The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
Pic/Nimesh Dave
One with the sea
A group of friends enjoy the ocean waters at Juhu Chowpatty.
10 years on, still walking the talk
Smiran Lal and Rahul Rai
Last week, as Nicobar founders Simran Lal and husband Raul Rai, hosted an intimate dinner for a few editors at their sprawling Nepean Sea apartment; we also intimately felt their passion for their brand, and their craft. Rai put us in a spot when he asked us for three words that we felt described Nicobar. We said “Classy, aspirational and Indian”. We don’t know if that answer made him happy, but what we did get to know was that the two have lots of plans for Nicobar in its 10th year, which starts off with a celebration at their Delhi workshop on March 7. Along with a menswear line with Rajesh Pratap Singh, and a focus on gifting, and NicoEco: a long-term initiative dedicated to reimagining relationships with the natural world through ecological work, the brand is going to go full steam ahead this year. We think that their success can be attributed to the yin and yang energy that Lal and Rai bring to the table. But what was also refreshing to see was that they were asking for suggestions and feedback on the brand, and not coverage. It was a classy move just like the brand’s aesthetic. Best of luck, Nicobar.
He’s the same Iqbal of 2001
Iqbal Siddiqui at MCA-BKC ground recently. Pic/Satej Shinde; (right) Iqbal Siddiqui in 2001. Pic/mid-day archives
Had you watched cricketer Iqbal Siddiqui, 51, play his debut Test for India against Nasser Hussain’s England at Mohali in the winter of 2001, you wouldn’t have recognised him doing match referee duties at the recent Mumbai vs Karnataka Ranji Trophy quarter-final at the MCA-BKC ground.
In 2001, India fielded three debutants at Mohali — Siddiqui, fellow paceman Tinu Yohannan, and Sanjay Bangar. Siddiqui opened the bowling with Yohannan in both innings, got his only wicket in the Test when he had Graham Thorpe caught by VVS Laxman at second slip, and when India needed five to win the Test, skipper Sourav Ganguly allowed Siddiqui to open the innings with Deep Dasgupta for the winning runs to be hit.
Siddiqui was not picked for another Test, so his Test career wasn’t memorable, but our in-house cricket nut remembers interviewing a perky, confident pacer bereft of any nerves on the night before his Test debut in Room No 308, Mount View hotel in Chandigarh. Iqbal Rashid Siddiqui appears to have come a long way since being a 26-year-old Test debutant.
A bit of China near Dockyard Road
(From left) Nilesh Sawant, the caretaker and Anand Shirali at the temple. Pic/Special Arrangement
Andheri residents Anand Shirali and Nilesh Sawant brought a little China into their lives visiting a lesser known Chinese temple near Dockyard Station (Mazagaon) in Mumbai recently. The temple is called Kwan Kung or Kuan Kung. Said Shirali, “I learnt of the temple through social media. It was a wonderful experience, a blend of history with spiritualism.” Sawant added, “I was struck by how we had to remove our shoes before entering, just like we do here. The red door, the kandeels gave off positive vibes.” Shirali and Sawant were also witness to some preparations for Chinese New Year coming up on February 17. These are the places tucked away in aamchi Mumbai that do not feature prominently in tourist guides but are such a delight to discover.
Two Bandra girls get down and dirty
Arti Dwarkadas (left) and Suzann Homan trade Bandra’s cafés for a farm in Raigad
What happens when two Bandra girls decide to trade cappuccinos for cow dung and attempt farming in Raigad? This is not a set-up for a joke, but the punchlines keep coming in Arti Dwarkadas’s new book, Two Bandra Girls Buy a Farm (Westland Books). The book chronicles her escapades with partner-in-grime Suzann Homan, as they start their own organic farm — with no prior experience. “It was part midlife madness, part pandemic perspective,” says Dwarkadas, “The idea of a farm was wildly impractical, which made it irresistible… We simply wanted to build something slower and see who we became in the process.”
Together, they figure out how to negotiate with sceptical villagers and unruly cows, and learn the hard truths of working the land. The author adds, “Farming taught us resilience. But, it also taught us humility.”
Keep their paws full
Anjori Alagh has been a parent to about 12 pets, which is why she decided to make pet-friendly furniture
Former actress and model Anjori Alagh is now dipping her toes into the furniture business. Her new label The Alagh Kothi, which launched this week, is one rooted in sustainability and storytelling. The most interesting fact? Her focus on pet-friendly furniture. Alagh says, “My inspiration comes from all the furry babies I’ve rescued and adopted over the years. They love soft couches, cosy beds, and breathable upholstery that keeps them comfortable.” She’s been a parent to around 12 furry babies. She adds, “Creating furniture for them is my way of honouring that bond.”
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