Discouraging Body Shaming

Discouraging Body Shaming

Summer Exodus hosted at The Emerald Store on Ulsoor Road, Bangalore was celebrated to pay tribute to womanhood and much more. On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2020, The Emerald Store Bangalore curated a one-of-a-kind event where beautiful plus-sized women walked the ramp and flaunted their curves with confidence and poise, shattering the prejudice of body shaming and empowering confidence in one’s self. At the event, conceptualised and curated by Anjum Azeez and Sabrina Dutta, the women celebrated their personal blueprint, which drove home the point that no woman should ever be made to feel inferior because of shape, size, colour or unique individual characteristics. It was a spectacular event which also showcased the Avirate line of fashion with women donning the collection and accessories. The result was a strong, empowering declaration that women are no longer sorry for how they are perceived but are proud of who they are and own their individuality. [envira-gallery id=”8435″] Discouraging Body Shaming

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 Women’s Day Out 

Women’s Day Out 

Nasreen Sait invited women from all walks of life to come together and celebrate International Women’s Day at Safina Banquets, Safina Plaza, Bangalore. A day synonomous for empowerment, growth and oneness, it was a day to honour the spirit of a woman. There were different activities, speakers, workshops and also a fashion walk. Nuzhath Ayaz gave a talk on mind, body and soul. Yoga teacher Divya Nichani, a certified Iyengar yoga teacher taught a few quick Yogasanas. There was also a soft launch of the book named Raqs by Shaista Yacoob, who spoke about Rumi followed by Sagarika talking on her travels to Kutch. Good food, music and camaraderie flowed over some delicious biryani.   Women’s Day Out

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 Aioli is for Those Times When You’re in the Mood for Some Grills

Aioli is for Those Times When You’re in the Mood for Some Grills

Aioli has established its brand at Kalyan Nagar, Bangalore, with many food lovers thronging the place for its many specials. Their newest outlet on Cunningham Road with blue and white interiors is welcoming for diners. Anoop Verma, the man behind the restaurant brand is a wonder chef in the kitchen as he whips up many culinary specials. Anoop Verma has an experience of nearly two decades and graduated from Indian Hotel Company Ltd and worked in all verticals of hospitality industry. After a stint at Taj West End, Anoop moved to Europe and worked with a luxury cruise liner P&O Cruises UK Ltd exploring new challenges in the field of service industry. Anoop Verma took up the assisgment with IT giant handling operations for Continental Europe. In 2010, Anoop decided to return to his roots and wanted to give shape to his passion for food. He started Aioli Bbq and Grill serving Mediterranean fusion cuisine. Their tagline is We Grill U Chill. Aioli is basically mayonnaise seasoned with garlic and herbs, one of the most popular sauces in the Mediterranean. Anoop’s version of Aioli is lip smacking, and is an emulsion of olive oil flavoured with lemon juice and as much garlic as you can take. It is insanely addictive. A must try at Aioli, their Aioli dip does magic with every single dish that is served here, under the expert guidance of Anoop. The prawns and this sauce are a perfect match. Some of the specials include Beetroot Hummus, Grilled Aioli Prawns, Bbq Zatar Lamb with Wine Sauce, Bbq Lamb Dumpling, Italian Basil Chicken, Chicken Moussaka, Stuffed Chicken, Crispy Fried Prawns, Bbq Fish Fillet with Dijon Mustard, Sear Fish with Smoked Spanish Paprika, Chargrilled Butter Fish, Grilled Pomfret in Vine Leaf Parcel, Herb Infused Bbq Pomfret, Fish Fillet in Lemon Butter Sauce and more. Also try their popular thin crust pizzas and authentic pastas. Their signature dish Grilled Prawns with Rosemary and Olive Oil is highly recommended for all seafood lovers.  End the meal on a sweet note with homemade ice creams, Brownie or a Peach Melba. Aioli is India’s first restaurant dedicated to Indian Armed Forces. Where: Aioli BBQ And Grill, B, Westminster, 108, Cunningham Road, Kaverappa Layout, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru. Meal for two: Rs 1800. [envira-gallery id=”8328″] Aioli is for Those Times When You’re in the Mood for Some Grills

