Zenzy Mumbai-Sawadee Karp!! Elsie Gabriel

Zenzy Mumbai-Sawadee Karp!!

Meet Akshay Chitre….who has spent time in UK for his MBA but came back to give his home ground, Bandra East in Mumbai India, a run for it’s money where Thai cuisine is concerned!!

This young guy is the strong and silent type, no airs, no frills and no drama king. He just spells ‘thai food’ out for you through his elaborate menu at Zenzi Mumbai, the newest spankiest Thai food restaurant in Bandra East.

Says Akshay, “It has been only eight months now that the restaurant is here and am enjoying the Thai journey. Bandra East is home to many restaurants so why not some good Thai food.I am happy with the delivery orders that I get and can barely keep up. I am hoping that more corporate here in Bandra east order in bulk for parties and corporate lunches, that’s my aim and am working hard towards it.”

This young lad, knows what he wants and how to get it. He is very patient and calm for a young lad just back from UK. He says he tried his hand at working and then ultimately wanted to throw it all up to be his own boss and command each day as it comes. His restaurant , actually converted from a garage opposite the MIG Club in Bandra East is an amazing story of a young entrepreneur who saw a future in food and turned it around to spell success. It is always such a pleasure see young people invest good quality time in their dreams and work hard to make them a reality.His is one good example.

Akshay also writes and will soon publish his love story book he says on “Three women who narrate their love story woes.” Basically the boy, doesn't have a single lazy bone in his body, always up to something progressive and smart, he says he writes his book on his phone on three days, Mondays , Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when the crowds are less in his restaurant. He has his schedule chalked out and you can tell him apart.

Of course coming  back to the Thai food he offers which are very reasonable prices, the Prawn in baby onion and spinach was to die for, the Green fish curry with coconut spicy rise was good, but nothing to beat the fresh dumplings and Thai Tom Yum soup.You have to try it out.

It was a culinary journey to the flavours, colours and aromas of Thailand, all right. So if you are in Bandra East and in need for some good Thai food, check this small cozy Thai restaurant out,  It’s not fine dining or hi fi but if you are hungry and want to simply relish food, step in!!!

More than the food, I can vouch that Akshay will go far in life! His cool, warm and enterprising hard working qualities will surely catapult him to higher culinary accomplishments .His gourmet journey has just begun.. and how!!

Sawadee Karp!!

Barbeque Mari-Nation with Master Chef Pat Chapman. Elsie Gabriel

Barbeque Mari-Nation with Master Chef Pat Chapman.

Master Chef and Chilly king-Chef Pat Chapman, as he is fondly called kicked up a hot storm behind the counter at Barbeque Nation, Worli, Mumbai. Soft spoken and very articulate- is how he stirred up some fascinating marinades for some good protein lovers.His vegetarian offerings were no less.

So Chapman knows it all, been there,done that and at 73 years now he is a gentle giant and delivers one masala grill after another with such finesse. He knows every spice at the back of his hand, even more than we Indians could rattle off. He lives and cooks and breathes spice!! May be I could anoint him as Spicy Chef!!

With his effervescent 14 new marinades, both veg and non-veg, that he introduced across India to mark the entry of a completely new genre of grilled food, Chapman was on a grilling journey alight. I enjoyed Chapmans ease with handling ingredients, he mixed Basil with lemon, oil with red chillies, dalchinni with turmeric; all with such respectful measures that one could see the reverence for the spices, almost in adoration.

Dominique his elegant wife is the researcher. The lady behind all the preparations and such a silent strong assistant, you know that Chapman is King and of course Domnique is Queen of his kitchen. They have been working together for the last 24 years she says, side by side .I guess this is how their love story with spices evolved and together they make a spicy team alright!!

Imagine a life committed to spicy gourmet tours and chilly dishes, together, year after year. My hats off to that. They are truly a ‘curryholic’ couple.

In 1982, Chapman founded The Curry Club to share information about recipes, restaurants and all things spicy. And ever since he has been on a culinary expedition around the spice world.

“I am in heaven, here in India I love the food. This is my 44^th trip to India and nothing could be better than eating good spicy food.”

To date Pat has written thirty-four books, with sales topping 1.5 million copies.Most of his books concentrate on curry, while others feature recipes from China, Thailand, the Middle Eastern and the Americas. His Balti Cookbook was the first on the subject and became a Sunday Times Number 1 best seller.
Pat regularly appears as a celebrity chef at major food shows abroad and in the UK. In 1999 he hosted his own "Rice and Spice" theatre at the BBC's Good Food Show.

Chapmans offering of the Yorkshire marinade, Spanish marinade, Arabian and Persian marinade as well as the Australiasian and Jamaican Jerk marinades at the counter cook off was so welcoming and he drew the audience into the spicy details with such easy steps.

