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New whisky in old bottle
Diet whisky with its ability to ‘burn excess fat’ and ‘control cholesterol’ sure promises to give you a taste of good health, says
Saurabh Malik
Cheers! Sturdy old whisky has never been so light before. It may hit you like a strong drink, but ‘diet whisky’ with its fat-burning abilities is actually causing ripples in the liquor-flooded market. No wonder, so many high-spirited connoisseurs across the city are already rubbing their hands in excitement at the very thought of drinking to their health. Diet whisky
Diet whisky? Right folks, there is no confusion about it! You have heard of diet Coke and Pepsi. And also about low calorie snacks to go with the invigorating drinks in the bar and pubs across the city, even in the living rooms of your own houses! Now get ready to pick up sparkling cut glasses. The ones with beads of good diet whisky merrily busting at the brim! Right, for gulping down your throat the all-new concept after saying glass-down to the ‘regular stuff’, now! Launched at the Chandigarh Press Club Friday afternoon by models from Delhi sashaying down the life’s narrow ramp with drink-to-health message written bold across their fair visages; ‘DietMate’ by McDowell’s No.1 promises to burn excess fat and control cholesterol levels. Now, isn’t it giving you an all-time high feeling? Flashing an intoxicating smile, the company people say: “Meticulously researched and perfected with the smoothness of a reserve whisky and goodness of ancient India herb Garcenia, the rare blend assures you the taste of good health”. Health conscious
Raising a toast to the concept, the company’s Chief Operating Officer in charge of North and Nepal Ashwin Malik says: “The whisky has been launched keeping in mind the increasing levels of heath consciousness among the youngsters. You see weight gain and obesity are fast emerging as major areas of concern among the drinking population. And then, increasing stress in day-to-day existence is taking its toll, undoubtedly. After a hard day’s work, what can be better than a having nice drink that guarantees not just to burst stress, but also to lead you all the way to good health”. If you are staggering with doubts about city residents’ reaction to the launch of whoopee golden water that swears to keep you in the pink of health, ask the devotees of Bacchus. Hic! They will tell you all about it without knocking back. Calorie free
“Hey, now I can actually guzzle my way to good health without even thinking twice of consuming all those loathsome calories,” says young executive with a multinational consumer goods manufacturing and distribution company Rajneesh Sharma. He is excited about the concept, all right! After all, Sharma happily admits he is the kind of a guy who believes in drinking rum with diet coke, even if he has to shell out more money. Hurray to him! Well, the stuff is not very expensive either. You can pick up 750 ml bottle for just Rs 170. For 375 ml bottle you will have to pay Rs 90. In case you wish to try the stuff first before making it a habit, you can go in for 180 ml bottle. It’s costing just Rs 50. Sounds neat!
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Murals that motivate
What inspires a person to work towards his goal? Self-help books? Celebrities? Murals? Yes, murals do work as a motivating factor. To prove this The Guidance Resource Centre of the State Institute of Education, Sector 32, has engaged nine city-based fine art teachers from various government model schools to create four wall murals, which are to quote Dr. Harsh Batra, the Director of the institute, ‘educational, inspirational, ethical and esthetic’.
Sanjay Kumar of Government Model Senior Secondary School (GMSSS), Sector 40 is busy giving the finishing touches to his dancing figures, which he has curved out on white marble through inlay work. Lying next is a huge clay model worked out on the theme of history that starts with the Indus Valley Civilization to the modern-day Chandigarh by two artists, Vishal Bhatnagar and Rajinder. Two motivation-packed murals in wooden board, ply and sun-board by Nisha, Rajesh Siwach, Sanjeev Arora, Surjit Singh and Ramdev are strategically placed, one on the wall that leads to the Guidance Resource Centre and the other at the center itself.
— Parbina Rashid
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Chicken, all spiced up!