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 International Women’s Day 2020

International Women’s Day 2020

This International Women’s Day 2020, Sai Priya, brand host at Gourmet Passport hosted a fun yet meaningful evening at KA.01 Rooftop Bar and Eats, ibis Hotel, Bangalore. The Fantastic evening began with women achievers, all ranging from different professions, walking the ramp followed by each one of them, introducing themselves & then giving an inspirational & engaging talk. Each of the strong women shed all inhibitions, as they shared their trials and tribulations and how they came out of it and emerged stronger and powerful, over wine, cocktails and delicious dinner, curated by Gourmet Passport. These women of substance included Kritika Sekaran, Mohua Chinnapa, Simran Godwani, Kadambari Misra, Rupa Balachandar, Ranjani Raman, Shivani Mohan, Sakshi Rajat, Prithvi Rao, Saswati, Noorain, Subhra Banerjee, Gigi Mathew, Ranjana Raju, Priya Mendens and Vibha Gupta. [envira-gallery id=”8299″] #gourmetpassport #womensday2020 #womenpower #Femtastic #loveforfood #fashionistas #style #GourmetPassportExperiences #Ibis #Ka01BLR International Women’s Day 2020

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 Karavalli Calling

Karavalli Calling

Ace Chef Naren Thimmaiah, Executive Chef, The Gateway Hotel, Bangalore, Indian Hotels Company Limited who is at the helm of the award-winning iconic Karavalli restaurant, has won many hearts and palates, not only in Bangalore, but beyond. Every visitor who comes to Bangalore wants to visit Karavalli atleast once and try their coastal delicacies. We find out what makes the talented and charming chef, the most-talked about chef for so many decades. Recall your first tryst with cooking? How did you work on your culinary skills? My tryst with cooking began in Coorg where I used to help mom in picking curry leaves or plucking green chillies from the plant in the backyard. Mom is known for cooking delicious food and I guess eating it all along, I was able to distinguish between good food and dishes which lacked the taste and texture. This helped me later when I took up Hotel Management and this came in handy during practicals. But the real grind was during the formative years at Taj where giving 200% was the norm! Where did you take your formal culinary education? After completing my Graduation in Commerce, I took up the culinary education at Srinivas Hotel School under Mangalore University. This was the formal part, the real learning was across the South West Coast, at houses of various cuisine experts! How have you been so consistent in your recipes over the years, yet how do you innovate everytime, staying ahead of the game? Sticking to the basics and ensuring sourcing of the right ingredients from the regions at any cost are the keys to replication of the traditional recipes to the hilt. Talking about Karavalli – We do not innovate; we just replicate dishes and at regular intervals introduce some more classics from the region which was not showcased earlier. But at Mynt, our All Day Diner, constant permutations and combinations work suiting the present day trends! What are some of the Karavalli specials that people have loved over the years? Tiger Prawns Roast – Prawns tossed in Kerala spice mix, Coconut slivers and lemon juice. Crab Milagu Fry – Pan roasted Mud crabs in spicy pepper masala. Meen Eleittad – Black Pomfret marinated in Malabar Masala, wrapped in Banana leaf and shallow fried. Koli Barthad – Chicken pan fried in a blend of roasted spices and Coorg Vinegar. Allapuzha Meen Curry – Seer fish simmered in moderately spiced gravy with raw mangoes. Vegetable Stew – Seasonal vegetables gently simmered in creamy coconut milk. Ullithiel – Stewed button onions in a tangy gravy with freshly roasted and ground spices. Ada Pradhaman – Rice flakes cooked in coconut milk and jaggery. What do you do to ensure that you continue to get your loyalists love your specials over the years – again and again? We follow the five-point charter: Maintain Karavalli’s old world charm, classical and warm during the day, robust and royal during night. We will be sticklers to set standards in procurement. Consistency is the hall mark of Karavalli. We will live it. Every meal shall be experiential which shall be a delight to all the five senses- sight, touch, taste, sound, smell. Come home to Karavalli! Karavalli