I was pampered at the Baebeque Nation at Thane which according to me is the spiciest grilling place with live stations on your table. It couldn’t get better than this. Sabir Raza of the Thane outlet had dancers and good music to enthrall the crowds at a sunny Saturday afternoon. Bliss!!

Meeting Vijay Anand Bakshi the chief culinary head was insightful, while we chatted in smattering Bengali, we knew it was food that could connect people from any part of the world.

 “Chef Pat Chapman is a legend in the UK and the great ambassador for Indian food. Barbeque Nation is delighted to partner with him to turn the culinary experience the other way around: get him to share with Indians the famous marinades of the world with his own interpretation and many his own creation.,” said Uday Menon, CBO, Barbeque Nation.

Vikram Varma, Head – Marketing, Barbeque Nation adds, “gourmet lovers  today seek the thrill of deriving maximum pleasure for their taste-buds. Chef Pat Chapman is a great ambassador for what Barbeque Nation seeks to achieve for Indian food lovers. Come enjoy this  food adventure.”

Chapman says that the best way to grill any protein is to cook it over a moderate charcoal fire, turning it around slowly. But when asked what dish in India fascinated him the most he quipped, - Bhel puri’!!!! Its light and spicy yet deliciously different says the chef. Oozing of simplicity and humility, I came away impressed. I was so fortunate to present my book Get Out Get Going Outdoors to Master chef,he was curious to see my chapter on Outdoor cooking inside.

Master Chef Chapman you sure put fire in my belly and spice in my soul. I want to cook with more chilly!

After all, they say Chilly is good for the health when used to extract its delicious essence. So fire up your lives,folks!

World Tourism day celebrated in Mumbai.

 World Tourism day celebrated in Mumbai.

World tourism day this year 2014, has a purpose, to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. This celebration on September 29^th 2014 was organized with much applaud organized by Young Environmentalists Trust and Meluha ecotel Powai Mumbai aiming to address global challenges outlined and to highlight the contribution the tourism, hotel and travel related industry has made in up lifting the community around.

The glamorous and house packed event hosted by Elsie Gabriel saw H.E. Consul General of South Africa .Pule Malefane and H.E. Consul general of Vietnam .Vu Son Thuy, Chairman of Travel council of India Jay Bhatia, Ahmer Shaikh of MTDC, Niranjan Hiranandani,Celebrity Mukesh Rishi, Actor Karan Goddwani, Diplomat from Belgium Ms.Pinkey Ahluwalia,Master chef Saranch Goila of Food Food and celebrity Arti Surendranath as well as Punish Sharma along with diplomatic members from Oman, Thailand, Reunion islands, Tourism board of Kenya, Clarence Fernandes-Rwanda Development Board,Co-Chairman Travel, Tourism/ Hospitality Committee-Indian Merchants' Chamber, and a host of travel delegates from around the world. TAFI and Madhya Pradesh tourism as well as travel enthusiasts gathered to mark the occasion through various colourful audio video films connecting people on this day.

 ‘Tourism and Community Development’ is the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day (WTD). The theme underscores the potential of tourism to promote opportunities for communities around the world, as well as the role that community engagement has in advancing sustainable tourism development.

This year’s World Tourism Day draws special attention to the role of tourism in contributing to one of the building blocks of a more sustainable future for all: Community development. This focus on the Sustainable Development Goals is the guiding principle which will be expounded on today by our esteemed guests with respect to their countrys and their organization.

As a sector representing 9% of global GDP, one in 11 jobs worldwide, and a key revenue sector for developing and emerging economies, tourism is widely acknowledged for its capacity to respond to global challenges. The consolidation of tourism’s economic influence has built up its social responsibility and political relevance, with a growing number of countries allocating a stronger mandate to tourism in economic and development policy planning.

With the special focus on the community, WTD 2014 highlights how tourism can be conducive to advancing sustainable development from the grassroots level. Community based tourism involves the local population in the decision making process according to local priorities. The opportunity to become part of the tourism value chain actively involves host communities in the development process. Tourism thus becomes a catalyst of social cohesion, going beyond the immediate impact of job creation and its positive economic consequences and enhances, for instance, local governance capabilities which multiply the tourism impact even further.

The Saree creates a bond with its weft and warp uniting women. Bring on the Durga Pujoooo

Warp and weft of the Saree…. Elsie Gabriel.

In Bengal, the Durgo pujo festival binds the community and…. the supreme piece of garment… the Saree creates a bond with its weft and warp uniting women of all ages during the ten days of Durga pujo. And in Mumbai,right now the Saree fever is on.... 

