- The Leela

M
A
G
A
Z
I
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The art of the snap
E
CHaIRmaN’S meSSaGe
L
et me start by wishing you a great new year. I
am sure you have made many eager resolutions
and have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming
months.
For our own part, we are very excited about the
Bhartiya City project, in Bengaluru: a massive integrated
township sprawled across 125 acres, near Hebbal.
The Leela Residences in Bhartiya City are swanky
apartments for the fine luxury lover. The Leela Group,
founded in 1986, has been a major player in the story of
Indian hospitality, and this is one of the ways the group
is pioneering new concepts in India.
We are also confident that Bengaluru’s food
The Leela Kathmandu,
to be built in the heart
of the city, augurs a
new era of tourism
connoisseurs will take to Le Cirque Signature at
The Leela Palace Bangalore positively. The recently
launched fine dining restaurant is a successor to Le
Cirque Signature at The Leela Mumbai and Le Cirque at
The Leela Palace New Delhi.
Recently, The Leela Group also forayed into the
partnership between
international market by signing an agreement with
India and Nepal
the Summit Group to collaborate on the first of its four
hotels to be built in Nepal. The Leela Kathmandu, the
first of the series, and a five-star deluxe hotel to be built
in the heart of Kathmandu, is expected to be completed
within 36 months. This development augurs a new era
of tourism partnership between the two countries.
The Leela Group also made news for the many
accolades it won last year — at the Conde Nast Traveller
UK Readers 2014 awards, The Leela Palace New Delhi
was declared one of the ‘Best Overseas Business
Hotels’, and at the Conde Nast Traveller India Readers’
Travel Awards 2014, ESPA at The Leela Palace Udaipur
was voted the ‘Favourite Hotel Spa in India’.
We hope you can experience (or re-experience, as
the case maybe) the group’s acclaimed hospitality at
our properties nationwide.
Thank you for your support, as always.
Vivek Nair
Chairman & Managing Director,
The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 6 | SPRING 2015
CONTENTS
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2
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1
5
38
Photography
A glimpse at the work of
Suresh Natarajan, a renowned
fashion photographer
14
Luxe Effect
22
Books
24
Adventure
26
Explorations
Cool watches and some of the
Gurcharan Das on editing a book
Motorcyclist Roshni Sharma on
Gir is India’s top
season’s classiest accessories
series on Indian business history
riding 5,000+km in two weeks
destination for bird watching
30
Food
42
Shopping
50
Craftsmanship
64
Wheels
How top chefs across the globe
A guide to how to splurge
Meet three of Milan’s
The appeal of Bentley, and
are reinventing vegetarian cuisine
in the national capital
best artisan shoemakers
the brand’s milestone moments
42
30
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 10 | SPRING 2015
64
T H E
L E E L A
M A G A Z I N E
—
S P R I N G
2 0 1 5
C O N T E N T S
COVER
Frieda Pinto, Photographed by
Suresh Natarajan for Elle magazine
THE LEELA
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF — Lakshmi Nair
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ART
74
80
82
ADVERTISING SALES
BACK OF T H E BOOK
72
Snapshot
82
Jet Set Go
73
Launchpad
83
Accolades
74
Bhartiya City
84
Events
78
Chef’s Corner
85
Insider’s Guide
79
Cocktails
86
Perspective
80
Oenophilia
CREATIVE DIRECTOR — Muhammad Jaan Faruqui
ART DIRECTOR — Rane Sanjay Vaman
DESIGNER — Sudhakar Bhambade
IMAGE EDITOR — Mrunali Gujarathi
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87
Social Index
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(India) Pvt. Ltd., on behalf of and under agreement with Leela. Opinions expressed herein are of the authors
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THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 12 | SPRING 2015
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LUXE EFFECT
Watches we like
The lowdown on three of the
season’s coolest watches.
By Sabiha Ghiasi
TISSOT
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
The Tissot Glamorous is a
vintage-style women’s watch with
an oval, 18-carat gold case that holds
a mother-of-pearl dial. The numbers
are depicted in Roman numerals. The
strap is a choice between a string
diamonds, a classic black-leather or
a pearl-beige. It works on a quartz
movement and has scratch- and
water-resistant sapphire crystals.
SWAROVSKI
The ‘Passage Messenger’ bag exemplifies the cutting-edge design the
Crafted in black Alcantara, the Belle Geometric Black Pierced Earrings are
label is famous for. The elegant hardware has been inspired by the
exceptionally light. A laser cut-out method used here defines a gorgeous
architecture of Galerie Véro-Dodat in Paris, where the Louboutin brand was
filigree design, which has been inspired from lace and tattoos. Delicate
birthed. This shoulder bag has beautiful handles, and an optional shoulder
crystals add a hint of sparkle, and the metallic part of this stunning piece
strap or a cross-body strap to give your arms the leverage of freedom. This
of jewellery is palladium-plated. The pair can be teamed with an attire of
mini edition features metallic hardware, and is crafted from grainy leather.
any colour, and can be worn for an evening party or a business luncheon.
ROLEX
Rolex’s Cellini Dual Time comes with dual dials. The smaller
sub-dial is gold-rimmed, fitted at 6 o’clock; to differentiate
daytime hours from night-time hours, a sun or moon symbol
transits the aperture at 9 o’clock on the sub-dial. The straps are
made of large-scaled alligator leather, in shiny black or brown.
This watch works on a self-winding mechanical movement.
The best of
CORNELIANI
The Corneliani Fall/Winter
2014 collection exhibits
Bold perfumes, gorgeous
contemporary elegance.
earrings and more.
It comprises neat and
minimalistic patterns and
portrays crisp looks. This
jacket sits easy at the
TAG HEUER
waist, and the cuts
TAG Heuer’s Formula 1 Calibre 16 Automatic is a fruit of
of the shoulders are
the partnership of the watch brand with Mclaren. It’s a
soft. The collection
casual sports timepiece that has drawn inspiration
is targeted at men
solely from Formula 1, and has an ultimate racing
who prefer their
look that complements its several features. A rubber
style to be imbued
strap and dapper black dial, and every other detail of
with a dash of
this chronograph, makes it perfect for motor racing.
tradition.
Always stylish, always masculine, it can be varied with
racing red touches on hands, bezel and winding crown. For a
more masculine look, you can choose the bold all-black version,
ROBERTO CAVALLI
with its rugged titanium carbide-coated case and striking strap.
This bold philosophy of Roberto Cavalli has found a perfect expression in these
With racing know-how in motion, this watch excels with its sapphire
new scents: Just Cavalli Gold. A coup d’oeil of gold, and a touch of python print
crystal case back and polished, fine-brushed steel features.
take sultriness to a new level. The scent for men has hints of hazelnut and
mandarin, while the one for women is a blend of jasmine and marshmallow.
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 14 | SPRING 2015
SPRING 2015
style
| 15 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
BAR ACCESSORIES
Silverware ice buckets,
vodka glasses, and more.
Spruce up your
home
By Tina Dastur
FRAZER AND HAWS
bar
Get ready to sparkle with Frazer and Haws’s
‘The Royal Cup,’ an assortment of silverware bar
accessories ideal for those celebratory toasts. The
collection comprises classy pieces like the Vodka
Shot Glass Set, Wine Bottle Case Vineyards, Wine
Glass Romanov, and Ashtray Tigar, among others
— all of them crafted from 92.5 sterling silver. Our
favourite is the ornate Ice Bucket with Turquoise.
