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Magic of the sandwich
Head for a hat
PACESETTER AnuJ KalA
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Magic of the sandwich
It's
a snack, it's a meal and it can be had at any time of the day. There's a sandwich for all occasions — it is a birthday essential and a picnic basic, it slips easily in a lunch box, is sold on streets, is displayed in tiny eateries and is the pride of tony bolangeries. It comes in bite-size nibbles and also in towering double-decker dimensions. The world is full of sandwiches. Each country has its own specialty. The English love their egg & mayonnaise variety, the French can't have enough of their croque monsieur, the Italians gorge on the muffuletta, the Russians and Germans their bierock, the Vietnamese their banh mi and the Americans their peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Grab-and-go meal
What started out as an innocent grab-and-go meal for the hungry bachelor has turned out to be a clever chameleon. It can transform itself into a repast for the high rollers. From the Rs 10 veg delight hawked by a Mumbai street sandwichwalas to the Rs 850 gourmet club at the Fenix in Hotel Oberoi, and from the $5 to the bourgeois $235 bacon bling, the sandwich has covered a fascinating journey. Last year, the picturesque English town of Sandwich in the County of Kent celebrated the 250th birthday of its outstanding contribution to the culinary world — the sandwich. Presiding over the celebrations was the current Earl of Sandwich, a many times removed grandson of the man who made the gastronomic marvel happen.
It all started in 1762 when Admiral of the English Fleet John Montagu was conferred the title of the fourth Earl of Sandwich. An avid gambler, the Earl was once so engrossed in a high-stake game that he ordered his valet to stuff some meat between two slices of bread in such a way that it could be eaten conveniently without interrupting the game or getting the cards greasy. The valet did his bidding and brought the meat-filled bread for all the card players. That's when the great convenience food was born and came to be known by the place of its origin — Sandwich. The rest, as the tired cliché goes, is history!
Cookery shows
Over the past two and a half centuries, the sandwich traversed the oceans and seas and has become a staple food in many nations spawning infinite local variations.
There are hundreds of books on sandwiches and thousands containing recipes and trivia from around the world. Author Susan Russo has written the ultimate tome called The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches: Recipes, History, and Trivia for Everything Between Sliced Bread. The sandwich has four Guinness Book of World Records entries to its name. There are sandwich festivals organised worldwide the most noted among them being the one at its birth place in Sandwich in the Kent county. The British have declared November 3 as the National Sandwich Day.
Convenient meal
Though no accurate figures are available, guessetimates put the world sandwich market at around $75 billion and a study has shown that in the West almost 60 per cent of the urban population buys sandwiches. That's because it is a convenient meal which is easy to eat and people have a choice to create it as healthy or unhealthy as they want it making the sandwich one of the most versatile meal-snacks. Interestingly, the sandwich may not have been called that had Edward Montagu the Admiral of the Fleet of King Charles ll had had his way. Pleased with his service, the king expressed his wish to bestow upon him the title of the Earl. Montagu requested the king to make him the Earl of Portsmouth. However, that title had already been taken so the king gave him the Earldom of Sandwich. Had Montagu become the Earl of Portsmouth the sandwich would then perhaps have been called Portsmouth!
'Rich' fillings
An eatery going by the name of Tangberry's Café in Britain's resort town of Cheltenham serves up the world's most expensive sandwich. Though it has people salivating many are finding it hard to bite into it, thanks to its forbidding price tag of £150 which is around Rs
12,750. The eye-opener price is due to its rare filling that includes rare-breed bacon, black truffles, truffle oil, gold leaf, gold dust and saffron, spread on the two slices of sour dough bun. So if you are feeling rich enough grab the rarity for lunch when you are next in England.