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 Celebrity Hairstylist Savio John Pereira launches KeraSoul

Celebrity Hairstylist Savio John Pereira launches KeraSoul

KeraSoul launched world’s first ever CRYO Detox treatment for Hair by Internationally-acclaimed Celebrity Hairstylist Savio John Pereira at ITC Welcomhotel, Bangalore. Manisha and Sankalp Chopra, founders of KeraSoul, launched KeraSoul over a special fashion show with models styled by the hairstylist. KeraSoul is a one stop solution for all your hair & scalp problems. The idea behind the CRYO Detox treatment is to detoxify your hair completely providing health to hair naturally, with an inverse cooling technology. Celebrity Hairstylist Savio John Pereira launches KeraSoul

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 International Women’s Day Celebrations in Bangalore

International Women’s Day Celebrations in Bangalore

Get pampered and feel special this Women’s Day weekend with these International Women’s Day Celebrations in Bangalore. Celebrate Women’s Day at LUSH To salute the indomitable spirit of women, this Women’s Day, Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel welcomes all the women across the city to dig deep into the unknown folds of the world by indulging in an incredible culinary experience. Binge on an exciting spread, specially designed by talented Chef Nitish and his culinary team. An exclusive discount of 30% is applicable for this Sunday’s Brunch for Women’s Day at Lush. The extravagant brunch offers delicious antipasti, an array of exotic salads, varieties of cheese and International cuisine. Additionally, diverse flavours of North and South Indian cuisine, exciting live pasta and customised pizza for Italian food lovers for one big Sunday afternoon to celebrate food in its most sumptuous form. The live cooking stations will keep you entertained throughout. Within the enormous dessert section, there is the ever-popular ice cream Station with a whole range of sprinkles, jellies and crunchies to add, delectable pastries, chocolate desserts and so much more! Where: LUSH, Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel, Bangalore. When: 8th March 2020, 12:30 pm to 4 pm. Hydrofit Beats The session will be a typical Hydrofit session where aqua fitness coach Pooja Arora will guide you through a high intensity interval training in the pool, followed by a Bollywood drumbeats number to end it with a splashing high. The idea of the session is to celebrate women’s day with a workout that helps women get stronger and fitter, yet ensures least amount of pressure on the joints. This way you get to enjoy yourself thoroughly while you burn 500 calories within the hour! Following the session, there will be an open house with the coach and Executive Chef, Praveen Shetty who has curated a wellness breakfast at the award winning alfresco destination, Tiamo at Conrad Bengaluru. Where: Conrad Bengaluru, Ulsoor, Bengaluru. When: Sunday, 8th March 2020, 9am – 10am. Learn to make your own Dim Sum this Women’s Day This Women’s Day, experience a Dim Sum Special Masterclass at Yauatcha, Bengaluru. Known to showcase a wide range of beautifully crafted dim sum that suits a variety of palates, Yauatcha has been of modern Cantonese cuisine curated by the master culinary chefs. This Sunday, Chef Pradeep Gomes is all set to conduct dim sum making workshop at Yauatcha, Bengaluru: the workshop aims to master Yauatcha’s impeccably wrapped dim sum. This session will take their guests through a step by step process, teaching them three different folds that the culinary chefs use while preparing these delicate dim sum. The dishes