WATERFORD
This set from Waterford Barware
is sure to be every vodka
lover’s delight. An
elegant flared bowl
nestles within its
crystal confines,
six shot glass that in
turn aptly surround the
centre space, strictly
designated for chilling a
bottle of vodka. This is
sure to add some warmth
to your chilly winter days.
EPISODE
The Bar Wars collection from Episode is a quirky combination. Crafted in sterling
silver or silver plated, the items range from fun bottle stoppers featuring pigs,
rabbits, horses, and
unicorns and flipper
KEGWORKS
cocktail picks to
Back from a trip to a vineyard and wondering
sophisticated, aptly-
where to stack that pile of alcoholic goodness?
named ‘celebration
Kegworks’s Handmade Wooden Barrel Wine
flutes’ and bar set
Tasting Table, made out of recycled American
(complete with an
and French oak wine barrels, allows you to
ice bucket keg, peg
set up your very own wine haven at home.
measure keg, pitcher
Capable of holding up to 10 standard size
cask, beer mug cask,
bottles and 12 stemware glasses, this is a one-
and nut bowl keg).
of-a-kind handmade piece.
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 18 | SPRING 2015
SABYASACHI
BESPOKE MENSWEAR
Kolkata | New Delhi | Mumbai | Hyderabad | Chennai | Ahmedabad | Bangalore
Dubai | San Fransisco | London | New Jersey
www.sabyasachi.com
JEWELLERY
CHAUMET
The new Chaumet Hortensia Collection draws
Ruby
inspiration from an imaginary garden with traces
of delicate botanical embroidery, celebrating the
beauty of the hydrangea flower. This exquisite ring
from the collection sees open-cut work in the form
marvels
of petals studded with tiny brilliant-cut rubies and
pink sapphires enveloping the round red tourmaline
bead at the heart of it, the entire piece set in
From a beautiful
18-carat pink gold. The play on the hues of red
ring to a stunning
and pink comingle beautifully with the hydrangea,
necklace, these four
asserting the house’s naturalistic, refined style.
pieces should be on
your must-buy list.
By Tina Dastur
BUCCELLATI
This regal ruby-cum-diamond necklace-earrings
set is part of Unica, a collection of one-off pieces
created by the esteemed Buccellati family.
The necklace sees a total of 31 ruby teardrops
AMRAPALI
accentuating the warm hue of champagne-
Manik Lotus Earrings from Amrapali’s
coloured diamonds, while the earrings — simple
Masterpiece Collection are a perfect
teardrop rubies — are graceful accompaniment.
example of what this timeless Indian
Gianmaria Buccellati has avoided a clustered
jewellery brand embodies: classical
look by cleverly leaving open spaces between
Indian heritage and tradition with a
the stones, thus creating an airy design.
contemporary eclectic twist. This pair
of gorgeous jhumkas set in 23-carat
and 18-carat gold is embedded with
ROSE
diamonds and Mozambican rubies, with
The Carved Ruby Necklace is a mesmerising statement piece. Three rows of
dainty pearls dangling effortlessly. While
ruby beads culminate in a chunky pendant, with a heavily-carved ruby at the
the obverse of the earrings sees a subtler
centre. Flexible stems dotted with brilliant-cut diamonds that are interspersed
representation of the lotus, their subverse
with faceted rubies set in white gold hang from the pendant’s middle, lending
is a more intricate manifestation of the
this elegant piece dimension and contrast. For all the sparkly diamonds that
flower in all its blooming glory.
dazzle, this stunning necklace is undoubtedly a triumph of its deep red rubies.
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 20 | SPRING 2015
BOOKS
The history of
commerce in India
Gurcharan Das, the former CEO of Procter & Gamble and renowned author, is
editor of a fascinating series of books charting the journey of Indian business and
trade through centuries. He talks to Kushan Mitra about the trade routes between
A
fter quitting his day job, Gurcharan Das has been chronicling
International Trade, by economist Kanaklatha Mukund, The Marwaris: From
the story of Indian economy, for almost two decades now. India
Jagat Seth to The Birlas, by Thomas A. Timberg, and The Mouse Merchant:
Unbound, Das’ most famous book, is a sort of memoir which covers
Money in Ancient India, by Sanskrit scholar Arshia Sattar. “This was a very
the period from his birth, in 1942, to the time he wrote the book, in 1999.
challenging series to put together for me,” Das says. “Not only did I have
One of the main arguments Das gives in this book, and a recurring theme in
to select the stories that needed to be told, from the long period of Indian
his other publications, is that, while India gained political independence in
history; it was a challenge to get academicians who have studied these
1947, the country did not gain economic independence until the reforms
fields for years to write books that everybody can read.”
of 1991. In the book, he refers to the period between 1966 and1990 as
The books are a treasure trove of fascinating information. The
‘The Lost Years’, and much like his other works, Das tells these stories using
Marwaris traces the roots of one of India’s most successful business
several incidents and parables. “The four decades that we spent between
and trading communities, in the
1950 and 1991, when our then Prime Minister Narashima Rao opened up
the Indian economy, we lived in a state-controlled economy. Everything
was controlled; I worked at Procter & Gamble during those days, and I
remember one time when there was a cold wave and demand for Vicks
Vaporub (a popular decongestant) skyrocketed, but our production was
controlled by the government,” he tells me.
He adds, “Those who were successful in this time were those who
negotiated the corridors of power the best, and this, I feel, led to a
situation where the middle classes got jealous of the wealthy.” Today, he
says, thanks to the new entrepreneurs, particularly those taking inspiration
from Silicon Valley, are writing a new narrative with their success.
“Those who were
successful in this
time were those
who negotiated the
corridors of power
the best, and this I
feel led to a situation
where the middle
classes got jealous
of the wealthy”
Gurcharan Das
Shekhawati region of Rajasthan,
and narrates how and why they
migrated outwards.
century. Evidence for this has been found in the old vaults of temples in
Das’ favourite story, though, is in The Mouse Merchant, which
Some of the books shed
Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where old Roman sesterii (coins) have been found.
is a selection of tales from ancient Sanskrit texts, such as Jataka Tales,
light on India’s glittering ancient
Das tells me how there is even evidence in Roman texts, such as Pliny
showing Indian attitude toward money. The Mouse Merchant is parable of
Tamilakam
the Elder’s Natural History, that there was communication and significant
an entrepreneur who started out as a young man who took a dead mouse
talks about how southern Indian
trade between Rome and the southern Indian empires of the time. He
from outside a rich man’s house. Selling the mouse to an old widow
traders were trading with the
also emphasises the role of the temples in the story of Indian business,
with a cat, he used the proceeds to buy some chana. He then sold the
Roman Empire several centuries
particularly in the south, and how religion and trade were inextricably
chana to some loggers, who paid him in wood instead of money; he sold
before Vasco Da Gama arrived at
interlinked. “Temples played a vital role as dispute negotiators, priests
the wood to buy more chana. Eventually, he collected enough wood, so
the coast of Kerala, in the 15th
were judges,” says Das.
once when there was a storm, he was able to make a killing, after the
past.
