beauty consultants

Kiehl’s – Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj/ 48B, Khan Market, New Delhi

Vichy – Select pharmacies across Delhi/NCR

Lush- Select CITYWALK, New Delhi

It ‘Started with a Kiss’ by Lush is a perfect blend of spice and sweetness with red apple, cinnamon and white chocolate flavour

PRICE: Rs. 780

‘Detoxifying Green Tea Scrub-bing Shower Gel’ by Iraya for normal to oily skin to polish, purify and refresh your body.



A pioneer in botanical formulations for over 30 years, Crabtree & Evelyn blends the very best of nature and science, tradition and innovation, and luxury and comfort to create benefit-rich bath, body, and home care. This heritage is reflected in its name: Crabtree, from the crabapple tree, the original species from which all cultivated apple trees have been derived, and Evelyn, from John Evelyn, the 17th century renaissance Eng-lishman who wrote one of the first important works on conservation and whose motto, ‘explore everything, keep the best’, inspires the brand to this day.

Crabtree & Evelyn believes that seeking out beauty and sense of quality shouldn’t be reserved solely for special occasions. That’s why their products, stores and people are dedicated to bring moments of indulgence everyday within the reach of customers. From perfect gifts and fragrances, to a well-deserved treat which uplifts the spirits, Crabtree & Evelyn always provides attention to detail and a touch of English style. The icon, the crab apple tree (Pyrus Malus), is native to Britain. Prized for its lovely form and its usefulness in the home apothecary, every single part can be harvested and used for feeding, heeling and heating the human body. The crab apple tree represents beauty

and the natural goodness. Together the ancient tree and the wise botanist meet harmoniously in the brand’s name.

The aesthetic and inspiration of Crabtee & Ev-elyn is English. This means that they draw from the highly eclectic and individual styles, eccentricities, history and traditions of the English whilst staying strongly connected to the modern lifestyle of the international customers.

The few all time favourite products of the brand are Avocado, Olive & Basil Skin Nourishing Body Butter, Jojoba Conditioning Bath & Massage Oil, Citron, Honey & Cori-ander Skin Smoothing Body Scrub and many more.

Crabtree & Evelyn is available online and in more than 40 countries, with over 6,000 locations and 500 concept stores worldwide.

Restore your fatigued senses with the wonderful, rich and relaxing aroma of Crabtree & evelyn

Pomegranate, Argan & grapeseed Deep Cleansing Hand Wash 250ml. Rs 1495

India Hicks Island Night Rich Body Cream 200gms. Rs 2995

La Source Warming Foot Smoother 150gms. Rs 1695


Jojoba Conditioning

Bath & Massage oil 200 ml.

Rs 695

Citron, Honey & Coriander Skin Smoothing Body Scrub

175gm. Rs1895

Rosewater Ultra Moisturizing Hand Therapy

100gms. Rs 1395 Nomad invigorating Hair

& Body Wash 225ml. Rs 1495

Summer Hill Scented Body Lotion 200 ml. rs 695

Nantucket Briar Body Mist 100ml. Rs 1795

Avocado, olive & Basil Skin Nourishing Body Butter 225gms.

Rs 2495

bazaar bicycles


A silent revolution is pedalling its way into the city dwellers life. As more and more Delhiites opt for cycling for reasons ranging from keeping fit to simply leisure, virtually all big names of the global bicycle industry are competing to find their space in the big Indian

. We were surprised to discover that the demand for premium quality bikes comes from all walks of life – from homemakers, engi-neers, doctors to government officers, estate owners and politicians. Such is the upsurge of this high-end cycle segment, that today the execution of the creation and building of a quality bicycle follows somewhat a similar pattern as the making of a luxury watch.High strength, low weight alloy, thin fork blades to absorb street shocks better, advanced carbon frames, a perfectly arched apparatus, all components polished to excellence – yes, you’re reading about a posh bicycle which handles, climbs and descends smoothly! Relatively maintenance free and less fatiguing, the careful construction of these bikes makes it a world class art object capable of high performance.Without further ado, gaze through these luxury bikes and recoup the urge to ride your way to a healthier body and environment.

luxury Bicycles FoR WELL-HEELED RIDERS

Mongoose Salvo SportFounded in 1974 in a Southern California garage, the brand Mongoose came to be known for creating the most rider-focused bikes with a free ride platform technol-ogy, pedalling efficiency, minimum lateral flex and a consistent leverage ratio. The ‘Mongoose Salvo Sport’ boasts of a well-made frame with a floating shock mount and a balanced handling for off-the-road fun. The length and width of the bar is just sufficient for convenient positioning and adequate control while on the road. It also comes with rapid release axles in both the front and rear which enables easy loading on the car. Designed to handle any trail, this bike is good for beginners as well as professional riders.

DAMAgES: Rs. 45,000

Bianchi Infinitio UltegraThis list would have been empty without the mention of Bianchi – the world’s oldest bicycle company, celebrating 125 years of successful operation this year. The Italian company has a handsome bike in the offering – the comfort performance road cycle ‘Bianchi Infinito Ultegra’. Traditionally painted in Celeste (a turquoise also known as Bianchi Green), it is an amazing gear for long rides with a carbon frame and a lon-ger wheelbase making it gather speed super quickly. The attentively crafted brakes give it a full controlled stop in a very short distance. What else! You would love showing off the head badge set against the black head tube.

DAMAgES: 2,70,000

Merida Matts 20-MDEffectively merging highly innovative German engi-neering with impeccable Taiwanese manufacturing and the practical input of the Multivan Merida Biking Team, Merida is one of the leading mountain biking team in the world. The ‘Merida Matts 20-MD’ features 100 mm suspension forks, a new head tube and a re-engineered down tube. Apart from the design, the top tube sports an elaborate and sophisticated 3D shaping. The aluminium hard tail is superb and makes it a solid companion for leisure activities in an open environment. This bicycle is ideal for those who seek total comfort cycling all through the city.

DAMAgES: 29,500

Huffy G-1000They started making such manual two-wheeler gears 119 years back in America. Today, the new elite collection of Huffy bikes in India blends the latest designs, cycling ge-ometries and technology in a way that stirs bike enthusiasts and thrill seekers alike. The ‘Huffy G-1000’ comes with carefully crafted 6061 aluminium frames combined with renowned components, CST tyres, world-class fork suspen-sion and shifting systems and an appearance that makes it a joy to behold.

DAMAgES: Rs. 22,500

bazaar bicycles


Know more• India is the second largest manufacturer of bi-cycles in the world (with 12 million units produced annually), next only to China.• According to an industry report, the United States imports more bicycles than any other country. Other major cycle exports reach the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.• There are currently a billion bicycles pres-ent in the world, with over half of them in China.• In a big Indian city like Delhi, a retailer, on an average, sells 250 bicycles during the months of April, May and June.• With annual sales volumes of over 4.8 million, Hero Cycles is the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world. The company rolls out around 18,500 units every day!

Sources: Cycle Press, Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, United Cycles and Parts Mfrs. Association

SHoP AT: URBAN TRAIL – Durga Cycles, Paschim Vihar, opp. Petrol Pump, New Delhi / gandhi Cycles Pvt. Ltd., 40 - Tilak Nagar, New Delhi / Nanksar Bikes, Shop No 8, New Market, Malviya Nagar and other dealer stores across Delhi/NCR.

MERIDA – Merida Exclusive Store, Shop No. 421/488 KH No. 403, opp. Metro Pillar No 118, Village ghitorni, Mehroli gurgaon Road, New Delhi/ 96-A, Jhandewalan, Cycle Market, New Delhi

HUFFY – Huffy Exclusive Store, Merida Exclusive Store, Shop No. 421/488 KH No. 403, opp. Metro Pillar No 118, Village ghitorni, Mehrauli gurgaon Road, New Delhi/ 96-A, Jhandewalan, Cycle Market, New Delhi/ Supreme Cycles, 48/2, Yusuf Sarai Main Market, next to green Park Metro Station, New Delhi

MoNgooSE/SCHWINN, CANNoNDALE/BIANCHI – Exclusive BSA Hercules Store, C-2/51-52, Near New Bikaner Sweets, Veer Sawarkar Marg, Lajpat Nagar 2, New Delhi and other dealer stores across Delhi/NCR u

Urban Trail MirageCelebrated as the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer- Hero Cycles recently forayed into the high-end bi-cycle segment with the launch of their brand ‘Urban Trail’. This most ex-pensive luxury bike by Urban Trail weighs approximately 4.5

kgs and has a full carbon body frame. The installed Shimano XTR gear itself costs Rs 1.5 lakhs! The

sturdy bike has a tough wheel frame which would never fail and a Herculean mechanism composing world-class apparatus. Take a test drive to understand its humungous worth.

DAMAgES: 3.5 lakhs

Cannondale Quick 4Cannondale’s mantra is to never settle down in their quest of creating the perfect ride. The ‘Canondale Quick 4’ comes with a “rider tailored geometry” which means a perfect equilibrium of a sporty position with the comfort of heads-up riding. Each one of these fast and nimble flat bar bikes is paired with customised Cannondale forks designed accord-ing to the frame. The SAVE features include a rear triangle to absorb shocks, soft grip flat pedals, ergonomic grips and saddle for comfort. Well-suited for frivolous, urban or casual riding.

DAMAgES: Rs. 42,050

Schwinn VestigePresented in Germany at the Eurobike

2010, where it won a gold award for innovation, the Schwinn Vestige creates an instant admiration. This limited edition semi-translucent flax fiber bike (limited to 1000 units worldwide, out of which only 5 are

manufactured in India) has implemented a lighting system powered by the front hub, which illuminates

the bike's translucent frame when in motion. This commuter bike with an eco twist

is coated with water-soluble paint and has fenders and grips that are made of a natural bamboo material,

taking the environmentally-friendly act of cycling a step further. Strong and light, this bicycle is a sure asset in your

balance sheet.

DAMAgES: Rs. 70,000

our Pick


We catch up with Sunita and Kohelika Kohli, leading

architecture and interior designers, at their sprawling

studio in Lado Sarai to talk about their creations, creative

process, the K2 India USP, evolving design and much more. The twosome offer

complete solutions to all your home needs right from the

architecture to the last piece of art hung on your wall. Just leave it to them and they will put it all together, in perfect

cohesion and in a result that would appear effortless.

The studio is spread over 10,000 sq ft with concept rooms for viewing by their

clients (by appointment only), wall art and sculptures and a

working kitchen where Kohelika tries to find time to whip a quick lunch for herself! As

we settle in for the interview, with a serving of sandwiches and coffee, a welcome guest, Dulahri, Kehelika’s Labrador

sits in by her master…

koHelikA & sUniTA koHli

cover story


The k2 Factor in design & interior

unita Kohli, started as an interior designer 40 years ago and has kept close company with the rich, the famous and the well connected. In her business, she is very well known and respected by her peers and clients alike. The only interior designer from India who has been awarded the acclaimed Padma Shri “for contribution to national life by excellence in the

field of Interior Design and Architectural Restoration”, she has done several high profile projects over the years, ranging from work at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Prime Min-ister’s Office and Hyderabad House. She has also successfully completed projects in several countries including Egypt, Eng-land and Bhutan. Her forte is reproduction and restoration and she spares no effort in researching her subject and learning the culture and history of the society.

cover story

Kohelika Kohli, her daughter, studied Ar-chitecture from Pratt Institute of Design, New York and came home in 2004 to set up her own company. She eventually merged with her mother’s company two years ago to marry their strengths and learning and produce for their clients what can arguably be one of the best works in the country.

Together the two now head K2 India, aiming to provide quality and perfection to every client, effortlessly designed spaces that hold meaning and total solutions for a diverse range of projects – from public build-ings, hotels to corporate spaces and private residences.

Design AestheticsThey work in many different styles that they are comfortable with and are well researched to create homes that have “a timeless quality and yet geared towards contemporary styling, always punctuated with high furniture of a particular style such as the Bedermeier (style of furniture design from Germany during the years 1815–1848) or the iconic Ruhlmann desk (renowned French designer)”. Kohelika adds that most of their clients are well travelled and understand different cul-tures and style, and so their designs have an international style. Attention to min-

Casual Sitting area with a reproduction art Deco ruhlmann Desk in the foreground

cover story


ute details and perfection in execution is more important than creating a business. So while their interior architecture is kept relatively simple, it does not mean that it is not designed; in fact, it is the end result of a super designed sense where simplicity is the touchstone

Travels and InspirationPassionate about travelling, they consciously and unconsciously soak in a lot of inspira-tion from a variety of places. Sunita Kohli enjoys visiting archaeological sites, walking through museums and appreciating monu-ments and historical buildings, along with her children and now her grandchildren as well. She explains that “travel is the best thing that can be done for building up a visual vocabulary and even while design-ing a single space, one always brings to that one room, a thousand places one might have travelled to”. Travelling also helps in a greater understanding of history which both designers feel is an integral process of an artistic creation.

Sunita Kohli elaborates, “Even in a very contemporary architectural piece, if u do not understand history, you are only going to produce gimmickry”. It is crucial that when you break from a tradition, in an effort to innovate and reproduce, you must first have a true understanding of what is the tradition that you are breaking away from.

Memorable Projects…

Lounge arm-chairs, facing a mild steel Baffle Partition Unit inset with an ethanol fuel fireplace, with a 360° rotatable TV on top

Courtyard of No. 6 gauri Apartments. The snake-shaped bench was specially conceived to give a sense of movement back into the house from the exterior space. The boundary fence is made of mild steel and is fence inspired by Mondrian

Kohelika’s first project in india; a 12 sided room, where the largest wall is mirrored, to allow for a sense of visual space

Naila Fort

Dynamics of Working TogetherIt was obvious in our interaction that they value their work relation, and that the two command mutual respect and admiration for each other’s work. Style has surpassed their fundamental mother-daughter relationship to that of professional colleagues who are often, if necessary, each other critics and effective sounding boards. There has never been a ques-tion of any generational divide; Sunita Kohli explains that she has a very contemporary visual mind-set that is evolving with time. They provide valuable suggestions and inputs on each other’s projects and this partnership produces an end result that is not only very well thought out but also a perfect blend of both the designers’ strengths.

The WOW FactorThe past 3 years in India have seen an explo-sion in terms to buying power and exposure. Design in general – in all spheres – has be-come an important part of daily life. People are now more house proud than before and are willing to spend to get that WOW factor. Kohelika adds, “Amazing homes will never scream of money; there is a subtle wow fac-tor – and this is where sophistication comes in; there are show houses and then there are homes and at K2 we will give you a beauti-ful home”. They work towards fusing the personality of the client in their design, so that it becomes a personal statement.

cover storyhome interiors


For Kohelika KohliUnderstandably, it is her home project and also the most memorable – a 1700 sq ft apartment on Southend Lane done 7 years ago. Worked upon independently by her own company, the design of the house remains as effective today as it was then.

Her first project in a commercial space also holds special importance as it was the first time she was designing not for one client but for many

people from different age groups. The challenge was that it had to appeal to the sensibilities of different generations and create a comfortable environment for them to return to. The Under-doggs Sports Bar & Grill in Vasant Kunj is an upmarket sports only bar which is sophisticated and wacky. One of the striking elements is the shoe chandelier, designed by Kohelika. Taking inspiration from the field of sports where every athlete wears shoes, the idea stands out as both unique and interesting.

For Sunita Kohli“Each project has been a unique experience. I have loved working on assignments where I had to intensively think creatively and look for solutions – design is as much about ideation as it is about problem solving”.

She enjoys working on multiple projects simultaneously that involve different types of research and thought processes. In the early 1980s, she was

working simultaneously on the Hyderabad House, an Edwardian building with many classical renaissance features; 150yr old Naila Fort Oberoi; the Parliament building in Bhutan and finishing The Oberoi in Bhubaneshwar. These four distinct projects required research into English Edwardian Architecture of the 1920’s, the Rajput Palace architecture, Bhutanese Buddhist architectural elements and then old craft traditions of stone carving and textile weaving from Bhubaneshwar.