which will be demonstrated in this workshop are, hot and spicy Chicken Shanghai Dumpling, the subtly flavoured Corn and Asparagus dumpling, the must have Three style mushroom Cheung Fan and the very beautifully crafted Prawn Hargao along with some tea. The Masterclass will be followed by a tasting session of dim sums along with a pot of steaming hot tea. Where: Yauatcha, Level 5, 1, MG Road, Someshwarpura, Halasuru, Bengaluru. When: 8th March, Sunday, 4pm until 6pm. Womenia 2020: An event to celebrate International Women’s Day In keeping with the 2020 narrative of an equal world and #EachforEqual theme of International Women’s Day, 315Work Avenue, a leading coworking space provider, will host Womenia 2020, an event that includes a panel discussion on gender equality, a stand-up comedy shows and cultural performances. The discussion will feature leading women personalities and achievers from diverse domains such as police, politics, bureaucracy, filmdom, start-ups and business and reflects the goals of International Women’s Day which celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The panel discussion will see renowned achievers like Isha Pant, IPS officer, DCP South East Bengaluru, Sowmya Reddy, MLA, Jayanagar, Uma Mahadevan, Principal Secretary Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Government of Karnataka, Rasika P, CMO, Soulfull, Saloni Arora, Head of Marketing, Forever 21, Shwetha Niranjan – Mrs. Worldwide 2019 (Special Queen Ambassador) & Mrs. India Worldwide 2018, and Manasa Joshi, Kannada actress and Kathak dancer, renowned RJs among several others. The event will be moderated by Veena Sethuraman- Head – Learning & Organizational Development at InMobi, and TEDx Speaker. The cultural performers include Rajani Venkatesh, Carnatic singer, Alankritha Bhat, Co-founder of Janashree Music and Dance Academy, Rakshitha Bhaskar, theatre artiste at Benaka, award winning playback singer, Megha and Nilasini from Joshi’s Kathak Academy and Shankar Chugani, Stand-up comedian. The event is open for all, with prior registration. The proceeds of the event will be donated to an NGO that works for women’s empowerment. Where: 315Work Avenue, 257, 16th cross, 5th Main Rd, Sector 6, HSR Layout, Bengaluru. When: Friday, March 6, 2020, 4 pm onwards. Pamper Yourself with Special Packages Spoil yourself this International Women’s Day as The Den has some special offers. This March, The Den Bengaluru, a millennial luxury hotel is honouring women with a dedicated series of experiences. Discover a curated lunch on March 8 and pamper yourself with a special spa package throughout the entire month. Women’s Day is all about who you are- an epitome of power! To make all the beautiful ladies feel more special, The Den offers a bewitching tailor-made package to all wonder women. Starting with giving your taste buds a mastery at The Creek. Then come and celebrate the elegance of healing therapies at The Sanctuary spa. To make your day more exclusive, we offer you a complimentary massage, pedicure and a luxurious room to make your day more soothing and memorable! Where: The Creek, The Sanctuary, The Den Bengaluru, Whitefield. When: Friday, 8th March 2020. Intimate Conversations about Investment Be a part of the intimate conversation with women leaders discuss money at Investography. Nikita Das, Sr Cluster Head, Marketing Communications, Marriott International Hotels will be in conversation with Deepa Kannan, Functional Nutritionist and Ambassador for Food & Spirit 2019-2020, Tara Khan, Member Board of Management of Delhi Public School, Kadambari Sabharwal Talwar, Market Director – Sales and Marketing, Marriott

