the grub guide
GROVER ZAMPA AURIGA
Celebrating 25 years of winemaking, Grover Zampa has launched the extravagant Auriga, India’s first ever sparkling wine with gold flakes. “We stand for heritage, rich culture and exceptional craftsmanship,” says Kapil Grover, Chairman, Grover Zampa Vineyards. Winning 92 awards since 2013 across various distinguished international platforms, this year, they have also become the only Indian producer of Brut sparkling wine with edible gold flakes—a process that embodies craftsmanship and finesse.
What’s special is that the gently aged wine has citrus and floral aromas. The palate is intense with a pleasant sensation of fruit and creaminess. The notes extend to a long and refreshing finish with hints of brioche and dried apricot.
Website groverzampa.in Price Rs 1,500 (750ml)
YOKU MOKU
The premium Japanese cookie brand made its foray in India with its first store in Mumbai in August. Now a well-respected international brand, founder Noriichi Fujinawa named his confectionery brand after the Swedish town, Jokkmokk where he first tasted European butter cookies. Their cookies use butter instead of flour as the main ingredient, adding a unique combination of egg whites, sugar and flour to create what they call the ‘golden balance’.
What's special is that they’re made with the finest natural ingredients, including Hokkaido butter, and are preservative-free.
At 12/14, Ground Floor, Rajgir Chamber, Opposite Old Customs House, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Fort Tel 22-66381056
Website yokumoku.in Price Rs 1,800 (for a box of Billet Aux Amandes) onwards
THE TGL CO
In 2014, working in the London office of the Boston Consulting Group, Bhuman Dani would often hit Amanzi, a tea bar in central London. That was the beginning of his fascination with tea. Dani, now back home in Mumbai, runs the gourmet tea company with co-founder Shariq Ashraf. Less than a year-old, TGL Co’s delicious gourmet teas are already among the most popular in the city. On menus across most Mumbai cafes and restaurants, their blends are unconventional and cater to both non-tea drinkers and lovers of tea. Their first experiential store, at the Sofitel Hotel in BKC, allows you to sample the brew before you buy.
What’s special about their tea is that they ensure the perfect balance of taste and nutrition. “Our ingredients are sourced from across the globe, and the tea leaves are not only from the Indian subcontinent but also from China and Japan—where the best Oolong, white and green tea grows. Targeting India’s youth-centric, health and wellness-conscious market, our teas are blended at an undisclosed location in Europe under the watchful eye of culinary experts and botanists,” says Dani.
At TGL Tea Salon, Outside Artisan Cafe, Sofitel Hotel, C 57, Bandra Kurla Complex Tel 022-61175000
Price Rs 599 onwards (for 50 gm) Price tglteas.com
ENTISI CHOCOLATES
Unable to find chocolate good enough to satisfy her craving, Nikki Thakker decided to commit herself to giving India a chocolate brand that it could be proud of. She travelled across Europe to understand the science behind chocolatemaking, imported machines from Italy, Belgium and USA, and last month, she launched Entisi Chocolatier, a boutique chocolate store in Santacruz. Here she stocks single-origin chocolate tablets from Madagascar, Tanzania, Ghana and Ecuador, bars with freeze dried fruits, bonbons with exotic flavors like raspberry, ginger lime, truffle oil etc., dragées, chocolate spreads and more.
What’s special is that they also make diabetic-friendly, sugar-free chocolates, exotic Asian and Italian flavours, as well as Indian flavours.
At Krishna Villa, Junction of Linking Road and Saraswati Road, Santacruz West Website entisi.com Price Bon bons are for Rs 60; Gifting boxes start from Rs 395
TYAANI.COM
Karan Johar has always worn several hats. Collaborating with Satyani Fine Jewellery, he brings his distinctive touch to their online polki store Tyaani.com.
What’s special is that in their pursuit of creating affordable and wearable 22 karat polki necklaces, bracelets, pendants, maangtikkas, jhumkas, and multi-hued chandbalis, they use the proprietary gold rolling technique. This makes the jewellery light but retains the required quantity of gold, making it the ideal travel companion on a destination wedding. “The challenge was to create a shift in how polki is worn—from just being bridal and trousseau wear to being something you can wear to work or on an evening out with friends,” says Johar.
At Tyaani Jewellery, 2nd Floor, Bandra 190, Turner Road, Bandra West Website tyaani.com Price Starts at Rs 10,000
ISHARYA
The global fashion jewellery brand Isharya commemorated its 14th anniversary with the launch of their first Mumbai store in Bandra. Set up by USA-based Radhika Tandon and her sister-in-law Gauri Tandon, based in Mumbai, the brand has garnered a huge international following. When they first set up, no one was really creating Indian costume jewellery. “It was either really fine or bottom of the barrel stuff,” says Gauri. Deeply inspired by the city, the duo have created the latest Bombay Deco collection, which takes from the city’s large number of art deco buildings.
What’s special is that they work on an Indian aesthetic, but still create something that could be worn all the time rather than just at weddings.
So you could easily spot someone in California wearing what a patron at a Milanese café is sporting. “Our idea is to take Indian techniques and designs and try to marry one with the other,” says Gauri. Resin plays a big role in their designs, a trend that Chanel is credited for starting in the 1920s; what Indianises it, is its use in combination with styles like filigree.