Memorable Projects…


Dining Area at No. 6 gauri Apartments in South-end Lane overlooking the courtyard

restoration and design work at Mr. PrS Oberoi’s Naila Fort, near Jaipur. The doors were designed and then executed at Dhrangadhra. This design was also later used for the 'Raj Vilas' doors in Jaipur

Courtyard of No. 6 gauri Apartments. The snake-shaped bench was specially conceived to give a sense of movement back into the house from the exterior space. The boundary fence is made of mild steel and is fence inspired by Mondrian

a unique light installation, designed by Kohelika Kohli, made with dozens of different sneakers and sports shoes, at Underdoggs Sport's Bar and grill in New Delhi

The Lobby in 'The oberoi' in Bhubaneswar. Here she used specially made bronze temple bells, as the central hanging cluster of lights. The special marble and terrazzo flooring is also a prominent feature

Kohelika’s first project in india; a 12 sided room, where the largest wall is mirrored, to allow for a sense of visual space

cover story


Diwali, the cost effective way, with Sunita Kohli"Spruce up your home this Diwali with simple, quick and cost effective ways such as painting two walls of the room in bright colours or buying a dari! If reupholstering the sofa sounds bit much, you can pick your colour scheme and bring home a collection of cushions. Other ways include placing a large planter with a tall dramatic plant or a big vase with fresh lilies. Such small solutions will uplift the house and give you a sense of the festive season!"

Chaise lounges facing a side board with a pop-up TV. Bent Steel Mirrors, sourced from Suryaveer Kohli Home, with old Ottoman Turkish Candle Stands on either side

Fine reproduction of a Biedermeier Secretaire. The veneer used is 'Cerejeira'

THE K2 INDIA ADVANTAGEThe first and most striking fact is the strengths of the two women running the show. Both are extremely passionate, hard-working and committed to producing only the very best in terms of creativity and qual-ity. The merger of their individual expertise is perfect, with Sunita Kohli bringing in her years of in-depth research that is more histor-ical and cultural and Kohelika, her extensive knowledge on all that is more technical re-garding materials, lights and automation. Put it together and it makes a great combination! Not to mention the obvious – a design aes-thetic that must look a certain way and add to the overall ambience of the space.

The design house offers you a one stop shop from planning the architecture, inte-riors and furniture, soft furnishings, lights, automation. They explain that the archi-tectural design and the interiors are being planned and thought through simultane-ously right at the start of every project. It is the interiors that create the day to day living space for the client and the architecture is then worked around to create that comfort space. At K2 India, the architects are also looking into the interior visuals of the space and creating the two together. Additionally, they also collaborate with the best in areas needed to complete a project. Over time, they have an identified list of companies that come in to work on specific areas to help create the complete look and feel.

They are not only creating for you the

ideal home for today but for many years to come, a style that can adapt to your evolving needs. Their designs leave scope for growth and expansion and yes, even if you just need a change and want to create a fresh look after a few years. For K2 India, redoing a space comes with ease as they have planned for different layouts from the start. One room may be created keeping in mind 2 – 3 purposes that may serve over the years. Their designs are well examined to know how they would evolve with the needs of the clients.

Their aim while designing spaces is to first understand the client’s brief – personal needs, individual lifestyle and how it may evolve and demand over time. Next up is ensuring practicality and functionality in design. Kohelika adds that “functionality can be changed into something that has a beauti-ful aesthetic value and that 90% of things you design in your fixed interiors should have a function”. They create, keeping in mind rough and free use, where you are not afraid to touch, and the focus is on ergonomics of how the interiors can be arranged so that people can work more efficiently and com-fortably within the space.

The next critical step is to see how the living spaces can react to the environment – external, that is the climate and place, where it is located and internal, that is the client. The harmonious merging of the two is looked into and then only do they move ahead with the design.

cover story


☛ Design a house for the future; think 10years ahead at least.☛ Pick a designer wisely, who is willing to hear you out, critique you and yet stand up for his own thought processes. Designers who are too easily moulded by the clients might not be the best bet. ☛ Think about the external factor, the cli-

Guidelines to follow while designing your home

mate of India, and see the way air moves and how light penetrates the house. ☛ The total look must appear finely de-signed, should look totally effortless because everything would seem in place without looking laboured. The best design is that which looks simple and effortless. It should not look like it was contrived.


Prominent Trends☛ Cutting edge furniture in new materi-als like acrylic, mixed with finely crafted wooden pieces in the same room. ☛ Mirrors that have lost their conventional shapes, in the same space as precious oil paint-ing in heavy ornate frames, or the reverse, classical mirrors with traditional frames. ☛ Judicious juxtaposing of colours – taupe with deep bright colours or using very deep grey with an aamras yellow. ☛ Mixing of different styles, which takes a lot of skill and visual education so that they look interesting when they are put together. u

by PRIYAANKA BERRY

Jenga Bar Island inspired from the game 'Jenga'. Made out of solid Burma Teak Wood with Corian top

Passage area at K2India Studios. Contemporary Console Table with a pietra durra Pyrite and Mother-of-Pearl Mirror above. on either side are designed, powder- coated Jalis made of mild steel

Sculptural Mirror, designed using several beveled mirror pieces

home interiors


Mosaic A medley of art

on a visit to ‘The Art Mosaic Factory – sicis’, an opulent store, magnificently embellished wall-to-wall, one would only marvel at the wonder art forms humans can create. Many would concur that if there’s one element that can beat the time-less elegance of marble, it has to be mosaic. This decorative art creates anything and everything by assembling small pieces of glass, stone, metal and several other materials. so whether you wish for elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe or even your own mosaic depiction on the walls or floor, the in-house design team in italy will ably conceive the designs for your interiors.

Having added grace to many celebrity homes including the ones of shahrukh khan, shilpa shetty and sachin Tendulkar, this modern mo-saic art is swiftly showing up in bungalows across the city. The versatility of the designs is such that we could probably write an entire volume on it. ogle at the selected mosaic work spread over these pages by the italian brand sicis, and get inspired to have a piece of it at your abode.

Hedonism collection

Dedicated to pleasure, Hedonism is a collec-tion created for the respect of the human body and its sculptural beauty. Its graphic

precision lies in the intensity of glances and supple move-ments of the female figure, and the athletic actions of the male body. The men and women depicted have tons of metropolitan glamour. The subjects would be sup-plied pre-assembled on a base and available in variously sized panels. These can also be provided on request in transparent plexiglass to then be fixed on the walls.

him & her


theodre face

This panel is designed by the international fashion genius Mr. Christian Lacroix for Sicis. Portraying Empress Theodora, an influential female figure of

the ancient Roman Empire, the mosaic used in this chaotic yet gorgeous piece is varied, such as gold in the background with the use of mother of pearl mosaic, neoglass, Colibri, Iridium etc. This specific panel measures 71 x 100 cm, but can be produced on a higher scale according to the client’s needs.

Orientale Collection

Inspired by the Oriental/Japanese f lower decorations and natural patterns, each chip of these artistic

panels is cut and placed by hand in Italy by the Sicis mosaic masters. While one involves the use of blue murano smalto glass tile, white iridium and Colibri aluminium with a silvery, mirror-like effect, the other has a background of gold mosaic. This dreamy mosaic scenery is a latest innovative design by the experimental brand artists.

home interiors


Is it A

lamp?

Light materialises itself in perfect forms- spheres. These small and big globes

are a part of the ‘Atmosphere Lamp Collection’ by Sicis. The transparency of mosaic allows an illuminated effect, making them look like celestial bodies floating in the air.

This t ip toe lamp express-es sensuality

and fun in the shape of a woman’s leg. With a size of 40 x 140 cm and a weight of 10 kgs, this light certainly demands an exclusive space of your home.

MAINTENANCE Easily to maintain, all mosaic work can be cleaned with water and non-acidic liquid detergents.BUDgET Keep an account of at least Rs. 2.5 lakhs. If it’s manageable, don’t go by the cost. We suggest you to visit the Sicis store to assess the brilliance of the designs in person.

Belonging to the Sicis ‘Next Art Collection’, this lamp is in the

shape of a mannequin wear-ing an elegant hat. Whether lit or not, it is a visual delight. When switched on, the effer-vescent colours radiate out of this figure even more.

WHERE: Sicis, D-5, Defence Colony, First Floor, New Delhi,

011-46114800 uby VARALIKA VIJ


A world class luxury brand focused on handcrafted artistic creation and production

WHERE: Select CITYWALK, Saket/ Ambience Mall, gurgaon.

Founded in 1953 by brothers Juan, Jose and Vi-cente Lladró, Lladró is a world class luxury brand focused on handcrafted artistic creation and pro-duction. Across the globe, Lladró is known for its high quality porcelain figurines. Lladró has forged a language that goes beyond words. The ongoing evolution of its sculptures has made the Lladró work the finest representation of art porcelain from the mid 20th century to our day.

The work of Lladró is an expression of universal values, intimately connected with real people and their feelings. It is the celebration of the best moments of

life. Inspired by dreams and fantasy, traditions, literature and art, nature or daily life, there

is always a story behind each piece. And each story is added to as it passes

through the hands of the story-tellers. The sculptors who

conceived it, always with the close in-

volvement and collaboration of Lladró family; the artisan instill-ing life into it; the story of the person who buys it; the setting in which it eventually finds itself; all of them take part in a process which, step by step, confers a dimension to the work transcending their status as mere decorative objects. Lladró cre-ations are capable of producing emotions that cannot be otherwise expressed so simply.

The personal style of the creations and their ability to express the most positive feelings has made Lladró the fifth Spanish brand in terms of inter-national profile and the third most recognized and named brand in the luxury sector abroad. Lladró’s creations have found their way into museums such as the Hermitage of St Petersburg (Russia), the Brussels Cinquan-tanaire Museum (Belgium), the International Ceramic Museum of Faenza (Italy) or the Gonzalez Marti National Ce-ramic Museum of Valencia (Spain) amongst others.Lladró’s creations are very popular across America, Europe, UK, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. India is a growing market for Lladró, (it made its entry into the country in 2000). While still a fam-ily business, Lladró is a multinational company with a workforce of 2000 employees. It has eight subsid-iaries abroad and its own network of 18 boutiques. Besides, it has another 4000 authorized dealers selling its products in 123 countries worldwide. The prices ranges from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000,000 and there are 11 Lladró stores across India.


Light up your FesTive niGHTAs the festival of lights is making its way to knock on your door, be ready to welcome it with wide arms!

ElvyWHERE: Square one Mall, ground Floor, C-2 District Centre, Saket/ Pacific Mall, Shop no.17-18,Tagore garden/ MgF Megacity Mall, ground Floor, Mg Road, gurgaon and other exclusive outlets across New Delhi/ NCR.

Address HomeWHERE: Address Home, N-3, greater Kailash, Part-1 Market, New Delhi.

Butterfly Essence Holder- Rs 590 Jade Deco Light Holder- Rs 750

Orchid light holder- Rs 690

VacchiWHERE: Vacchi, Shop No. 22, Defence Colony, New Delhi.

Set of four crystal T-lights stand- Rs 25,000

5 in one T-light set- Rs 12,000

Set of three crystal T-light set- Rs 8000

Apartment 9WHERE: Design Studio, N-9,

N Block Market, greater Kailash-1, New Delhi.

home interiors

Prestige candle holder- Rs 1795

Earthy set of 3 T-light holders - Rs 1495

Shimmer and shine t-light holder with amber glass insert- Rs 595

Colourful candle holders- Rs 250

home interiors


Simplifying with Apartment 9Simple yet chic design by Apartment 9. The colours are soft and would add grace to any space.

PRICE: Rs 2,250 onwards. WHERE: Design Studio, N Block market, greater Kailash-1, New Delhi.

CUsHion qUoTienTGet choosy with cushions covers this festive season from the wide range of options waiting to get placed in your room!

For the animal loversIndi store by Alex Davis has come up with their latest range of animal print cushion covers to give a wild and smart look to your home.

PRICE: Rs 12,950. WHERE: Indi store, 143 Shahpur Jat, New Delhi.

Handcrafted cuddlingThis Diwali, Zaza Home clearly gears up to respond to the cushion facet with its handcrafted cushion covers collection.

PRICE: on request. WHERE: Zaza Home, 25-26, Community Center, Zamrudpur, New Delhi.

Styling the Delhi Design Store wayThe diagonal stripe and check cushion cover from The Delhi Design Store is enough to

stylize your room.

PRICE: Rs 1300 onwards. WHERE: Delhi Design, 40 /792, Sau Phoota road, Chattarpur, New Delhi.

Bring Indian-ism home with

Purple JungleInspired by ‘Incredible India’, Purple Jungle aims at bringing a smile on

the visage of the customers with its fresh and innovative cushion cover

designs.

PRICE: Rs 1,150. WHERE: Purple Jungle, 16,

Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi.

Bringing the heritage backGood Earth, with its unique and impeccable traditional and nature inspired prints has managed to give your living room an air of novelty.

PRICE: Rs 1,850 onwards. WHERE: good Earth, 9 ABC Complex, Khan Market, New Delhi.

home interiors

Gone are the days when coffee tables were just another piece of furniture. Having the best coffee tables from the best furniture shops is what people yearn for nowadays. since Cityscan is all about what is hot and latest, we are here bringing the most attractive coffee tables from the nooks and corners of delhi.

Trunk metamorphosises into a coffee tablePortside café has come up with a colourful Balli Maran coffee table which has taken its inspiration from a jewellery box. The colourful prints, a golden fish motif, ‘varq’ – like accents, an-

tique brass fittings, a heavy pad-lock, all combine to make a stunning piece of furniture that opens up like a trunk

and reveals a lime green ultra suede lining which has our signature print and has been quilted to

add to its overall opulent features. Have your coffee on the top of this trunk and store the valuables inside.

PRICE: Rs 1,18,000. WHERE: Portside Café, F 301, Lado Sarai, New Delhi.

Set smile on the face of your mademoiselle with Christopher Guy’s mademoiselle collectionAn elegant coffee table, featuring Christopher Guy’s signature ‘Silk-Slice’ detail, which cuts through both tiers, is ideal for those who are looking for an element of chic with a touch of contemporariness inside their living room.

PRICE: on request. WHERE: Christopher Guy, international Furniture Brands, Mehrauli-gurgaon road, New Delhi.

Get smart with natuzziThe coffee table by Natuzzi is an ideal accessory for the living room furnishing. It adapts perfectly to different styles. It can be altered by combining it with a bridging table, in a glossy lacquer finish in cream, sand or mocha brown colour. Lastly, it can also be completed by a practical tray available both in a wenge-stained oak veneer and in Canaletto walnut to perfectly match the chosen finish for the table. Bring home the perfection!

PRICE: Rs 72,440 for the complete unit. WHERE: Natuzzi, Kirti Nagar, New Delhi.

Uniqueness at its best with IdusThis hanako table from Idus is crafted uniquely in an intricate design, leaving your living room with a spanking fresh feel. Made partially out of wood, this coffee table will help resolve your anxieties about choosing the best coffee table for your living room.PRICE: Rs 76,500. WHERE: idus, Kirti Nagar, New Delhi.

CoFFee TABles



Exquisite living with devon & devon

The Devon & Devon brand name was born from an idea to re-create the bathroom, as inspired by the classic European atmospheres and by the finest American aesthetics of the 1900s. Soft forms, depth of the enamel, duration and reliability of the metallic surfaces, quality finishes, and ex-treme attention to details, represent the principle elements of the Devon & Devon quality. The principle feature of this brand is its conjugation of technology and handicraft.The technical and commercial expertise that the mother company gathered through time, combined with the new ideas brought forward by the second generation led to the birth of Devon & Devon in 1989. The objective was precise marketing ideas for the complete, coordinated interior decoration of the bathroom. Devon & Devon has now come up with their whole extensive range to India at FCML. Its range includes- Bathtubs, console and sanitary ware, taps, bathroom accessories and mirrors, lampshades, marble floor collection, wall coverings and ceramic tiles collection.The brand is present in a number of Italian cities, and exports to over seventy countries throughout the world. The single-brand stores are located in the heart of key cities such as Bucharest, Hamburg, Istanbul, Nice, Paris, Tel Aviv, Warsaw and Vienna, and in Italy-Florence, Milan and Turin.

