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Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Rude Food by Vir Sanghvi: New flavours on Delhi's plate
It pains me to say this, but when it comes to food, Delhi has lost out. Bengaluru is now the food capital of India. And Mumbai is the only other city where exciting things are happening. Part of Delhi's problem has been a lack of space. That has eased somewhat with the opening of a new restaurant hub in South Delhi called Eldeco Centre. I haven't been to all of the Eldeco places but I have eaten at four of them. 6 Ballygunge Place is an outpost of the celebrated Kolkata restaurant. It has enthusiastic young chefs, and when I went, soon after it opened (for Sunday lunch) it was packed out with joyful Bongs. Years of living in Kolkata taught me that the standard Bong response to restaurants serving their own cuisine has two steps. The first step is joy, happiness and pride. The second step, after the meal is: 'It is okay. But you know, my mother's food is so much better.' In this case, I guess we have a variation on step two: 'It is fine but the Kolkata branch is so much better.' Perhaps Kolkata has left a deep impression on me because that was exactly my reaction too! But I don't know if I was motivated by misplaced nostalgia for the original or whether I went too early, before the kitchen had settled down. You should try it anyway. (For the record: I was recognised.) Kaméi is an oriental restaurant from the Wadhwas, the restaurateurs behind the popular Fio restaurants, who I have known for a long time. They have been asking me to visit ever since Kaméi opened, but I was able to sneak in, unrecognised, one day for lunch. The food is crowd-pleasing Asian. I tried lots of things: Chicken Kara-age, a lurid rose prawn har gao dumpling, prawn tempura and spicy tuna. All of it was cooked to a certain standard, which is why the restaurant is doing well. There was a funny postscript. Vineet Wadhwa messaged to point out that I had yet to visit. I responded that I had already been. No, you haven't, he replied. 'Not at Kaméi. I think you visited another restaurant.' When I persisted, he phoned and explained that it was impossible for me to have come without his team noticing. Finally, I sent him a copy of my bill to prove I had been there. He conceded that they had missed me, but added, 'I truly feel that there's much more to Kaméi that hasn't come across!' So, maybe I will go back. I know Saket Agarwal less well, but when I went to his Italian restaurant in Kolkata, I was impressed by his passion for food and his willingness to take deep dives into various cuisines. Saket has opened Latoyá at Eldeco, which serves Latin American food, consisting of cuisines I know very little about. I was able to get in unrecognised to have lunch with Gaurav Sekhri, the global gourmet whose many interests include Fratelli wine. We had a perfectly reasonable meal, were impressed by the quality of the ingredients and by how much research Saket had put in to come up with an original and very different kind of menu. (Service was a bit iffy, though.) At the end of our meal, Saket walked in, saw me and complained that I had not told him I was coming. I responded that the whole point of sneaking in was for no one to expect me and that, in any case, he should be pleased that we had enjoyed the meal in happy anonymity without anyone giving us any special treatment! The star of the Eldeco restaurants is, of course, The Arts Room run by Navneet Randhawa and Randeep Bajaj, who are married to each other and between them, have been involved with such successes as Town Hall and Amour. The Bajajs are well-travelled foodies who have been to every international restaurant worth going to. So, they were very clear what they wanted with this place: An elegant relaxed space with high-quality but comforting food. Though the cuisine can sometimes be a little too chefy, this is the closest anyone in India has come to recreating the vibe of the iconic London places founded by Jeremy King: The Wolseley, Le Caprice, and The Ivy (which Jeremy revived). You can have a wonderful large meal or just a coffee and a cake. They will treat you in exactly the same way and you will get the full Arts Room experience. (I was not anonymous.) Eldeco Centre is the new restaurant hub, but it is by no means the only place where new things are happening. I was intrigued to read about a restaurant called Via Bianca in the Greater Kailash market. Intrigued, because, unlike 99 per cent of Italian restaurants in India, it seemed to be doing something different: The food of Puglia. I was in Puglia for nearly two weeks last month and enjoyed the food. So, I looked up Via Bianca on the net. I found the address, but no way to book a table. I tried Instagram. It listed a number for the restaurant. I called to book a table for lunch at 1.30. The phone was switched off. The Instagram page said I could message for a booking. So I did. There was no reply. Then finally, after 12, the phone came on. I called and booked. When my wife and I got there, we found two young waitresses who handed us menus. The list of dishes looked good but nobody made any attempt to explain the unfamiliar food, and frankly, I got