The New Year often sees people hit the gym with a vengeance trying to undo all the wrongs of the past year. This weekend, Madh Marve beach will see a different set of people trying to work out, not just to build their physical health but also their social and mental health. Organised by SAHA, a collective working for the welfare of neurodivergent individuals, the beach workout session is an opportunity to build and foster a new community of neurodivergent individuals across the city. (From left) A volunteer helps a child pet a goat during an earlier session; participants fill out activity sheets “Physical fitness is a key part, and often least addressed, among neurodivergent individuals,” shares co-founder Aarti Parikh. “For many individuals, stepping out can be challenging owing to the constant overload of sensory stimulations in a city like Mumbai. But holistic health requires both mental and physical fitness,” she notes. Starting out as an educator, Parikh found common ground with fellow founders, Jalpa Mehta and Gopal Bhagwat, who share a fondness for sports. SAHA, a term for togetherness, was founded to build a community of, and for, neurodivergent individuals. “Our vision is to build a social community for neurodivergent individuals. We conduct several mixed events to maintain a balance between emotional and physical wellness; from petting sessions to monsoon trails at Mahim Nature Park and the BNHS Conservation Education Centre in Goregaon,” reveals Mehta. Aarti Parikh, Jalpa Mehta and Gopal Bhagwat The session on Sunday seeks to help people learn a few easy workouts, while regaining the comfort of being in an open space with new people. “Apart from physical fitness, what these activities seek to establish and build is an understanding of interacting with new people,” Parikh adds. With sports instructors and qualified professionals at hand, the initiative will also be prepared for individuals who find themselves overwhelmed. “The comfort of the individual is paramount. We always reach out to them beforehand to understand if they have any major anxieties and to learn if they have any issues with mobility. There are no hard and fast rules for our sessions. We do not mind starting late to accommodate our members,” co-founder Bhagwat chimes in. He points out that the early start for the session is an effort to avoid the city’s chaos of the day. The bustle is one reason why working outdoors can be stressful for neurodivergent individuals, admits Parikh. “We ask our participants to dress comfortably and bring along water, as well as sensory resources such as noise cancelling headphones or fidget toys that they prefer. As an alternative, we also bring along a few to help them in case they find themselves overwhelmed,” she notes. “These sessions are steps to build a community, and give neurodivergent individuals an opportunity to experience the world in the same way as a normative individual does,” Mehta concludes. ON January 12; 7 am to 9 amAT Aksa Beach, Marve Road, Aksa Village, Madh. LOG ON TO @saha_togetherness (to register, along with medical requirements)CALL 9137848916 (limited seats)Cost R1,200 (participant and support)
10 January,2025 09:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarEntrepreneur and storyteller Upasana Makati’s new audio story opens with its visually impaired protagonist Amay’s ode to Mingo, the mango tree in his backyard. “Mingo is a patient listener, but when she’s tired of my bickering, she throws some dry leaves at me,” Amay chuckles. After all, environment is his favourite subject at school, and also the theme for his upcoming birthday party at a Braille-friendly nature park. “Amay and the Braille Trail is not a sob story. Contrary to prevalent belief, individuals with visual impairment can lead a joyful life with the right people and facilities around them,” Makati reminds us. Students at the Valsad coaching centre watch the story during a break Released on World Braille Day (January 4), the story brings to life vivid sensory details like the aroma of grandma’s fresh batata wadas, which the family later tucks into amidst the sounds of songbirds and streams of freshwater flowing through the park. Paired with illustrations by Subodhini Lakhi, it’s enough to keep even an adult listener hooked. But for Arsh Ahuja, a four-year-old listener, it strikes a special chord. “Arsh’s favourite bit is that Amay is just like him. He reads Braille, loves nature, and can recognise everyday sounds. Finding a character that resonates with him, in a positive way at that, is rare,” points out his mother Tanya Ahuja. Arsh and Tanya Ahuja We expect to hear about museums, zoos and amusement parks when we ask the mother-son duo what spots in the city they’d like to see become Braille-friendly soon. Tanya’s response is a timely reality check for the city that is undergoing metamorphosis. “Schools need to be more inclusive and understand that with small accommodations, children with blindness can blend well into their ecosystem,” she notes, adding, “Arsh is growing into an avid foodie. He would love for restaurants to have menus in Braille.” Not far away in Gujarat’s Valsad, educator Avinash Kaur is ensuring the story reaches impressionable audiences in her coaching institute. “I scanned through the English textbooks from grade six to 10, and there is a concerning lack of stories that teach empathy. Amay’s story is a concise, yet gripping way to inculcate that value. While the students seemed to understand the nuances, they are already past their foundational years. Earlier introduction to such stories would have been great help in hindsight,” she shares. Avinash Kaur and Upasana Makati Rest assured, Makati is working towards changing that, one story at a time. In addition to four Braille books that her publishing company White Print has already released, the audio stories are set to become a regular feature. “This story was inspired by my visit to the Aarey Forest years ago where I realised how inaccessible it was for someone with sensory impairment. There is no dearth of such spaces that can do with a Braille revamp. As long as these spaces exist, we’ll create stories to remind people of the work that needs to be done,” she signs off. Log on to White Print on YouTube (for the audio story)whiteprint.in (for the books) AI for an eyeMicrosoft’s Seeing AI app can come in handy for individuals with visual impairment. By simply pointing the camera at objects, the app narrates the surroundings to the user. Available: All app stores
10 January,2025 09:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleColdplay. Ed Sheeran. Dua Lipa. Mumbai is now a preferred venue for touring music icons. Yet, the city offers an equal opportunity to musicians looking to explore an alternative avenue. The new music initiative, Umbaaro, will host one such experience, Baithak: A classical soirée, that highlights the intimacy of music this weekend at Lower Parel. Guitarist Aniket Gundewar reveals, “Indian classical music is generally an intimate performance art. It is important to understand that the idea of large concerts for classical music is fairly new. A smaller space is more appropriate for this form.” A student of Pandit Atulkumar Upadhye, Gundewar’s use of the electrical guitar as an instrument for Hindustani classical ragas stands out. He describes the style as one that combines the ‘gayaki ang’ and tantkari tantra techniques. “Even as a performer, playing near the audience is a welcome change. Often, we can hardly read the expressions or the reaction of the people who listen,” he shares. Shanaya Shah and Shivangi Buch Gundewar and tabla maestro Alpesh Moharir have shaped the concert to suit a certain flair and tempo of ragas and rhythms. The key is to be playful, fun but intricate in performance, he points out. “I plan to begin the concert with an alaap on the guitar, before slowly segueing into a faster tempo. Alpesh (Moharir) will join me in a jugalbandi of taals, before we finish on a fast tihai,” the guitarist reveals. Umbaaro, co-founded by Shivangi Buch and Shanaya Shah gets its name from the Gujarati term for threshold. The choice of a design and artisan furniture store for the concert was intentional. Buch, an architect by profession, admits that she had always been on the lookout for musical experiences that utilised spaces as part of the experience. “I wanted to start something where music is more than just a sound-based experience, where the space also matters.” For Shah, the idea appealed to her artistic sensibilities. “For us, the venue offers a chance for the artistes to perform amidst hand-crafted looms and furniture, while the artisans are present and working. It adds another layer to the experience, for the musicians as well as the audience,” says Shah. Going forward, the founders will seek out spaces that blend art and heritage, while returning to musical roots. “It is an effort towards cultural revival and a move away from the big concert fervour that is taking over everything,” says Shah. The performance on Sunday will be the first step in that direction. ON January 12; 4.30 pm to 6 pmAT Zeba Design Center, Mathuradas Mill Compound, Lower Parel. LOG ON TO@umbaaro on Instagram (to register)CALL 9930586325ENTRY Rs 1,200
10 January,2025 09:21 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarThe two-month-old restaurant, Hitchens, was started with the idea of keeping the conversation alive with soft, transcendent music, and a dedicated space for live performances. The weekend performance will mark the return of New York-based vocalist, Priya Darshani who was raised in Mumbai. “I’m excited to be back in the city and to be performing at such an intimate venue,” she says. Her first solo album, Periphery, was nominated for the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2020. Darshani confirms that this performance will showcase a few tracks from the album and it will be performed as a duo with Max ZT on the hammered dulcimer. “I think the hammered dulcimer has beautiful dynamics and feels like an orchestra in itself,” adds Darshani. Max ZT’s performance on the hammered dulcimer A hammered dulcimer is a percussion-stringed instrument, and the Grammy-nominated artist Max ZT is a pioneer of the instrument. He also performed at a venue in BKC earlier this week. This weekend’s performance will also include tracks from Grammy-nominated album On Becoming by House of Waters (2024). The artiste developed his sound after decades of study in various parts of the world. He takes pride in the fact that he learnt to build the hammered dulcimer himself. He went on to win the National Hammered Dulcimer Championship in 2005. “My parents say that I first saw the hammered dulcimer when I was two, and was instantly mesmerised. Priya Darshani I encountered the instrument again when I was seven, and convinced them that this was something I had to pursue,” he recalls. This performance will be held at the event space on the first floor, while the ground floor space will still be operational for dining. “All the seats, including the bar stools are placed facing the stage so that every guest can experience the event,” shares Pratik Motwani, creative and operational partner, Hitchens. He also mentions that the audio system at the restaurant space downstairs will relay the performance. So while the other diners may not be able to view the artists perform, they can enjoy the music during dinner. On January 11; 8.30 pm onwardsAT Hitchens — Cocktails and ideas, Plot 490, Khar West.LOG ON TO @hitchens.indiaEntry Rs 1,500
10 January,2025 09:15 AM IST | Mumbai | Evita RocheThursdayAbout the Buddha Go back in time with this historical lecture by Tagore National fellow and professor Himanshu Prabha Ray on the modern search for The Buddha’s relics.Time 5.30 pmAt The Asiatic Society, Town Hall, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Fort. FridayCelebrate the legacy of Pandit CR Vyas Pic Courtesy/Instagram Attend this musical event honouring the legacy of Hindustani vocalist late Pandit CR Vyas with a recital by Sharvari Nagvekar Vaidya (below) and a tabla jugalbandi by Pandit Anindo Chatterjee and Anubrata Chatterjee.Time 7 pm onwards At Veer Savarkar Auditorium, Shivaji Park, Dadar West.Entry First-come-first-serve basis Jungle Jaunt A moment from a previous trek. Pic Courtesy/Instagram Escape the chaos of the city and embark on an expedition of the Aadrai jungle trek which takes you through the lush terrain of the Sahyadris. Time 9.45 pm Meeting point Sanjay Gandhi National Park main gate, Borivli West.Log on to treksandtrails.orgCall 8828746865 Cost Rs 699 onwards SaturdayKoliwada calling Explore Worli Koliwada with this event by The Heritage project and LYP Mumbai that features a sketch walk and a performance by Tejas (below) and Band. Time 4 pm onwardsAt Goradabkal Ground, Koliwada, Worli. Log on to @theheritage.project (registration required) Rewind, rejuvenate Attend this all-ladies aerial yoga and pilates ring session with expert guidance from professionals to de-stress and relax your body. With exercises for beginners as well as fitness enthusiasts, the session will focus on improving core strength, balance and flexibility with the use of props such as hammocks. Time 9.30 am onwards At Namaste Yoga Classes, 302 A, Jeevan Bharat, 17th Road, near Khar Gymkhana, Khar West. Log on to in.bookmyshow.com Cost Rs 799 SundayA modern love story Attend The Open Couple, a thought-provoking play directed by Faraz Khan that explores the complex gender dynamics of a couple in an open relationship.Time 5 pm to 8 pm At Chaubara by Veda Factory, Bungalow No. 18, Aram Nagar Part 2, Machlimar, Versova, Andheri West. Log on to insider.in Entry Rs 399 onwards Shop hop Laugh away the woes of the week gone by with Kisi ko batana mat, a set by stand-up comic Anubhav Bassi filled with amusing anecdotes in his characteristic storytelling style and funny observations. Time 8 pm onwardsAt Birla Matoshree Hall, Vitthaldas Thackersey Marg, Marine Lines. Log on to in.bookmyshow.com Cost Rs 1,999 onwards Shop hop Indulge in a Sunday splurge at Swadeshi Haat offering crockery, handicraft products, ceramics, local spices and textiles from various states of India.Time 11 am to 9 pm At MMRDA Ground, near Punjab National Bank Towers, BKC
09 January,2025 08:58 AM IST | Mumbai | Divyasha PandaArtist Viraj Khanna has spent his life around art, embroideries and textiles. The 29-year-old’s first job was to look after the embroidery department of his family business in Kolkata. Khanna would price different samples and discovered different embroidery techniques up close during this time. Inspired, Khanna, a business administration graduate, is now pursuing a Master’s in Fine Arts at the Art Institute of Chicago. Untitled, 2024, acrylic on fibreglass Khanna has had several solo and group exhibitions; even acquisitions, since 2021 and uses embroidery techniques and his love for collaging to present visual narratives of his interpretations of the world we live in. Brain Rot: The Life You Live? is a curated series of sculptures and embroidered textile collages by Khanna that continues his satirical exploration of our digitally defined modern lifestyle. This is a very expensive jacket, 2024, hand embroidery on textile Brain rot was Oxford’s word of 2024, and Khanna quotes Newport Institute to define brain rot as a condition of mental fogginess, lethargy, reduced attention span, and cognitive decline that results from an overabundance of screen time. “This show is very personal. Through this show, I am thinking about how much social media influences us in different ways. My works depict the multiple ways in which I navigate different platforms. I am commenting on the perceptions we create through the images that we share on Instagram. We depict a perfect life in a way, and this is usually far from the truth. Earlier social groups would be smaller and the comparisons would just be within those smaller groups and it wouldn’t affect us much. We look at thousands of people together today,” comments Khanna. He rues that everyone, including him, knows that the overuse of social media is bad, despite that we use it extensively. Viraj Khanna works in his studio “I cannot leave it because it is important for my career, even though it always stresses me out,” says Khanna. About his process, Khanna’s textile works are usually painted first or collaged at a smaller scale. These images are then enlarged, and Khanna makes a khakha (or an embroidery blueprint) out of it for embroidery. Khanna loves the process of layering and experimenting with embroidery for art and works in collaboration with karigars to bring them to life. The importance of the Indian craftsman-connect comes from his earlier days in his family business, and his mother, acclaimed designer Anamika Khanna. But it’s not just textiles and embroideries for Khanna. Brain Rot includes acrylic on fibreglass sculptures with a recurring outlandish face seen in Khanna’s previous works too. This leitmotif, says Khanna, was the first ever design he created, and that’s why it’s meaningful to him. “These were designed using paper collages created from fashion magazines and other books. My practice began with this sketch, and I have been taking it forward since then. Collaging is quite instinctive by itself and it reflects my aesthetic in a way,” reveals Khanna. Sanjana Shah, creative director of Tao Art Gallery says that Khanna’s works are visually vibrant and attractive, but once you spend some time, the deeper concepts trigger introspection in the viewer. “This duality is interesting. While his art asks pertinent questions, there is rarely anything heavy or judgemental about the presentation. This balance makes his art enjoyable and perhaps also educational,” says Shah, about the artist who will make his solo debut in the USA this year with an exhibition at Rajiv Menon Contemporary in Los Angeles. At: Tao Art Gallery, 165, The View, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli. Till: February 9; 11 am to 7 pm (Monday to Saturday), 12 pm to 6 pm (Sundays) Call: 24918585
09 January,2025 08:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Dhara Vora SabhnaniJanuary is the ideal month to kick off working on that ticking brain, to tease it and challenge it into staying sharp. With this month-long focus on brainteasers, we reached out to enthusiasts for their favourite puzzles for all of us to try. Unsurprisingly, the word search emerged as a popular favourite. Here are a few other recommendations to get your brain tease-ready. Readers’ Picks Rhea Vellalam, student, St Xavier’s CollegeSudoku is fun to play; it’s like you know the next move immediately. Solving crosswords in the newspaper was also fun because it refreshed my mind. All the words are upside down or backwards, in an unexpected way. And you get to learn new words and facts that are mind boggling but that’s what the concept is. I haven’t solved too many puzzles since we went digital though. Vijendra Singh, hospitality professional, KurlaI love crosswords. It’s my way of staying calm and meditative. In this era of AI, the traditional way of finding things out keeps me focused. I know it will eventually help me to keep my thinking mind active. Dawn Mendonca, IT professional, Dallas, TexasI used to play Brainvita a lot as a kid; it kept my mind sharp. But if I had to pick a favorite, I’d say Sudoku. I did a lot of Sudoku in newspapers back home in Mumbai; however, I seem to have lost touch with the puzzle after moving abroad. The guide’s top picks Brain teasers like Brainvita and crossword keep the mind active All in one: Log onto the website, or download the app and be treated with a host of new challenges every day. Word games like Wordle, Connections, Spelling bee, or number games like the iconic Sudoku, all at your fingertips. Log on to: nytimes.com/crosswords Test your brain power: This website can keep you occupied all day, or for days at a stretch. It contains everything from puzzles and trivia to ciphers and riddles.Log on to: braingle.com Can you crack this? Each level is tougher than the next on this app and it may tempt you into using all your hints.Log on to: Brain Out on all apps stores
08 January,2025 12:39 PM IST | Mumbai | Evita RocheWhy did the physiotherapist don a cowboy hat and start slinging guns? If you’re at improv artiste Nasir Engineer’s social mixer events, this could be one of his quirky prompts that gets the conversations going. If it’s your lucky day, it could be something that actually unfolds right before your eyes. In this case, it did. “When the physiotherapist arrived at our event, she was shy and reserved, likely aware that most of the participants were much younger than her. She opened up gradually through the session, but when she went for the props and broke into a gun-slinging act, it caught us all off guard,” Engineer laughs. Participants line up for an improv game at the social mixer Conceptualised to bring people together across extroversion, introversion, ambiversion, and all other versions in between, the artiste explains that the aim of his workshops and events are, well, to have no aim at all. “These are not events where you come looking for a companion or a soulmate,” he warns us. That being said, if Cupid decides to crash the party, Engineer won’t stand in the way. “I only nudge the group to help spark a conversation and keep things interesting. How it pans out from there is completely up to them,” he adds. A usual session will witness Engineer pull out a fun game out of his hat to break the ice. “At a previous event, I handed out cards with different questions, and paired people up randomly. Their challenge was to explain the plot of a film based on the title that formed when their answers were combined. When you brainstorm with a stranger, it automatically pushes you to let your guard down,” Engineer explains. Momo’s Garage is one such film that, unfortunately, will never see the light of day. Nasir Engineer Much like the physiotherapist gone rogue, the artiste has undergone a metamorphosis of his own. “I was once a shy and reserved person for a large part of my life. I understand what it feels like to be left out. That’s why I make it a point to welcome participants and strike up a conversation to understand how to place them in a room filled with diverse voices and ensure they feel as included as everyone else,” he concludes. Now that’s one kind of social Engineer-ing we can truly get behind. ON January 11; 19, and 26AT Doolally Taproom, Khar West; Anaahat, JVPD Scheme, Andheri West. LOG ON TO flutr.co.inENTRY Rs 1,000 onwards
08 January,2025 12:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleEver wondered if the Haas avocados from Peru, Mexico or New Zealand are really worth the significantly heftier price tag as compared to their humbler South Indian counterparts? Or, if a rustic caviar was better suited to your dinner party than, say, a buttered or a pressed alternative? What if you could not only obtain accurate answers to these ephemeral questions but also stock your pantry with the top-shelf versions of every essential (and indulgence) under the same roof? And, what if you could savour produce that has a better-travelled passport than you, in ingredient-forward preparations, rustled up in a live kitchen even before you paid for your purchases? That’s exactly what Food Square — a gourmet food destination that’s replaced erstwhile Food Hall on Linking Road — purports to do. A plate of avacado and halloumi fries As co-founder Lalit Jhawar explains, “With Food Square, we wanted to offer a gourmet food retail experience like none other — one that is centred on discovery and experience, allowing customers to not only return for their favourites but also explore the highest quality produce and make these a part of their routine diets. To make these ingredients more accessible and interesting, we came up with the concept of The Barn, a café that specialises in dishes prepared from produce sourced for and sold at Food Square, in a seasonal, ever-evolving format.” The sushi cake is flavoured with spicy mayo and togarashi Simply put, the menu is frequently updated as per the season’s best offerings, and even the source of staples such as