PRICE: Bathtubs- Rs 8,00,000 onwards, Furniture & Consoles- Rs 4,00,000 onwards, Taps- Rs 50,000 onwards and Mirrors- Rs 1,00,000 onwards. WHERE: The FCML Store, Sultanpur Chowk, Sultanpur, Mehrauli gurgaon road, New Delhi.

home interiors


electronics & gadgets

Alas! A head phone for ardent music loversFEATURES: Philips O’Neil Bend provides powerful sound with Dynamic 30mm drivers delivering deep and dynamic bass. The flexible headband provides enhanced durability and the cable stress relief prevents breakage. With super-f lexible headband, reinforced cables and safe release cans, these can stand the roughest of uses.USP: These head phones can deal with extremities where Safe release cans pop off when too much force is applied. It has a tough tangle free cable with reinforced connectors. Finally an ear phone for rough and tough usage.

PRICE: Rs 3,499. WHERE: Philips dealer stores across Delhi/NCR.

Music MAniAWe all have diverse ways of

unwinding. Whatever your way is, listening to music and losing

yourself would always top the list. Cityscan’s top priority is to keep you up-market. you generally do

not shirk from spending money for your entertainment if it’s worth it. know how to do it with this latest

lot of headphones.

Audiophile perfection with Sennheiser’s HD 700FEATURES: These fully open dynamic stereo headphones combine h i g h - e n d s o u n d with an innovative headphone design. I n c o r p o r a t i n g S e n n h e i s e r ’ s signature sound expertise, these o p e n a n d circumaural d y n a m i c s t e r e o headphones p r o m i s e outstanding sounds t age with a warm and balanced audio reproduction. Paired with specially-tuned, highly efficient drivers, capable of delivering high sound pressure levels, immense audio enjoyment will now be available at your fingertips.USP: To ensure that the acoustic properties of the headphones are not impaired by any partial vibrations, the transducer is mounted in high-precision gauze made of stainless steel. The curvature reduces the volume of air beneath the diaphragm, thus guaranteeing even more precise control of the diaphragm motion and significantly lowering total harmonic distortion. The ear cushions made of high-quality microfiber fabric guarantee excellent wearing comfort.

PRICE: Rs 54,990. WHERE: Sennheiser dealer stores across Delhi/NCR and at their e-store-http://shop.sennheiserindia.com

Sport the new sports head phonesFEATURES: Bose introduces the SIE2 and SIE2i sport headphones, the first Bose In-Ear headphones specifically engineered for exercise. Both deliver unmatched performance for sport headphones, combining high-quality audio, stability, sweat- and water-resistance and durability - all in a sport-inspired design that complements any athlete’s workout, from casual gym-goers to cross-trainers and avid runners.USP: The Bose SIE2 sport headphones can be used with most music players, and the SIE2i sport headphones are designed exclusively for listening to music and taking calls from select Apple devices, including an iPhone and iPod. The SIE2i in-line remote and microphone provides easy access to certain Apple phone voice commands and lets owners adjust volume and navigate through stored music.

PRICE: SIE2 (green) Rs 6,638 and SIE2i (green and orange) Rs 8,663. WHERE: Bose outlets across Delhi/NCR.

Blocking out the sound of jet engine with Dr. DreFEATURES: You can be on your own with Dr. Dre’s studio head phones powered by AAA batteries. The noise cancellation feature

blocks out the outer noise giving you a powerful and intense sound. You can attend calls, skip songs and adjust volume from the cord of your beats head phones.USP: Since it is lightweight, it is also very comfortable to wear. The ear cups are extra relaxed as they are covered with a super plush and extra soft breathable material. Now head banging would be done Dr. Dre’s way without any obstruction.

PRICE: Rs 29,000. WHERE: global gadgets, 52-A, Khan Market, New Delhi.


Apple TvThis Apple TV gives you the access to the best 1080p content-including blockbuster movies, videos and photos. You can even play content from your iOS devices on your television screen using AirPlay. Just plug in the power cord and connect your Apple TV to a widescreen television with a single HDMI cable.

PRICE: Rs 9,000. WHERE: gizmo World, C-30, greater Kailash, Part-1, New Delhi.

DySon hoTThis heater comes w i t h t e m p e r a t u r e control. There are no fast-spinning blades or v i s ib le he at ing elements, so it is easy to clean. This heater consists of air multiplier t e c hn o l o g y wh e r e the air is sucked and amplified upto 6 times through inducement and entrainment. Touch-tilt makes the air flow in your chosen direction. With the touch-tilt you can direct air wherever you want. The dyson hot c ome s wi t h a remote control unit and thermostat control sets the temperature you want, from 32° to 99° F.

PRICE: Rs 33,000. WHERE: global gadgets, 52 A, Khan market, New Delhi.

nespressoCombining chic design with practical, user-friendly functionality, this automatic espresso maker brews up soothing, cafe-style coffee drinks swiftly and effort-lessly. The single-serve machine features an exclusive extraction system designed specifically for coffee-filled capsules, which are hermetically sealed and soaks all the ground coffee to optimally filter it. It comes with an integrated Aeroccino for creating an endless variety of milk-based coffee drinks at the touch of a button. The flow of coffee depends on the coffee variety selected, and up to 11 used capsules collect in the capsule container for later disposal.

PRICE: Rs 28,000. WHERE: global gadgets, 52 A, Khan market, New Delhi.

Pico projectorHere is the next gen of projectors where they have become so small that they can be carried conveniently anywhere. It’s a whole new way of viewing media and doing business. The LED life is 20000 hours and playback file formats that can be played are JPEG and BMP. Whether you’re making a busi-ness presentation or sharing photos with friends, the Pico allows you to project images and videos on almost any wall, almost anywhere.

PRICE: Rs 37,000. WHERE: gizmo World, C-30, greater Kailash, New Delhi.

Delhi-techAccompany us to these shops in Delhi which offer

the most unique selling lifestyle and tech gizmos!

electronics & gadgets


children trends

Nee & oink brings an ethnic range for kids with its festive range Designed for miniature adults, Nee & Oink has launched its limited festive collection for kids, blending tradition, sense of humour and style. Encompassing whimsical and chic designs, Neelakshi (Nee) Ray and Oeindrila (Oink) Ray have combined hand-picked organic fabrics and eco- friendly dyes that capture the magic of childhood and fantasy with comfort, perfect for a child’s playful palette. The festive season collection includes Padma Lakshmi, Anarkali, Rajrani, Punjabi Biradree, Babu Moshai & Chote Nawab, inspired by the different regions of India. The ranges are inspired by the delicate bloom of the ethereal lotus blossom, bright colours of the flowering pomegranate and the roots of Bengal, to name a few. The fabrics used are largely tie and dye leheriya silk georgette, 100% silk chiffon and 100% kora cotton, 100% silk brocade, 100% benarasi silk net, 100% Khadi cotton and 100% Mal Mal cotton to keep the pieces very comfortable and fuss-free for kids. Nee & Oink is inspired by themes

and interests that feature everyday in children’s life. ‘Everything that the children experience inspires our designs’ is what the brand’s philosophy. PRICE: Rs 6,900 onwards. WHERE: Kidology, DLF Promenade, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

Effortless style by almirahFounded by a mother daughter team, Almirah

has gradually grown with an experience of fabrics and traditional Indian techniques like quilting,

printing and embroidery. In their recent festive collection, Almirah has tried to

create memories of the days gone by keeping simple silhouettes for children (ages 0-10). Almirah

has developed special motifs like the owl, elephant, cycle and parrot

which are on the little kurtas, lehengas and silk bundis for children. There is a lot of

detailing like gota, embroidery to name a few. With the onset of festive season, Almirah surely is taking care of the ethnic perspective for kids.PRICE: Rs 1,095 to Rs 2,995. WHERE: Almirah, 38, Meharchand Market, Lodhi Road, New Delhi.

Take care of your Kids closet this festive season!If you think you are all set with the preparations of Diwali, think again. Your kids generally get ignored when you are tied up with your hectic schedule during the festivities. CityScan gives you a peek into festive wear for children.


Festive surprises

for the budding

oneskids are the ones who are always more excited than anyone for gifts, be it any occasion. That’s precisely why Cityscan is trying to make your task simpler by suggesting you what can be gifted to all the anxious tiny minies out there this festive season!

Kids in action with Early Learning CentreThis colourful walker will delight the babies. The removable activity ring has cogs to turn, pages to flick, keys to press, tunes to listen to and more. When the baby is ready to try walking, the sturdy walker offers enormous support. Whereas the fun projector has 42 image slides, movable rotat-ing arm, projects onto A3 and A4 paper. Now let your kids have fun the smart way!

PRICE: Light and Sound Walker- Rs 3,999 and Projector- Rs 1,999. WHERE: Early Learning Centre, DLF Place, Saket, Delhi.

Barbie's Pop Star collectionBarbie is one such toy that every girl loves to possess. The latest Princess and Pop Star range will be admired by little angels as princess Barbie can be magically transform into a pop star by sim-ply pulling the string on the back of her long, shimmery princess skirt and revealing the trendy pop-star mini and funky boots underneath. Then ro-t a t e he r b l onde princess hair to reveal a fun, pink pop-star do. Press her neck-lace, and she sings!

PRICE: Rs 1,299. WHERE: Shoppers Stop, Pantaloons and Lifestyle across Delhi/NCR.

mumma please, HotwheelsKids can have fun with this exciting dose of transforming cars. These hotwheels ballistiks balls actually open to transform into vehicles that roll. There are more than 20 different characters to choose from. Kids would want to collect them all!

PRICE: Rs 399 onwards. WHERE: Lifestyle and all other leading toy shops across Delhi/NCR.

Gumdrops says its playtimeBecause children love to play, ‘Gumdrops’ by Good Earth has created a baby-line whose products are environment friendly. Let your child indulge in a safe play session with this colourful soft toy range!

PRICE: Rs 7,420. WHERE: good Earth, 9, ABC Complex, Khan Market, New Delhi.

children trends


new launch

Another Nappa Dori opens at MeherchandNappa Dori is the brain child of Gautam Sinha, a talented graduate from the National Institute of Fashion Technology who has combined his design with precise technical acu-men. This is the second boutique of Nappa Dori in Delhi after Hauz Khaz Village. The spanking new store is small but still manages to look airy, thanks to clever design elements like low, un-obstructive furniture and metal spotlights on wide grey walls, a significant improvement over the label's original space in HKV. Here, we have the trunks as well as more wearable monotone handbags, hewn from thick, chocolaty leather, simul-taneously primitive and sophisticated; leather bracelets; and a nice collec-tion of belts as well as notebooks. From home to fashion accessories take a look at the vast collection pres-ent inside this exquisite boutique of Nappa Dori.

LoCATIoN: Shop No. 25, Meharchand Market, Delhi. TEL: + 91 9810400778

The first ever Armani Junior store in New DelhiGiorgio Armani has opened its first ever Armani Junior store in India, at DLF Emporio Mall, New Delhi. Covering 2000 sq ft., the store design truly embodies Giorgio Armani’s vision of the urban and cosmopolitan spirit which Armani Junior represents. It showcases the complete Armani Junior lifestyle collections for boys and girls including formal and casual wear, sportswear and accessories.Armani Junior is designed with ultra-luxurious fabrics making it a top selling children's clothing brand world-wide. The style is as unmistakeable as it is consistent, leaving the vagaries of fashion far behind. The new stores have been opened in some of the world’s most dynamic countries and cities, in prestigious retail locations; Delhi being one of them.

LoCATIoN: DLF Emporio, Vasant Kunj, Delhi. TEL: +91 11 41601888

Kama Ayurveda reveals its flagship store in Khan MarketKama Ayurveda opened its first exclusive store recently in New Delhi. Located in the upscale Khan Market, the flagship store stocks an exhaustive range of the company’s authentic Ayurvedic, organic and natural products including the iconic bestsellers - Kumkumadi Miraculous Beauty Fluid and Bringadi Intensive Hair Treatment. The company has introduced over 30 new products to mark the launch of the store, including the Kumkumadi Brightening Ayurvedic Face Scrub, Eladi Hydrating Ayurvedic Face Cream, six Ayurvedic handmade soaps and a range of men’s grooming products.The trendsetting store is inspired by the sophistication and glamour of early 20th century Indian interiors. Architecturally, the high façade and ceilings, period detailing and checker board marble flooring along with the classic lines of the warm teak and rattan cabinetry evokes a sense of luxury and continuity with the past.

LoCATIoN: 22-A, Khan Market, New Delhi. TEL: +91 11 24654885/86


city events

ROYAL FABLESCityScan brings you a glimpse of the 4th edition of Royal Fables recently held at the Imperial Hotel, New Delhi where the enterprising amongst the erstwhile royals came together to share with us vignettes of royal living and gave us an opportunity to do the same.

Snehsanta couture and silver

Showcase - Baisa Pushpita SinghAnshu Khanna (Founder, Royal Fables),

Ruchika Mehta and Neeva Jain

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city events

ROYAL FABLESRani Kavita Singh of Jodhpur and Dr. Karan Singh

Saba Ali Khan with her friend

Showcase - HH Maharani Radhikaraje gaekwad of BarodaA Banarasi weaverGlobetrotter luggage

An overview

Shreeji Arvind Singh Mewar with Kawarani Vidita Singh of Bharwani

and Rajkumari Tanushree Singh


ROYAL FABLESA n s hu K h a n n a ho s t e d a cocktail party to flag off Royal Fables Season 4 at The Imperial, New Delhi. Smt. Preneet Kaur (Honourable Minister of State for External Affairs) unveiled the first edition of the book "Royal Fables - The Profile of a patron".

city events

Host Anshu Khanna, Preneet Kaur (Honourable Minister of State for External affairs), Maneka Gandhi and Vijay Wanchoo

Kanwarani gitanjali Shah of Theri garhwal and Kanwarani Divya Bharatpur

Princess Vaishnavi Kumari, Kumarsaeb Padmanav Jadeja and

Princess Sarveshwari Kumari Navin Ansal and Raseel gujral

Kawrani Kamini Singh, Tanisha Mohan and Naina Balsavar Ahmad Ambika Shukla, Neelam Pratap Rudy and Rajyalakshmi

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city events

HH Maharaja Brajraj Singh of Kishangarh and Anshu Khanna, Founder Royal Fables, hosted a baithak at The Imperial, New Delhi. The evening witnessed the launch of Rare Darbar Music of Kishangarh recorded in the early nineties at the royal courts of Kishangarh by Guest of Honour Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar. On the occasion was a live performance and a talk on the art of reviving palace lighting by Regis Mathieu, the chandelier restorer, who redid the crystals at Chateau De Versailles. From Rajasthan, the evening progressed to Awadh with Raja Syed Muzaffar Ali talking on Awadhi

food as Whiskey Ambassador Sandeep Arora paired delicious Awadhi food with Royal Salute 21 years.

Shreeji Arvind Singh Mewar and HH Maharaja Brijraj Singh of Kishangarh

Tika Raja Aishwarya and Tika Rani Shailaja Katoch of Lambargaon

Anjal gupta, Regis Mathieu and Helene Mathieu

Rani Meera Ali, Zainab Chauhan, Raja Syed Muzzafar Ali of Kotwara

Nawabzadi Saba Sultan of Pataudi and Princess

Shivangi Jhala

Sandeep Arora and Host Anshu Khanna


Home BakersScrumptiously Sinful Cakes and Morehow would you like if your life’s story was the concept for a cake – a special occasion, birthday, social gathering or anything you want to celebrate, moulded out of flour and butter, prepared in a homely set-up? ranging from chocolates to cupcakes, cookies to theme based cakes, if you have an idea, these ladies promise to transform it into a splendid delicacy. We bring to you 6 such women who have transformed their kitchen into their recreation zone. baking by profession and serving straight from the heart, here’s profiling some of the city’s well known home-bakers and bringing you close and personal with these ladies behind the ladle.