the distinct impression that they would not have been able to handle questions anyway. We ordered, based on our memories of Puglia, and were not disappointed. The panzerotti, a kind of Puglian calzone, were good. The pizza was sort of Roman style and was fine. The lasagne was acceptable, but could have improved with more ragu and less besciamella. But let's not nit-pick. I was particularly impressed with the restaurant's courage in putting spaghetti all'assassina on the menu. This is one of the few Italian pasta dishes in which the uncooked spaghetti goes directly into the pan. As we were enjoying our food, I finally got a response on the restaurant's Instagram page confirming our booking. I replied that this was a bit late. Then, Kamalika Anand, the young chef who has opened the restaurant, messaged me to apologise. At this stage, the service changed. A manager suddenly materialised out of nowhere, bowed and scraped and then spent the rest of lunch standing a few feet from our table and staring unnervingly at us. Then, just before Kamalika arrived, a full complement of waiters suddenly appeared and pretended that they had been there all along. I liked Kamalika and I liked the food. But we were the only people in the empty restaurant, which is crazy for food of this quality in this area. But it was not hard to see why. It was difficult to book a table and the front of the house was appallingly run. People tell you that if you have good food and a great location your restaurant will do well. They are wrong. The service team is often the difference between success and failure. I hope Via Bianca fixes its service issues because it really deserves to do well. From HT Brunch, June 14, 2025 Follow us on
New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Karachi Bakery outlets weather identity crisis
'Some customers question our origins, assuming we're a foreign brand,' says the Green Park store manager. 'We've had to put up posters and hand out flyers just to tell our story.' Inside the Saket outlet, sales assistant Neha Yadav describes the changed atmosphere: 'Earlier, people would come in with smiles, asking for their favourite biscuits. Now, some just glare at the signboard or whisper among themselves. It's disheartening.' Her colleague, Ajay Kumar, adds, 'We're proud to work here, but lately, we've felt the need to defend our jobs and our brand.' Regular customers, however, are vocal in support. Meera Tomar, a Green Park resident and lifelong patron, says, 'The name carries a journey of survival. My parents bought these biscuits for me as a child. We don't question foreign chains, why such double standards?' 'Changing the name would erase history. This bakery is a Delhi institution, and its story is part of ours,' insists retired schoolteacher Suresh Batra. Staff at IGI Airport recount tense moments with travellers. 'A few weeks ago, a group confronted us, demanding to know if we were sending money to Pakistan,' says franchise owner Shalini Verma. 'We had to show them posters about the founder's Indian roots. It's exhausting, but we're determined to keep serving with a smile.' As the brand weathers this storm, it stands as more than just a bakery. It is a living story of Partition, resilience, heritage and Indian identity hoping that, in time, the warmth of its biscuits will again speak louder than the politics of its name. Reinforcing the roots: 'Proudly Indian since 1953' To counter misinformation, all Delhi outlets have launched digital campaigns prominently displaying the Indian Tricolour, while some have put up posters to narrate its origin. The Ramnani family, who still run the bakery, are considering adding a tagline 'Karachi Bakery: Proudly Indian since 1953' to reinforce their roots.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Barclays Calls Adobe's (ADBE) New Pricing Plan Supportive to Future Growth
On May 16, Barclays analyst Saket Kalia praised Adobe Inc.'s (NASDAQ:ADBE) new pricing tiers for its Creative Cloud offerings. He believes that such pricing prudence should improve Adobe's future growth. As per his analysis, the Pro tier represents a 17%-18% price increase for this offering, and on the other hand, the Standard tier offers an 8-9% discount versus its current plan for individuals. While this change supports Adobe's future revenue growth, Saket notes that this is already factored into the company's FY 2025 guidance. He also points out that the street was expecting such pricing structure changes, as the management had hinted at it for some time. Factoring in those facts, Saket's note reinforces his confidence in the stock, as he rightly reiterated his Buy rating. That said, the pricing changes were appreciated across the Street, and most analysts shared a positive view. These pricing changes also highlight Adobe Inc.'s (NASDAQ:ADBE) balanced pricing strategy to remain competitive. The company recently struck a deal with the General Services Administration to lower the price of its software for U.S. government agencies. The move appears prudent given the administration's focus on reducing costs and improving digital services. Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE) is a global leader in creative and digital marketing software. Its flagship products, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat, have become industry standards for content creation and document management, serving a diverse range of customers from individual creators to large enterprises. Its product platforms empower users to create, collaborate, and enhance digital experiences. While we acknowledge the potential of ADBE as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ADBE and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Barclays Calls Adobe's (ADBE) New Pricing Plan Supportive to Future Growth
