Mumbai Diary: Wednesday Dossier

Pic/Satej Shinde

Hanging in there

A poster vendor on Jogeshwari's Caves Road intently reads his morning newspaper

The Pink City is all set to get lit

There's one literary show that bibliophiles wait for with bated breath - the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF). This diarist was thrilled to learn that the event will be hosted between January 19 and 23, 2023 at Hotel Clarks in Amer. Expect a heady mix of names including Rana Safvi, Shehan Karunatilaka, Avinuo Kire, Merve Emre and Tanuj Solanki, among others. Sanjoy K Roy, its founder-director, shared plans with us: "Our 2022 edition was also an on-ground fest, but we were mindful of the COVID-19 protocols. As a result, not too many people could join us. This time, we hope things go back to normal in that regard. With a stellar line-up of authors, we are looking forward to a bumper show."

What's cooking, India?

(From left) Chefs Vikas Khanna, Garima Arora and Ranveer Brar share a candid moment. Pic courtesy/Instagram

Here's some good news for all those who enjoy a hearty cook-off. Masterchef India Season 7 will soon hit the screen. And this time, there's big cheer for those among us who have been tracking the global food scene. Michelin star chef Garima Arora will feature on the judges' panel alongside chefs Vikas Khanna and Ranveer Brar. Mumbai girl Arora, who owns Gaa and Here Bkk in Bangkok, shared with this diarist, "I am really looking forward to exploring food in this new avatar. I have always been the happiest in the kitchen. My relationship with food has been restricted within that usual ambit. Being a judge on the show is certainly outside my comfort zone but I am eager for the experience." Arora's presence marks the entry of the first female judge in the history of the show. She was also the first Indian woman to win a Michelin star in November 2018. When asked what particularly excites her about Indian cuisines, she said, "I have always felt that home cooks are where things are at when it comes to Indian food. The spectrum is wide. It is a splendid mix of recipes, ingredients and techniques. I am hoping that through this opportunity, we discover more secrets that are stored in the treasure trove of Indian homes."

Ramp it up

A model in the sweater made by Pritha Maurya. PIC COURTESY/INSTAGRAM

A few months ago, this newspaper had written about Pritha Maurya, a crocheter from Virar who wins hearts with customised clothes and knick-knacks. Recently, a project challenged her skill in tatting when she was approached by design student Vedant Ruparell to crochet a bulky sweater for Istituto Marangoni's Fashion Show 2022 #IMOmniverse in Mumbai. "It took me a month to knit the sweater. I hadn't done anything like this earlier, and was excited, as this would be showcased before professionals from the fashion industry. The final pictures of the model flaunting the black off-shoulder sweater on the ramp, blew my mind," Maurya shared with this diarist.

Triple the fun

(From left) Dhaval Udeshi, Sanjay Shetty and Pawan Shahri

Remember the throbbing party spot of London Taxi at Kamala Mills? This diarist has learnt that the gastropub will now give way to a new three-storey restaurant called Demy, which is helmed by Sanjay Shetty, Ricky Bedi, Dhaval Udeshi and Pawan Shahri. Udeshi and Shahri shared that the restaurant will feature an alfresco rooftop. "We ran London Taxi for five years; it's where our F&B journey started. We feel that Kamala Mills needs an all-day casual dining space. We plan to take this brand to six cities," Shahri said. Udeshi added that the menu focuses on comfort food. "There are three levels. The ground floor will be more dining oriented; the second floor will be like a speakeasy that can turn into a members' lounge; and the rooftop will boast of greenery, a swing, a coffee roasting nook and a whole different vibe with an all-day cafe."

Craft of the matter

(From left) Dhaval Udeshi, Sanjay Shetty and Pawan Shahri

This weekend, an exhibition of handcrafted textiles will honour the creations of four artists from Kutch. The artisans belong to Somaiya Kala Vidya, an institute that was started by the Somaiya Trust seven years ago to enable skilled artisans with design inputs. Its trustee Amrita Somaiya (inset) told us, "The objective is to give them the means to make products that are innovative and saleable in a constantly upgrading market." Titled Design Craft, the festive edit will feature ajrakh block printing, bandhani and suf embroidery by artisan designers Hamza Khatri, Khalid Usman (top, right), Laxmi Puwar and Purshottam Bhai (top, left). Check out somaiya-kalavidya.org for further details.