Ipshita ChakladarCakes Mamma Bakes

You call yourself more of a cake designer. Where did the inspiration to weave a story out of a cake come

from?My father always said that there is beauty in everything. That is the bottom line I stick to, every time I create a piece. The cakes are decorated like a painting, narrating a story. My background in art gives me the unique advantage of being able to create a cake ver-

"To lend individuality to each cake, I ensure that no two designs are the same. I pay attention to the minutest of details and ensure that every bit of your story is complete."

sion of anything. I don’t print; all my work is hand painted and hand crafted. What are your special offerings?One of my most popular cakes is the dark moist chocolate cake with a gooey ganache. This cake made from Belgian cocoa and Belgian dark chocolate has always left my customers asking for more. The other hot seller is the sticky caramel with Swiss butter-cream. All the ingredients I use are imported including cocoa, bluberry preserve, raspberry custand, Irish Creme, Mint and Kahlua creme. Other items available are desserts, health breads, tea cakes, brownies including sugar free and eggless options. Tell us some of the unique designs you have worked on.I once designed a necklace cake called Van Clee and Arpels which had to replicate a design right out of a jewellery catalogue. The brief was on a customer’s request who

wished to give his wife a necklace on her birthday but on a cake. Moreover, as it

was a necklace it also needed to be on a stand as it is placed in a jewellery store.

food desserts

Blessed to have highly inspiring parents, Ipshita started off baking since her school days with her mother who was a quite good baker too. She took a formal training from IHM Bangalore and specialised in the patisserie. Her decoration skills are self taught and trace back to her background in painting, which gives her the freedom to create a cake out of anything.

Another one was for a concept wedding, es-saying the story of a couple. Every interest they shared including travelling, beaches, marathons and photography was justified with the designs of a suitcase, beaches and Nike shoes and a camera. Hence, for me cakes are just not cakes, but a part of your story.What are the special preparations for this festive season?For the festival season, there are edible can-dles and diyas . Christmas has special cakes with marzipan filling and iced cookies and other goodies. These festive goodies come in special packaging. Other cupcakes are avail-able in boxes of 6 and 12. I also cater to mass orders and parties.To spin your yarn using Ipshita’s indigenous designs and creativity, place your order at www.ipshitas.com or write to [email protected].


Jaya kocharCake WalkWhat are the designs and figurines that you use in your cakes? Where does the inspiration to create these edible artefacts come from?My USP is definitely my customized cakes. Drawing inspiration from the constant desire to create newer and fantastic designs, I try to equally justify the customers’ level of excitement as well as my own while baking

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After studying baking and pastry at the Pusa Institute of hotel Management, New York, Jaya did an intensive course at the Culinary Institute of America, Napa Valley, California. Having gained industry experience at her short stint and Oberoi Udaivilas, Jaya has been in this business for around 9 years now.

"For a person who is fond of cooking, we make a cake in the shape of a kitchen counter with a burner, wok, ladle, vegetables, flour, sugar, eggs and the cook at work as well. If you have a visual, we can make it in a cake for you!"

each cake.Each cake is made in consultation with the client and is personalized exactly to their needs. All the handmade detailing asked by the clients, including figurines is done from imported Marzipan and is safely edible.Out of a variety of cakes that I bake and sell, the Devils chocolate cake made with the best quality pure chocolate and covered in the finest Fondant is the one I would highly recommend. Among desserts, the Banofee pie or the chocolate mousse charlotte are my bestselling items.

What should people look forward from your end this wedding/festive season?For me, the festive season never ends. Every birthday is a special occasion for someone, hence for me. But with Diwali and a lot of weddings happening in October, I present my line of festive cakes. For weddings I do special tiered cakes or prepare edible flowers matching the wedding decor/bride and grooms outfits to

go out with wedding invites. During Diwali cakes with a lot of gold detailing do the rounds along with chocolate fudge brownies , cupca kes a nd Marzipan Cakes. Christmas calls or lots of cookies/cupcakes in colours like red, gold and green. Cakes are usually decorated with Santa and snowman cookies, Marzipan candycane, gift boxes and Christmas trees.These cakes, brownies and cupcakes are packaged within the boxes provided by the clients to celebrate their special occasion.

If you wish to present any idea for a wedding, birthday or special occasion on a base of flour and butter, contact Jaya on 9818077161 or www.facebook.com/jayascakewalk.


"Keeping in mind the theme for Diwali, I present cakes in new designs every year. This year I plan to come up with cakes/cupcakes flaunting designs of firecrackers, diyas, playing cards and poker chips."

Deepika khaitanDeepika Khaitan Cakes

Tell us about your signature of fer ings and spec ia l i t ies . What ingredients do you use in

preparation?I believe in creating a masterpiece ev-ery time I execute an order. Though my speciality is theme based cakes/cups/brownies and cookies, I also of-fer chocolates as a seasonal offering. The chocolate, cocoa powder and food color used is imported keeping in mind the safety of children enjoying the cup cake. Though my favourite flavours are chocolate truffle and vanilla butter-scotch, I have recently tried my hand at the Rainbow cake. The cake has lay-ers of rainbow coloured sponge cake sandwiched within vanilla icing. The cupcakes are available in boxes of 4,6 and 8 or packed into boxes or plat-ters provided by the clients. How do you maintain the individuality and personalization

of each cake?I ensure all the cakes are exactly in ac-cordance to the client’s requirements, including eggless and sugarfree options. These personalized cakes can be sent with wedding invitations, birth announce-ments, engagement announcements etc. Theme based cakes are very popular for baby showers, baby announcements, poker for Diwali, bachelor/ bachelorette cakes and children’s birthday cakes. For the wedding season I am doing almond tarts, decorated like flowers and a wide variety of chocolates.

Having spent over 10 years in the business, first as a professional chef and now as a business woman, Deepika has not just worked in India, but also in the States. Graduating in hotel management from Johnson and Whales University, Rhode Island, she specialized as a pastry chef and eventually came up with her signature Deepika Khaitan Cakes

To delight your guests with Deepika’s whim-sical designs and quirky cakes, contact her on- +91- 9910105045 / 26849039 or find her on facebook by the name of Deepika Khaitan Cakes.

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"For me, the challenge lies in meeting the client’s expectations and helping them create a cake with the different visuals and ideas. one of my most difficult orders was to make a cake resembling a cockpit for a pilot. Though it was very challenging at first, ultimately the cake turned out to be fabulous!"

arshi DhupiaCravings

What design sensibilities would you associate with the cakes you bake?

I am a true art lover and have a yearning for new creative things. I spent a few years learning sculpting and ceram-ics. Hence for me, chocolate and cake is like clay which I use to mould figure. A simple vanilla or fruit cake sponge is like an empty canvas which has to be painted with marzipans and cream to yield artistic mould-ings. The moulding could be even 3D, a painting, sketch or any idea presented on the top of a cake. Moreover my love and passion for chocolates further aug-ments my desire to exemplify my creations.Tell us some of the unique designs you have worked on.I once made a special cake for a client’s husband who was fond of chaat papri. So I created a cake with a chaat stall and had small figurines on top of chaat papri, potatoes, matar kachori, alloo ki chhat, green chilli, co-riander leaves etc all made out of marzipan.Similarly there was another cake with a thali on top the cake with paneer makhni, parantha, slice of pizza and other food items.

I recently made a cake for a young boy who wanted to be a scientist when he grows up. So I made a science theme based cake with test tubes a nd te s t tub e stands, chemis-try book, atoms,

a scientist etc. I also did a monsoon based theme cake with um-brellas, flips flops, a little boat with a teddy passenger and other small artefacts to bring out the ambience of monsoons.Do you also cater to a lot of parties and large gatherings?Yes, of course! In fact, I have been doing de-signer cakes for a few years now but when I got into this profession I only did special desserts for parties and wedding. I offer a lot of chocolate cakes and absolutely enjoy mak-ing the cheesecake in all flavours including alphonso and strawberry. In chocolate cakes,

my current favourite is the mint with choco-late mousse and dark and white chocolate mascarpone marquis with chocolate bubble sheets and the red velvet cake. I do a lot of mass bulk orders as well as small orders. Moreover, I love to experiment with different flavours whenever I get the time. For me baking is therapy, I love baking for everyone, irrespective of the size of the order.If you want Arshi’s designer cakes and des-serts to pamper your guests with some sinful chocolate delicacies, contact her on 9811296858 or on her facebook page called Arshi Dhupia – Cravings.

Parents are very well the biggest driving force in everyone’s life. Even when they are upset! Arshi’s love for cakes and desserts started with the simple butter cake that her mother used to make which left her craving for more even at the middle of the night. Obviously, her mom refused which made her try her hand at baking. That’s where it all started. A lawyer by profession, baking has been Arshi’s love for the last 13 years.


aparna & sulekhaWrapp-Ups

Tell us more about the range of cakes that you offer.Our signature cakes are-Almond

Nougat-which is a chocolate based cake, with caramelised almonds and cream. Our family and friends always encouraged our passion for baking and cooking inspiring us to strive for the best. Other specialities are Rich dark chocolate, Cake-a gooey rich chocolate rum cake, blueberry cheese cake, Chocolate Ter-rine- a layer of chocolate cake with a layer of chocolate mousse and a layer of Kahlua mousse, Sugarcraft and Fondant cakes, which are customised and personalised to our cli-ent’s needs and likes. We do everything from simple edible flowers to very fancy cakes with figures. We ensure that quality and our unique personal touch is maintained in each order we execute, by being hands on in the preparation of each cake without leaving much for our staff. What are the other desserts that you specialize in?

We do a lot of assorted chocolates which include truffles, butterscotch, almond rocks, soft centres and liqueur chocolates. Cupcakes in various flavours such as blueberry, choc chip, red velvet, plain and almond crunch are other are also on the menu. Apart from these, there are also dry cakes like Brownies, Date and Walnut, Apple Cinnamon, Carrot and Banana. As these cakes can be easily packed and distributed, they become a huge hit dur-ing the festive season of Diwali, weddings, and Christmas. For packaging, we provide our guests with simple gift boxes on request

To make these yummy delights by Sule-kha and Aparna a part of your celebrations, contact them on 011-26964133 or 0091-98102-69760. You can also connect with them on their facebook group- Wrapp Ups.

"To supply cakes, brownies and our other desserts to large gatherings we do make mass orders. In fact we have even tied up with a few caterers to take care of the same."

These ladies started baking as a hobby more than 17 years ago which soon transformed into a professional bakery. With a professional training in hotel management around 25 years ago, Sulekha and Aparna have regularly updated their art with professional courses from New York and New Orleans.

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"I personally handpick fresh fruits and several specialized ingredients to render the best possible flavours. To keep the flavour and tastes as home-made as possible, I refrain from using any preservatives or trans fat."

Ritu Gupta credits being initiated to the art of baking by her mother and feels blessed to have a highly supportive family which inspired her to innovate and evolve. Completely self taught, she has honed her skills on the job and has been experimenting with cakes and new cuisine over the last 3 decades to dish out food and desserts under her brand “Ambrosia – Food of the Gods”

and puddings. Be it imported Belgian Chocolate or good

quality Cocoa or the original Philadelphia Cream Cheese, I use only the best ingredients available for the preparation of the cakes. We try to keep the flavour and tastes as home-made as possible by not using any preservatives or trans fat. Food and desserts

are made from our home kitchen where we maintain high hygiene standards. I ensure good quality control by personally supervising all items leaving my kitchen.

These healthy, homemade cakes come in attractive pink, gold and white boxes. To place your order, email at [email protected] or call on +91 98100 88626 u

As told to AVNI MEHRoTRA

ritu GuptaAmbrosia

Tell us about your offerings? What kind of ingredients

do you use for the preparation of the cakes?Along with cakes I do a vast variety of desserts and Italian & Continental food. My signature cake is the ice-cream cake though chocolate fudge cake and the Oreo mousse cake are also hot sellers. I also do a vast variety of tea time cakes, cupcakes, cheese

cakes, tarts, pies


Banoffee pieI must say, after tasting this absolutely divine pie, I wanted to give up on the world! The moment that blast of banana and toffee flavour along with the crunch of the biscuit crust and whipped cream cheese goes into your mouth, you would want nothing more...And trust me, I was craving for more the minute I left the café.

SWEETNESS METER : With the sweetness of crushed biscuits, chocolate flakes, whipped cream, bananas, milk and butter, the Banoffee pie recipe can be quite a disaster if not measured to perfection. This one was faultless with neither too sweet neither too bland a taste.

ELEMENTS: It is amazinghow a blend of four basic ingredients can bring together such a classic taste. The cream was subtle, the biscuit base firm and munchy, the fabulous toffee and banana mix layer was thick and rich and the drizzle of chocolate flakes took the decadence up a notch.

PRESENTATIoN : There are several ways to serve this classic pie. The one at Big Chill comes in a huge triangle with lashings of fresh cream and chocolate shavings.

QUANTITY: Agreed that the quantity is good enough to serve a group of three, especially post snacks or lunch. But for me, it is not for sharing! I am sure you would feel the same after the first bite.

7 dessert wonders at the Big Chill Café

What started out as a cool hang-out place for youngsterswith a small menu containing American style ice-creams and desserts, is today an indisputable heaven for foodies. The Big Chill, a friendly neighbourhood cafe expanded its bill of fare to Italian food shortly after its inception, but the desserts, neverthe-less, remained the rage. And if you ever wanted to express a token of thanks for the treat, know that the lady responsible for that hunger gratification is Mrs. Fawzia Ahmed, Owner, The Big Chill Cafe, who has personally cre-ated all the signature Big Chill desserts and trained her staffto excellence.

Says the culinary connoisseur, “I have spent most of my formative years living, studying and working in UK and USA, which has lent me a wide in-stinctive and experiential knowledge of what constitutes a good and deeply satisfying dessert. I have a keen palate which has been refined further by experimenting on Aseem, my husband and the unsuspecting customers

of Big Chill. I mostly create the kind of desserts that I would like to indulge in myself and constantly think of how I could reproduce a certain recipe differently and more interestingly to make a unique dessert.”

On the word of thousands who have savoured the taste of their desserts, this writer gives her verdict on the 7 dessert wonders at the Big Chill cafe.

PRICE Rs. 160 for a piece/ Rs. 900 for a cake

food desserts


apple CrumBleI have no idea why I tasted it so late! As against many people who say that the Big Chill serves the best banoffee pie, I would say there is no better apple dessert in the city. Made the old fashioned way, the apple crumble was served hot with warm whipped cream, to make you mourn the loss of not having it each day of your life!

SWEETNESS METER : The flavour of cinnamon gave the sweetness a unique twist. Appropriately sugary, the crumble is an ideal autumn dessert, with its topping, baked to a lovely crumbly crispness. The apples were not at all sour and were rightly caramelised.ELEMENTS : As much as I could gather, this is a burst of caramelised apples carefully flavoured with cinnamon and topped with a delicious crumbly pastry. It would actually crumble in your mouth and make your throat feel balmy and cosy afterwards.PRESENTATIoN : The delicacy is served on a plate together with a small cup of whipped cream. You could even ask for an ice-cream flavour of your choice instead of the cream, if you like the conjugation of hot and cold in your mouth. QUANTITY: Since the plate is of a standard size, the apple crumble would satisfactorily serve an individual.

Bailey’s irish Cream tiramisuNow many of you would not know that there is a lus-cious dessert at Big Chill which is not even mentioned on the menu. The Bailey’s Irish cream tiramisu is a compara-tively new addition. However, ask for it and you’d be

surprised by the slice of pure delight the server would present you.

SWEETNESS METER : Most of the time, you would get disappointed by the versions of Tiramisu the restaurants serve you despite

paying a lot. This one (as tiramisu should be) was mildly sweet for the ones who like a gentle taste. The quality is so fresh that it would literally melt on your tongue making it a sure sophisticated Italian delight. ELEMENTS : Tiramisu in Italian means ‘pick-me-up’. This Irish

cream tiramisu was a definite pick me up with a bold taste of coffee, liquor and cocoa. The combination of soft biscuits, cake sponge infused with rum and cream resulted in a pillow-soft cake texture. The flavour of rum lingers in your mouth but is not strong enough to overshadow the characteristic taste. Also, the hint of vanilla aroma is lovely. PRESENTATIoN : The tiramisu appears to be a shaky and delicate

looking triangle because of its supple consistency. QUANTITY: Perfect for a two-some dessert experience.

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PRICE Rs. 160 for a serving/ Rs. 650 for a large container pack


squidgy ChoColate mousse CakeLet me share this fact of the matter with you – I am not really a huge chocolate cake fan. Being one of those who would rather choose a blackcurrant ice-cream than a chocolate chip, I can pass judgments on a chocolate sweet to an ‘almost-criminal’ extent. But then, the squidgy chocolate mousse cake changed my outlook to-wards this cocoa creation altogether.SWEETNESS METER : If you’ve been brought up on gulabjamuns and rasgullas, this wouldn’t bother you at all.ELEMENTS : The simplest description of this supple and moist cake is a design of mousse and fresh cream filled on the base, peaked with a devilish dark chocolate ganache. Although the recipe of this can be learned through various cookbooks and other sources, Big Chill verifies that it is their

original creation. PRESENTATIoN : A perfectly cut slice would make its way on your table flaunting four layers, starting with a sheet of moist chocolate, then a chocolate plain cake, a coat of mousse and a final layer of plain cake again. Forced to speculate if it’s the closest thing to paradise for chocolate lovers?QUANTITY: This cake is conventionally supposed to be extremely light since it has no flour. However, most of the dishes Big Chill serves are essentially weighty and grand, including this one and can easily serve a choco-maniac duo.

mississippi mud pieSeriously? Another chocolaty sin to taste? “No more after the squidgy chocolate,” I thought. Right then, I saw a lone young girl seated right across to me at the cafe. I called her over to taste and blessed she felt while indulging in the layers of peanut butter and homemade coffee and chocolate.SWEETNESS METER : We both agreed that it is a must-have for chocolate fans for it has the same sweetness of a Cadbury’s bar, unlike the double chocolate decadence (another offering at the Big Chill) which might give you a sugar shock.ELEMENTS: This classic South American dessert has been reinvented with a deposit of peanut butter, handmade coffee and chocolate ice-cream placed on a nutty Oreo cookie base with a drench of gooey hot fudge sauce.PRESENTATIoN : This treat of an international reputation looks as great as it tastes. The multiple sheets would be distinctly apparent on your piece. QUANTITY: Not for the ones with an average appetite. Carry a friend along to satisfy your mud pie craving.

food desserts

PRICE Rs. 275 for a serving



BlueBerry CheeseCakeThere was one dessert I noticed being eaten the most during my two hour visit to the Big Chill cafe – the blueberry cheese cake. First spotted was, a young mother who came to savour it with her adolescent son; then, these two men tucked in the corner seats, and then of course, a youngster nibbling the blue-berry’s on the cake cautiously. I got motivated to try it at once.

SWEETNESS METER : And I wasn’t disappointed! The finest quality imported cream cheese contributes to the velvety smooth texture. It is perfectly ‘not too loaded’ both in constituents and syrupiness.ELEMENTS : This Big Chill best seller has the most amazing spread of puree made from imported blueberries. The well made cheesecake in the middle lends a sweet-sour taste and the thin biscuit crust base is not something you would easily find elsewhere.

WHERE: The Big Chill chain of cafes is all across South Delhi with two outlets in Khan market, one in Kailash colony and another at DLF Place, Saket.

Besides, you can’t really comprehend the magnitude of cream cheese and butter involved, considering the feathery light taste. Deceptively naughty!PRESENTATIoN : When a chunk full of such blueberry fantasy is kept on a plate, you don’t really care about the arrangement. It would simply come as a neat slice and woo you away.QUANTITY: There is no way that I would share this with my partner. Get a separate piece for yourself please.

mega mousta sundaeIf sugar awakens your acne or else you simply don’t have a sweet tooth, go for the mega mousta sundae to survive the scorn of your companions. You would not want to drop your spoon till it is finished to the last bite.

SWEETNESS METER : If your grandma makes pure milk ice-cream with fruits or if you’ve simply had the taste of fruit cream at home, you would know how this sundae would taste. A relief from the sticky sweet taste, this sundae made me nostalgic. ELEMENTS : For those who think vanilla ice-cream is boring, have a scoop of this and your opinion would change forever. Layers of fine vanilla mixed with an appropriate amount of fruits, such that you would have fruits in your spoon till the last mouthful. Pieces of pomegranate, pineapples and apples are crowned with a perfect finish of whipped cream. This is one

taste which will linger on your taste buds for long. PRESENTATIoN : Double scoops sit pretty in a big transparent glass. There could not be a better way after all.QUANTITY: Just the right amount for two! u

by VARALIKA VIJMore on the plate? Look for new ice-cream flavours, a luscious double chocolate mouse cheesecake and their traditional Christmas Trifle this festive

winter season.

PRICE Rs. 197 for a serving/Rs. 1125 for a cake

PRICE Rs. 220 for a serving


KALEVA-where a smile comes with Khajoor MuskaanKaleva is what people identify as one of the oldest sweet shops in Delhi. When we tasted its most popular , it made us thank the person who gave an ordinary ingredient like figs such an extraordinary and delicious touch. Made out of , and dry fruits, ’s taste is rich and irresistible. Place your order in advance to get best served during Diwali.

PRICE: Pista Lauj- Rs 1850/kg, Khajoor Muskaan- Rs 960/kg. WHERE: 109, Bangla Saheb Marg, gole market, Connaught Place, New Delhi, 011-23365125/ gD-21, Pitampura, New Delhi, 011-27315851 / 17, Shankar Vihar, Lakshmi Nagar, New Delhi, 011-22011552 and other outlets across Delhi.

SweeT ShopSOur sweetness meter got exhausted as we explored the best Indian meethai shops in Delhi/NCR. We decided to lend our hand in helping you choose with what is best and where

OM SWEETS- The Dhodha market

Om Sweets, the pioneer of knows what and how to serve the most delectable sweets. Once tasted, you would surely want to take a pack of home, no matter what you had originally come to indulge in. Filled up rich cashew nuts and pure ghee, you are sure to choose this amazing piece of meethai. Now you are just a away to put a smile on the faces of your loved ones!

PRICE: Rs.260/kg. WHERE: Sector-4, gurgaon, 0124-4387492/ Arjun Nagar, gurgaon, 0124-2324016/ Hari Nagar, New Delhi, 011-45782222 and other outlets across Delhi/NCR

NATHU’S - The Predecessors of Taste

Since 1939, Nathu’s has been serving people with the best of sweets in town. Though all the sweets from Punch to Rolls made us drool but definitely was the piece de resistance. Made delicately out of cream ( ) granules, this scrumptious sweet dissolves as soon as you put it into the mouth. Let your taste buds experience one of the finest sweets in town this Diwali.

PRICE: Malaai Kalakand Rs 400/kg. WHERE: Shop No.23,24,25, Bengali Market, Tansen Marg, New Delhi, 011-23716326

Bengal Sweet Corner- making you a gluttonBengal Sweet Corner, our last stop on the hunt for the best Indian sweet shops around the city turned out to be ‘last but not the least’, as we tasted their much talked about Milk Cake and

. Happiness is guaranteed as the authenticity trapped inside these sweets slip down your palate. Celebrate the coming Diwali with flavorsome

in town!

PRICE: Milk Cake- Rs 560/kg and Kaju Pista Khas- Rs 720/kg. WHERE: AB-13, Community Center, Safarjung Enclave, New Delhi, 011-26104228.

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wine & dine

There’s a reason why it’s called an ‘island,’ – sprawling over a mammoth 36,000 square feet, on level four of the upscale Ambience Mall, Gurgaon, Rockman’s Beer Island was one of the first, and is by far the big-gest, micro-brewery to come up in the NCR since the trend took off a few years back.

The first thing you need to know when you dis-embark from the escalator on level 4 is where in RBI you want to go (yes it is that big!) – there are three venue choices depending on what you want to do and what company you’re in: if you’re hanging with the guys, then make a beeline for ‘Bavarian,’ – a pub. If you’re there to catch the latest IPL match on a big screen then head for the ‘Rockdome,’ which has a projector and the entire seating is oriented towards the screen. If you’re there for an outing with the family then you could consider walking into ‘kegs & Bar-rels,’ a fine-dining restaurant.

The overriding theme in each venue is, not surprisingly – Germany – land of the hallowed Oktoberfest, and legendary beer drinkers. And that’s reflected in the décor as well as the menu. The brewery tanks and equipment are in the bar area, but inaccessible to the patrons. In Bavarian, you can sample authentic Nürnberger Sausages (Rs 475) served with Sauerkraut (pickled cabbage), two types of mustard sauces and pretzels, and Oktoberfest Hendl (Rs 575) (Roasted Half-Chicken with Potato and Kraut salad). For a Delhi carnivore, the food here is a welcome respite from the onslaught of the tandoori variety. We recommend healthy dabs of the superb mustard sauce. For an outlet, where the emphasis is

squarely on the beer, the food is surprisingly good. Finally, about the beer: to begin with,

if you don’t want to be

Brewed freSh

Rockman’s Beer Island offers five choices of brews for draught-starved beer enthusiasts in

the Capital.


stuck with a half-litre of a beer you may not like, then ask for a sampling. There are five alternatives – Lager, Strong Lager, Dark, Wheat, and Smoked. The lager is the plainest of the lot, but that’s by no means, a slur – nice, clean and light with minimal aftertaste makes it the best choice for those who aren’t out to experiment too much. The strong is basically a slightly more bitter and stronger ver-sion of the Lager with a slightly bitter aftertaste. The dark beer, while beautiful, almost Guinness-like in appearance (with a huge head) wasn’t as spectacular as it looked. But it does have a good balance of hops and malts with neither over-powering the other.

The most popular beer at RBI is the Weiss-beer or the Wheat beer. One swig of the 100% wheat brew and you know it’s the star with good reason – an instantly likable, almost sweet fruity flavour, with lots of body and great colour make this the beer of choice at RBI.

The RBI is not a place to go on a tight budget. There aren’t any humble snacks at the Bavarian – each glass of beer is at least Rs. 200 and munchies begin at Rs. 400. In all a few glasses of beer and minimal snacks will set you back a couple of thousand bucks (on the conservative side). But you’re not likely to remember that when dunking down the delicious wheat brew. The music is loud at the Bavarian and the decibels go up as the evening progresses.

The only sour note you’re likely to flinch at is the service. While orders don’t take an inordinate amount of time, the staff could be

wine & dine

fastfactsRockman’s Beer Island401-402, 4th Floor, Ambience Mall, National Highway 8, GurgaonTel: 9711718839, 9212169311 (Reservation recommended)

PRICESALager Beer Rs. 265Strong Beer Rs. 285Dark Beer Rs. 265Wheat Beer Rs. 315

TIMINgSAOpen from 11 am – 2 am

more helpful – in helping you find a table, and also in explaining menu options. For some reason, their demeanour is casual and they could do more to make you feel welcome. RBI’s forte – the brew – is absolutely top-notch and service could let the product down! And if not for this one concern, Rockman’s Beer Island, is perhaps the best place to get a taste of unadulterated malts, hops and barley, sans the glycerine and preservatives which you will taste in com-mercial beers. u

by MERAJ SHAH


Pizzeria RossaAMBIENCE TASTE SERVICE MEAL FoR TWo Rs. 2000 including taxesCUISINE Italian

It’s like an Italian family woke up one bright morning and decided to open up a restaurant! Pizzeria Rossa, with a hand-made Italian wood fired oven, made visible from as many corners of the restaurant as possible, pretty cane

baskets with dried flowers on the walls and effortlessly relaxed wooden furniture, felt like a warm and inviting place with a high recall value.

The Florentina pizza that we ate had an authentic thin crust base with an innovative topping of mozzarella, baby spinach, parmesan cheese and half fried eggs. The chef modestly told us the culinary secret - the dough is prepared daily and all their pizzas are carefully hand tossed. The staff was easy and cheery. You may even ask the server for whole wheat dough options. Consider having the surprisingly huge ‘Rossa Antiplasti Grande’ worth Rs. 1350 (including poached prawns, skewered sausage with artichoke, salami, broccoli tossed in lemon and garlic, wood roasted asparagus with melted parmesan and much more) which will easily gratify the appetite of a group of five.

The bar is constructed but the service is at a halt till they get a liquor license. Visit this place if the idea of wood fired Italian food excites you and you want to impress someone with your ‘discover best pizza breakthrough’ in the city.

26, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi/ 011-40587275

CriTiC’S CrunChBecoming responsible food critics was such a task! We had to cut down on our routine food to not feel guilty, climb stairs instead of taking the lift in the hope of reducing some calories and expand our horizons towards all kinds of food, good and bad. Acknowledge our noble assessment of the recent eateries in the city that caught our attention, so you land up at the absolutely right place at the absolutely right occasion.

restaurant launch


VerveAMBIENCE TASTE SERVICE MEAL FoR TWo Rs. 1200 plus taxesCUISINE Multi-cuisine

Reach Verve on an ordinary day and you might just have the place to yourself along with a few other

guests. This rugged looking space has a massive balcony overlooking the village greenery, where they serve sheesha. The interiors are nothing extra ordinary and the massiveness of the place might just make you feel lost. The servicemen, though dutiful, were a bit astray too. However, enter on a musical night and you would experience a new Verve with a punk crowd dancing like crazy.

Then again, the mention of multi-cuisine on the menu would make you unsure about what to order. Once on the tongue, the food actually sets your mood. We ordered for Dahi ke Kebab and Shishtaouk Hummus Pita for starters and Veg Stronganoff for main course. The taste is decent (except the

chutneys felt a bit sour) but the dessert menu is disappointing with just gulab jamun, chocolate brownie and banoffee pie in the offering (and the banoffee was unavailable).

The cocktails and mocktails are well-made, although they cost nearly the same. Verve is definitely going to improve during the winters, considering its apt location setting. Visit during an afternoon to have a ‘we-need-to-talk’ meeting.

28 – Hauz Khas Village, 3rd Floor, New Delhi/ 9811686949

RaasAMBIENCE TASTE SERVICE MEAL FoR TWo Rs. 2000 plus taxesCUISINE Indian-Pakistani

Having captured the second best location in Hauz Khas after Out of the Box (OTB), Raas is a serious addition to Delhi’s ever changing culinary scenario. The decorators have placed

golden brown and cream pouffe’s on one end, and sofas on the other end of the tables(we insisted on sitting on the pouffe). The huge see-through bay windows, overlooking the ruins make the ambience lively in the afternoon and dreamy in the evenings. The Sufi and India-Pak fusion melodies add on to the romantic element.

On reaching, they serve you triangle shaped papads with four chutneys complementarily. Now if you’ve had Dahi ke Kebabs elsewhere, this place would change the very notion of this dish for you. While we were pouncing on them, the smiling server, clad in a Paithani salwar kameez, came with another scrumptious appetizer – Murg Lemon Grass Tikka. The

chicken was really soft and the chutneys balanced it perfectly. On the recommendation of the staff, we ordered for Kalongi Wale Baingan, Khoya Methi Matar Malai and Lahori Murgh Masala for the main course. Each plate had its own set of unique masala flavours; while some tasted familiar, others tasted totally new. Do not come back without having their Beetroot Halwa and Zafrani Jarda Pulao for desserts.

The alcohol is yet to come after Raas receives the license. Come here if you really want to taste the cultural ties of two countries which could never be

together, yet are so much similar. Our second visit would happen soon, this time with family.