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 Flavours & Colours of Holi

Flavours & Colours of Holi

Celebrate the festival of colours in many colourful and flavourful ways in Bangalore. Holi-licious Grand Brunch at FEAST Experience the culture of colours and indulge in some delicious food to celebrate the vibrant and colourful season of Holi with a culinary palate created just for the occasion. Gorge on sumptuous treats and tuck into a delicious brunch to make this Holi, a delicious one! Executive Chef Gaurav Anand has carefully designed a special menu with his culinary team, for the occasion to tantalise your taste buds. Start your meal with some refreshing drinks like the traditional Thandai Rose Milk, Kesar Lassi, crunchy snacks like Bhakarwadi, Mini Cocktails Samosa, Gujarati special counter with dishes like Fafda, Khandvi, Kachori Chaat, Ragada Patties, Bhuna Hara Saag, Kache gosht ki Biryani, Amritsari Kulche aur Chana, Fondant Potato, Sicilian Style Vegetable Lasagna, Asian Main live counters, Malpua, Phirnee, Gujia and so much more. Where: FEAST, Lobby Level, Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway, Bangalore. When: Tuesday, 10th March 2020, 12:30 PM to 4 PM Call: +91 80 4252 0133. Have a Fun-tastic Holi at LUSH Holi is the perfect time to indulge and binge on some good food and delicious drinks. Head to Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel if you’re craving for some authentic Holi delicacies. The hotel is organising a delicious Lunch for Holi on Tuesday where you can enjoy an extravagant spread at Lush – the signature all-day- dining -restaurant, handcrafted by talented Chef Nitish and his team. Indulge in a special Holi spread comprising of Indian Chaats, Gol Gappa, Aloo Chaat, Samosa Chaat, Aloo Tikki, Dahi Vada, Indian delicacies like Chole Bhature and hand-crafted Indian Mithais. Where: Lush, Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel, Bangalore. When: 10 March, 12:30 pm to 3 pm Holi Special at Hyatt Centric MG Road Bangalore The highlight of any Indian festival is the scrumptious food prepared, and Holi is no different. Hyatt Centric MG Road Bangalore has a special Holi menu with an array of traditional delicacies from different regions of India at The Bengaluru Brassiere on 9 and 10 March. There will also be fun-filled activities at the poolside for the festival, perfect for friends and family. The menu, created by Chef Manish Uniyal, will have authentic savoury dishes and sweets like Mathura ki kachori, Bharwan paneer and Mawa gujia along with Kesaria Thandai to accompany your meal. Where: The Bengaluru Brassiere, Hyatt Centric MG Road, Ulsoor, Bangalore. When – 9 and 10 March 2020, 12 noon to 3 PM. Call: 080 40187200. Rangeelo Rajasthan The royalty of Rajasthan celebrates everything with food and music. It’s said that for every festivity, the entire kingdom would prepare grand feasts that saw everyone congregating to celebrate over the season’s best preparations. Bringing you that very experience, is Rasovara – The Royal Kitchen, with its Rangeelo Rajasthan festival. From March 6-10, 2020, Rasovara, UB City will take on the hues of India’s beloved state, Rajasthan. Their experienced khansamas have researched long and hard, digging into the royal kitchen’s rare recipes, to recreate the near-perfect spring menu for you. After you’re welcomed in customary Rasovara style, complete with a chandan teeka, you will be shown to your table where a magical treat awaits. Hold your breath as piping hot Green Peas Kachori, prepared from the season’s freshest peas, set the tone for the meal ahead. Sip into the refreshing Mango Thandai that gives you a taste of the impending summer. Or, if you prefer, there is the Gulab and Kesar Thandai, blended to perfection to bring you the most complete thandai experience. Mawa Gujiya, made from the royal chefs most secret recipes, bring a burst of flavours and aromas from the first bite to the last. And then, there’s the hero of the meal – Rajasthan famed Kesar Jalebi, without which every royal feast was incomplete. Where: Rasovara, UB City, Bengaluru. When: March 6-10, 2020. Holi Celebrations at Courtyard & Fairfield by Marriott Bengaluru ORR Welcome the festival of colours with a magnificent lunch buffet at the all-day dining restaurant MoMo Café and specialty Indian restaurant Kava. Also, welcoming Spring is the two-day Holi themed festival on 9th and 10th March. Cocktail menu with refreshing thandais, kids zone for the children to indulge in, free shots for everyone dressed in white and a range of exciting desserts to dive into, the extravaganza promises to make you go high on food and the festive aura around. Where: Courtyard & Fairfield by Marriott Bengaluru ORR. Call: +91 9513653156. Flavours & Colours of Holi

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 SOCIAL Launches its Fifth Outpost in Bangalore