Places to go
Though it can be picked up from a roadside eatery for anything between Rs
15 and Rs 25, one of Delhi's favourite outlets selling a variety of sandwiches is Wenger's in Rajiv Chowk (Connaught Place for the uninitiated). Here, a
chicken-salami-mayonnaise-cheese Muffuletta costs a reasonable Rs 80, a ham-and-cheese sandwich comes for Rs
90 and so does a Submarine. At Subway , a Veggie Delite Footlong comes for Rs
160, a Chicken Seekh Sandwich for Rs 220 and a Tuna Sandwich for Rs 220. One can head for the Machan at Hotel Taj Mansingh in Delhi. Here a Grilled Eggplant and Zucchini Sandwich comes for Rs
650, a Gir Club Sandwich for Rs 775 and a Machan BLT Sandwich for Rs 750. All the prices of Machan are before taxes.
The desi twist
When the British introduced the sandwich to India the natives called it double roti as it had two piece of western roti with a filling in between. The Indians soon adopted the convenience food but with a twist…or several twists, for that matter. Here are six top Indian spins on the sandwich:
Vada pav
One of the most loved street foods and largely found Maharashtra and Gujarat, the vada pav is a batata (potato) vada sandwiched between a pav (bun) split into two and served with chutney.
Bun omelette
An all-time favourite among students, especially as a late-night snack, the bun omelette is found in practically all campuses. It is a spicy omelette sandwiched in a sliced bun and served with ketchup.
Bun samosa
A popular snack prevalent particularly in north Indian hill stations, the bun samosa, like the vada pav, has a samosa instead of a vada stuffed between a split bun and is served with ketchup or chutney.
Bread pakora
A snack found in most parts of India, the bread pakora comprises two pieces of bread with a potato filling, dipped in chickpea batter and deep fried. It is mostly served with chutney and green chilly pickle.
Paneer sandwich
This is a cheese sandwich with an Indian edge. It is made of two buttered bread slices stuffed with lettuce, sliced paneer and tomatoes, sprinkled with salt and pepper and served with ketchup.
Bombay sandwich
This is an iconic street food of Mumbai. It comprises four slices of white bread, slathered with mint-coriander chutney with a filling of slices of boiled potatoes, tomatoes, beetroot, cucumber and onion and sprinkled with chaat masala. It is served with tomato ketchup.
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Head for a hat In
recent movie history, there’s no better imagery than Pretty Woman Julia Roberts walking into the racecourse wearing a sunny polka dot dress and a ribbon-tied Derby hat. Julia Roberts is not alone. Over the ages, hats have been the most enduring style statement for leading Hollywood stars. Clark Gable tweaked his dapper hat in Gone with the Wind. Humphrey Bogart made it his wardrobe essential in Casablanca. Clint Eastwood curled up its brim in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Harrison Ford’s Adventures of Indiana Jones would never have been as exciting without his fedora. Hats. Hollywood men and women have had a fascinating love affair with head gear. Whether it is the spaghetti westerns or Chaplinesque comedies, courtroom capers or romantic dramas, hats have been as much a part of movie folklore as the shining stars themselves. But hats are not just the preserve of Hollywood. Down the ages, these have adorned the heads of stockbrokers, attorneys, teachers, doctors, gangsters, society butterflies and beauty queens. Men and women have worn hats since time immemorial. ‘Hat’ is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word “haet,” which means a cover. Since ancient times, headgear was a means of protection against the natural elements.
Fashion accessories
Though these first came into prominence as a protection against heat and cold, over the years, these also became fashion accessories. Among western women, the popularity of hats has never dimmed and they have seldom gone out of fashion. For men, hats became a part of the essential wear between the 14th and 15th centuries. For women though, these became a fashion statement only in the 18th century. Different material started being used in the making of hats. Silk, velvet, taffeta, leather, felt were the preferred fabrics in this period. In the Victorian England, hats were a mark of status. There were different hats for different kinds of people. For example, the men and women of noble origin wore either tall, stiff top hats or wide-brimmed hats with large crowns, which were adorned with feathers of a pheasant. Middle-class people wore smaller hats, usually without feathers. But even if they had feathers, these were from smaller and more common birds. The working class wore plain straw hats and muffin caps. The only people who could get away by not wearing a hat were beggars and urchins. Some high society women were known to change their hats several times a day. No lady in those days ventured out without a hat. Men, on the other hand, would remove their hats when meeting a lady as a mark of respect. Much as Indians and people in some other countries uncover their feet when entering a place of worship, those in western societies would take off their hat at the time of going into a church or a synagogue.
