Experiencing Khad Khazana at the Eden Pavilion, ITC Sonar, Kolkata

If you are in Kolkata and want to treat your taste buds to some authentic Khad cuisine, head straight to ITC Sonar's 24-hour fine dining restaurant, Eden Pavilion that is hosting Khad Khazana from 12-21 September as part of the dinner buffet (Rs 1850 plus applicable taxes per guest) . I got to sample some dishes from Khad Khazana yesterday prepared by Master Chef Kailash Maharaj and I can only say "I never thought vegetarian food could also taste this good". Non-vegetarians, don't lose heart because there's quite a bit for you too and they taste equally good but the veg fare is amazing!

Khad cuisine is intrinsic to the regions of Marwar, Mewar, Shekhawati and Hadhoti. The subtlety of vegetarian as well as rich non-vegetarian hunter’s fare are enhanced with the spice of Mathania Chilli, JodpuriLongiMirch, Pipla Mool and Pipal. Taking in the nuances of Jain cuisine cooked without garlic and onions as well as Marwari culinary traditions.

Chef Kailash Maharaj born and brought up in the Newai district, honed his culinary expertise in the rustic kitchens of his village. He specialized in Marwar Barbeques and served the royalty of Udaipur and Jaipur. He has showcased this unique cuisine across the country as well as abroad.

My Thoughts on the Femina Salon and Spa Magazine

For me and I guess for most of us Indian girls, Femina is largely responsible for our initiation to the world of beauty and fashion. Long ago in an era of no blogs, no internet, limited access to international makeup, Femina used to be my source of all things beautiful. I used to wait eagerly for the magazine to be delivered at home and would 'gobble' up the contents. Times have changed. International magazines have set up shop in India and we now have a lot more access to what's happening globally but for me, Femina will always be special. I don't think any other magazine has that instant connection with the Indian woman and that's why Femina still ranks so high on my list of favorite magazines to read. Throughout the years Femina has changed as well. From being a stand alone monthly English magazine, they branched out to the regional markets and now there is a Femina Spa and Salon magazine as well.

I read the January edition of the magazine for the first time and for a beauty and makeup enthusiast like me, it's a Godsend. This month's edition features the beautiful Aditi Rao Hydari on the cover and my god, I'm so lusting over those curls!! The Femina Spa and Salon magazine is mainly targeted towards the experts in the beauty business but that does not mean you will not enjoy reading this unless you own a salon or a spa. 

The edition focuses on hair and makeup and there are detailed tutorials on how to achieve certain looks. You can learn how to tie a knotted ponytail, get Farah Fawcett's feathered waves and a beautiful and refined fish tail braid. 

If makeup is more your thing then ace makeup artist Subhash Vagal shows you how to get graphic eyes using an eyeliner, MAC makeup artist Sonic Sarwate shares two looks from the Spring/Summer 2014 catwalks, Ojas Rajani answers all your makeup queries and you get to read a special interview with the legendary Bobbi Brown. 

If you are a professional in the beauty and makeup industry then this magazine has something for you too. You can read how to succeed in your business without owning a multi-salon chain and also learn about the art of prosthetic makeup. 

Priced at Rs 100, the Femina Spa and Salon is a treasure trove of information for both amateurs and professionals in the beauty industry and I would recommend you to get a copy to check it out for yourself. This is just the second issue and I'm sure the content will get better with every passing month. You can buy the magazine at the newsstand or even subscribe. 

 P.S - Magazine complimentary of Femina

A Visit to Kolkata's First Grape Harvest Feast at Swissotel

Kolkata's Grape Harvest Feast took place in the swanky Swissotel hotel on Sunday, 23rd Feb and I was invited by Four Seasons wines to experience the first event of this kind in the city. It was the first time national and internal wine brands like Four Seasons, Sula, Grovers, Antarez, Jacob's Creek came together to celebrate the spirit of good wine and food in a day long event that started from 12 noon and ended at 12 midnight. The major purpose of the event was obviously to showcase the wines from the various brands but also give the public an opportunity to taste the wines and inculcate a culture of wine drinking, which is generally seen as something elite and not 'fun'. 

My friends and fellow bloggers Shikha, Swarnali and Aniesha also attended the event and it was a lot of fun visiting the various stalls and spending a leisurely sunday afternoon drinking wine and eating some delicious food. Having just returned from the Four Seasons Vineyard at Baramati, we were equipped with knowledge of how to smell, taste and pair wine with various foods and we definitely put that knowledge to good use. The event took place at Splash and the entire ambience was like that of a spring fair, very lively and relaxed. There was music, there were food stalls, there were flowers, there was a grape stomping session, there were stalls selling organic food, cheese and cheese spreads, skincare products and even organic colors for Holi. 

I sampled wines from Four Seasons, Sula, Jacob's Creek and Antarez and no I did not get high by the end of the event :P but I did enjoy myself a lot. Four Seasons at their stall had a delectable array of desserts and those were the ones that I mainly attacked. Lip-smacking they were! It was lovely to meet Rinki of UB Spirits and Mr Mitter of the UB Group who were the perfect hosts. A big thanks to Joyjit Chakraborty of Swissotel, the man responsible for conceptualizing and executing the event. Hopefully we shall see more such events in the city which will help campaign the spirit of drinking wine.

Here are more pics of the event..

Shikha matching her lipstick with her wine

Swarnali and Aniesha