9A, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi/ 9953180815

restaurant launch


Harem MeezaAMBIENCE TASTE SERVICE MEAL FoR TWo Rs. 4000 including alcoholCUISINE Indian-Pakistani

At the recently recreated and refurbished Harem Meeza restaurant (previously Harem) tucked inside the greens of the arty Garden of Five Senses in Saket, you can fine

dine open-air with finesse! If you’ve dined here before, here’s why you should go back… The stone and glass interiors have been extended to the outside by way of a partially-wooden-partially-open roof with curtains to create a semi al fresco atmosphere. There are three parts of the edifice you can enjoy – the lounge dome with low seating, the curtained outside and the full-fledged open-air space. Fusion Indian music beating live would soothe your senses and strangely add flavour to your food. Inviting unique artists each Friday, Harem Meeza promises to make you experience a little bit of magic through a union of high-quality food and music.Further, the menu has not only been extended but has become more meaningful. We were explained by the staff that this restaurant, lounge and al fresco dining place intends to create a unique theme on the rich nomadic experiences of the

Cocoa HouseAMBIENCE TASTE SERVICE MEAL FoR TWo Rs. 1200 excluding alcoholCUISINE Multi-cuisine

great traveller Ibn Batuta. So we had a taste of it all – the Chaat Platter to get our tongues rolling, the Mojito Fish Tikka, Lamb Tajine with Cous Cous and finally, Kunafa with rose petal ice-cream. An answer to our Arabian world fascination after all!The cocktails are strong and the food lip smacking-ly heavy! Nevertheless, it’s not a place for quick eating. Spend time with your bevy for a couple of hours and you would come back

refreshed and comforted.

13 To 17, garden of Five Senses, Saiyad Ul Ajaib, Saket, New Delhi / 011 65650051, 011 29531823

Post a successful launch in Gurgaon, Cocoa House has now found its place in Vasant Vihar (they swear to have more soon).

Unless you were mistaken, Cocoa actually focuses on delivering a divine coffee experience to the average Delhiite who is not short of coffee shop alternatives anyway. So why go there? Well, for the lip-smacking shakes, coffees, desserts, juicy kebabs, tikkas and more. The bistro even a handpicked selection of books

and magazines, a wi-fi zone, an in-house printing zone, a home bakery and a laptop, just in case you forget yours at home!The ambience is calm and vitalizing with white bricks and pastel shade walls. It’s a place good to spend time alone as well as with friends. You would not get a hookah here, nor will you find just youngsters. In fact, people from all age groups seeking some time away from the busy everyday life can be seen flocking to this serene place. Do try their freshly baked cakes, cookies, brownies and breads. The fresh fruit juices cater to the health freaks in the House. We cannot really point out a perfect time to come since the place has a unique aura during different times of the day. Come in the mornings for a snugly breakfast, in the afternoons for a light chit chat and in the evenings for a cool time out.

D-8, Community Center, D Block Market (Near Modern School), Poorvi Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi/ 011-41420233, 9560070731 u

restaurant launch


Delhi and Mumbai glitterati descended at Samrat Hotel on 29th September for the grand reopening of LAP – an exclusive ‘Member’s Only’ lounge by entrepreneur

Arjun Rampal. Opened after almost 4 months, the lounge promises greater luxurious experience with better sound systems, a celebrity chef pop up restaurant and more. A joint announcement confirmed LAP’s continued association as the host for the India F1 Grand Prix after parties, however this time the parties will be hosted at LAP itself.

city events


LAP Reopening

Mehr and Arjun RampalSiddhartha Tytler Suzzane Roshan

Trishna Mohan Rohit gandhi, Malini Ramani, Rahul Khanna & Manav gangwaniTimmy Sarna with Tarun TahilianiPHO

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WHo ARe THey?With a fine intent of giving an op-portunity to all music lovers to tap and hone their musical talents, noted pianist and teacher Ankita Kumar launched Colors of Music on 16th September 2012 - a school of music welcoming students of all ages to get a formal piano training. Ankita has been learning piano since the tender age of 12 from her teacher Brian Silas. WHy Go?This is a unique school where they offer training in both Western classical formats and playing by ear. Students can opt for either or both styles of learning. In the play-ing by ear method, basics of piano playing, hand exercises, western music scales and popular Hindi

and Western music is taught. Both training styles comprises of student interactive sessions, rhythm cor-rective classes, and playing with accompanying instruments.

Their unique syllabus and one-to-one training methodol-ogy provides every student an all rounded orientation and education of the piano.

With the school’s intensive programme, included in which will be student interactive ses-sions, rhythm corrective classes, and playing with accompanying instruments- you would actually understand the thick and thin of piano playing.

Each month, they organise a combined session, where all the

students play whatever they have learnt in the classes in company of various professional musicians. Jamming together alongside the tunes of other instruments like guitar and table encourages inno-vation of new melodies in a fun interactive way.

Each class ranges between 45 minutes to an hour, taking very less of your time.

If you’re apprehensive about this humungous and sophisticated instrument, this school is the best option since they insist on a half an hour trial session for everyone who plans to join.WHAT’s in sToRe?

The management is planning to make it into a versatile music school by incorporating classes for several other instruments in the near future. Keep an eye if

you’re also interested in learning guitar since they are preparing to introduce that soon! Also, there would be an elaborate session with students, practised musicians and piano guru - Brian Silas in Decem-ber to celebrate Christmas.

☛ colors of Music

The idea of a ‘hobby’ had greatly troubled Theodor W Adorno, one of the 20th century’s foremost thinkers on aesthetics and philosophy. He hated the concept because he simply didn’t have any hobby! Adorno challenged the creation of ‘organised freedom’ and an apparent pressure to take up an activity to pass time.

Considering the theorist’s concern, it is understood that once the active city dweller comprehends the nuances of ‘leisure time’, he or she would simply get rid of the dilem-matic question – “What’s your hobby” and start enjoying each task unperturbed.

Cityscan decided to go around the Capital, seeking for recreational hubs which truly makes a delhiite happy. We hunted for places where people can go, make friends over learning and discover a new facet of their personality. Pleased were we to learn about the enthusiastic individuals who contribute a significant part of their day to unwind in various art forms and equally enthusiastic teachers who render their experience to these amateurs.

Here’s a brief on the impressive institutes around the city that promise to make you talented and cleverer than before.

hobby hubs in delhi ...tracked down...

around town

FEE STRUCTUREE Rs. 1500 for a session/ Rs. 10,000 for 8 classes/ Rs. 24,000 for 3 months

HoW To ENRoL?E Interested students can enrol by registering at the academy premises. You may even drop a mail on [email protected]/ [email protected] or call her on 9818448883. Visit www.colorsofmusic.in for all the information.

REACH THEME W- 66, Greater Kailash, Part II, New Delhi



WHo ARe THey? Having identified the need for an innovative kitchen teaching class in Delhi, three veterans decided to put their areas of expertise together. It is the brain child of nimal Tha-dani, made possible by Christine Rai (owner of Café Zaffiro and Zaza Home) with the able help of Rachna Desai (Partner and Chef at Café Zaffiro). WHy Go? They are concerned about your food allergies and decide the course of culinary events accord-

WHo ARe THey? Bosnian fitness instructor and Direc-tor of vesna’s Wellness Clinic – vesna Jacob was disappointed with the lack of exercising culture in India. Post her marriage to an Indian, she settled down with her new family in Delhi and now uses her expertise in Pilates to the best of her abilities at her power plate studio. WHy Go?Incredible, but true. You would receive all of these services in this wellness clinic – Pilates Mat Class-es, Pilates Reformer Classes, Power Plate Classes, Functional Training/Core Conditioning, Pilates Boot Camp, Inch Loss Treatments, Di-etary Consultation and guidance, postural classes and rehabilitation sessions for clients who are in need of additional motivation.

The very first thing they do

ing to their clients. The classes are small and

highly personalised. Here you just won’t observe

the demonstrations, but actually perform hands-on cooking.

They invite international ex-pert chefs as guest lecturers on a regular basis.

Having launched last Novem-ber, these cooking workshops have caught the attention of many who want to master the art of cooking and presentation of cuisines varying from Mediter-

☛ The Cooking School @ Zaffiro

FEE STRUCTUREE Rs. 1500 and above for a set of class

HoW To ENRoL?E Students can enrol for these classes by contacting Hamesh – 9810692098/ Rachna – 9811134085/ Nimal - 9811654912

REACH THEME 25, Community Centre, Zamrudpur, New Delhi (Near GK 1)

ranean, Pan Asian to Italian and Indian. WHAT’s in sToRe? You have an opportunity to learn the art of making French onion soup, Italian Minestrone soup, two kinds of salads (with four different dressings) , Almond Frangipani Torte and date tart on the 30th and 31st October. They would soon have a fresh set of cookery calendar for November.

☛ Vesna's Wellness clinicwith a potential client is a consul-tation session, where they aim to find out more about them, their wishes, problem areas and medi-cal condition.

A team of very capable phys-iotherapists and trainers conduct classes in small groups, so that you receive one-to-one attention.

Their focus on postural align-ment and functional strength, amongst other things, truly sets them apart.

They understand issues like emotional eating, aches and pains in your body due to stress and oth-er emotional struggles you might be going through. Apart from ex-ercises, they provide hypnotherapy and energy work.WHAT’s in sToRe? As a part of her ‘Corporate Well-ness’ initiative, Vesna is conducting

FEE STRUCTUREE Cost of the classes vary from Rs.7,500 for 12 Pilates Mat Classes, Rs.8500 for 12 Inch Loss Treatments, to Rs.12,000 for 12 Reformer or Power Plate Plus classes respectively. Packages include – monthly package of Rs. 15,000/ quarterly package of Rs. 31,000.

HoW To ENRoL?E Dial any of these numbers - 01146120383 (Vesna’s @ Mantra) or 01146120384 (Va-sant Vihar) or contact them via their websites www.venaswell-ness.com. You can also visit their centres where the staff would provide you with all the relevant information.

REACH THEME Vesna’s Wellness, 8/10 Vasant Vi-har, New Delhi/ Vesna’s, Mantra Vedic Spa, 31 Link Road, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi

workshops for corporates (fit@work).



WHo ARe THey?Rakesh Borar, who has been pro-fessionally dancing for the last 21 years, conducts these classes. Trained in 11 forms of Latin dance and having choreographed the vien-nesse Waltz ball for the Austrian Embassy many times, Borar is a super enthusiastic dance teacher. He has been dedicated to Argen-tine Tango since the last four years through 2ToTango.WHy Go?The school follows an interna-tional curriculum by one of the leading Tango dancing couple-Sebastian Arce and Marianna Montes.

If you’ve passed your youth but still carry the same oomph, choose this institute, for it at-tracts the 35 plus lot significantly. Since Argentine Tango is consid-ered as a refined and classy dance

FEE STRUCTUREE 2,500 per month

HoW To ENRoL?E Log onto their website- www.ballrumours.com. To find your way onto the stage faster, call 9810108007 or 9818312141.

REACH THEME The classes happen at all of these venues - Siri Fort Sports Com-plex, Asiad Village, New Delhi/ Alliance Francaise, School for French Language, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi/ ROUTE 69 [Adj. to Mainland China], 9B, Cyber City, DLF Phase III, Gurgaon/ ATLAN-TIS - The Club, Jaypee Integrated Sports Complex, Jaypee Greens, Greater Noida/ Radisson MBD, Sector 18, NOIDA/ YMCA, Con-naught Place, New Delhi/ F Bar & Lounge, The Ashok, Chanakyapu-ri, New Delhi/ Select City Walk, Saket, New Delhi

FEE STRUCTUREE Rs. 6000 for a three month course, Rs. 2,500 for a month, Rs. 800 for a walk-in class.

HoW To ENRoL?E Call Tango coach Rakesh Borar on 98105 26727 to get yourself registered for the upcoming dance sessions.

REACH THEME Capitol, Hotel Ashok, Niti Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

☛ 2ToTango

WHo ARe THey?Aamir Ahmed, a businessman by profession, along with a few other associates started this happening dance training school in the year 2002. Today, Aamir, along with his partner Neel Sodhi, a professional corporate trainer, manage their in-dividual careers along with their passion for dance at Ballrumours. WHy Go?Ballrumours Dance Studios have a repertoire of social dance styles and fitness routines– Waltz, Vien-nese Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Jive, Rock n Roll, Salsa, Samba, Rumba, Cha Cha, Hustle, Zouk, Swing, Pasodoble, Quickstep, Merengue, Zumba, Lambada and Pilates.

They are not strict with a defi-nite dance pattern. The trainers would in fact encourage you to maintain the uniqueness of your

form, the grown-ups find interest in learning it.

A one hour-forty-five minute class is followed by another one hour practise session. Besides this, they also have a social dance evening every week for all the students.

They suggest the learners to attend social milongas after com-pleting two months of training, so that one can practise the tech-niques and build confidence for social dancing.WHAT’s in sToRe?2ToTango will host the 2nd an-nual International Tango Festival in the Capital from 23rd to 25th November, 2012. Three days of intense tango experience would have spectacular performances and twelve workshops by four internationally renowned teach-ers. Each workshop will last for

90 minutes.Also, they will soon be start-

ing a new beginner’s batch for Argentinean Tango. The capacity is limited to 20 students for the batch starting on 1st November 2012. The classes would function on Thursdays every week from 7 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at Capitol, Ho-tel Ashok, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi .

personality and give you the lib-erty to express musicality in your own exclusive way.

One is not ranked here ac-cording to his/her skill in dance. Each participant is given the con-fidence to hold the centre stage.

Diluting the age spectrum, they have members ranging

☛ Ballrumours

from 16 to 70 years. People from all walks of life come together to dance on a single platform. WHAT’s in sToRe?The dancing goes on around the year. Simply log onto their web-site, find a timing and studio location of your convenience and put on your dancing shoes!

around town



☛ delhi Photography club

WHo ARe THey?A team of three - Moumita Ghosh from Jamshedpur, Nirakar Choudhury from Orissa and Shalem Kallimel from Delhi have undertaken this project for the Art for Change Foundation. It focuses on fine arts and other creative techniques, be it in painting or sketching. WHy Go?The group tries to create a safe and friendly place with famil-iar introductory exercises. Classes and workshops include art history and art theory, thereby making it a well bal-anced experience.They keep their focus on

WHo ARe THey?A group of young energetic individuals ranging from an Ayurvedic doctor to a manage-ment graduate run the Delhi Photography hand-in-hand. Anil Kumar, who also heads the digital business of a newspaper, founded this club with an intention of making a commoner go further than just the ‘auto mode’ of his camera. The purpose of the DPC is basically to enable and nurture a fraternity of photography en-thusiasts for mutual benefit.WHY GO?They are very clear about the fact that it is not a platform to outdo each other. All they want is to make photography fun!

If you lack motivation to shoot, you can participate in the group activities like ‘heritage pho-to walks’. The walks go to places that are historically important and have ample opportunities for photography. DPC has done more

than 50 such photo walks in Del-hi to places like Chandni Chowk, Red Fort, Jamaali Kamaali, Azad-pur Mandi, Humayun’s Tomb etc. The management team chooses the place, gets a walk leader and sponsors your breakfast too!

The groups are small and the content is explained in a fairly non-technical manner for be-ginners. Structured as 2 hour modules, you can choose as many as you want, depending on your time and budget.

Delhi Photography Club even conducts same day workshops, for those who can spare time only on a weekend.

They would understand if your schedule doesn’t permit long outdoor photography trips. Mentors in the club would help you out.

Photography for children and activities for Corporates are also done.

DPC’s Privilege Membership

would open for you a horde of benefits including the availability of a 800 sq ft lounge to organize your personal exhibition for a week any time during the year free of cost. WHAT’S IN STORE?The next batch dates are between 13th October, 2012 to 4th Novem-ber, 2012. Further, they are soon coming up with the facility of a dedicated online gallery of 50

☛ Made to create FEE STRUCTUREE Rs. 800 approximately for each class

HoW To ENRoL?E C o n t a c t S h a l e m o n 9560384584 or send an email on [email protected]. You can even contact them via their Facebook page.

