Mumbai Diary: Tuesday Dossier

Twos companyVarun Dhawan and Sonakshi Sinha share a moment on the sets of a reality show in Goregaon on Monday while Alia Bhatt appears lost PicAshish RajeA feast from Down UnderGiven the amount of immigration that Australia has seen over the years its but natural that the countrys modern cuisine comprises a melting pot of different cultures There are oriental influences Southeast Asian touches a lot of European inputs and of course indigenous aboriginal recipes too And now Mumbaikars can get a taste of this diverse culinary history when one of Australias most famous chefs Tony Howell comes down to India for his maiden visit Howell mdash who is the face of Restaurant Australia and Tourism Australias culinary brand ambassador mdash is pairing up with sommelier Nikhil Agarwal of All Things Nice to present a fivecourse meal at a Juhu fivestarThe dishes will include sashimi of Asian mushrooms Australian lamb loin and French gnocchi among a host of other delicacies But what aspects of Indian cuisine is Howell most excited about on his first visit to the country Im keen to explore local flavours and using fragrant spices and learning about the true Indian curry as well as the different kinds of curries in Mumbai and Delhi Plus Im hoping to discover Indian street food going to local markets I hope I have time the smells the colours and the people I expect its going to be quite different from Margaret River but Im looking forward to it he told this diaristFit for the screenWhat do you get when a master filmmaker joins hands with a Jnanpith awardwinning author You get Shekhar Gupta directing a web series that is based on Amitav Ghoshs Ibis trilogy Thats what was announced yesterday meaning there will soon be a screen adaptation on the three books Sea of Poppies River of Smoke and Flood of Fire They are based on the conflict between the East India Company and China over the trade of opium which led to the infamous Opium WarsShekhar Kapur and Amitav GhoshThe story also follows the journeys of indentured labour from India to colonies around the world and tells the intriguing tales of people from India America and China at a time when modern history was being formed Kapur said We for sure cant wait for this oneHeres why children are like spongesOn Sunday we attended Naad a concert by The Sound Space TSS a Mumbaibased initiative and Talisman an a cappella group from Stanford University And in it Talisman enthralled the audience with songs in ZuluOne piece was particularly interesting because children from TSS joined Talisman TSS founder Kamakshi Khurana told this diarist that the kids learnt it in a workshop only a few hours before performing it As Khurana rightly said Children are like sponges They will keep absorbing what is taught to themMumbais big north vs south divideProbably even bigger than the rivalry between Delhi and Mumbai is the one between townies and burbies Bandraites though have their own identity what with the area being the queen of the suburbs But a recent article in an online publication stirred a hornets nest with the line hellipin the North Bombay suburb of BandraAn installation on Carter Road in BandraPeople were divided on social media as a result with some saying the tag North Bombay is justified for Bandra and others saying thats poppycock One user commented Peak hipsterism Another countered Its high time people living in Bandra know that they are living in North Bombay oops Mumbai The question though is who do you agree withPicnic in the cityWhen this diarist last spoke to Rajat Mendhi he had just started his foodie venture The Tight Slap after bidding adieu to a career in advertising Then last week Mendhi reached out sharing news about a venture called Bombay Picnics where he will organise curated picnics in open spaces in Mumbai where likeminded people can meetThe idea is to get outside with all the trappings and cosiness of the inside along with a bunch of fun and interesting people lots of good food music and games he sharedCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates