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The Hindu :
He wanted to show the world that hip-hop artistes from the Southern US can give stiff competition to the northern counterparts. His first album Sound of Revenge was a smash hit. “I won a ton of awards but hardly enjoyed the p
rocess. I was merely moving from one concert to the other performing,” recollects Hakeem Seriki, better known to hip-hop fans as Chamillionaire.

As part of his first-ever Indian tour, Chamillionaire unveiled his new album Ultimate Victory. The album he explains, “is when you learn to appreciate life. I’ve learnt to stop and smell the roses. The real victory is when you enjoy what you do.” Winning the Grammy for his album Ridin’ also helped. “South America was unexplored. People thought we were a bunch of cowboys wearing hats and riding horses. Today they understand there’s a lot of talent. It’s similar to contrived notions one has about India. Step into the country and you realise it’s much different than what is shown on television.”

A He says, “I’ve always heard about India’s rich culture and now I am experiencing it. I’ve tasted Indian food in the US but it’s nothing like what you get here. The spices and the accompaniments are all different. The traffic is to be seen to be believed. I’ve never seen two or three people on one bike, criss-crossing lanes on the busiest of roads.”

While in India, he is open to collaborations. “My company has done projects in collaboration with musicians from London, Paris, New Zealand and Toronto. So why not India? In fact, I am doing a bit of research on some of the artistes here,” he says.

Collaborating with artistes, he feels, has become easier today since people are more net savvy. Chamillionaire himself is extremely net savvy and has used the medium to his advantage. His profile on MySpace gets innumerable hits each day with users downloading audio…More

The Hindu :
Gee whiz is the only way I can describe my first experience of riding an electric two-wheeler. Plonk yourself on the seat, turn the key, twist the accelerator and you have silence in motion. There is just the noise of the wind rustling past your ears
and tyres gripping the road.

A first experience of an electric vehicle is definitely an exhilarating one. And more like me might soon be tempted to try that first test ride soon. With the consciousness for eco-friendly and wallet-friendly alternatives for the daily commute on the rise, electric two wheelers are expected to be big players. The world’s biggest maker and market for electric two wheelers is China, but the second is tipped to be India. There has been a frenzied attempt at launching new brands and the effect of that can be seen in new showrooms popping up everywhere.

The promise of electric two wheelers is great. In addition to zero direct emissions, they offer economy as low as 10 paise a kilometre. But their broad acceptance is going to hinge on answers to a lot of lingering doubts.

One of the earliest attempts at an electric two wheeler in India was by Anil Ananthakrishna when he launched his model Vidyut in 1983. He now laughs that his concept was then “way ahead of its time” but today he heads one the big players in the industry, Eko Vehicles.

The company started its operations in Bangalore in 2004 with its model Cosmic. “When we launched there was no electric two wheeler in India. Our vehicles were first established as a concept, certified by ARAI and sold,” he recalls.

There was soon a flurry of activity, rival manufacturers sprang up and even traders imported cheap Chinese made bikes. Inevitable consolidation in the industry happened, with the importers losing buyers because they were unable to provide service infrastructure. Today the key players in…More

The Hindu :
Bright fuchsia pink with burnt polka dots, electric blues on georgette with silver streamers running down and black silk pin-stripes are some of the designs Seema Bagaria and Archana Kanoria of Iksenya have woven on saris with textile designer Pragat
ti Toshniwal.

‘Six Yards and Counting’ feature saris with unique blends of gota, zardosi, fabric strips and old brocades. And it is still ‘counting’ as it indicates that the designers have experimented with different weaves and fabrics, from Angora wool and organza to silk yarn. And what is unique about this limited collection of 100 is that they aren’t heavy to wear like most glamorous saris, but light and comfortable to drape around for the festive occasion.

Each sari is not the same.Green shreds hang from the pallu of one like bright blades of grass and silver foil bands stream across the pallu and pleats like a happy birthday party.

So the two self-taught designers have used bright, cheery tones with traditional motifs and silks to give the saris “a new lease of life”. Gota, zardosi and brocade have been woven into the fabric to give it a natural combination.

While each sari took seven to 15 days of manual labour, the entire line took four months and a lot of detailing and thought for the designs to take the look and shape that they have.

For the urban woman, young or old, who like a little bit of glitz and shine, this is a collection catering to their tastes.