REACH THEME C-201, 3rd Floor, GK 1 (near M block market), New Delhi

discovering the individual creativity of each student. The curriculum is original and is de-signed to address participants on all levels. u

by VARALIKA VIJ

FEE STRUCTURE: Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,600 for a com-plete course

HoW To ENRoL?E Keep a check on their registration page - www.delhiphotography-club.com or get in touch with Gouri Dutt on 9718100192.

REACH THEME Building No. 5 D, Second Floor, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi

photos on the club’s website with the students profile, provided one is a Privilege Member.


Greatest stress buster… going for a long jog or walk outdoors. Additionally, I enroll for a dance class or a regular fun group activity to de-stress. If I had 30 minutes of free time by myself… I would catch up on more news, take a 20 minute power nap (who wouldn’t want to mimic the Spanish siesta?) or chitchat with family or friends. My fitness mantra… Adequate Exercise + Sensible Food Choices + a Little Bit of indulgence. However, i never deprive my sweet tooth of its dessert craving. For me, being ‘fit’ trumps being ‘thin’. Laughter therapy for me is… kicking back at the end of the day with friends or family and watching an episode of Friends, Big Bang Theory, or How I Met Your Mother. Wish I had more time in the day to… be more regularly involved with some community service activity.Places I head to for some relaxation… Lodhi garden for a leisurely walk or the vibrant Hauz Khaz Village.My ideal Sunday… going for an early morning run, reading the Sunday ET Magazine, then a sumptuous breakfast/brunch with family, followed by a light hearted movie in the theatre or just at home.

Greatest stress buster… i find pleasure in travelling. Smoking sheesha is another one of my favorite pastimes. If I had 30 minutes of free time by myself… I would ideally want to gather my thoughts and enjoy the peace and calm of the moment. My fitness mantra… i am characteristically lazy, but lately have been making an effort to lead a healthier and active lifestyle, thanks to my Nike FuelBand.Laughter therapy for me is… being positive, happy and jovial at all timesWish I had more time in the day to… Relax and spend more time with my loved ones. Places I head to for some relaxation… I love to spend time at my own den, Kunafa (Meherchand Market). I also visit Taipan and Ego Lounge frequently. My ideal Sunday… Is having a long leisurely sumptuous meal in the scintillating company of my friends.

Greatest stress buster… travelling. But that isn’t something you can do on a regular basis. So other things help - I love to lie on the grass on a fine day and just look at the sky. A good drive in the hills or a walk in a park. Also, a good book always helps.If I had 30 minutes of free time by myself… I would put on some music, pick out a quick, favourite recipe and cook something. My fitness mantra… having a healthy eating regimen and diet. Currently, I do Yoga thrice and just run twice a week. Laughter therapy for me is… Good, witty company or a nice stand-up gig. goofy things that my niece and nephew say always make me laugh. Wish I had more time in the

day to… Exercise and talk to at least one close friend a day. Places I head to when looking for some relaxation - cafes in Khan Market or Hauz Khas village. My ideal Sunday… A nice lazy morning at home and the luxury of reading the entire newspaper! Head out for a brunch with a friend and wrap it up with a good read. If I can squeeze in a massage, I am even happier!

Greatest stress buster… a morning stroll in The Rose garden, which is located near to our house.If I had 30 minutes of free time by myself… I would hit the bed and take a much needed napMy fitness mantra… is working out at least 4 times in a week and eating healthy food. i believe we must cut down on fat and sugar content from our diet and make it more balanced and nutritious.Laughter therapy for me is… spending as much time i can with my son and daughter.Wish I had more time in the day to… readPlaces I head to when looking for some relaxation… Amatrra spa at Ashoka and Setz restauarant at DLF EmporioMy ideal Sunday… I love to spend my Sunday with family and head for a hearty lunch followed by watching a movie.

Speakdelhi


RAgHU SEHgALBUSINESSMAN

SUMATI RAJPUTECoNoMIC CoNSULTANT

NIRAJ KISHANBUSINESSMAN

AKANKSHA BANERJIMANAgER CoMMUNICATIoN


Greatest stress buster- More the stress, more my need to gym it out and feel relaxed. Enjoy watching old English movies B&W to old war movies; any Cary Grant movie will do!If I had 30 minutes of free time by myself… I would ideally want to take a power nap, or surf the net, read online about news and latest technology and listen to music on YouTube. Sometimes I just want to unwind by myself in my personal lounge.My fitness mantra- Any kind of exercise is a must, combined with healthy home food.I find spending time together, sharing and expressing thoughts and emotions, clearing the smallest of doubts and misunderstandings the key to healthy living. Laughter therapy for me is – chilling

out with my daughter, doing things as silly as possible! Relaxing with my oddest/dearest buddies, with a drink in hand, as if u were transported back in time.Wish I had more time in the day to – ‘Focus’ and to be able to collect my thoughts and views over past experiences, current obstacles and future growth (and not just to be running in the rat race to finish the day’s tasks.) Places I head to when looking for some relaxation - a good Chinese restaurant. I love exploring new clubs and water holes on weekends apart from fresh beer and trips to movie halls.My ideal Sunday - A Sunday with an agenda is not acceptable. I like to wake up late followed by an exciting brunch/lunch and spend time with family.

Greatest stress buster… a glass of cold beer, a delicious meal, hugs from my kids and a good workout. If I had 30 minutes of free time by myself… I would want to plan my day and watch a good show on TV.My fitness mantra… Everything in moderation- eat fresh, eat less, eat early. Laughter therapy for me is- sharing jokes with my children, one 4 years old, and the other just eight months old. Their jokes are funny, and their laughter infectious. Wish I had more time in the day to… lead a more active life, to play a sport, to go for a walk, visit some art exhibitionsPlaces I head to when looking for some relaxation… Lodhi garden, Delhi Zoo, Dilli Haat, some of our favourite restaurants (Cafe Diva, Mamagoto, olive, Cafe Turtle, Haoshiniannian, 1911), a weekend vacation close by.My ideal Sunday… breakfast in bed with the kids, browsing through newspapers, a good workout, a lunch somewhere nice, catching up with friends and family.

Greatest stress buster… Clearing up my 'to do' list. Keeping things pending really stresses me out!If I had 30 minutes of free time by myself… I would order a cup of coffee and catch up with a friend on phone.My fitness mantra… is yet to be figured out! i try and stock up the house with healthy food, but i’m still struggling with

eliminating the unhealthy stuff altogether.Laughter Therapy for me is… Chilling with friends in the evening, enjoying their company and sharing a few good jokes. Laughter has to be spontaneous, not contrived.Wish I had more time in the day to… Read a book in peace.Places I head to for some relaxation… art exhibitions. i especially like to view works of upcoming artists. There is so much talent around.My ideal Sunday… is a composed day with a perfect plan for a play, a movie, or a dinner with family. Crowding a Sunday just ruins it for me.

Greatest stress buster… Trying out new recipes and cooking for family and friends.If I had 30 minutes of free time by myself… I would listen to good music and catch up on reading; currently i am reading the Taliban Cricket Club and the Reluctant Fundamentalist.My fitness mantra… cooking healthy for family. I try going for a mix cardio workout class. Laughter therapy for me is… enjoying a casual evening with my family and hearing to my dad’s classic one liners!Wish I had more time in the day to… join a cooking school or try creative arts such as pottery or painting.Places I head to when looking for some relaxation… Hauz Khas Village is at the top of the list – unwind sitting at the roof top restaurant, in the afternoon or evening – having a couple of drinks and enjoying the view with friends and family, most often with my husband.My Ideal Sunday… I travel over most weekends for work, so that one rare free Sunday is best spent relaxing and vegetating at home and playing with my dog.

SUgUNA KAPURADVoCATEMANAV KHANNA

BUSINESSMAN

UPASANA VERMABANKER

gAURI BAHALFINANCIAL CoNSULTANT


guest column

With a change in we a t h e r a n d festive season a r o u n d , t h e

party mood has begun. Sheer number of outings, extravagant food and alcohol, worsened with late nights can throw even the most disciplined off their fit-ness regimens. Not only does it result in extra kilos, it even causes digestive disturbances and com-promises on general well-being.

Different communities in India have their own typical ways of celebrating festivals by preparing special sweets, snacks and food. While these are an integral part of traditional celebrations, unfor-tunately some of the foods we eat for pleasure are not always foods that are best for our health and are loaded with calories, specially fats and carbohydrates. The best way to therefore indulge in the festivi-ties would be to have small portion only or else if you do indulge, then make the subsequent meal or meals much lighter and better.

Is it possible to celebrate with-out a toll on our health? The answer is yes. Just a few tips and common sense, can protect us from the ills of dining & wining.Plan: Just like you plan your clothes and meetings, plan your eating too. If you know you are to dine out, then under-eat dur-ing the day. appetizers: Don’t go out to dine or reach a party empty stomach. Make sure you take a light snack (salads, soups, vegetables, lentils, milk, yogurt or nuts make good

choices) before leav-ing your home to prevent over-indul-gence in the first thing that you are served. Maintain a food di-ary: Food diary helps you track your caloric intake and make ap-propriate choices accordingly. For those trying to lose weight or preventing weight gain during the festive season, it may be a good idea to perform the bal-ancing act in anticipation, prior to the festivities. This could be done a week or few days earlier and during the festive season. Snack Smart: Go for roasted/ baked, non–fried, grilled or bar-be-qued snacks. Choose small portions and use whole grains instead of white flour to make traditional preparations. Limit Alcoholic beverages: Avoid drinking more than 2 medium drinks of wine or other

alcoholic beverages. If you have to go through a long evening over drinks, dilute your drinks or else take water or soda intermittently. Choose wisely: One must look for vegetables with less or no gravy as gravies are loaded with fats and calories. Try grilled, stir-fried or lightly sautéed vegetables. Avoid fried/ oily dishes. If non-vegetarian, choose light roasted/ grilled fish/poultry to mutton/beef/pork. Prefer lean cuts of meat. Desserts: Skip desserts if pos-sible, or choose light ones in place of the ones with cream or deep fried ones. If temptation over-takes you or you have a sweet tooth, share your favorite ones with your friends.Social pressure: Learn to say ‘no’ politely but firmly. A lot of people don’t take ‘no’ for an an-swer, so it may be a good idea to ask them for an alternative which you would like to have.

Ms. ishi Khosla is a Clinical Nutritionist & Founder, theweightmonitor.com;

WholeFoodsIndia and Founder President - Celiac Society For Delhi

Gift healthy and stay away from these:● Dry fruits (figs/ apricots/ prunes)● Chocolate coated nuts● Honey coated nuts● Jaggery based sweets

sweets and desserts can be prepared healthier● Balancing sweetness by using less sugar or com-bination of natural low calorie sweeteners.

● Caramalizing sugar helps cut back on calories.

● Best combinations work with half sweeteners and half fruit puree/ pulp or sugar/honey.

● Fruit purees can be used to sweeten ice creams, kulfis and cakes.

● Natural dry fruits like dates, figs, apricots, raisins and even jaggery can add sweetness to cakes, cook-ies, sweets, yogurts and ice creams.

celebrate the heaLThyway

It’s really difficult for a person to strike a balance between an individual’s likes and availabil-ity. However, maintaining this delicate balance helps a lot in our health and well being. With a little effort, celebration need not burden you with extra calories and can be a joyful experience. Small changes can combine plea-sure with good health.

The author has recently launched ‘TheWeightMonitor.com’, a fully online weight management program based on scientific principles of nutrition and encourages principles of variety, moderation and balance.For further information, please email on [email protected] or call 1800 103 7002


diseases. Extremely popular with sufferers of Urinary Tract Infections(UTI), this Vitamin C rich drink can also potentially lower the risk of a heart disease and heighten your resistance against illness . The taste can be quite sharp and might need a sugary add-on.

Grapefruit JuiceIf you’re the kinds who never wake up with a fresh face, grape-fruit juice is for you. Called as ‘chakotra’ in Hindi, this big ball of citrus cleanses and detoxifies your system. A single serving of this winter fruit juice can boost your body’s Vitamin A and C lev-els. The rosy colour indicates the presence of bio flavonoids. Apart from causing beneficial reactions in your body, this yummy fruit drink can be had with a dash of cinnamon, which is another grand source of strength. u

Orange JuiceYou have a reason to celebrate the coming season for it brings with it – oranges! A wow addition to your regular breakfast, orange juice is bursting with the good-ness of Vitamin C (a 3/4-cup serving of orange juice is said to provide 95 mg of vitamin C). An amazing remedy for those who commonly have running noses, digestive problems and infections, drink it to form a fuller, more bal-anced diet.

apple JuiceSample this to enhance your cardio-vascular system. Apple juice has remarkable diuretic and choleretic effects, increases one’s resistance to infections sig-nificantly and refreshes and tones the body. With a wide range of vitamins and minerals, includ-ing calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, chlorine, magne-

Every change of weather sends a new round of people to the doctor. The way it happened

lately – the office goers were taking sick days off, wives were too tired to take charge of the kitchen and kids were getting absent from school. The science behind it is simple - our bodies get used to function in a certain temperature and so, as the seasons change, the system is forced to re-adapt, causing a compelling strain on immunity.

We suggest you to fight the blues and restore your strength without disrupting your busy schedule by gulping down these juices before heading out for the day.

Vegetable JuiceThe vegetable juice vendors across the city would generally create a tangy combination of beetroot, carrot, coriander/spinach, Indian gooseberry (amla) with a hint of lemon squeezed in. Though many might shun it for its deep red colour, you would not stop once you catch the taste of it. The mishmash contains oodles of Vitamin C with iron, potassium, selenium, phosphorus, sodium, beta - carotene, carotenoids, calcium, sulphur, choline and manganese. Wonder fruit amla and the natural antiseptic lime add on to the great flavour.

health & wellness

Avoid these to reduce your chances of catching the flu this winter• Stress• Dehydration• Excessive exercise/Lack of exercise • Regular intake of alcohol • Lack of sleep• Bad hygiene• Smoking • Undue medication• Unbalanced diet• Extreme sun exposure

Juices That Make you stronger

sium, sulphur, iron and fluorine, this drink is especially useful for people of intellectual labour. You can even add a bit of vinegar (another immunity booster) for added flavour.

cranberry JuiceThe sap of these pretty little red berries eliminate bacteria and other microbes that make your body prone to various


city enterprise

Like many young children, this young man grew up enamoured by his father and mentor. With age, he naturally also imbibed his father’s passion – which in this case is for building and infrastructure. The writing was on the wall that when he grows up, he would not only be the biological follower but also the natural and logical one. This young man is Mohit Arora, and his father, R K Arora, is the Chairman & Managing Director of Supertech, India’s leading real estate company. CityScan caught up this young entrepreneur, who is presently working on new business models, and wishes to stay quite about them for the present.

MohitArora


Schooling was at Vive-kanand School Noida, after which he left for America to pursue un-

dergraduate studies in Civil Engineering, from Iowa State University. As was planned, he returned at the age of 21 to take charge and bring in new thoughts and greater success into an al-ready well-established enterprise.

In a short span of 3 years, his contribution to the direction of the company is clear for all to know. Joining in a leadership role, he has effortlessly taken on the challenge to carve a new path and element pioneering initiatives, not popularly seen in the Indian real estate market. “The learning and exposure I got while studying abroad has helped me bring in greater professionalism, more organised work systems and new technology in work”, he says confidently.

Like a true entrepreneur he believes success is an on-going process and that the “the road to success is always under construction”. While he feels there is no clear mantra to success, Mohit places “value on experience as a key to exponential growth, and on understanding first-hand how systems and people actually function, more so than formal education”.

Following his passion – real estate and development – he feels inspired to bring significant improvements in the infrastructure of the city and take it to new heights (read: high-rise). He says, “some people like cars, but I have always liked buildings and development”.

innovation AheadWith a vision to take the company to international standards, he tar-geted innovation and change as means to get there. He is looking to bring in new technology and the best of fresh talent from overseas. Under his motivation, Supertech introduced pre-caste technology in India. In pre-cast construction, the structures are not made of mortar and cement but of beams and columns. Sections such as walls and ceilings are manufactured in the factory and assembled on-site, this

enables standardized quality mass production saving both time and cost. This fits in well with the company’s aim to cater to a large number of people. As Mohit explains,“Supertech wants to be biggest in terms of customer base and reach out to a still larger number of people”.