Popular hats
Over the years, everything has changed as far as hats are concerned. Today there are hats and hats. Some of the most popular ones include bowler hats, sola hats, fedoras, bucket hats; straw hats; sports hats; balloon hats, bollinger hats, top hats and more. Each has its own distinctive style and, like apparel, it can either enhance one’s personality or completely ruin it, if the choice is wrong. For a brief period in the 20th century, hats lost their flavour as the modern post-War world of the 1960s and 1970s ushered in the concept of power dressing and the corporate look came into vogue. A hat suddenly seemed an ancient and unnecessary head dress, which was best discarded in favour of slick hairstyles. But in the 1980s, these suddenly bounced back in vogue, especially after Lady Diana popularised these all over again. Her immaculate sense of dressing and her amazingly designed hats brought head dresses centrestage. The boost to hats has been a much-needed shot-in-the-arm for the industry even as most of the western nations are going back to the bowlers and fedoras, at least for formal occasions. Hats have again started finding favour in popular cinema and a number of leading stars are back in their designer dresses and top hats. Or, as Harrison Ford recently quipped after signing for another sequel of Indiana Jones, “I’m delighted to be back in business with my old friends. I don’t know if the pants still fit, but I know the
STEPHEN JONES PARAPET HAT
One of England’s best-known milliners, Stephen Jones hats have been setting trends year after year. Like a rose in full bloom, this Stephen Jones’ parapet hat has petals, which peak and trail in beautiful lines. It is perfect for complementing this season’s ladylike demeanour. Price: Rs
33,000 $600
STETSON IBARRA PANAMA HAT
Price: Rs
17,875 $325
REBECCA COUTURE HAT BY SIGGI LONDON
JANE TAYLOR SUMMER HAT
BAILEY MADISON FUR HAT
ALBERTUS SWANEPOEL’S FEDORA
GARFINCKEL STRAW HAT FOR MEN
WIDE BRIM HAT FROM ALEXANDER McQUEEN
CHRISTINE MOORE PARASISAL HAT
GUCCI BUCKET HAT
EUGENIA KIM HUNTER FELT HAT
Price: Rs
24,200 $440
BUNDLE MACLAREN BERET
MISSONI CROCHET-KNIT SUNHAT
NOEL STEWART MILLINERY WOOL-FELT FEDORA
Price: Rs
61,500 £750
BURBERRY RAFFIA TRILBY
TOP HATS
BOWLER HAT: The bowler hat is called a Derby in America. A dome-shaped hat made of hard felt it has a small curled brim. It was first worn by the Earl of Derby on his visit to the U.S. The Americans took to the hat and renamed it Derby. TOP HAT: Once the ultimate in high fashion the top hat reached its peak of popularity in the early twentieth century. It has a tall and flat crown with a large brim. It signified power, wealth and snobbery and was mostly worn by nobility. PANAMA HAT: Originating from Ecuador the Panama Hat is traditionally made from the Tequila straw plant. Worn normally in hot climate and on a beach, it was made world famous by American President Teddy Roosevelt. COWBOY HAT: A high-crowned, wide-brimmed hat it got its name from the time of the Wild West when Cowboys roamed America on horseback. Now it is worn by farmers and ranchers to protect themselves from inclement weather conditions.