My two-year-old nephew’s vocabulary comprises of about six-and-a-half words and tandoori is certainly one of them. He goofed up just a wee bit, when at a Pandara Road dhaba, he held up one stubby finger on a plump, starfish of a hand, and directly placed his order – “ Ek tandoori murdaa”!! The attending waiter looked like a baffled, bulging-eyed, gaping, goldfish, suffering from an acute case of lockjaw! My personal opinion is that the addition of that livid, bright orange food colouring to the tandoori marinade is unhealthy and unnecessary. Tandoori Chicken
1 kg chicken, jointed and washed 1 ½ -2 Tbsp each, of chopped ginger and garlic 1 large onion 300-600 ml thick yoghurt 2 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tbsp freshly ground garam masala Salt and red chilli powder to taste Ghee or butter Method
Liquidise the ginger, garlic and onion along with some yoghurt till smooth. Mix the lemon juice, salt, cumin, chilli powder and garam masala into this paste. Add more yoghurt only if needed to acquire a coating consistency. Make a few slashes on each chicken joint and apply the marinade on them. Ideally, the chicken should be skewered and barbecued in a roaring hot tandoor, but it’s not a perfect world, so you may roast it under a grill or pop it in an oven, basting frequently with melted butter. Serve, sprinkled with chaat masala and garnished with lemon wedges and onion rings. Goanese style Chicken
pickle (Vindaloo)
800 gm chicken joints 3 dozens red chillies 100 gm jaggery, grated or crumbled 70 gms whole cumin 8-10 pods garlic, peeled and chopped 900 ml vinegar 600 ml oil Salt to taste Method
Boil the chicken pieces in vinegar till halfway cooked. Drain and reserve the vinegar. Soak the red chillies for an hour, in some of this vinegar, then grind them with the cummin seeds, and garlic to a fine paste, using some vinegar if needed. Heat half the oil in a heavy pot till smoking point and add the ground paste. Fry for a few minutes, then add the salt and chicken, tossing lightly on a low flame. Add the vinegar and the jaggery and cook till the sauce thickens. Adjust seasoning and let it cool. Store in an airtight jar. If you wish to preserve this for longer, smoke the rest of the oil and top up the jar with it.
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Lap it up
Gone are the days when computers were looked upon as something sacred, hidden under a thick sheet of cloth to prevent dust. While, most Indian homes could not afford an air conditioner, a South India based company developed an air-conditioned computer cabinet so that the machine could be placed in a comfortable environment, never mind the person behind the machine. The past decade has seen a personal computer not only shrink in size but also become ubiquitous. With Intel’s effort to promote the sub $ 100 computer for students, the day is not far when every toddler will own one.
The future may be unpredictable, but right here in Chandigarh, many professional colleges have made it mandatory for students to purchase a laptop the moment they gain admission into a professional college. Some even make the students sign a sort of a bond saying that they will buy their own personal computer and that too a notebook or laptop computer. Incidentally, many of these students still have an outdated old-fashioned computer sitting someplace in the house. A local engineering college organised a ‘laptop loan mela’ at Tagore Theatre for fresh students. Many top notebook manufacturers were seen vying with each other to cut margins and offer huge discounts to push their products over others. This is just the beginning, with technology shrinking gadgets and making them more versatile, it is only a matter of time before Wi Fi homes will be a commonplace. Use of laptops by students at Punjab Engineering College has been made compulsory. The system was introduced two sessions ago and students are given an option to buy the laptop from the market or can purchase it through the college. “The college has tied up with two companies and the laptop bought through the college costs much less. On an average it costs them a little more than Rs 37,000,” said Dr Vijay Gupta, Director PEC. At the Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology, Sector 26, very few students have laptops. “Laptops are not required in classroom teaching but students who feel the need for a computer in the hostels are free to use them. We have given connectivity in the hostels,” said Dr Baljit Kapoor, Principal of the college. Chandigarh has been recognised as the most upcoming market for laptop computers, with a large number of youngsters buying their own personal laptops as compared to a family computer a few years ago. Toshiba’s first concept store to sell notebook computers was opened in the city recently. The company will showcase Toshiba’s innovative mobile computing devices and complementary accessories for customers, ranging from the world’s slimmest lightweight notebooks with the latest cinematic multi-media screens to the QOSMIO range providing ultimate digital home entertainment. Rohini Walia, Deputy Manager, Toshiba India’s Computer Systems Division, says: “The company sees a vast market for laptops and proposes to open at least one store a month.” Walia says with notebooks now being a part of course curriculum in most technical and management institutes, the students form a major chunk of the customers. With students in mind the company has introduced sub Rs 35,000 models. City Finance has tied with Toshiba to facilitate easy loans for students. Under this scheme, students have to pay four installments upfront and the remaining in eight or twelve equated installments, based on the ease of payment of the student.