Merchants
of
For the past few years, Das
logging stopped. After collecting so much money the once-poor young
has been editing the Penguin/
boy became a shipbuilder and a trader of global renown. But he never
Allen Lane series The Story of
forgot how he started, so one day he had a jeweller cast a golden mouse,
Indian
the
which he went on to gift to the merchant from whose doorstep he had
15 books have been released:
taken the dead mouse. The old merchant was surprised, but after hearing
Arthashastra:
the young man’s story, he offers him his daughter’s hand for marriage. The
Business.
The
Five
of
Science
of
Wealth, by US-based historian
story emphasises diligence and gratitude.
Thomas A Trautmann, The East
India
Company:
The
An upcoming book will be on the Hindu traders who plied
World’s
the
Silk
Route
in
massive
(thousands
of
camels)
caravans,
Most Powerful Corporation, by
and the Muslim rulers of Central Asian kingdoms, who afforded them
Tirthankar
teaches
protection and who made trade easier for them. “Then there’s another
economic history in the London
Roy,
book on the traders from Kutch who established a seafaring route
School of Economics, Merchants
between Gujarat and the east coast of Africa, in Tanzania. Some of the
of
stories are remarkable.”
Tamilakam:
who
Pioneers
of
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 22 | SPRING 2015
SPRING 2015
| 23 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
VINIT BHATT
southern Indian traders and the Roman empire, Nehruvian socialism, and more.
ADvENTURE
working in Bangalore as a software engineer
when she decided to undertake the solo trip. “I
had previously done shorter trips like Bangalore
to Chennai and to Pune, and this helped me in
my preparation for this journey,” says Sharma,
who is now employed with Indian Motorcycles,
a US-headquartered firm.
Sharma began her journey on June 28,
and it took her through Bangalore, Hyderabad,
Riding all the way up to Leh, in north India, from Kanyakumari,
Adilabad, Jhansi, Agra, Delhi, Manali, Sarchu,
the southernmost point of the country, Roshni Sharma became
Leh, Srinagar, Jammu, Panipat, Delhi and
possibly the first solo female motorcyclist to cover such a long
Narora. “I used to start my day at 6 am and
end by about 7 pm,” she says. “But some days
distance. She narrates her experience to Akhila Ranganna.
I did get late and reached my destination only
5452 km, 14 Days
around 11.30 pm.” She had food in the dhabas
(roadside restaurants) she came across en
route, but was also carrying “fruits, dry fruits
and protein bars for emergencies”.
Sharma did extensive research before
The Vivekananda Rock Memorial,
in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
Roshni Sharma hails from
Narora, in Uttar Pradesh
A road in Ladakh, connecting Leh to Likir
“S
et a goal in life, chase and achieve
experienced every possible type of terrain and
and is a sheer test of the biker’s endurance. “I
get ready for her journey — first to mentally
she started out, and one of the roads she was
can take things as they come, which is the real
it”: this is the life lesson 26-year
weather conditions. “One of the best stretches
did fall down at least six to seven times,” she
condition herself and then to convince her
warned about was the Central India route
meaning and fun of adventure,” says Sharma,
who is now planning a trip across Europe.
old Roshni Sharma swears by. And
was the Nizamabad-Adilabad stretch, a Naxalite
says. “What I liked most was that look of total
parents. “I got my bike serviced before starting
through Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh,
this is exactly the belief the Gurgaon-based
area with beautiful roads and lush forests.
surprise and amazement on the people’s faces
my trip. During the trip I didn’t have to endure
for it is known to be unsafe. “But that was the
Did she ever feel nervous or petrified
26-year-old put into practise when she went
Another route that I will always remember, for
when they came to help me, when they realised
a single breakdown, not even a flat tire. I had
exact route I took,” she says. “I was carrying
during the trip? “I was scared to bits,” Sharma
motorcycling solo from Kanyakumari to Leh,
its beauty, was from Mandi to Manali — on
that it was a woman who was riding the bike.
learnt a few basic things, like chain tightening
pepper spray and had taken basic martial art
says with a laugh, “especially during the 60
covering more than 5000 km in two weeks, in
one side, I was flanked by a rocky wall, and the
It made me really emotional. It made my long
and oil change, before I set off.”
classes, but I never had to use them.”
km stretch between Nagpur to Seoni that
June 2014.
other side was the river. I believe that every
and sometimes intensely lonely journey really
Hailing from the small town of Narora,
Sharma says she loves solo riding
ran through the Pench National Park. It was a
From muddy roads to water crossings,
biker must do the Manali-Leh stretch once in
worth the trouble and often brought a smile to
in Uttar Pradesh, Sharma is an automobile
because of the freedom it affords. “You can
deep, dense forest area, the road was winding
sand dunes to mighty mountains and glacier
their life.” As beautiful as the route may be, it
my face.”
aficionado. This passion she inherited from her
explore the places the way you want. You
with potholes, and all I could see were heavy
melts, heavy rains to the scorching sun, Sharma
is also one of the toughest in terms of terrain,
father, an automobile businessman. She was
need not plan everything meticulously. You
trucks. I nearly cried!”
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 24 | SPRING 2015
It took Sharma nearly eight months to
SPRING 2015
| 25 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
EXPLORATIONS
Bird spotting
in
Gir
W
If it was not so famous for its lions, the Gir Forest
ildlife parks, as you’d expect, get defined exclusively by their
National Park might just have been primarily renowned
chief attraction. The Kaziranga National Park, in Assam, is
for its large population of rare birds. From the
about the one-horned rhino; the Ranthambore National Park,
in Rajasthan, equals spotting the tiger; The Gir Forest National Park and
crested hawk-eagle to the yellow-faced endangered
Wildlife Sanctuary, in Gujarat, is associated with the lion. To the thousands
Egyptian vulture — the wildlife sanctuary’s feathered
that flock to Gir every year, a quiet, unassuming property by the name of
creatures have, in recent years, been attracting wildlife
Gir Birding Lodge, near the periphery of the park, ought to suggest that
photographers and avid birders from across India.
there is more to the wildlife reserve. Still, even those who put up at this
lodge begin their morning safari with the aim of photographing nothing
more than the king of the jungle.
By Sharan Saikumar
Very few people who visit Gir know that it is one of the best birding
Photographs by Manish Hariprasad
destinations in the country, and home to a large population
of rare birds, including raptors and owls. The crested
hawk-eagle, for instance, may not be as wildly
popular as the Asiatic lion, but it has its
own niche following. For many nature
photographers
and
birders,
the
lions in Gir hold no fascination
because their sighting is pretty
much guaranteed, with heavily
mapped routes and a network of
phone calls between the guides
resulting in all tourist jeeps
crowding around that one beast.
This birder is a strange
creature: picture a deeply tanned
fellow with a large pair of soupedup binoculars hanging around his neck
and a massive zoom-lens DSLR camera in
The crested hawk eagle
his hand, straining his ears for birdcalls and
waiting for hours in the hot sun. He is a solitary
person who passes many days without success; he simply
dips into his unlimited reserves of patience and waits. Then if he’s lucky,
he gets rewarded with a sight of that red-headed vulture. Or those tiny
spotted owlets, which may or may not sit long enough to be captured by
the camera, and yet, with just that fleeting glimpse, the birder’s day will be
made. Compared to birding, animal spotting is like child’s play.