tomatoes, asparagus and avocados, is shifted to ensure optimal freshness. As a hat-tip to local gourmet confectioners, the dining area is flanked by enticing displays from Sivako and Genda Phool. We stopped by on a lazy Saturday to put these claims to the test, and offer you our recommendations. The hits The cafe’s interiors have a minimalistic vibe The menu is well-edited, with a judicious mix of popular favourites and innovative twists. A stellar example of the latter was Jhawar’s recommended avocado and halloumi fries (R650). Coated with a peri peri and cajun spice-infused panko crumb that was mild enough to let the subtle flavours and buttery textures of the avocado and the halloumi shine through, this dish was a satisfying if slightly guilty indulgence. The Truffle tortellini (Rs 675) was our next pick — the pasta was freshly made; the arugula lacked the bitter aftertaste that (as we learned) accompanies its lowlier variants, and the burnt butter sauce was delicate enough to have us lapping up the last spoonful. The truffle tortellini is served in a rich burnt butter sauce The chef also rustled up a mock-meat burger (Rs 675), which came garnished with caramelised onion, crisp lettuce, tomato and gherkins, sandwiched between fluffy house-baked Hokkaido bread. Although slightly suspicious about mock-meat (we’ve tried and been disappointed by a fair few), The Barn nailed the flavour and texture, serving up a burger we’d come back for again. Our only grouse was the thickness of the buns — not being a fan of excessively bread-y preparations; we knocked off one half for a perfectly satiating dish. The menu also offers a handful of desi ‘ghar-ka-khana’-style preparations, including a piquant poha tari (Rs 250), rajma chawal (Rs 350) and Delhi-style chana masala and kulcha (R350). While the poha-tari was much too spicy for us to appreciate, the chana masala proved to be one of the highlights of our meal. Lalit Jhawar The misses Curiosity kills the cat as well as your appetite, as we found when we tentatively enquired after the crispy sushi cake (Rs 575). The avocado version that arrived soon after was flavoured with spicy mayo, ponzu and togarashi, but even that valiant trio couldn’t distract us from the fact that we were chowing down on a thick fried slab of sticky rice. Our verdict All in all, The Barn scores big on several fronts — the portions are generous, the food is undoubtedly fresh, and the menu has something for everyone. The prices are affordable. The café also has an excellent selection of coffee, a tell-tale sign that the founders understand all too well the competitive and snooty market they’re catering to. At: Lower Ground Floor Plot, Food Square, Linking Road, Santacruz West.Time: 7 am to 10 pm (all days)Call: 9833355200
08 January,2025 12:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Anindita PaulIt is important to be vocal for one’s fundamental right, through whichever way it suits you,” Karnika Bai, a transgender artist from Aravani Art Project, a trans and cis woman-led public art collective, tells us over a call ahead of their first solo exhibition in the city, On the cusp of the eighth day, for the Mumbai Gallery Weekend at Gallery XXL in Colaba. Completing nine years of putting out art that seeks to reclaim public spaces and challenge systemic discrimination against the LGBTQiA+ community, the Bengaluru-based collective has been a driving force behind the queer art scene in major metros like Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. The exhibition will present canvases, photographs, narratives and multimedia art that not only represent the collective resilience of the community but also reflect the artists’ personal journey as individuals navigating their queer identities in a homomisic society. “This is my eighth year of working with the collective. Before this, my life was confined to being on the streets during the day and doing sex work at night. Through artistic endeavours I have been able to explore and understand my own gender identity. Art has worked as therapy for me,” Bai explains. Clap - Part II, an artwork by Prarthana, Jyothi and Hamsa Sriram depict the transgender community Inspired from the legend of Lord Aravan in the Mahabharata, where the deity sacrificed himself on the eighth day of the war to ensure the victory of the Pandavas, the exhibition’s name, as well as the collective’s identity is rooted in the idea of empowerment.Also Read: Taste test: Here's why you can visit this cafe in Santacruz Karnika Bai paints a wall With its recent debut at the 60th Venice Biennale for a mural painting project at Arsenale, Aravani Art Project has been instrumental in providing pathways that bring the dreams and desires of the LGBTQiA+ community to the forefront. “The exhibition presents how gender identity, gender expression and sexuality are perceived and how it exists on streets, in homes, art institutions and bodies. It is a remarkable project and we are honoured to collaborate with them to curate their first solo show in the city,” shares Sarah Malik, the curator of the gallery. The two-month-long exhibition will also feature a panel discussion on January 11 and a painting workshop on January 12 that will be organised by the collective. On January 9; 5 pm to 9 pm (preview) till March 9 (10 am to 8 pm) At Gallery XXL, First Floor, Arsiwala Mansion, Wodehouse Road, Colaba. Log on to @xxl.gallery