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Art in steel
Artd’inox a true lifestyle store making available wide range of home décor bar accessories, dining range, beverage range, bath accessories and office accessories in aesthetic and contemporary stainless steel designs has announced the launch of its seventh exclusive brand store in Sector 17-C in the city beautiful. The store offers timeless designs with international ambiance the store showcases exclusive range of table lights, vases, tea-lights, wire mesh tableware, and accessories along with its latest brand extension ‘a design’. The products offer a variety of surface finishes like glossy, matt, hammered and hairline finishes to give it a photo frame finish to make it a work of art, says Business Head, Sugato Bose. New colour mobile from Spice
Add some colour and music to your busy life with the new colour screen handset from Spice Mobile Phones. The new handset ‘S-530’ with memory capacity of 1000 contact details and a 65K-color display is designed to not only give exquisite picture clarity but also a speakerphone to help one talk freely on the move. For music lovers the handset has unique feature of pre-loaded sing tones. With the auto-on-off feature you can schedule the phone as per your convenience. Lychee and Peach Twirl
PepsiCo India brings to its consumers a refreshing new experience with Tropicana’s exciting - Lychee & Peach Twirl juice drinks. The refreshing and tasty beverages reflect Tropicana’s tradition of creating a range of delicious beverages for everyone to enjoy! The new flavours are available at a special introductory price of Rs. 10/- for a 200 ml pack. “Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious about their diet and at the same time, are seeking variety in refreshment. Our endeavour has been to constantly innovate quality products and provide greater choices. The Lychee & Peach Twirl options have widened Tropicana’s existing portfolio of 12 exciting flavours and we are positive that the new flavours will be liked and enjoyed by consumers across the country”, said Geetu Verma, Executive Director - New Business, PepsiCo India. The new drinks will be available in two pack sizes: 200ml & 1 litre at prices of Rs.12/- & Rs.60/- respectively. The flavours will be available across key cities in India, including Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar. Smart wash
SANYO has introduced a new range of Washing Machines that incorporate technological innovations for the first time in India like tilted tub, ultrasonic wash and cyclone dry. Tilted tub technology enhances the washing performance with a unique 3-D wash action and also saves water up to 10 per cent. The tilt also makes it easy to reach down to the bottom of the tub without straining your back. The specially designed pulsator creates ultrasonic bubbles for more efficient washing. The millions of bubbles ensure that detergent dissolves totally for a cleaner wash. Detergent is dispersed more evenly for better washing performance. Ultrasonic washing and the tilted tub, together give 60 per cent more wash power. The cyclone dry technology improves spin-dry performance through an air intake system, leaving clothes drier – ideal for the Indian monsoon. The range of washing machines are available from 6 kg to 8.5 kg and is priced between Rs 12,990 and Rs 23,990. Tata’s new plan
Tata Indicom has announced the new “Plan 250,” offering a minimum tariff for local calls. With the introduction of the plan on Tata Indicom 10, mobile users can avail the offer at Rs 200 rental per month along with the choice to opt for lifetime CLIP pack. As an additional offer, a free talk time worth Rs 50 per month is also available with the tariff plan. The local calls would be charged at 0.75 paise while inter-circle calls will cost Rs 2.40 paise and national / local SMS at 0.50 paise only. The plan also offers anytime Internet access at 0.40 paise per minute. The offer caters to customers seeking an affordable tariff plan, which enables highly cost effective intra-circle and local calls. Keeping in mind unique calling patterns and usage needs of customers, the plan also offers a variety of add on packs. It offers the Internet Pack at Rs. 99 along with 300 minutes of Internet usage absolutely free. Flawless fairness