And there is something for everyone — for the refined but experimental look, there is the lovely delicate red, black and white Kanchipuram sari with an organza pallu for the “less-bulky and feminine feel”. Perfect for a cocktail party is the black silk sari with interesting kantha and pin-striped impressions. The bright pink with copper wire interwoven together with an upholstery velvety look and tassels falling from…More

The Hindu :
With Bangalore’s weather as it is, bright and sunny through the evening with pleasant showers after dark, there’s nothing like a light, outdoorsy meal to buoy one’s spirits. And when you’ve got the kind of plush poolside ambie
nce that the coffee shop at The Grand Ashok does, a lovely Mediterranean meal is the way to go.

And so, Chef Nimish Bhatia has thrown together a selection of Mediterranean grills with a frugal but well-planned spread of cold and hot starters, soup and dessert. “In our hotel, we have the various Oriental and Indian tastes catered to. But we wanted to create something new in the coffee shop, and at this time of year we have lush green lawns and the best ambience for a Mediterranean meal. Also, people nowadays want to eat healthy. And they want to eat grills but without oils and fats. The best option, therefore, is Mediterranean. It’s all cooked in olive oil and has a lot of fresh vegetables,” explains Chef Bhatia.

Certainly, looking at the range of cold starters on offer, one cannot complain about deficiencies in either taste or health. Everything here tastes divine and does so without clogging any arteries. And the spread caters to a variety of tastes, with the options ranging from free-spirited Spanish tapas to rugged Italian antipasti to subtle French canapes to exotic mezze options. Particular highlights include the parma ham, the ricotta in cucumber roll and the bocconcini flavoured with a light and flighty pesto.

Then there is the tatzini, which flavours refreshing cucumber with hung curd and a generous dose of sumak powder, which gives it a mild but definitely exotic flavour. And finally the Lebanese mashed potatoes, hidden so convincingly in the taste of yoghurt that one almost doesn’t realise that one tastes mashed potatoes.

Among the hot starters, the fried calamari is cut well so that there is enough substance in them but they do not…More

The Hindu :
Baskin Robbins brings to you a chocolate ice-cream festival, The Choctoberfest. The “sinful” mix at Baskin Robbins creates the perfect union of rich smoothness and delectable crispiness, giving a sensational tasting experience, say the ma
kers.

Just drop in at any Baskin Robbins, and give into sin with the Box of Chocolates (Vanilla Ice cream with Chocolate Ribbon and loads of Chocolate coated chikki and rice crispyballs).

Experience highs and lows with ‘Fudge Brownie’ – Chocolate Fudge Ice cream loaded with fudge brownie pieces and walnuts) or feel the power of ‘Chocolate on the Rocks’ (Chocolate ice cream with cream caramel ribbon and caramelized walnut).

The incredibly enticing ‘Chocolicious’ is a delicious chocolaty shake and delectable Chocolate Excess. That’s not all, the icing on the cake truly is some scrumptious toppings like Hot Fudge, Chocolate Sauce and Hot Dipping Chocolate Sauce, Chocolate waffle and Chocolate crispies.

So, experience Baskin Robbins Choctoberfest’ and discover sin all over again.

Priced at Rs. 44 plus taxes, Baskin Robbins promises a truly sinful range.

The festival is on till the end of the month.

…More

The Hindu :

Nick has launched a contest called Nick ChakDe Ninja. The four-week contest will culminate with 10 lucky winners.

They along with Nick toon-star, Ninja Hattori and Ajay Jadeja will cheer team India at Gwalior on November 15 during the ODI match with Pakistan .

Kids have to watch the show Ninja Hattori every weekday between 6.30 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. and answer some questions. Then call 1250155 (if a BSNL/Airtel Landline user) to record the answer. Airtel, Vodafone, BPL, Idea mobile users call 5056882.

You can also SMS “Nick A/B/C” to 56882. For more details log on to www.nickindia.com

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The Hindu :
Raj Pavilion the 24 hour restaurant at ITC Windsor is going “greener” with its presentation of the “Wellness Buffet”, which is on this month for dinner only. The buffet is a case in point on how the hotel responds to the chang
ing trends in the world.

Now in response to the world wide awareness on the need for healthier eating and living, the buffet has incorporated this revolutionary idea for those who wish to take the organic route to a better life. From a whole section of salads to breads and delights are on offers, which are prepared with the expertise of our chefs you can indulge in and be healthier for it too, say the organisers.

There is also a weekend buffet every Saturday and Sunday from 12.00 noon to 4 p.m. at the Raj Pavillion. The buffet offers an unlimited helpings of bubbly and spirits.

At the buffet, you can sample the best of Indian cuisine in an array of flavours and textures from all over the country. You can also relish flavours from across the globe featuring the best of Mexican, Chinese, Continental and more. Enjoy delicacies like dim sums, grills and sea food along with oysters, juicy crabs and succulent lobsters besides other treasures from the deep blue sea.

For information or reservations please call 22269898.

…More