Gir is one of the few forests in the world to offer sightings of the
red-headed vulture, a species whose size has shrunk drastically over the
years. Or, if you like your birds pretty, there is the yellow-faced endangered
Egyptian vulture — the tiniest of the species, it was once worshipped in
Egypt for its ability to clean up the surroundings. (Vultures are going extinct
mainly due to the widespread use of the drug Diclofenac in veterinary
The Great Tit, a sparrow-sized acrobat, is a
treat to watch when hunting for insects
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 26 | SPRING 2015
SPRING 2015
medicine, which makes the animal carcass poisonous, leading to kidney
failure in these birds of prey.)
| 27 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
Gir is a great place for taking close-up
shots of the Indian nightjar
Spotted Owlets can be surprisingly
human in their display of affection
Gir is one of the few forests
in the world to offer sightings
of the red-headed vulture, a
species whose population has
shrunk drastically over the years
Some birds here especially enjoy making the birders work really
hard. The nightjar is one of them. All the three species of nightjar found
in Gir — Indian, Savannah and grey — are great at hiding themselves. This
crepuscular bird merges completely into the branch, and can challenge
even an expert bird spotter. It is best detected through its characteristic
calls at dawn and dusk, which have been likened to a stone skimming the
The Red-naped Ibis is a
common sight in Gir
surface of a frozen lake.
The fact that it is so elusive makes the nightjar a challenging quest,
but it’s not the prettiest bird around. For the amateur birder who begins
his journey by seeking beauty above all else, there is a lot on offer in Gir
Unlike the vulture, the crested hawk eagle, once known as the
— the gorgeous blue and yellow coloured Tickell’s blue flycatcher, the
changeable hawk eagle, is not endangered, but, nevertheless, worth
stark contrast of the crimson-patched black ibis, the stunning paradise
spotting. The name is derived from the many morphs — with crest or
flycatcher, with its long tail, the pied avocet, with its long curved beak, the
without, pale or dark — that this species has, but the common feature
painted stork, and several varieties of brightly coloured kingfishers, which
across the morphs is their arresting yellow eyes. You can catch him sitting
dot a tree like Christmas ornaments.
arrogantly on tree-tops, his eyes unmoving in its focus as he hunts his prey.
As you get more interested in birds, you realise that they are more
The sight of him taking down birds as big as a rooster or grappling with a
than objects of beauty. Like animals, birds can move you with their grace,
snake is spectacular but calls for hours of tracking. An easier picture, though
their capacity for affection. Spotted owlets, one of the small species of
no less stunning, would be capturing another medium-sized raptor by the
owls, are known to display almost human-like emotions while huddling
name of marsh harrier, which induces panic in large colonies of water birds,
with one another or licking and preening their partners. Our photographer
pushing them into taking a flight en masse. Neither of these raptors is easy
caught a family of them huddling together on a branch, each sporting a
to spot, but Gir is a dry jungle, unlike the thick overgrown forest of Corbett,
different expression of disapproval at being photographed. Birding may
which means watering holes here are few and far between and the birder
be difficult, time-consuming and involve a lot of hours in the sun, but for
has better visibility.
pictures like the ones you are seeing, it’s well worth it.
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 28 | SPRING 2015
FOOD
The re-invention
of Vegetarian
cuisine
W
Well, it is
not the end
of haute
cuisine, but
a rewriting
of the rules
that have
governed it
hen Gaggan Anand, the rebel chef who has powered the
humongous global success story of his namesake restaurant
in Bangkok, presented a sponge-like ‘deconstructed dhokla’
served with coriander chutney foam and coconut ice cream to American
Express Centurion Card holders in New Delhi, a senior hotelier and foster
son-in-law of a prominent politician commented in jest that Anand would
put Haldiram’s out of business.
Like most other successful chefs who don’t lose sight of the till even
as they rise to dizzying creative heights, Anand knows why it’s important
to get his vegetarian repertoire right. Six of the 10 wealthiest Indians are
vegetarians, and the culinary world not long ago was all abuzz about how
Six of the 10 wealthiest Indians eschew meat;
even the god of molecular gastronomy, Heston Blumenthal, has a new all-
the renowned French chef Alain Ducasse ‘s new
vegetarian menu ready each time a certain metal tycoon drops in to eat at
restaurant in Paris has created news for having a
predominantly veg menu; even China — believe it
or not — now has more than 50 million vegans….
Not surprising, then, that chefs across the world
are thinking out of the box to satisfy this growing
and increasingly more demanding market.
his Michelin three-star restaurant, Fat Duck, at Bray, Shropshire, in the UK.
And Mukesh Ambani, India’s wealthiest man, procured generous quantities
of fresh white truffles at the beginning of this prized commodity’s
harvesting season in Alba, Italy, for ageless superstar Amitabh Bachchan’s
70th birthday.
It was to woo the very same upper crust some years back that the
prestigious Bordeaux First Growth, Chateau Margaux, flew in the world’s
most celebrated vegetarian chef, Alain Passard of the Michelin three-star
l’Arpege in Paris, for dinners across three cities attended by the rich and
By Sourish Bhattacharya
famous. Guests at The Leela Palace, Bangalore, paid Rs 15,000 per head for
this vegetarian explosion of flavours (starting with root vegetables draped
in Himalayan honey and served with candied lemon) paired with wines
that rank among the world’s best.
When Passard surprised the French gastronomic establishment by
‘turning vegetarian’ more than a decade ago, he was considered a pleasant
aberration by chefs who had grown up worshipping the flesh and bones
Gaggan Anand, owner of Gaggan, in Bangkok
of animals at culinary schools. Yesterday’s fad is today’s fashion. If a chef
of the stature of Pierre Gagnaire sources his vegetables exclusively from
boxer-turned-farmer Asafumi Yamashita, who can get very prickly about
how restaurants treat his micro tomatoes and kabu turnips, it is because
their well-heeled and world-travelled clients are getting fussy about the
quality of vegetables on the menu.
Alain Ducasse, the chef with the most Michelin stars (21 in all, including
three stars for three restaurants!), was only responding to this tectonic
mindset shift when, recently, he re-opened his three-star establishment at
the luxurious Plaza Athenee in Paris by striking off duck, veal and steak off
the menu. Cream, too, has been shown the door and sugar put in its place.
The new buzzword, after Ducasse’s grand move, is naturalite (naturalness),
“the new expression of contemporary French haute cuisine”.
ROHIT CHAWLA
In an interview to the French news agency AFP, the celebrity chef
explained what made him change his culinary philosophy: “The planet has
increasingly rare resources, so we have to consume more ethically, more
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 30 | SPRING 2015
SPRING 2015
| 31 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
fairly.” The stars of his new menu are black rice cooked in the oven with
shellfish, squid and octopus; Mediterranean fish with bulgur wheat in a
tagine; and Anjou grown quinoa and seafood. Fish and seafood are still
on the menu, obviously out of consideration for the French market, but
new age cereals and vegetables are finally being treated as first among
equals. Unsurprisingly, Daily Mail said in its headline: “Is this the end of
haute cuisine?”