08 January,2025 12:36 PM IST | Mumbai | Divyasha PandaWhile they are traditionally not classified by botanists as berries, fans of strawberry do not care. From being a favourite of European royalty in the early 15th century to a Wimbledon tradition in the 20th Century, the little red fruit has come a long way. From tarts to desserts and even chaat, the berry has found its way into the city’s kitchen in diverse forms. We dive into offerings across the city to curate the pick of the bunch. Coffee tarts Strawberry mocha Get some diversity in your morning mocha with this strawberry mocha that has creamy strawberry and espresso.AT Basque by Brevé, Pearl Haven, Chapel Road, Bandra West.Call 9082587137Cost Rs 350 Also Read: From children to adults: Use these nine apps to aid your mental health in 2025 Going gaothan The gin-based cocktail, Pali Speaking of cocktails, Pali — named after Bandra’s popular Pali Village — brings together the creaminess of the strawberry yogurt with the sharp Campari and sweet pineapple syrup. Perfect for a playful and interesting evening.AT Sixteen33, 16th Cross Road, Pali Hill, Bandra West. Call 9758999555 Cost Rs 650 Italian surprises Strawberry cheesecake gelato Another win for the traditionalists is this creamy cheesecake gelato that comes infused with the tartness of fresh strawberries. A real threat to New Year resolutions all over.AT Café Frozen Fun, Shyam Kunj, Pali Naka, Bandra West.Call 9082525976Cost Rs 220 Meaty goodness Chicken meatballs in smoky strawberry chipotle While it may be a humble berry, the strawberry can add some layers to your lunch. Head over to SoBo for a tasting of these chicken meatballs smothered in smoky strawberry chipotle sauce, or give in to the experimental strawberry choco tacos.AT Poco Loco Tapas and Bar, Kemps Corner, Grant Road West; Khar West.Call 9321598326 (Grant Road)Cost Rs 590 (chicken meatballs); Rs 550 (strawberry tacos) Tart in salad Carnival kale salad If you are checking on your calories to keep up with your resolutions, head over to Santacruz for a salad that brings the tart of strawberries and pomelo with the refreshing greens of kale and avocado in a visual delight.AT Carnival By Tresind, 7th floor, Krishna Curve Building, Santacruz West.Call 9152100123Cost Rs 695 onwards Sweet as a Danish Strawberry danish For the traditionalists, this food hub in Colaba is the place to be. Among its many offerings is a delicious strawberry Danish with elderflower cream, strawberry jam and topped off with strawberries for a vibrant finish.AT Mag St Bread Co, 4, Mandlik Road, Colaba. Call 7208544366Cost Rs 350 A berry fizz Berry sparkle If you are on the lookout for something to keep the New Year buzz going, try the Berry sparkle — a mix of strawberry gin, elderflower, and sparkling wine. The frosted berry fizz is another gin-based cocktail that comes with a twist of basil and lime to give it added freshness.AT Via Bombay, Jewel of Chembur, 1st Road, near Natraj Cinema, Chembur.Call 02267099988Also Read: Vijay Tendulkar birth anniversary: Here are unique ways to celebrate the Marathi legend's legacy Tomato strawberry chutney Ingredients>> 5 tomatoes>> 5 fresh strawberries>> 1 tsp black pepper corn>> 1 whole bay leaf>> 2 onions>> 50 ml oil>> 10 ml red wine vinegar>> Salt (to taste) MethodCoarsely chop the tomatoes and strawberries and keep aside in separate bowls. Pour some oil in a pan on medium heat. Sauté bay leaf, khada masala, black pepper corn, and sliced onions. When the onions are golden brown, add the tomatoes. Wait till the tomatoes are half cooked before adding the chopped strawberries. Mash the berries and tomatoes in a pulpy mix as they simmer. Add some red wine vinegar, and salt as per taste. Serve as a condiment. Recipe courtesy: Chef Sarfaraz Ahmed A diverse and visual delight I grew up in Shimla and Himachal Pradesh where the arrival of the strawberries marked the beginning of winter. What fascinates me about it is that it is among the rare fruits that tastes as good as it looks. It can bring a dash of vibrancy and colour, with its Valentine red, to any dish. Though it is often used as a dessert, I love to experiment with it in savoury dishes. Sarfaraz Ahmed, corporate chef, Tresind Mumbai
07 January,2025 11:11 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram IyengarADVERTISEMENT