Daily exposure to sun, pollution and stress results in darkening of our skin and formulation of spots. As a result, your skin becomes dull, rough and uneven. What your skin requires is an everyday solution to regain its radiance, fairness and skin tone. Garnier Skin Naturals now introduces New Garnier Light Moisturiser in an all-new 18 ml trial pack for Rs. 55 only. Garnier Light Moisturizer with the power of pure lemon essence, mulberry extract and vitamin C helps you discover flawless fairness and fades out signs of skin darkening and eliminates dark spots. Garnier Light Fairness Moisturizer has pure lemon essence to exfoliate dull dead cells on the surface and brighten skin tone. Mulberry extract and vitamin C to slow down melanin production. Soap for dry skin
Tired of you’re dry skin, experience a rejuvenating daily wash! Lotus Herbals launches a revolutionary hand made, Ayurvedic soap for dry skin with 100 per cent natural ingredients. HONEYMOIST™ ultramoisturising cleanser is a dual bar, combining wonderful properties of Honey in one part with the rose water freshness and toning in the other. An Ayurvedic formulation, HONEYMOIST™ is pH balanced and in turn delivers the best results on dry skin. The synergistic effects of honey, Rose Water & Aloe Vera extracts present in this 100% natural soap moisturizes, while thoroughly cleansing the driest of skins on the face & body. HONEYMOIST™ is priced at Rs.70 for a bar of 100Gms and is available at stores across the country, including leading department stores.
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Style statement
She may be no designer as she rightly likes to point out, but boy; does Shobhaa De have an eye for the striking! Debuting her own couture line at Samsaara at the Taj Chandigarh, Sector 17, befittingly called Serendipity she is clad in her own creation, a burnt orange chiffon sari complete with silver button-sized sequins as trimmings and a chic green potli hanging on her wrist, representing the quintessence of style, her own style. And that is precisely what this line is all about. “I am going to do clothes that reflect my sense of dressing and my taste, something that is wearable, and can be worn by everyone and not just Kate Moss or Ujwala Raut’s waif-like figures.” The line has been designed keeping in mind the festive season ahead. “It is all about a little cheer and glamour, clothes that say life goes on despite the trying times the country is going through,” she explains. A bright amethyst sari with a brocade border, patchwork shirts, appliqué work on velvet, leaf motifs, coloured and gold sequins, skirts with gota, geometric prints in arresting shades, the clothes are trendy and fun but with an innate Indian-ness. “I love embroideries, Benarasi weaves, traditional crafts. I really enjoy gota and phulkari as an embroidery is simply amazing.” As for her style-icons while growing up, were the evergreen Mumtaz and Meena Kumari, who according to Shobhaa “were glamorous and distinctive in their own ways.” A firm believer in creativity being an unfettered medium which can be applied to anything one does, she talks of how celebrated artist M. F. Husain decided to create the clothes for his daughter’s wedding. “There were 60 people all dressed by Husain in white muslin from Kerala, each suiting the personality of the wearer, so very effective.” And having been a part of the design and fashion fraternity for so long (she was a successful model herself in her younger days), Shobhaa believes glamour has come a long way since her times. “In our times it was an amateurish effort not endorsed by the family or society at large. What is more, it paid peanuts. The money would not pay for a cab ride or even a blow-dry! But the girls today, they are simply beautiful and so incredibly graceful and confident and professional.” So are there any more secrets to look as lovely as her? “A woman looks as good as she feels and I feel great,” is the smiling reply.