Well, it is not the end of haute cuisine, but a rewriting of the rules
that have governed it. When Rene Redzepi, Macedonian-Danish chefowner of the world’s No. 1 restaurant, Copenhagen’s Noma, opened his
establishment a decade ago in a vast football field, just one corner of it
was set apart for the eatery; the rest of the plot was taken over by his
vegetable garden. As Redzepi once said to an international audience at a
food show in the snow-swept North Sea town of Oostend in Belgium, his
biggest battle is against the spectre of scarcity in Copenhagen’s difficult
winter, which was once described so rivetingly by Jo Nesbo in his crime
The legendary French chef’s
reopened restaurant at the
Plaza Athenee, in Paris, has
dropped many of the meat
items off the menu
thriller The Leopard.
“I come from a city which gets 60 days and nights of frost, so we
make the most from what we have,” said the good-looking chef, whose
repertoire includes dried grains, lichens and moss (“Animals eat these in
Farman Ali,
Corporate
Masterchef at
The Leela Palace
Bangalore
Rene Redzepi, co-owner of the famous
NOMA, in Copenhagen, which offers an
impressive range of vegetarian dishes
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 32 | SPRING 2015
what was the secret weapon that powered the chef’s charm offensive? It
was a pizza, but with a Manish Mehrotra twist.
The base of the pizza was a papri shell and it was topped up with a
spiced tomato concasse, cheese and beetroot carpaccio (it replaced the
popular pepperoni!). Constantly playing with new ideas, and having tasted
success in the two vegetarian weddings, Mehrotra is now possessed with
the idea of giving gourmet pizzas an Indian twist.
Even purveyors of traditional cuisine are adapting to the global twists
of taste. At Jamavar — The Leela Palace Bangalore’s signature Indian
restaurant — says Chef Farman Ali, Corporate Masterchef at the hotel,
baigan ka bharta is cooked in olive oil, artichoke hearts and asparagus
appear in the Subz Jamavar, and the old-fashioned palak patta chaat is
given a new dimension — and flavour — with the inclusion of batter-fried
betel leaves. As the well-known restaurateur, caterer for A-list weddings
and author of Diva Green, an all-vegetarian cookbook, Ritu Dalmia, puts it,
“Vegetarian diners are tired of the old aloo-gobhi-paneer routine.”
What she didn’t say is that it is also business from these diners every
major hotel chain, restaurant or wedding caterer is chasing diligently,
particularly after the steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal opened the floodgates
Dessert of strawberries and
chamomile by Rene Redzepi
Water melon & feta salad
by Ritu Dalmia
of vegetarian extravagance at his daughter Vanisha’s 2004 wedding
reception at the Palace of Versailles. Diners of Mittal’s class have eaten
Manish Mehrotra
winter,” he said in his defence), and dried mushrooms. One of Redzepi’s
Jamavar, Indian
speciality restaurant
at The Leela Palace
Bangalore
Chef Ritu Dalmia,
co-owner of the
restaurant Diva,
in Delhi
favourite dishes is the Danish classic, sauteed old bread served with a
broth of dried berries and mushrooms — when he makes it, it look straight
out of a still life by 16th-century Flemish painter Jan Brueghel.
Redzepi shared his recipe of white currants and gelled freshly
harvested cucumber served with sweet cicely (the flower used to flavour
aquavit) and hazelnut milk. It struck the unfamiliar eye as a delicate flower
arrangement, but on taking a closer look, we noticed the gelled cucumber
sitting on a puddle of hazelnut milk with white currants scattered around.
It was food for the eye and a feast for the senses. No wonder, chefs today
talk about their micro-greens with the same palpable excitement their
seniors would display in the presence of rare cuts of meats.
In a globalised world, such developments cannot for long remain
the monopoly of a few. Talented chefs, such as Manish Mehrotra of Indian
Accent, have done it over and over again. At Nita Ambani’s 50th birthday
bash in Jodhpur, Mehrotra lined up six designer chaats, including dahi
batata poori with wasabi peas and caramelised onion kachoris gently
drizzled with a blue cheese sauce.
More recently, the inventive chef wowed his jet-set guests at two
headline-grabbing, upper-end vegetarian weddings — the nuptials of TVS
Motor Company CMD Venu Srinivasan’s son Sudershan Venu in Chennai,
followed by those of the international mining magnate Pramod Aggarwal’s
daughter Ritika in Fasano, a picturesque coastal town in Puglia, Italy. Guess
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 34 | SPRING 2015
SPRING 2015
| 35 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
BHARANY’S
Cauliflower and red chilli cake by Vicky
Ratnani, a celebrity chef and TV show host
around the world and, as Mehrotra points out, they are not going to settle
for anything less. Indian chefs therefore have had to think out of the box to
measure up to the expectations of this target audience. Vicky Ratnani, TV
show host and celebrity chef famous as the one who introduced Mumbai
to polenta, gives us a taste of this new creativity in his cookbook, Vicky
Goes Veg. His vegetarian take on the polpette (Italian meatballs) with
Anand’s faux
steak tartare for
vegetarians, similarly,
is a symphony of
flavours and textures
potatoes and soy granules; sweet potato wafers with amla aioli; plantain
(kachche kele) braised with Thai spices; green chilli and raw mango risotto;
hing-roasted pumpkin; or stir-fried yellow squash spaghetti with parmesan
and ginger (a carb-free dream alternative to regular spaghetti), all tell one
story: our chefs are constantly innovating to tickle the taste buds of our
Anand has reinvented the ‘Bird’s Nest’ by turning it into a work of art
with what Bengalis call jhoori bhaja (fried potato shavings), chutney
and an ‘egg’ created out of a potato mousse sphere
globetrotting vegetarians.
It for this tribe of outwardly mobile gastronomes that Anand has
reinvented the ‘Bird’s Nest’ by turning it into a work of art with what Bengalis
call jhoori bhaja (fried potato shavings), chutney and an ‘egg’ created out
of a potato mousse sphere. His faux steak tartare for vegetarians, similarly,
EXQUISITE JEWELLERY & FINE JAMAWAR SHAWLS
is a symphony of flavours and textures — a liquid nitrogen-chilled baigan
bharta, ‘false egg yolk’ and vacuum-fried onions. Even his khichdi speaks
a global language, with its combination of nine-year-old rice, forest
mushrooms, morels and fresh truffles with a hint of chilli. The distinctive
aroma of each ingredient titillates your senses and gets your neurons on
14, Sunder Nagar Market, New Delhi-110 003 | Contact : +91 11 4351 8755, 2435 3957
Fax : +91 1 1 2435 3081 | E-mail.: mail@bharanys.com
overdrive. With ‘going veg’ getting glamorous, and acquiring an ethical
edge, vegetarian cuisine will no longer be the same.
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 36 | SPRING 2015
PHOTOGRAPHY
For Elle magazine
The
art of the snap
Suresh Natarajan is one of the biggest names in fashion
photography and advertising photography. The selftaught Mumbai-based lensman has been in business for
almost 25 years now. The covers of magazines such as
Elle and Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar frequently feature his
photographs, as you’d guess, and, over the years, he has
shot many a famous personality, from Bollywood stars like
Ranbir Kapoor to eminent businessmen such as the late
Captain Nair. Here are some snaps that give a flavour of
his portfolio, selected by the man himself.