He has also introduced concept development which is relatively new to the India market – this includes high rise buildings using new construction methods such as Jump Form and Mi-Van technologies; mixed use development as seen in Spira Residences where apart from residential units you also have a 5-star hotel, malls, offices, luxurious condos and even a restaurant and bar.

Continuing with their idea of concept development, Supertech is creating an artificial beach with villas in their Up Country project on the Yamuna Expressway.

Heading sales, marketing and business development for their 36 on-going projects keeps him extremely busy. He is also involved in acquisition of new knowledge and conceptualisation of projects. Working long-hours leaves him with little time to unwind and relax. But you won’t hear him complain, instead he quite happily states “work is my hobby” and a weekly off on Sundays ensures quality time spent with the family.

His association with the city is certainly different from most as he and his family are actively associated with its development. Passionate about Noida, where he was born and brought up, he sees good potential in taking Delhi NRC to international standards in terms of infrastructure with greater guidance and a focused effort. u

by PRIYAANKA BERRY

Advice for aspiring entrepreneursKeep an open mind and stay on the lookout for new opportunities and ideas even if they aren’t a part of your original plan.Practise patience, aim high and persevere consistently to achieve your target without losing hope. Do not get disheartened by small failures but instead look at them as valuable experience and treat every stumbling block as a challenge to overcome. Don’t allow yourself to get de-motivated by a few things going wrong in your day.

Supertech pre-cast manufacturing unit in greater Noida

Upcountry project with manmade beaches

city enterprise


real estate

diPloMATiC GReensyour oasis in the cityThe 20 acre residential, gated property is part of an 82 acre master plan of mixed development, inclusive of hotel, retail and commercial spaces. The property’s impressive, upscale apartments comprise of up to 85% of green, landscaped area. At Diplomatic Greens, nature is integrated with design, landscape infused into architecture, interiors and lifestyle. A mix of Southeast Asian sculptures, cascading water bodies and meticulous gardening come together to create the landscape. The basic architecture design philosophy is to have only two apart-ments per floor so that every apartment gets natural light, cross ventilation and views of the landscape and skyline. There are also exclusive Dutch Street villas, with an option of a private swimming pool. The villas are lined up on a vibrant street, trimmed with well-groomed greens.The clubhouse features a 10,000sq ft gymnasium, sunken pool and restful cabanas, table tennis and billiards room, badminton courts, tennis courts, and water bodies with Smart Home automated fea-tures that add to your wellness. One can indulge in some soul food at the Club Café.It is just 3 kms away from the New Delhi Airport, right on the Delhi- Gurgaon border in Sector 111, Gurgaon, located in close proximity to the airport and South Delhi.

explore reSidenCeS on The dwarKa expreSSway

4 Bed Room Apartments include:● A 3 side open design with picturesque views● gold Standard Smart Home automation with touch screen control panel, lighting controls, security through motion and magnetic contacts for all the rooms, panic alarm and siren, motorized curtains with all fixtures and controls, zone audio control for separate music control in 3 rooms including speakers and SMS control of the complete house from anywhere in the world. ● Lofty double height entrance lobbies● Exclusive swimming pool and gym for apartment residents● VrV air-conditioning

● Modular kitchen with hob and chimney● 24hour dedicated business centre● Flooring in imported marble with walls and ceiling in Pop Punning With Acrylic Emulsion Paint● Cupboards in all bedrooms with HettichHafele/ equivalent hardware

CoST: Prevailing price is rs. 8500/sqft (basic sale price) + additional charges as applicable; Saleable area in 4 BHK+S – 2,950sq ft.

To BooK: you can visit their site office (Gurgaon)/ marketing office (Connaught Place) and do the formalities or else send your queries through the query form available on www.puriconstructions.com.


real estate

Developed by Sobha Developers Ltd., International City brings a perfect blend of cosmopolitan sophistication, magnificent space planning, top-notch ame-nities and flawless execution.Located just 10 minute away from IGI Airport & right off the upcoming Dwarka Expressway, IC is a 150 acre secured villa development with Presidential Villas of 500 & 400 sq. yd. and Duplex Villas of 600 sq.yd. With a privilege access to a premier club house spread across 2 acres with world’s finest facilities & amenities, the township will be a testament to Sobha’s command over delivering supremacy in quality.Conceptualized and executed by Sobha Developers in association with Chintels Group and QVC Realty Co.Current status : Phase 2 of the project was launched in mid 2012 and currently infrastructure and villa development is under progress.

Heritage Max covers approximately 11.25 acres of land parcel comprising of only 6 beautiful tall towers, leaving the bal-ance portion of the project dedicated purely for facilities and landscaping. Located in Sector 102, Gurgaon, on the Dwarka Expressway with easy access from National Highway 8, it is just a 15 minute drive from Indira Gandhi Inter-national Airport. With a specific emphasis on sports facilities, the development boasts of a floodlit football field, basketball and tennis courts and parallel cycling and jogging track running right through the project. The club, apart from the ban-quet and gym facilities, has a multi game court. Apart-ments start at 3BHK+SR and 3BHK+Study+SR ranging from 1880sqft and 2075sqft to 4BHK + SR units spread over 2475sqft or 2775sqft.

HeRiTAGe MAxSports Lifestyle Residential Development

Presidential villas specific amenities:● Spacious 5 bedroom residences with multiple car parks within the villa● Two expansive master bedrooms with the option of Jacuzzi and steam cubicle in the baths● Ultra luxurious family and dining rooms with double height ceiling, overlooking the greens through large French windows● Terrace gardens, front and rear lawns ● Utility rooms for accommodating domestic help and storage● Well designed, large spaces for walk-in closets

CoST: Starting at 3.56 cr

To BooK: You can visit www.internationalcity.in or call 8800993066, 8800678866. You can also SMS ‘SoBHA’ to 57333 or email your queries to [email protected]

inTeRnATionAl CiTyAn exclusive villa community in the making

3 Bedroom + Study + Servant Room includes:● ACs’ in all the rooms including the living room, ● A fully modular kitchen with hob and chimney● Bedrooms with high quality wooden flooring and imported marble flooring in the living room

CoST: Rs 1.21 cr onwards (Price is subject to change without any prior intimation)

To BooK: You can email them on [email protected] or call on 9310660397. To know more please visit www.conscient.in


wheel world

There is nothing like a SUV to make a man feel like a big and powerful urban cowboy or to make a woman turn from a timid little girl into an aggressive queen of the road. They now think that cars are sissy stuff and SUV’s add to

their stature and pride. Little wonder therefore that SUV’s have been growing so fast. During the first four months of 2012, SUV’s grew by a whopping 54% (compared to the previous year) while passenger cars crawled along with a 5.5% growth rate. SUV’s now account for nearly 20% of India’s passenger car purchases, and is reaching new heights with affordable SUV’s (soon expected).

There have been a few recent game changers. The first major one was when Mahindra’s introduced their 140 HP XUV500 a year ago. It was not cheap but was so sleek, quick and comfortable as to be an instant hit. The long waiting lists made India suddenly very SUV minded. The next game changer was from Renault, France’s largest auto maker, who recently introduced their attractive Duster SUV at such amazing prices that it too soon had a huge waiting list of nearly 20,000. Since Renault was late into the Indian market, it is offering good cars at great prices to try to quickly get a slice of the highly competitive market.

In looks, this 5-seater has the classic chunky look of a SUV but in a slightly dated style with round double barrel headlights visible through the curved polychromatic cover. The curved planes and chunky look is not quite as eye catching as the edgy new looks. With front wheel drive instead of 4WD, it is not only a true-blue SUV

but the big 16 Inch wheels will give more than enough traction for almost any terrain. No one will notice these when the showroom prices of the three models are spread in an amazing Rs. 7.19 and 11.29 Lakhs range comparable to a Honda City of Hyundai Verna. These transversely mounted engines are is a 102 GHP,1,598 cc petrol model , a 84 HP 1,461 Cc diesel and another 108 HP, 1,461 cc diesel option. Each model has three trim levels.

At first glance these engines appear to be underpowered to move the big 1308 Kg vehicle but these apprehensions disappear as soon as you get behind the wheels. Renault, whose engine skills are evident in their Formula 1 successse,s is a master of engine technologies and these engines deliver terrific torque to provide quick acceleration com-bined with great fuel efficiencies. The ARAI road reports of 17kmpl will translate to a welcome 13 kmpl under normal driving conditions.

On the road, the acceleration is impressive though the slick engines are smooth and silent. It accelerates easily to a top speed of over 170 Kmph but feels very stable at speed for a tall vehicle. Its ride over potholes and bumps was surprisingly quiet and smooth. I could not put the handling to the test in the city but it took a few fast corners with great composure. The 108 HP model has a 6-speed gearbox that makes driving very easy at any ground speed.

Cost cutting was evident in the interiors but it did not lack for any feature. It has most of the gadgets and gizmos that young buy-ers expect today and the seats are comfortable with good legroom. The AC has a convenient rear seat vent to make the rear seat cool in summer. The boot is big but not huge. Overall the Duster gets 9 out of 10 for value even if it gets 7 out of 10 for performance and 6 out of 10 for refinement. The Renault Duster may not stand out against more fancy brands but it does offer you a solid and capable vehicle that lets you rough it out the soft way. u

by MURAD ALI BAIg

Renault's DusteR sWeePs The MarKeT


wheel world

The EcoSport, somewhat similar to the old Ford Fusion in India, has been the bestselling car in Brazil since 2003. It had been built on the Fusion platform but with a much more aggres-

sive SUV styling and powered by a 1,600 cc petrol/gasohol plant that delivered 111HP. It had sold 38,000 units in 2011 and was also selling impressively in Mexico, Venezuela and Argentina.

The new model that was showcased at the Auto Expo in Delhi in January 2012 as well as at the Beijing Motor Show in April surprised everyone by offering a puny 1,000 cc pet-rol engine. But it is an amazing example of the huge advances in small engine technologies. The tiny 3-cylinder turbocharged `EcoBoost’ engine delivers a quite unbelievable 120 HP with an equally impressive torque of 170NM at a very low engine speed of just 1300 RPM. Most 100 cc engines will deliver about 60 HP. Buyers will thus be able to use higher gears at low engine speeds to save on fuel. It also has many other innovations to capture all engine heat and energy that will result in additional fuel efficiencies. This sleek petrol powered SUV would therefore probably be able to match the economics of any diesel powered rival.

Ford is being very coy about the time of launch of this exciting new car is to be launched. But big launches in India and China are expected sometime during the next four months followed by a roll out to a hundred countries. It is therefore clear that the Ecosport SUV will be the next big thing for Ford.

Many in India had admired the utility of the now discontinued Ford Fusion that had offered great inner space and comfort but initially had a 1600 cc petrol engine was a bit of a gas guzzler. Now with a brilliant new engine, aggressive new styling and all the gadgets and gizmos that mod-ern cars can offer it

FOrd’s aMaZiNGeCOsPORt suV

should become a major game changer. In looks the 5-door car sports is a huge gaping front grille with mean looking small headlights. From the side it has sleek sporty styling flowing back from a steeply raked windscreen to a high rear hatch above a boot with good storage capacity.

Ford has done well with an aggressive low price policy with the Figo and Fiesta Classic, so we can expect them to again go for big numbers with attractive prices. If the EcoSport is in the market at around Rs 8 lakhs or less, it would cut into the large hatchback market and give the many buyers of the Maruti Swift or Hyundai i10 or even the small sedan seg-ment of the Maruti Dzire or Toyota Etios a very attractive alternative to consider. These models sell some 40,000 cars a month as many buyers may like a sporty vehicle with all the comforts of a car. u

by MURAD ALI BAIg


duty free

William Grants Introduces ‘Monkey Shoulder’ at Delhi Duty FreeDelhi Duty Free at T3, IGI Airport has yet again introduced a new rare whisky from the stable of William Grants. Christened ‘Monkey Shoulder’, this vintage whisky is determined

to mix things up in a world where tradi-tion reigns. Created by William Grant’s

Malt Master Brian Kinsman, this rare whisky marries a specially selected batch of 27 casks from three of Spey side’s finest single malt which have been maturing in first fill bour-bon barrels. The whisky has been launched exclusively at Delhi Duty Free for the whisky connoisseurs. It’s not yet available in the domestic mar-ket which makes is a unique duty free collection.

Mega offer Beam Inc. launches Courvoisier Connoisseur collection in IndiaCourvoisier is redefining the spirits category with the launch of the world’s first-ever age statement cognac collection in india at delhi duty Free services Pvt. ltd., T3, iGi Airport in delhi. The Courvoisier Connoisseur Collection comprises two exclusive blends – Courvoisier Connoisseur 21 years old and Courvoisier Connoisseur 12 years old. As befitting of the innovative nature, the Courvoisier Connoisseur Collection are the first releases from one of the major cognac houses to be graded by an age declaration, like whisky, rather than the more conventional grading of cognac, like vs, vsoP and xo.

This Diwali all that glitters will be goldTo mark the festivities especially Diwali, Delhi Duty Free, at the T3, IGI Airport, has launched a fascinat-ing promotion for the international travelers. Titled ‘All That Glitters is Mine’, the promotion entitles all DDFS customers between October 15, 2012 to January 10, 2013 to win 1kg gold in a lucky draw at the end of the promotion. With this ‘Golden Diwali’ Promotion, Delhi Duty Free has set a new precedence for the Indian duty free retail market, one which was the domain of the Middle Eastern duty free markets until now. This promotion provides the ideal opportunity for Indian travelers to shop their heart out at Delhi Duty Free and

increase their chances of winning 1 KG Gold. Said Mr. Steve O Connor, CEO, Delhi Duty Free Services Pvt. Ltd, “We are constantly striving to enhance the retail shopping experience of our customers and set a new benchmark for Indian duty free retail. DDFS is happy to bring such a Gold promotion for our patrons.” Travelers can chose from a large variety of product categories such as perfumes, confectionery, destination goods, Indian handicrafts, liquor and tobacco. The shop floor at departures and arrivals will be decorated in all gold finery to promote the golden Diwali promotion. The idea is to offer a completely festive feel to the travel-ers right from the time they land into the country to enjoy the festivities with their family.


The most sought after Diwali mela of the town is back!With the festival of lights comes the Diwali mela organised by Blind Relief Association, a premier

non-profit charitable organization in the country. Vari-ous products will be exhibited in the fête that would be handcrafted by the visually challenged. From jewellery to crockery everything would be available in this Diwali mela. It’s one of the most awaited melas of the town. The festival would be held from 5th-11th November from 10:30 am to 8 pm. So this Diwali, all over again you would have something to look forward to for your entertainment, fun and spree.

WHERE: Blind relief association, Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, Lodhi road, New Delhi.

Short and Sweet is back!If you watched it the last time you must be waiting for it eagerly t h i s ye a r too. Short and Sweet, the biggest festival of

ten minutes theatre is back in the town with its third edition. Some of the best performances will be showcased gathered from past years. The festival would be held consecutively for three days from 24th-26th October at 7 pm.

WHERE: Indian Habitat Centre, Lodhi road, New Delhi.

don’t miss

The festival of contemporary dance in the capital!Envisaged to give high-quality In-dian contemporary dance public visibility, IGNITE! is designed to showcase creativity and innovation in Indian dance and to support the development of vibrant, new artistic work. Comprised of performances, workshops, master classes, semi-nars, screenings and interactions, this festival will showcase innova-tions in dance by choreographers from across India alongside par-allel explorations that have been unfolding in other parts of the world. The second edition of IGNITE! would be held in New Delhi from 31st October-4th November, 2012. This festival is categorized into three events- flash mob, public screenings and outdoor performances across different locations across New Delhi/NCR. Book your tickets on bookmyshow.com and Gati Dance Forum, S 15-17, Khirkee Extension, Opposite Select City Saket, New Delhi.

WHERE: For information on locations, log on to www.ignitedancefestival.com.

city scan november 2012

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