For a razzle-dazzle Diwali

Marathe Jewellers, also known as ‘MJ’, has carved a niche of its own in Pune city. It is a jewellery house renowned for its quality of service as well as the artistic and aesthetic designs and appeal of its ornaments. Every Marathe branded piece of jewellery represents the epitome of intricate design and exquisite craftsmanship. The hallmark of the jewellery is a seamless blend of traditional Indian and modern design. Marathe Jewellers has an extensive range of gold, silver and platinum jewellery, as well as jewellery diamonds and precious stones, on offer. The jewellery house also takes pride in ensuring that every customer is lavished with the best and most cordial, personal service. The story dates back to 1997, when Milind Marathe started working with the PN Gadgil enterprise. Over the years, Marathe was tutored and groomed in the intricacies of the jewellery trade by his uncle and mentor Rajabhau Gadgil. Eventually after over a decade of working with the Gadgil firm, Marathe decided to branch out on his own. He set up Marathe Jewellers in March 2012, on Laxmi Road. The resounding success of this venture inspired Marathe to relocate to larger premises. In 2013, younger sibling Kaustubh, an IGI certified gemologist, joined MJ. Soon after they launched their third branch at Punyaee Complex on Paud Road. For Diwali 2014, MJ has planned a ‘Festival of Sparkles’. This festive collection features diamond necklaces, pendants, ear rings, finger rings, bangles, bracelets and accessories. “We want to make our patrons feel special this Diwali, as this is the time to gift our loved ones with something special. We have gift vouchers that will give our customers an added sparkle of joy in this special time of the year,” says Milind.

Curry king's special marinades

Chef Patrick Chapman has made a career out of his love for Indian food This is my 44th trip to India. My love for this country began a long time ago. In 1715, my grandfather was working with the East India Company. At that time India was not separated. But it all began with Alexina Lemonn, my great grandmother. The family was based in Lucknow at that time. They later shifted to Agra. In 1902, she met my grandfather. He was a private in the Indian army. I spend most of my childhood in my grandparents' place. As she had spent her childhood in Lucknow, she knew of Indian spices and condiments. She used to spend hours in the kitchen, grinding the spices to the right consistency. My liking for Indian cooking began then,”says Patrick Chapman. "I loved the all the Indian curries she cooked especially the stuffed green chilies. It was basically minced meat, fried with various spices, stuffed in the green chillies and deep fried in oil.” After college, he dabbled various professions. He spent six years flying jet planes for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and set up his own lighting and sound company. But he continued cooking for his friends and family. In 1882, he launched Curry Club. Now the Club has 10,000 members from across the world. He has written 36 books which feature recipes from China, Thailand, Middle East and America. Most of his books are about curries. No wonder he is known as Britain’s Curry King. “The food from UK is very bland. I love to have Indian food at least six days in a week. Like my grandmother, I make my own garam masala and other spices.” For this festival season, Chapman has tied up with Barbeque Nation, the casual dining restaurant chain. He will be presenting 14 new marinades from his repertoire in the three outlets in the city. Chapman said, “The menu is drawn from Mediterranean, American, oriental, Asian and the Indian sub-continent. I have made these marinade recipes especially for Barbeque Nation. A lot of time and planning has gone into it. One can taste various marinades like Yorkshire Marinade, Worcestershire Marinade and the Spanish Valencia Marinade. There are also other marinades like Arabian Marinade, Persian Marinade, American Texican Marinade, Albuquerque Atomic Marinade, Jamaican Jerk Marinade and so on.

A slice of Morroco

Hurry to get a spot under the Gulmohar tree at Alfresco and enjoy Mediterrenean treats Alfresco, the new restaurant at Four Points by Sheraton on Nagar Road, offers a dining experience, with a difference. To quote General Manager Vijayan Gandharan, "We called the area 'charbesque', because the food here is cooked over charcoal or barbequed. And 'alfresco' because beyond the coffee shop is an open area, so our patrons can experience a natural ambience. Dotted with bamboo trees and waterfalls, the garden area is under the canopy of a gulmohar tree, making for a picnicky outdoors atmosphere. Alfresco serves Mediterranean and Indian cuisines. Executive chef, Sanjay Mitra elaborates, "We finalised the menu after extensive research. Our Mediterranean fare has a dash of South African flavour. The Moroccan dish Tagine involves marinating the meat with Moroccan spices which is then cooked over charcoal along with the vegetables." Moroccan spices are more subtle than Indian spices and the aromas are more subdued as well. The Alfresco menu offers a large selection including salads off the charcoal grill, desi barbeque, bake dishes, side dishes and desserts. Mediterranean bell pepper salad, Chef's tossed salad, Blackened fish, Pesto garlic prawns skewers, Crispy potato skins are among the dishes. Pastas and pizzas come with a wide range of toppings and sauces. We sampled Tagine, the stew with meat and vegetables cooked in a Tagine pot, and served with Harissa chutney made from jeera, pepper and garlic. The stew is complemented by garlic bread, couscous pilaf, jacket potatoes and sauteed vegetables. The Blackened king fish marinated with pepper, jeera and Moroccan spices is seared and grilled over charcoal. For dessert we tried the char-grilled pineapple served with vanilla ice-cream, barbequed split banana and grilled chocolate brownie. The food was filling tangy and tasty and along with the natural ambience and spot-on service, Alfresco deserves a four-star rating. The place to got to if you have a yen for char-grilled or barbequed Moroccan style food. Alfresco is another welcome addition to Pune city's evolving food space.