For Harper’s Bazaar
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 38 | SPRING 2015
Clockwise from left:
From Green Guardians Calendar
2011; Zohra Sehgal for Society
magazine; actress Chitrangada Singh
for Vogue magazine; for Hutch’s
(now Vodafone) Holi campaign;
for Elle magazine
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 40 | SPRING 2015
SPRING 2015
| 41 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
SHoppIng
How to splurge in Delhi
L
ike most capital cities across the world, Delhi has a
collection of curated art on display. Vivid pieces put a
multitude of options when it comes to shopping. Pretty
dash of colour into the muted scheme of things, and up the
luxury quotient here.
much every major player in the retail scene
globally has come to our shores and the malls here
show an impressive variety. This city also has its
Cottons and Satins: Regulars to Mehar Chand
unique marketplaces, developing their own culture
Market are no strangers to the wonders of this
of art and design, promoting uniquely Indian
cute shop, with a variety of textiles on offer.
finds and talent. Here’s a list of my favorite spots
There’s a decidedly Indian feel running through
in three such markets nestled in the heart of south
Delhi, each within around 30 minutes of The Leela
Palace New Delhi.
Gaurav Jagtiani,
co-founder of the
designer label Gaurav
& Ritika, handpicks
Mehar Chand Market
Nivasa: This expansive store is spread over three
levels and spans the entire range of home and
three of the capital’s
best shopping hubs
the collections here, from hand-printed voiles to
appliqués on cushion covers and an extensive line
of Ikat weaves. But there are contemporary twists
as well, with wallpapers, and curtains in modern
interpretations of traditional Indian motifs.
Chumbak: A truly Indian pop art-based store,
décor. Unlike other spaces in the market, Nivasa
and zooms into the
Chumbak takes kitsch to the next level. Graphic
is sunlit and airy. The furniture is elegant and
interesting stores and
and colorful, the product range here covers an
understated with an abundance of European
shops at each of those
eclectic span from quirky collectibles like fridge
influences, clean lines with a few ornate accents in
places. Statement lamps and objets d’art add the
destinations — furniture,
perfect amount of flair to this elegant home store.
hand printed textiles,
But what really steals the show is their superb
artworks, and more.
CMYK
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 42 | SPRING 2015
magnets and photo frames to tableware, all
covered in Chumbak’s busy and distinctive artwork.
The accessories stand out, and unique pieces like
luggage tags are perfect for gifting.
Nivasa
En-Inde
Conceptualised as an
art- and design-centric
bookstore, by CMYK’s
parent company,
Roli Books, this
unique shop houses
a vast and detailed
collection of specialist
books and journals
CMYK: Conceptualised as
Playing with multiple elements, and fusing the organic with the industrial,
an art- and design-centric
these visually exciting pieces are much more than just statements. The
bookstore,
CMYK’s
material mix is unusual, to say the least, consisting of jutes and metals
parent company, Roli Books,
in many instances. The elegant store, done in neutrals with heavy doses
this unique shop houses a
of solid black in places, also takes forward its vision with an interesting
vast and detailed collection
selection of Indian designers on the racks. The textile based works of Pero
of specialist books and
and 11.11 are perfectly at home in this carefully-put-together store.
by
journals. The attention to
detail and care taken to
Hauz Khas Village
put the store together is
Ogaan: The ogaan flagship store, with its arches and columns and
evident not just in the span
haveli style architecture, is the grande dame of Hauz Khas Village
of titles housed here, but also in the beautiful merchandise on offer.
establishments. ogaan represents an entire legacy of Indian designerwear,
Limited edition postcards, art prints and some exquisite stationery make
and is celebrating 25 years of being firmly established in the collective
this so much more than just a book shop.
consciousness of well-dressed women everywhere. Fittingly, it’s the first
store that you see as you enter the village. Premier Indian labels, from
En-Inde: Anupama Sukh Lalvani and Sonal Sood’s avant garde jewellery
Anamika Khanna to Manish Arora to Sabyasachi, are all at home in this
line, En-Inde, is a brilliant example of contemporary Indian aesthetics.
beautifully done multi-level store.
Explore Delhi with The Leela
T
he Leela Palace New Delhi has put together a three-
art walk at the hotel, which showcases a slew of paintings
day special that enables guests to put up at one of its
and sculptures by renowned Indian artists. Day 3 includes
Grand Deluxe rooms, and conveniently explore the shopping
a visit to shopping places such as Santushti, which teems
hubs in the capital. on Day 1, after breakfast at Qube, the
with chic stores selling apparel, shoes, among other things,
hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, you will be taken on a
the adjacent Khan Market, a site that hosts handicrafts from
guided tour covering, apart from the city’s major landmarks,
across India, and Dilli Haat, where you get an authentic flavor
like Rashtrapati Bhawan and India gate, Hauz Khaus
of the country’s arts, crafts and culture, particularly that of its
village, where you can check out contemporary artworks,
rural regions.
independent designer stores, etc. A highlight of Day 2 is
For enquiries and bookings, please call The Leela
a visit to Mehar Chand Market, at Lodhi Road, where you
Reservations worldwide, 18001031444 (India toll free)
can shop for Indian designwear; in the evening, you take an
or write to them at reservations@theleela.com •
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 44 | SPRING 2015
The Carpet Cellar
“Persian Tehran Carpet”
1, Anand Lok, Khel Gaon Marg, Siri Fort Road, New Delhi - 110049.
Tel.: +91 11 41641777 • E-mail: info@carpetcellar.com • Website: www.carpetcellar.com
348 D, Sultanpur, MG Road, Adjacent to the Sultanpur Metro Station, New Delhi - 110030. Tel.: +91 11 26808777 / 65391777
(Herbal Washing & Restoration also undertaken)
OPEN ALL DAYS: 10.30 AM TO 6.30 PM
Nappa Dori: gautam Sinha’s leather brand, nappa Dori, has come to be
Country
Collection:
known for its fantastic synergy of craftsmanship with great design. In the
block
alleys of Hauz Khas Village, the nappa Dori store stands out for its warmth
Indian
and attention-to-detail evident in the leather-covered door handle, as you
Collection
step in. Inside, it’s the eye-catching pop colour decorative trunks that one
for the lover of all things old and rare. This
notices first; but it’s the satchel bags in Ikat, with leather trims, that are to
store boasts a massive repertoire of pieces
die for. The product line here is focussed and covers bags, in canvas and
sourced from every nook and corner of
leather, wallets, and a small selection of footwear.
the
of Shahpur, punit Jasujas’ store has something
Chock-atraditional
for everyone. Primarily centered around home
furniture and accessories, Country
décor and accessories, over time, the stores
with
five
is
a
subcontinent.
levels
of
happy
From
hunting
heavily
mantle has grown to include clothing, tableware
ground
and even perfumery. There’s a truly global feel
at play here, with the owners, multicultural
background and extensive travel clearly
reflected in the eclectic mix of color textures
carved
and shapes on display.
ornate chairs and tables to delicate cabinets
Bodice: This year’s Vogue Fashion Fund winner, Ruchika Sachdeva,
with inlays in glass and brass details, there’s
has a clean, androgynous personal style. Her love for tailoring and
a seemingly unending variety of furniture and
Nimai: Pooja Roy Yadav has painstakingly
chic separates gets beautifully translated into her label, Bodice. The
accessories jostling for attention.
collected her favourite jewellery brands from
store is an intimate and tastefully put together space, with tons of
Bodice
It’s hard to come across a store that
can please both the connoisseur
and the amateur. Shiva Oriental
Rugs does just that.