On May 16, Barclays analyst Saket Kalia praised Adobe Inc.'s (NASDAQ:ADBE) new pricing tiers for its Creative Cloud offerings. He believes that such pricing prudence should improve Adobe's future growth. As per his analysis, the Pro tier represents a 17%-18% price increase for this offering, and on the other hand, the Standard tier offers an 8-9% discount versus its current plan for individuals. While this change supports Adobe's future revenue growth, Saket notes that this is already factored into the company's FY 2025 guidance. He also points out that the street was expecting such pricing structure changes, as the management had hinted at it for some time. Factoring in those facts, Saket's note reinforces his confidence in the stock, as he rightly reiterated his Buy rating. That said, the pricing changes were appreciated across the Street, and most analysts shared a positive view. These pricing changes also highlight Adobe Inc.'s (NASDAQ:ADBE) balanced pricing strategy to remain competitive. The company recently struck a deal with the General Services Administration to lower the price of its software for U.S. government agencies. The move appears prudent given the administration's focus on reducing costs and improving digital services. Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ:ADBE) is a global leader in creative and digital marketing software. Its flagship products, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat, have become industry standards for content creation and document management, serving a diverse range of customers from individual creators to large enterprises. Its product platforms empower users to create, collaborate, and enhance digital experiences. While we acknowledge the potential of ADBE as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ADBE and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None. Sign in to access your portfolio
Hindustan Times
07-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Struggling with asthma? These 7 lifestyle habits can help manage symptoms better
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition characterised by wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Symptoms often worsen during the spring and summer months due to increased exposure to dust, pollen, and other airborne allergens. However, with the right precautions and treatment plan, individuals with asthma can effectively manage their symptoms and lead a healthier, more comfortable life. Also read | Is asthma infectious? Doctor reveals 7 surprising facts about asthma you may not know Healthy lifestyle habits can help manage asthma symptoms. (Image by 8photo on Freepik) In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Vivek Nangia, vice chairman and head of pulmonology at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket shared seven lifestyle habits that can help manage asthma symptoms. It is important for the people to identify what actually is triggering off the asthma. For some, it could be exposure to dust, pets at home to dust mites and to smoke to fumes chemicals. It is essential to avoid the triggers. 2. Maintain a healthy diet The diet should be rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. It really helps build up the immunity and keeps you protected from any kind of infections. The most common infection that they must protect themselves is from viral infections, as it can lead to asthma. 3. Exercise regularly Exercising outdoors can be an issue, especially during the autumn and the winter months when the air pollution levels are high. That is the time when people should think of shifting indoors for the exercises. These exercises should focus on developing the lung capacity, muscle strength and overall breathing patterns. Also read | Asthma Day 2025: 6 foods that can trigger asthma; doctor shares what to eat instead Inhalers are long-term medication for asthma.(Twitter/SAallergy) 4. Manage stress Stress can precipitate asthma. Therefore, it's important for asthma patients to take care of their emotional health. 5. Quit smoking Cigarette smoke contains about 4000 chemicals that can be harmful to the lungs. More than 50 of them could be carcinogenic, and they produce cancer. So, we need to quit smoking completely and even avoids passive second-hand smoke. 6. Take vaccines on time Viral infections can trigger asthma. Staying safe with vaccinations can eliminate such risks. Also read | 8 common asthma triggers: Doctor shares tips to avoid them 7. Use inhalers Inhalers are constant medication for asthma and should be used without fail. One must remember that asthma can disappear and recur. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