All that glitters... is gold and jewels

Neelkanth Jewellers is renowned for innovation and impeccable craftsmanship Neelkanth Jewellers is a brand that symbolises artistry, passion and perfection. Their jewellery is classic, contemporary and elegant. The jewellery house has carved a niche for itself with its rare and distinctive portfolio, from bridal wear to daily wear, from traditional to modern creations. The Neelkanth Jewellers is a beehive of activity with craftsmen and artisans designing intricate pieces of jewellery with deftness and dexterity. Sahib Dayal manages the show with his brother Surinder Pal. They have worked here from a young age while they were in school and college. Surinder Pal says, “Every piece of jewellery is a unique masterpiece. Our designs are innovative and exclusive. Every piece of jewellery is designed to flatter all ages. Our designs are truly timeless. Moreover, the jewellery is well priced and customers get good value for their money. Secondly, every piece of jewellery sold has a guaranteed assurance. Gold jewellery is BIS hallmarked, while diamond jewellery is certified. Thirdly, there is a personal touch in the way we deal with our customers.” The brothers know jewellery design very well and have the art and craft of coloured stones, diamonds and studied jewellery designing. The in-house design team makes customised jewellery according to individual requirements. It takes around a week or month to deliver custom jewellery. “It depends on how intricate the design is. The details have to be taken into account while crafting a particular piece,” says Surinder. There is a range of collections available at Neelkanth Jewellers, such as Temple Collection, Antique Collection, Designer Collection, Kundan Meena Collection, Bridal Collection, Diamond Collection and Silver Collection. Temple Collection features red geru polish touches a chord of aesthetic consciousness. Within its gilded layers, it holds a rich history along with a modern touch. Antique collection is a combination of coloured stones, intricately crafted kundan with precious and semi-precious stones. In the Designer Collection the range has gold filigree work, embedded with coloured semi and precious stones and Swarovski’s diamonds. The collection is class apart and gives women who wear it an exclusive air. The Kundan Collection is inspired by royal jewellery and features kundan, meena work, designed with coloured stones. The Bridal Collection is especially designed for brides on her wedding day. The Diamonds Collection is light weight diamond jewellery for daily wear, for housewives and working women. The heavy diamond jewellery is crafted in yellow and white diamonds, pearls, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and a combination of pearls. The Silver collection features a range of silver ware, utensils and more. For Diwali, Neelkanth Jewellers offers an assured gift on every purchase. One can also avail of the monthly ‘Gold benefit scheme’.

Continental Escape

For a casual European culinary experience, you can now drop into Krustys at Koregaon Park If you looking for a sophisticated European culinary experience at affordable prices in a casual environment, step into Krustys at Koregaon Park. Rohhan Joshi and his mother Vidhiya are the charming culinary duo behind the city’s latest food haunt. Explaining the concept behind the joint, Rohhan says, “We wanted to create something magical where we could marry the best of fine dining cuisine and a contemporary bistro ambience.” Their first outlet was launched in Kothrud in 2013 and they staked a presence in Koregaon Park a month and a half ago. Their latest branch in Koregoan Park is divided into two distinctive spaces, an inside section and an outdoor terrace area. On one side is the patisserie section with its offerings of cheesecakes, pastries, shortbreads, macaroons, rosemary potato focaccio and other kinds of breads. On the main course are a variety of soups, salads, pastas, risottos, thin-crust pizzas, gourmet submarine sandwiches, burgers and artisanal bakes. To maintain consistency in quality, “ingredients are sourced locally and from abroad. The fish and meat are marinated at the central kitchen and the sauces are also made there. These are then dispatched to both outlets, where they are cooked or finished off in an oven,” says Rohhan. Vidhiya oversees the preparations. For starters, we ordered French Beans and Grilled Chicken Salad in Passionfruit Emulsion, Warm Marinated Mushroom Salad with Balsamic Glaze, Lemon Rosemary Chicken with Spiced Mango Dip; and Black Olives, Sundried Tomato and Basil Pesto Stone Baked Pizza. The ingredients were fresh and the subtle flavours came together harmoniously. No one flavour jostled for prominence over the other. For the main course was the slow-cooked rustic vegetable Cassoulet (cassoulet lima beans, assorted vegetables and herb pilaf), Fettuccine with Mushroom Ragu, Fish en Papillote and Lamb Bourguignon. The fish was particularly aromatic — it is cooked in a paper bag with white wine, garlic, capers, tomato confit and black olives. The Duchess of Cambridge reportedly cooked it for Prince William on their first wedding anniversary. Rohhan guided us on how to eat it: You scoop the succulent fish along with the gravy so that you can taste the various spices. The Lamb Bourguignon was boneless cut of meant braised in red wine, pearl onions, mushrooms and served with herb pilaf. We liked it for the variety of vegetables it brought together, such as broccoli, carrots, etc. and how tender the meat was. Not to mention, the enticing aromas. The outlet plans to make some experimental treats XXX (put frequency) to gauge audience reaction before putting them on the menu. We were treated to a sundried tomato and basil macaroon, so be sure to ask about these at the patisserie counter. The portions are sufficient for two people and sans drinks, a meal for two will come up to Rs 1000. If you don’t have time for a European holiday, dream about it while eating at Krustys. TGS Life picks Warm Marinated Mushroom Salad with Balsamic Glaze Lamb Bourguignon