Country Collection
around the country and put them under one
quirky, vintage accents. Located on the first floor, it is perfectly suited
All Arts: This carefully hidden gem is tucked into
roof, at her store Nimai. Something like a life-size
for an afternoon of quiet browsing, with its hidden treasures, like the
a basement in a quiet corner of the Village. Walking
jewelry box, Nimai has shiny sparkly things draped
collection of excellently crafted bows, in one of the several quirky shelves
down the stairs, towards the entrance, massive
everywhere! But don’t be mistaken, it’s all cutting
scattered around the space.
Bollywood-art posters from every major period of Indian cinema, framed
edge contemporary work by the country’s best known jewellery designers.
and displayed, create a dramatic sense of nostalgia, while inside there’s
Case in point: the Mumbai Art Deco-inspired fashionings of Akaliko, and
the stunning dull gold cuffs of Hyderabad based designer Suhani pittie.
The Delhi Art Gallery: The Delhi Art gallery, or DAg, as it’s known, is
stacks of unframed goodies. Everything from Raja Ravi Verma prints, to
one of India’s premier galleries, with its specialised focus on 20th century
vintage maps and genuine lithographs are stacked neatly, right from the
Indian art, has, under the directorship of the young entrepreneur Ashish
floor up. Smaller items like ancient matchboxes and other packaging give
Sahiba Singh: Elegant and clean, the Sahiba Singh boutique is in
Anand, firmly positioned itself at the forefront of the art scene in the country.
a fascinating glimpse of pop art from earlier days. It’s easy to get lost and
complete harmony with the aesthetic of the label it houses. White
DAg’s vast collection includes pre-Independence legends like Raja Ravi
lose track of time while sifting through these mementos of times gone by.
vintage furniture with an uncluttered display, it’s the perfect setting for
Varma, Rabindranath Tagore and Nandlal Bose, to the likes of Ambadas,
the designer’s ladylike style. pleats and tucks on her pastel georgette
Himmat Singh and gogi Saroj pal. The myriad artworks on display are
Shahpur Jat
and chiffon pieces are perfectly complemented by impeccable finishing.
incredible, but it’s the experience of viewing works by stalwarts like M
Second Floor Studio by Punit Jasuja: A fascinating array of products
Easy chic tops and tunics give way to gorgeous evening dresses in longer
F Husain, S H Raza and S n Souza that is a visual treat beyond compare.
makes up the second floor studio roster. Situated in one of the inner lanes
lengths, all of which are classic and timeless.
Nappa Dori
Delhi Art Gallery
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 46 | SPRING 2015
SPRING 2015
| 47 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
Shiva Oriental Rugs: It’s hard to come across a store that can please
both the connoisseur and the amateur. Shiva oriental Rugs does just
that. They have a massive inventory of rugs and carpets sourced from the
farthest corners of Asia, and in a wide variety of sizes and dimensions. The
staff is friendly and patient, and is proud of their stunning collection of
kilims or tapestries with intricate traditional weaves. Some of these date
back to the 1800s, lovingly restored and truly spectacular to behold.
The Wishing Chair: The whimsical name sums up the happy, fairytalelike vibe of this playful store. It’s not easy to categorise The Wishing Chair
as a home store since everything here has a slightly magical touch to it.
Beautiful ceramic vases, pastel colour blocked table accessories and fairy
lights nestled in wirework cages look as if straight out of a picture book.
And just to give you that extra incentive to loiter in this little playground,
they have this cute little café called the Mad Teapot. I can’t think of a
The Wishing Chair
better accompaniment to a day of shopping than the perfect cupcake!
AMALYA
W
ithin the serene environs of The Leela Palace New Delhi lies a
lovingly curated luxury boutique. Literally meaning ‘the work of the
Lord’, AMALYA is an ode to fine craftsmanship. Keeping the global traveller in
mind, the boutique offers handpicked items that are a testament to centuries
of exquisite workmanship. The regal heritage of India is reflected in the fine
jewellery, woven textiles and signature souvenirs that have been placed here.
Naturally, this also translates to patronage of the dying art forms of India,
and is a sign of The Leela group’s commitment to the cause of restoration
and revival. But it’s not just the grandeur of tradition that is at play here.
Samyukta nair, who heads the Design and operations portfolio at The Leela
palaces, Hotels and Resorts, has also put together offerings for younger
Samyukta Nair
Head - Design and Operations,
The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts
audiences: realising that there’s a wealth of new talent in the
country, she has thrown in an eclectic selection of younger
designers, specialising in beachwear, jewellery and home
décor. This brilliant mix of old and new, the traditional and
the modern, is what ultimately makes AMALYA a destination
in itself for the global traveller. •
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 48 | SPRING 2015
CRAFTSMANSHIP
Made in
Milan
The fashion capital of the world has more to
offer than jewellery, bags and haute couture.
Milan’s artisan shoemakers were once
jewels in their city’s crown, and the tradition
of making customised shoes has carried
forward. This legacy may be the antithesis
of fast fashion, but the demanding art
of shoemaking is no longer restricted
to hidden ateliers in narrow winding
cobblestone paths. It is keeping up with the
times, finding itself perched on the shelves
of swanky stores, for a global audience.
By Naina Hiranandani
Antonio Pio Mele
F
or 36-year-old Antonio Pio Mele, the business of making shoes
artisans in Italy and England. He recalls the importance of perfection
is almost an inheritance, but he opened his own atelier only
drilled by masters such as Di Martino. “If he [Di Martino] didn’t like the
in 2008. While the previous generations of the Mele family
shoes I made, he would cut them with a knife and force me to start from
had worked in the furniture business, his father ran a factory of
the beginning. He was so great in his work that he always finished the
women’s
left shoe first, then the right — without comparing them. They would be
shoes
in
Seventies’
Italy.
The
traditional
mass
manufacture set-up had a hundred workers, laboriously toiling day
and night. Antonio introduced new systems like creating prototypes
Mele’s charming boutique allows a customer to feel like a kid in
and improving smaller production processes to increase the
a candy store, where their wish is his command. From polo boots to
efficiency of the factory. Joining the family career became “the most
ballerinas, sandals, classic shoes and sneakers, Mele’s fine products
natural thing to do”, but he picked a distinct role in shoemaking — that
cater to adults and children, and come in materials such as the noble
of an artisan.
French favourite, calfskin, to the coveted hide of the Porosus crocodile.
Before he trained as a bespoke shoemaker 15 years ago, Mele spent
considerable time apprenticing with different master shoemakers and
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 50 | SPRING 2015
perfectly equal.”
SPRING 2015
Mele has used the exotic skins of ostrich, lizard, snakes, turtle, and frog.
“I can’t only use human skin,” he jokes.
| 51 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
Each pair of shoes can take up to six to eight months from start to
end. The first step is to study the feet of the client and take measurements,
after which a customised shoe last (a mechanical form to represent the
anatomical information of the foot) of Birchwood is created. The trial
shoes take another two months to craft, and can be made more than once,
depending on the client’s peculiar foot patterns. The final upper styles of
the shoe are decided during the fitting. The final result, Mele believes, is
“beauty, comfort, quality and uniqueness”.