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Passion requited
They were captured in the moonlit trance of Salsa when a new day dawned and the bright beams of victory shined gleefully at them. “It felt awesome!” came the unadorned words not quite expressing the enormity of feelings, but it was the intonation that did the trick. Yes, the city duo, Varun and Barkha have a reason to smile after luck smiled on them on the 18th of august when they won India International Salsa Congress in Bangalore from among 110 couples from all over India. “Passion and determination” is what they think that helped them pass the scrutiny of a panel of 6 judges. “We came across it by sheer luck as we had gone to Bangalore to attend a Salsa workshop but came to know about this competition by coincidence,” shares Varun. And without any preparation they descended on the dance-floor and prevailed till the end. They will be representing India in the Singapore Salsa Fest in December, which will have 200 performers from around the world. Earlier also, they were among 32 couples selected out of 5000 on a programme, Dance Dance on Sony Entertainment, where they got a chance to work with Javed Jaffry, Saroj Khan, Vaibhavi Merchant and Terrence Lewis. Varun, who has been taking classes at Ozone says, “Salsa is about passion and expressing yourself to your partner.” He plans to organize a Salsa fest for city people with instructors from France and Japan. And this is not all, Barkha articulates one more dream, “We want to go abroad and promote Indian Folk dances as well.” Let’s hope that their passion and devotion for salsa aids them in realizing their dreams.
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Crystal clear
Wise, tough and worthy, the Elephant is being honored by Swarovski’s design studio blending the curved and angular lines with distinctly cubic elements to make an artifact that finds place in their numbered limited editions. The new 2006 crystal marvel is a magnificent African Bull Elephant, hand-signed and created by crystal designer Henz Tabertshofer, signifying the wisdom and dynamism this creature stands for. At 20.4 cm high and 28 cm wide, this sparkler priced at Rs 1,69, 495 is limited to 10,000 pieces, exclusively for the members of the Swarovski Crystal Society. ‘The Elephant’ comes next in the series of numbered editions and is only their fifth such creation after ‘The Eagle’, ‘The Peacock’, ‘The Wild Horses’ and ‘The Bull’ and captures the innate strength and sensitivity of this glorious animal. The life-like design crafted from clear faceted crystal, the eyes sparkling with Smoke Topaz Crystal, makes it a worthy collector’s item. To own this beautiful work, members of the Swarovski Crystal Society will have to place an order at any Swarovski outlet across the globe by September 13 and 10,000 winners will be selected by a draw of lots in October this year to own ‘The Elephant’. Tabertshofer’s design is an evocative impression of the breathtaking experience of meeting an elephant in the wild and the designer seems to have captured the essence of this gentle giant with all its strength and compassion.
TNS
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Scarlett loves Venice
Actress Scarlett Johansson is planning to return to Venice after being impressed by the city’s beauty during a promotional trip to launch her new movie The Black Dahlia. She says: “It’s so glamorous and so beautiful to walk around but unfortunately, during this festival, it’s next to impossible to enjoy those things. I’ll have to come back and have the tourist’s version.” Beyonce in Louisiana
The Crazy In Love singer further said she dressed herself in a series of vintage clothes like the way her great-grand-mother used to wear, for the promo. “In the first half of the video I have a lot of different pictures that are really fast. They’re Victorian clothes from the 1800s so my mum searched through all these vintage shops so they would look like these pictures references,” Contactmusic quoted her, as saying. “I loved it because it reminded me of pictures of my great- grandparents from Louisiana. I shot the video there in Louisiana cos I wanted it to feel like home. It felt crazy walking down the streets that my grandparents walked down, my mother... It’s where the family reunions are,” she added.
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What do you call a rooster who crossed the road, rolled around in the mud, and then crossed the road once again? A dirty double-crosser! Chicken did become just that — a dirty double – crosser, during the bird flu scare, when most everyone chickened out of biting into a succulent, gravy smothered joint. But you can’t keep a good kukkad down – thus spake the true Punjabi!
Its colossal strength and largeness finds worthy representation but in the most delicate of forms, crystal.
In an effort to give a personal family touch to her latest single ‘Dij` vu’, pop singer Beyonce Knowles shot the video in her ancestral homeland Louisiana.