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Creative edge to the (mad) ad world The man responsible for making Saif and Shah Rukh ask in the ad, ‘Have I made it large?,’ lives by the same dictum Vasudha Sahgal HE is Anuj Kala, Associate Creative Director Ogilvy and Mather, Delhi — the brain behind some very successful ad campaigns. Standing tall at 6”2’, he has a cool, soft-spoken demeanour and wears his accolades lightly. He has never “chased” success. Kala, (as he is known in the fraternity), never fathomed a career in the fast-paced, high-octane medium of advertising. In 1999, after college, (where he spent more time reading comics than academic books), he took the entrance exam for IIMC (Indian Institute of Mass Communication), at a cousin’s suggestion. He secured a place on the postgraduate advertising course here. Kala describes his experience in IIMC as ‘enriching’, where he gained exposure into the medium of mass communication. It was here that he realised his calling. So nonchalant was he in the beginning that he was almost too late to fill the entrance exam form for the course. He started his career in Ogilvy in 2003, as an intern, lost in the crowds. Four years later, he returned to the same organisation to stand out. Advertising, for him, is a medium to talk to somebody with effective resources at his disposal. He explains: “Imagine you are trying to ask a girl on a date. And you can ask her out through billboards, radio, newspapers, Internet, magazines, camera, models and of course must have a wonderful idea on how to do it!” Close to his heart is Save-the-Ganga campaign. An NGO called Friends of the Ganges (based in the US) approached Ogilvy, to create a campaign that would impact the decision of a visiting team from the PMO, who would decide the fate of the Ganga Action Plan. This plan had been in suspended animation for 30 years, because of politics. The campaign generated much hype. Eventually, the decision was favoured their client. Kala’s campaign: “Have I made it Large?” for Royal Stag was a winner. The concept of the campaign is one’s accomplishments should be an inspiration to take larger strides in life. Even the follow up campaign, Abhi Shah Rukh banana baaki hai is about that. Whoever you are, life should be a continuous journey of outdoing oneself. Shah Rukh himself told Kala that he could relate to the concept. Kala’s friend called him and said “I keep telling myself, ‘Abhi Rohit banana baaki hai, it gives me such a rush!” For Kala, it is the power of advertising that gives a high. A man walks into a jewellery store to buy a ring for his wife. He keeps asking for a bigger one. The shopkeeper, curious, asks, “What is the occasion and when is it?” to which, the man, sheepishly replies “My tenth anniversary, it WAS yesterday”. The ad won the Gold at the Abby’s at Goa Fest Advertising in 2012. Two years before that, another ad won him a bronze at the same fest. In 2010, Brand Equity named Kala in the list of “The most promising advertising professionals under 30.” What more? We ask him? He says: “Abhi Kala banana baaki hai…”
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CORPORATE TWIST TO THE SARi
ROBOTIC TALK
DAZZLING JACKET
Price: $15,475
(Rs 8,51,125)
A DIAMOND PEACOCK
MAGIC OF THE INKLESS PEN
CHEERS FROM BRANGELINA
COMPUTER VISION
ALL FOR KICKS
ADVENTURE BUNKER
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The hat, which came as protection against the elements, has been the most enduring style statement for style divas as well as actors
Vasudha Sahgal
hat will!”
Both comfortable and stylish, the classic Stetson Ibarra Panama straw hat has been hand-woven in Ecuador. It comes complete with a smooth leather sweatband and fine mesh netting designed to enhance the look of the hat and give the wearer an ultimate style statement.
Add a dash of style to a special occasion with this large orchid slanted disk hat with flower and bow trimming. The Rebecca couture hat by Siggi of London is hand-crafted, light-weight and tilted for style with a floral and feather arrangement that is bound to make heads turn.
The Jane Taylor peddle straw hat with silk grosgrain ribbon gives the wearer a young and sophisticated look. The large, soft brim summer hat for ladies is the favourite of a number of Hollywood celebrities. Besides protecting you from the harsh sun, it adds a touch of class.