At 7, corner view, Bandra (west) Website isharya.com Price Rs 3,480 onwards
VANITY CASK
With 30 years experience in the retail sector, Vanity Cask founder Tarun Joshi’s idea was to create a platform through which women could discover and sample luxury beauty products. Following the subscription model, the Vanity Cask beauty box contains samples of luxury beauty brands, handpicked by experts to suit the Indian consumer. Their first skincare box contained five samples from brands such as Clinque, Vichy, Votre, Kama and Thalgo, the haircare box included Batiste, Balmain, Organix (OGX), Votre & The Nature’s Co, while the current festive edition contains products from Biotique, Votre, Thalgo, Mom’s Therapy and MCaffeine. What’s special is that they tie up with brands like the German-made Babor offering generous freebies to customers who are able to get access to the best international beauty products. Website vanitycask.com Price Rs 999 a month, Rs 2,399 for 3 months, Rs 4,199 for 6 months
WELLNESS CUISINE AT SHILLIM
The new chef helming the kitchens at the Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat and Spa, Chef Shubhendu Kadam, has created a new menu based on the principles of Ayurvedic rejuvenation. The food is made using fresh, seasonal produce with cooking techniques that stress on preserving natural flavours and wellness properties of the ingredients.
What’s special is that dishes on the menu are specifically recommended as per the Ayurvedic principles of Dosha (or body type). The menu includes dishes such as a spinach stuffed amaranth and walnut idli with chutney; pumpkin ginger and coconut cappuccino, beetroot aur til ke kebab, southern spiced chicken tikka and so on.
At Pawana Nagar, Taluka Maval, Shilim Website shillimretreatandspa.hilton.com
SULA THE SOURCE
This Tuscan-inspired resort overlooks the vineyards. The facilities include a swimming pool, tennis court, a spa, gym and a restaurant. If you haven’t visited the winery before, a tour and tasting session with the winemakers is recommended. What’s special at The Source are their luxury tree houses, which promise to bring you closer to nature.
At Sula Vineyards, Gat 36/2, Govardhan Village, Off Gangapur-Savargaon Road, Nashik Website sulawines.com Price Rs 6,500 a night onwards
MEESHA
Combining India’s rich textile heritage with the French aesthetic, MEESHA began in 2011 when three friends across New Delhi and Paris decided to create something extraordinary together. The Fall Winter 17 collection of scarves and accessories is inspired by dance, and they have attempted to capture music and movement in each of their prints. “The grace of ballet, the fire of tango, the vigour of the Masai and the soulfulness of the Mevlevi are all celebrated in this collection,” says Meesha Khanna.
What’s special is that at the heart of the brand are the weavers weaving the finest natural wool and cotton found in the diversity of the Indian heartland.
At Le Mill, 1st Floor, Pheroze Building, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Marg, Colaba
Price From Rs 4,000 for pocket squares to Rs 20,000 for the pure cashmere scarves
INJIRI BY CHINAR FAROOQUI
Bungalow 8’s creative director Maithili Ahluwalia compares Chinar Farooqui to textile doyenne Asha Sarabhai. “Both designers—three decades and many fashion cycles apart—have been feted by the West for their ability to stay honest to their roots,” she says. Both worked from her creative 'oasis' in Ahmedabad, catering to 'discreet internationalists' as The
Independent, UK, described her clientele. Bungalow 8 is among the very few stores to stock Farooqui’s designs in the country. And a few weeks ago, welcomed her latest collection ‘Char Bagh’—a collection of floral block prints inspired by dried flowers and botanical sketches.
What’s special about Farooqui’s designs is that it fits in perfectly with the idea of
‘conscious luxury’. Making traditional contemporary, she uses only hand-woven cotton from artisans in Kutch and doesn’t believe in using fabrics imported from the West.
At Bungalow 8, Inside Wankhede Stadium, North Stand E & F Block, D Road, Churchgate Tel 022-22819880
BERLEIGH
A luxury multi-brand footwear and accessories retailer, the Berleigh store at Horniman Circle brings together the finest products from celebrated brands from around the world. While Indian consumers are more conscious of their appearance, there was a gap in the market for superior quality shoes with great craftsmanship, believes Payal Bathija, Creative head at Heel & Buckle Luxury Pvt. Ltd. “We wanted to provide them the best styles and quality from all around the world. Also, we will keep introducing newer brands at Berleigh for our customers,” she says. At the moment, 80 per cent of the brands cater to men and 20 per cent to women, but they’re planning to introduce more women-centric brands to Berleigh.
What’s special is that their experts travel around the globe to identify and personally select every item, calling on the fashion industry’s top names and always striving to provide the best selection.
At Ground Floor, ReadyMoney Mansion, Veer Nariman Road, Fort Website berleigh.com Price Rs 800 onwards
JADE
Monica Shah and Karishma Swali of JADE commemorated their 10 year journey with the launch of their massive new store on Peddar Road earlier this year. The haveli-inspired store, decorated by designer Monica Shah, is replete with curios, antiques and sculptures from across the country. “The idea was to create a space that embraces you and envelops you in an ambience that is inspiring, while celebrating a design ethos that is India’s heritage," says Swali.
What's special is that the flagship store is a one-stop shop for all things JADE and includes the bridal studio. ‘Amoh by Jade’ the popular new luxury pret line is displayed in the very first section, followed by the couture line which is for occasion wear, and lastly the Signature Bridal Heirlooms atelier which is by appointment only.
At Mewar Apartments, Next to Sophia College Lane, Peddar Road
Tel 9833115000