Tasty treats, WTF style

WTF at Seasons mall in Magarpatta serves a mix of inventive and comfort foods WTF (Where's The Food) is a place that liver up to its offbeat name. The brainchild of Kishore DF of Lemon Grass Cafe, Pot Pourri, Seijo and Soul Dish fame, the USPs of this restaurant are its youthful air and easy-on-the-pocket menu. On manager Baptist Fernandez's recommendations, we sampled the Bombay Thecha Roll (Rs 220) that is deep fried Bombay Duck marinated in spice and green chilli paste. Kolkata Egg chop (Rs 150) is deep fried boiled eggs dipped in mashed potatoes, chilli powder and spices served with lemon grass sticks. The Thecha Roll was not overtly pungent or spicy with the ingredients blending tastily, while the Egg Chop was fried to a crispy golden brown coat. The WTF Platter (Rs450) consisted of assorted grilled vegetables. The main course included Bhuna Mutton Gosht with paratha (Rs 350) and Railway Chicken Curry with neer dosa or paratha (Rs 275). The Bhuna Gosht had a spicy tang and the Chicken curry was perfect with the dosa. The Cheese Masala Maggi (Rs 125) came with a grated cheese topping and proved to be very filling. Desserts are not on the the WTF menu. With its vibrant ambience, friendly service and wallet-friendly menu, WTF is a haven for Pune's growing number of food aficionados.

Furniture festival

Designer Concepts at Aundh sells furniture with innovative design Rasik Shah and Viral Vira have been in the furniture trade for 11 years. They shifted from Mumbai to Pune in 2003 and joined Tangent Furniture Mall. Their know-how enables the duo to understand their customers’ needs and design furniture according to individual tastes. But despite all their success Shah and Vira were not entirely happy. They realised that they needed a outlet to bring out every aspect of their creative abilities. To achieve this they opened their Designers Concepts furniture store at Aundh in April 2014. To ensure exclusivity, they have collaborations with select furniture makers. Tangent, Space Wood and Bluebell are the brands they deal in. What makes the store stand apart from the other furniture stores in the city are their unique designs and innovative ideas in furniture. Designer Concepts has tied up with manufacturers who exclusively design for them Shah says, “The products of our store are meant for upper middle class and middle class segments as well as for the lower income group. A customer can buy furniture for the entire home, including bedroom concepts, children furniture wardrobes, study table, chairs and so on.” The store is set up over four levels. While sofas are displayed on the first floor, the second floor features a range of dining tables, chairs and bar counters. Office furniture takes up the third floor while the fourth floor showcases bedroom furniture and artefacts. The store also sells cane and garden furniture, coffee tables etc. The furniture displays are arty and tasteful and the decor on the walls adds an even more artistic ambience. Vira says,“The furniture for children’s bedrooms is imported from Malaysia and China. The pure leather sofas are imported from Italy, Germany and Denmark. the composite and artificial leather sofas are sourced locally and also imported from China and Malaysia. The furniture can be customised. Locally made furniture can be delivered in 15-20 days, while imports take longer, about 90 days. Our local manufacturing units are at Thane and Daman.” Designers Concepts also have exchange schemes and also offer attractive discounts on larger orders. Finance options are available as well. The store has been attracting a steady stream of customers owing to its innovative designs and wide variety of furniture. And a sizeable section of the customers opt for custom designs. With changing lifestyles the urban clientele is now very selective and want the furniture in their homes to reflect tastes and style. And Designers Concepts’ Shah and Vira have the abilities and the desire to cater to demands of customers from all walks of life.