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A Parisian dream realized in Mumbai

When I first arrived in Mumbai, I missed al fresco dining the most. The enchanting rows of restaurants to meander through, hopping between cuisines at multiple establishments on a single magical evening along the boulevards of Paris—nothing quite like that existed in Bombay. So when visionary Atul Ruia, along with his Phoenix Palladium team, created precisely this experience within his luxury mall, I was overjoyed to be part of the unveiling dinner party as the host luxury consultant on board for this momentous event that might change dining experiences in Mumbai forever!

It's a pioneering concept, very much in keeping with Atul Ruia's trailblazing Phoenix Palladium, which holds the distinction of being one of India's first luxury malls. And yes, as countless influencers and scribes declared later - all roads did indeed lead to this unique 'Gourmet Village'—a curated collection of India's finest restaurant brands elegantly arranged in succession. The evening's most thronged restaurants that celebratory night included Burma Burma, Kitchen Garden by Suzette, LPQ, Andrea's Brasserie and Fountain Sizzlers.

What proves most enchanting is that in a metropolis where al fresco dining remains virtually non-existent due to the weather, this remarkable 'Village' nestled within the expansive mall offers a kindovan al fresco-style dining alongside myriad other delights, giving patrons entertainment throughout the day and well into the night. No longer need we as Indians feel deprived of the magical joys of multiple culinary choices within a single, beautifully orchestrated setting.

From 6:30 pm until the stroke of midnight, friends revelled in the extravagantly laid-out sit-down gourmet cuisines while also mingling around the sparkling bar specially lit and created for the evening along the "street-side" promenade of this gourmet village's central walkway. The distinguished gathering included literary luminary Amish Tripathi with Bhavana Roy, accomplished actors Taher Shabbir, Ritu Shivpuri, Gautam Kapoor, Khalid Siddiqui, Indresh Malik, Vikrant Chaturvedi, and Ujjaini. Foodie connoisseur and author Kunal Vijayakar was in his element, alongside legal eagles Abha Singh and Mrunalini Deshmukh, wellness gurus Mickey Mehta and Dimple Jhangda, and an impressive roster of medical professionals including doctors Sailesh Raina, Keki Turel, Nandita Palshetkar, Hrishikesh Pai, Mukesh Batra, Darius Soonawala, Phiroze Soonawala and Sunil Mirpuri.

The evening also welcomed Miss India coach and doctor Amit Karkhanis, Anand Shroff, celebrity dermatologist Karishma Balani, prominent socialites Parvez Damania, Rohit Verma, Ojas Rajani, couturier Esha Amin, Kadambari Lakhani, esteemed bureaucrats, singer Barnali Chaturvedi, and politicians Ankita Thackeray and Nihar Thackeray and top cop Vishwas Nagre Patil who came in to wish the venture great success !

This was an evening that Mumbai society will treasure for years to come, and I believe the Gourmet Village has launched to what promises to be a game changing success.

Celebrating our cultural heritage through animation

As India embraces its magnificent heritage with unprecedented fervor and pride, celebrating our Indianness in all its vibrant color and pageantry, Noopur Desai and Kushal Desai of Apaar Industries have sponsored and produced "Mahavatar Narasimha Dev"—a beautifully crafted animated film that narrates the compelling story of Lord Narasimha Dev, the mighty avatar of Lord Vishnu and his most dedicated devotee Prahlad Maharaj.

I'm uncertain whether it was the palpable fervor surrounding the premiere or the film's own inherent power, but this proved to be a profoundly moving and magical cinematic experience that I feverishly recommend to all devotees of our rich Indian 'itihaas' and cultural heritage. The animation brings to life ancient stories with contemporary storytelling techniques, making our timeless mythology accessible to newer generations while honoring its spiritual depth.

It’s time we embrace our heritage with open arms isn’t it?

Fashion meets environmental consciousness

The Instituto Marangoni fashion extravaganza emerged as a winner, and a delight amidst the multitude of predictable and prosaic fashion shows that often grace Mumbai's fashion calendar! This particular presentation boldly embraced an environmental theme, with numerous models dramatically adorned in decorative oxygen mask-inspired accessories that served as powerful visual commentary on our current air pollution crisis and the world we are creating with our errant ways!

The garments themselves offered thought-provoking glimpses into pressing questions about our planet's environmental future, translating ecological concerns into wearable art. The inspired use of pops of color and the sheer quirkiness of the presentation captivated audiences—one particularly memorable moment featured a male model jauntily clad in a jacket with scarlet crotch detailing that challenged conventional fashion norms!

This was a show that drew everyone who's anyone in the Mumbai style ecosystem—an unforgettable evening that seamlessly married high fashion with urgent environmental consciousness, creating the kind of memorable spectacle that our city's fashion scene desperately needed. Noopur Mehta was one of the beautiful organisers and hosts of this edgy show and looked lovely in her black lace ensemble!

Write to Nisha JamVwal at nishjamwal@gmail.com

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