The Bailey fur felt hat with a downswept front, a back brim and tapered open telescope crown is called the ‘Boss’ as it was worn by Mafia dons in the 1920s and 1930s. True to its name, it comes with a raw-edge brim, a pre-creased crown and chin strap hooks for easy attachment of a string.
The purple cotton-blend fedora with burgundy bow ribbon trim is the highlight of the leading American hat designer Albertus Swanepoel. The hand-crafted snappy hat shaped on vintage blocks exudes the 1920s chic and is guaranteed to give the wearer an instant chic.
This is a retro straw hat with a grosgrain band in black bordering that was in vogue in the 1960s. Now American millinery Julius Garfinckel & Company has revived the style. The hat is finely woven out of straw in a Milan-style weave. It is sophisticated, yet casual enough for summer.
The wide-brimmed hat with a black and white diamond-print ribbon is the 2013 style statement of British fashion label Alexander McQueen. Especially made for people going on a business trip or vacation to a tropical country, the hat not just shield from the weather but is also trendy.
American designer Christine Moore hats are known for their attention to detail. This smart and exclusive ladies woven Parasisal is among the many creative hats the designer is offering this season, which are crafted at the label’s Manhattan studio and handmade to order.
The Gucci Bucket Hat with embossed Gucci Logo is a classy accessory for any summer day. The classic pattern of interlocking G’s is configured all over the hat to emphasize the iconic design of the label. Made with an interior cotton lining, this hat is a great wear and also makes an ideal gift.
The Eugenia Kim Hunter Green felt hat is just the accessory to give you an effortless polish. Worn with tailored shirt and trousers, it will add a retro style to your personality. Stars like Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz swear by this hat.
The baby cheetah navy blue beret for women from leading British designer Bundle Maclaren is a real head-turner. Soft and wonderfully textured, it sits snugly in place offering warmth, comfort and style and successfully bridges the gap between high fashion and high street.
In pretty multi-colours, the Missoni crochet-knit cotton sunhat for ladies with a wide structured brim will instantly upgrade the vacation look. The internal grosgrain trim ensures a comfortable fit, while the wide brim will keep the midday sun from your eyes giving you both comfort and style.
Hats are a must-have accessory for spring and summer and Noel Stewart Millinery wool-felt fedora is a sophisticated choice. Emulate the runway styling by pairing it with a silk dress, or think country chic and style with a classic jacket, jeans and boots.
The stunning women’s trilby from Burberry is woven from viscose textured raffia and is wrapped with a soft leather band. It has an angle- downed narrow brim and is slightly turned up from the back. The Italian-made trilby hat has a grosgrain trim, which will make a lady stand out.
FEDORA: Made famous by Indiana Jones, it is made of soft felt, has a pinched front and is creased lengthwise down the crown. The brim goes all the way round. Almost all fedora hats are usually bent down over the eyes and come with a band.
Though it has evolved in terms of colours, embroidery and designs, over the years the sari has remained unchanged in its basic form. But now KBSH has launched the gen-next indo-western fusion collection that comprises a host of saris with a creative twist. There are zip-on saris, saris over jeans, corporate saris with jackets and more. The collection includes ensembles with a closed jacket on top and a flowing sari below with orange flaps and brown pocket buttons. One of the outstanding ‘saris’ is a classic black and wine business-jacket-and-skirt combo with a removable pallu attached on the right side that goes across to the left shoulder. Designers who say that not much can be done with a sari will certily have a re-think after seeing this collection.
This is one robot you’ll simply fall in love with. It is a miniature, fully animated remote-controlled version of Robby, the robot from the classical film Forbidden Planet. The 14-inch tall Robosapien is programmed to perform around 60 commands with its full range of dynamic motion and interactive sensors. Loaded with attitude and intelligence, it is the first robot based on the science of applied biomorphic robotics. Its hilarious functions include breaking wind, belching, picking up objects and hurling them back, kicking, dancing, rapping and throwing kung-fu kicks. If you love high tech stuff then this will surely top all your gadgets!
The late designer Alexander McQueen’s eponymous label has done more for British fashions than any other brand. Its latest offering is a stunning spin on the legendary embellished jackets of Michael Jackson. But the new crystal studded twill jacket is a class unto itself. The jacket embellished with eye-popping Swarovski crystals in multiple colours gives a military-meets-party look. It has structured shoulders and its nipped-in waist has stitched side tabs. Besides being a dazzler the slim-fit jacket is bound to flatter the figure of any lady who wears it. 
Seating can be a tricky task, especially for those with limited space. It can particularly test your nerves during parties and gatherings. If you too have limited legroom at home, don’t panic. Spanish designer Andreu Carulla and his company Utoopic have come up with a contraption to help the space-challenged. His Stooler can convert any object into a temporary stool. The apparatus is a series of four wooden post legs and four ratchet buckles that can be pulled tight around different objects—stack of newspapers, stuffed animals, a piece of wood---giving the shape of a stool. Just let your imagination do the trick!
How would you like a peacock perched on your dress? Better still, how would you like a 120-carat diamond peacock pinned to your dress? Needless to say, it would be any lady’s dream come true. British jewel crafter Graff Diamonds has unveiled a diamond brooch shaped like a peacock at the TEFAF Art Fair at Maastricht in the Netherlands. The jeweller, already known for creating many flawless pieces, has taken designing to another level with this peacock studded with 120 carats of coloured and colourless diamonds. The stunning brooch would certainly be the pride of any
lady’s jewellery chest.
A pen can only be mightier than the sword if it writes. An instrument without ink can be quite worthless. However, that eventuality will not arise with the German-made Jac Zagoory’s Beta pen which is an anodized aluminium inkless pen that never needs to be refilled. Like any ordinary pen it can write on most paper surfaces the difference being that it can also write in any weather condition and will never dry up or leak. Computers and keyboards may be driving writing instruments out of business but with innovations like the inkless pen, the tradition of putting pen to paper will certainly continue!
One of the most illustrious showbiz couples, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie showcase the celebrity high life in the true sense of the term. Now the two are literally uplifting the spirit of their countless fans with the launch of Miraval Rose, the first ever wine from their French chateau Miraval estate which they bought last year for $60 million. The couple teamed up with the French winemaking Perrin family to develop the “Miraval Cotes de Provence” label which sold out within hours. Now wine aficionados are waiting for the 2013 batch of 150,000 bottles which too is likely to fly off the shelves even as fans raise a toast to Brangelina!
It is one of the most keenly awaited gadgets that is poised to change the way we work with computers. Google glasses is an Android-powered computer mounted on a pair of glasses which displays text and information right in front of your eyes. To be launched towards the end of 2013, it would give you information about an object simply by looking at it. For example, when you look at the sky the weather will flash in front of your eyes. Or when you reach a railway station, the timing of trains will start streaming, heralding the era of the wearable computer.
This device is sure to give a kick to soccer fans. The Zero G Soccer Trainer is a unique, in-home training device that helps you master the difficult knack of juggling which is so important to score a goal. Besides, it is ideal for building fitness levels, increasing stamina and honing coordination skills. The trainer has a flexible arm that has a soccer ball mounted at the end. It helps you perfect the art of “keepie uppie” or kick ups which are so important for winning matches. So go ahead and kick your way to becoming a soccer champion with this unique trainer.
It is a tent born of years of travel and dedicated to adventure enthusiasts and their bikes. The Series II Expedition Tent, has been built specifically for those who love to hit the road and discover new places and people. The roomy two-person tent is also designed to shield the motorbike from weather conditions, the elements and from prying eyes. The double wall design of the tent keeps the heat and cold out. It also has a sheltered utility area for cooking, a sitting area, a storage area as well as a dressing room. Best of all, the entire tent can be folded in a lightweight, waterproof bag that can be harnessed to the bike. So, go ahead and hit the road secure in the feeling that you will not have to brave the elements at night.