‘Oree baba… I need my matching blouse’, has now evolved to  ‘aarrrre baba now I need my designer readymade blouse, every day should be different and brand new…..’…there’s always a rush and fuss, and giddiness and laughter..dressing up for Durga puja..am glad I have a Bengali community here in Mumbai which keeps all this humdrum alive and kicking….

I can hear the Dholl bringing on the Durga Puja here in Mumbai and along with it the sarees on display are a treat to the eyes. Of course coming from West Bengal ,the saree is nothing new for me, but has it stayed with me..Yes!!

I recall wearing Mothers saree’s during my childhood days, such delicate pieces. Of course there were some starched crisp cotton shutii ones too, she wore a different one every day to school during her entire teaching career..imagine the collection she had… Then I remember college days sharing all my bong friends ‘bondhu’s’ saree’s, being careful not to tread on them….trying to hold on for dear life while attending college classes on ‘Saree’ days were blissfully crazzyyy…I also remember winning the June Rose one summer..in a sareee!!!

A Saree depicts the beauty of an Indian woman. But when you see a Bengali woman dressed in a Bengali saree..uree baba…the world spins around her and all those around her….Tant, Tasar, Muga silks, Jamdani silks, Bhagalpuri silks, Benarsi, Katha stich worked saree’s, pure cottons, ever so fragile and stiff Tangail and Dhakha,,not to forget the pure silks, Shantipur cotton and the stories written all over the Baluchori saree’s…..visiting the pandals I use my time wisely to keep reading the stories off the sarees………..most captivating…..,

The pure white tant saree with sindoor red border brings out the beauty in every Bengali woman.The weft is referred to as baana or bun-na, in Bengali it is called shoota, the weft and warp of life comes alive in sarees. The weft and warp of the saree will stay in my heart forever, even far away from home!!! It is this weft and warp of life which is called the journey of life, keep weaving....with strength and colour.

 I can’t wait to wear mine!

Cruise trip to the Seal island. Cape Town. Elsie Gabriel

Cruise trip to the Seal island.

Elsie Gabriel.

Cape Town is blessed with abundant marine life. Sharks, dolphins, Whales and seals swim off the Cape Town coastline very often and it is truly nature’s spectacular offering.

Cruise trip to the Seal island.All pics copyright Elsie Gabriel

I enjoyed the rough sea’s and had the experience of a lifetime on this cruise trip to Seal Island located only 8 nautical miles from Simon's Town harbour in False Bay which takes about half an hour to reach actually. Seal Island is home to 75,000 Cape Fur Seals and the hunting ground for the Great White Shark. Only 40 minutes from Cape Town Centre. One can not actually get off and visit the island as it is protected.

Seal Island, also known as Duiker Island, is an island off the coast of Hout Bay in Cape Town. Providing a sanctuary for Cape Fur seals, the island is also inhabited by many water birds, including Kelp Gulls, Pelicans,Cape and Bank Cormorants and Hartlaub Gulls.

Watching these seals bask on the rocks in the warm waters of the Atlantic is a sight I will always keep close to my heart.

Although next time I will pluck up the courage to go deep sea cage diving to see the Great White sharks.

 I visited in summer but if you plan well, choose the winter months where you will see the birthing of thousands of baby seals. And during these cold winter days you may also get to see the Great White sharks how off their aquatic tactics and it’s the best sight in the world for a nature lover.

 I unfortunately did not get to see any whales or sharks but was in awe of the huge granite island filled with thousands of seals. They have a good safe habitat now and are said to be multiplying well.

The only evidence of humans ever reaching the island, is a fallen World War II radio mast, and the remains of huts that were built in the era of guano collecting and sealing.

But on the contrary due to the increased number in the seal population, the island has become an attraction for Great White Sharks. So now the great White sharks hound the island and hover around it.

Seal Island is a nature reserve and falls under the Western Cape Nature Conservation Board.

You will always find some sort of marine activity around the islands so which ever month you choose, the guide will explain how the season is valuable.

I strongly advise you get a strong sun hat which gets well fastened to your neck, the ocean is so rough that it may just fly off. You must carry sun block, a warm jacket, and don’t forget your camera. The cruise boats aren’t that huge so hold on tight and look after your kids and companions if any. Book in advance and be there on time because the boats are very punctual.

Departure times are subject to change due to weather and number of passengers. You can always get a good look around the fishing harbour at Simons Town waiting for your boat trip.

I found myself this most loveable robust Seal and we enjoyed a hug. Although his whiskers ticked me to endless giggles!!They have this glistening fur, smooth and slippery but look expensive. I guess that’s why they were hunted and hounded for years until the government came down strongly on the protection of these creatures.

When in South Africa head for the Simons Town harbour and don’t miss the boat!

His whiskers tickled me silly!!