SOCIAL Launches its Fifth Outpost in Bangalore

  Impresario Handmade Restaurants launched the 28th outpost of its iconic brand SOCIAL at Indiranagar, Bangalore, in an intimate house format, in sync with the neighbourhood of stunning bungalows and ‘home sweet homes’ bringing out the liveliness of a community that rubs shoulders with great cafes and bars. Indiranagar attracts the attention of millennials for all the right reasons, so it was only natural that Bangalore’s fifth SOCIAL would find a new home here representing quintessential bungalow living. Party peeps were spotted spread all three floors socialising in different rooms, sipping on the innovative cocktails and tucking in some delicious food. Housed in a repurposed bungalow, this new hotspot in Indiranagar is a chic throwback to the 70s: a tribute to the suave and sophisticated style of an era that redefined fashion. The design team has stripped down the house to take it back to its origins in true SOCIAL style, with minimum intervention and maximum upcycling. Each room in this three-storey house has a story that’s waiting to be heard. Riyaaz Amlani, CEO & MD, Impresario Handmade Restaurants left no stones unturned as he threw a party like no other, with easy yet elegant vibes. #SocialHouseParty SOCIAL Launches its Fifth Outpost in Bangalore

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 Mr and Miss Icon India

Mr and Miss Icon India

Mr and Miss Icon India is a national level pageant for both men and women. This event helps aspirants showcase not only their beauty, but also the talent and confidence from every corner of the country under one roof. It is also a pageant for a cause, Swachh Bharath and Child and Women’s Safety. Rio International Fashion week is an International Beauty Pageant headed by Rio Production, a renowned modeling and film institute. The mission of the organisation is to help modelling aspirants bring out their best. The winners will not only get an opportunity to enter the international pageant but will also have the chance of becoming the brand ambassador for international brands and get a chance to be featured in an international calendar shoot, that will be in collaboration with Miss Orient foundation worldwide, Africa. The grand finale of Mr & Miss Icon India will be held on March 1, 7 pm onwards at Marriott Hotel, Whitefield, Bangalore. Ranjani, Co-Director Mr & Miss Icon India, National Director of Little Icon India, will be part of the Grand Jury. Anukreethy Vas, an actor & model who won the title of Miss India World 2018 & Miss India Miss Fashion Icon 2018, will be present at the event. Ashik Gowda, a social worker, will be the Guest of Honour at the pageant. Srinidhi V, second runner up Mr. Best Icon India South 2017 also 5 times international Taekwondo championships gold medal winner will be one of the guests at the show. Santhosh Naik, will be the official MC for the show and dance & choreography partners are Sunny Singh and Gaurav Singh from BOLLY BALOO. TheStyle.World, the official media partner of the national pageant, Mr and Miss Icon India spoke to M. Shankar, CEO and Founder of Rio Production and Rio International Fashion Week, International Director and this is what he shares. How are you gearing yourself up for the show ahead? We are excited to find out who will be the new fresh face will be at this international model hunt, where participants are coming from different parts of country. Please tell us more about Rio International Fashion Week. Rio International Fashion Week brings together fresh faces from different parts of the country to compete for the coveted crown. Rio Production appoints a Zonal Head and National Head. Each zonal head director takes care of the auditions and grooming of the contestants and organising the show. The models selected for the finale participate in the National finale of Mr and Miss Icon India. On what basis are the participants judged? The title itself says it. The winner should be the icon for the people, someone with a strong personality who inspires and influences the future generations. Will the preliminary activities carry some marks in final scores of the contestants? Yes, preliminary rounds like one-on-one interviews carry a lot of importance in cracking the first round for the participants to reach the finale. How many countries are going to be part of the Rio International Fashion Week? As of now 18 to 25 countries have confirmed the participation and many more will soon be on board. When is the grand finale of Rio International Fashion Week? June 2020. Will the pageant be conducted on the home turf, India or overseas? This being the first edition we want to do it in India, but there are lots of proposals and invitations from overseas sponsors, so the 2021 edition will be held overseas. Who will be on the jury panel of this beauty pageant? Judges from different fields would grace the pageant. There will be many beauty queens and women of substance on board who will also be a part of the grooming sessions to help the contestants during the entire course of the pageant. Rio international Fashion week is one of the rarest pageants which gives a great platform to both the genders. Tell us more. Yes, it is one big platform for all talented people, without any bias or division of gender. It is a unisex pageant and that makes it unique. What message would you like to give to the pageant enthusiasts? Believe in yourself. Grab the opportunities where you can prove yourself. Mr and Miss Icon India

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