Mele crafts about 220-240 pairs of shoes a year, each design a
reflection of his customer: “It all depends on his age; job; habits; ideas.
Each creation is one of a kind.” For instance, a British client requests
Mele for a pair of classic shoes with the upper in black French calf, but
with lining in alligator leather. A Russian customer preferred crocodile
monk strap, with buckles made of solid gold. The “crazier choices” are
for women: towering high heels, plateau covered in Swarovski or natural
stones or sandals with pearls or initials in solid gold or silver.
With plans of expansion in London and St Tropez, Mele
wishes to remain an “artisan” for select clients. Next on his list is
Lidia Pellecchia
a trunk show in Bangalore, which will take place in in July 2015.
Antonio Pio Mele, Via Soncino, 3 20123 Milan, Italy.
W
Inquiries: +3902 39663680.
From Artisanal su Misura
Emmanuele Treccani Bonasia
I
hile growing up, Lidia Pellecchia always had an imaginative eye
towards apparel, design and art. Pellecchia, armed with a degree in
art history, now owns Artisanal su Misura, a store for exclusive handmade
From Antonio Pio Mele
men’s accessories. Even Pellecchia’s artistic photographs on Instagram (@
artisanalsumisura) beautifully showcase the day-to-day developments of
a striking pair of shoes in the making.
Pellecchia’s passion and curiosity for footwear (she is the first in the
family to step into the industry), stemmed from her work experience at a
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
Pellecchia’s passion and
curiosity for footwear
stemmed from her work
experience at a well-known
French historic house
n 2012, Canadian screenwriter David Shamoon walked the red carpet
at the Academy Awards ceremony in LA, wearing handcrafted tuxedo
shoes by Treccani Milano. On this day, Emanuele Treccani Bonasia was
beaming with pride; the co-founders of the Italian luxury brand Treccani
Milano (founded in 2010) are husband-wife duo Bonasia and Nicole
Branicky (who is also creative director).
“Coming from Milan, you’re instantly immersed in the world of
fashion — it’s in our DNA,” says Bonasia. He grew up amongst his family’s
well-known French historic house. The Maison, rich in tradition, focused
sartoria, constantly surrounded by fabrics, designs, patterns and sarti
on bespoke shoes. It was here that Pellecchia developed her strengths
(tailors). While Bonasia’s first brush with the outside world was in sales
and skills, and learned the “rules of elegance”, as she calls it. “Most of
mostly works with the best calfskin, mostly French and very soft suede,
and economics (he worked in management roles for 12 years in various
my training came from my contact with male clients from all around the
but “everything can be customised, so the client can choose freely, even
MNCs), he soon returned to his roots. “I spent plenty of time in the bottega
world. They were very big spenders. Yet it was not their wealth that was
from precious and rare skins.”
(shop) with the artisans from mornings till evenings, learning everything
the key element. It was their charm, self-confidence and strong sense of
To create a pair of bespoke shoes takes about three to four months,
about leathers, stitching, cutting, finishing…. These experiences have
power to make the difference. These, for me, are the essential features
starting with the measurement of the feet and definition of the style,
helped me thrive in the business of fashion,” he says. With time, he
of an elegant man,” says Pellecchia. She was able to absorb the minute
graduating to leather models. Between the first and second models, the
mastered trade secrets, the value of luxury handmade products and the
technical facets of the art, thanks to her close interactions with some very
shoemaker prepares a wooden form, based on the measurements to
exquisite craftsmanship behind shoes and leather goods.
fine master shoemakers.
create the ‘maquette’ (preliminary pair of shoes). Pellecchia believes the
Today their brand offers a wide range of bespoke shoes for men,
Apart from made-to-measure and bespoke shoes, the store, founded
star quality of her creations is the “freshness” of design and technical
including ankle booties, golf shoes, lace-ups, loafers, monks and tuxedo
in 2010, offers brands like Artisanal (Pellechia’s own line of ready-to-wear
finesse, steering clear of rigid patterns in shoemaking. “By method, our
shoes. For women, there is a bespoke service for flats, golf shoes and
shoes), Edward Green, Trickers, Geo T. Trumper Parfumes, SuperDuper
shoes are made traditionally, but they are also contemporary in design —
riding style boots, as well as ready-to-wear ballerinas and pumps,
Hat and Max Poglia Bags. Lidia describes the philosophy of her store as
thanks to the hands of passionate, young shoemakers. This is the Italian
including high heel platforms, closed and open toe. A stunning array of
“contemporary classic”. In essence, you will find a versatile pair: shoes
way of fashion, the real essence and culture of my country,” she grins.
hides is at the customer’s disposal, including alligator, ostrich, stingray,
that are perfect for a sartorial suit, but also suitable for a less formal look.
Artisanal su Misura, via Santa Marta 15, 20123 Milano, Italy.
calf, suede, iguana, deer, shell cordovan, tejus (lizard) and so on. They can
With a team of four master shoemakers (who work on order), Pellecchia
Inquiries: +39 02 36752541
be combined with fabrics such as cachemire (cashmere), silk, velvet, etc.
| 52 | SPRING 2015
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| 53 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
“Coming from Milan, you’re
instantly immersed in the world
of fashion — it’s in our DNA,”
says Bonasia
in the instance that someone wants to match their shoes with their suit.
And it’s worked in their favour. Earlier in 2014, Madonna collaborated with
For bespoke shoes, the style of the shoe, type of leather, stitching style,
Treccani Milano to create limited edition pumps exclusively to mark the
leather finishing and monogramming are decided in the first meeting
grand opening of her global luxury fitness brand in Toronto.
itself. They are delivered in two stages; the first try-on pair is delivered
By the time you read this, Treccani Milano will have probably launched
eight weeks after the first appointment. Here, the client tries the shoe and
a new retail store in Milan, and with it, a new collection of leather goods
any necessary adjustments are made. The final shoe is delivered about 8
for both men and women, to complement their line of custom golf leather
weeks after the second fitting. What’s interesting is that Bonasia mentions
bags. Their prime challenge has been tackling what Bosania calls “unlike-
that one of the most pressing needs for some clients to go bespoke is
us competition” — competing with unique products that are not the result
sheer comfort. “They could have very wide feet, a high bridge, very narrow
of mass production. He adds, “One of our main challenges is educating our
ankles, different foot size between the right and the left, or the need to
clients on the value of making a piece that you can not only call your own,
embed an orthotic plantar,” he explains.
but one that has also been made using the highest quality of materials
The brand wisely chose to operate from Toronto (while manufacturing
took place in Milan) for its proximity to most major markets in North America.
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
and expert craftsmanship directly from artisans in Italy.”
www.treccanimilano.com; bespoke@treccanimilano.com
| 54 | SPRING 2015
ART
Anish Kapoor’s Descension is a water vortex
Japanese artist Ryoto Kuwakubo
T
he 108-day mega art event that promises to showcase the works
of 42 artists from India and 52 from 30 other countries, the second
edition of the Kochi Muziris Biennale (KMB), has been titled
‘Whorled Explorations’. Jitish Kallat’s decision to don the curator’s hat
may have put his own work on the backburner, but he does not regret the
decision. “When the members of the selection committee, which included
several individuals I respect, called and urged me in one voice to take up
the curatorship, my instinctive response was to accept , and I did so in an
instant,” recalls Kallat.
A year later, amid concerns about sponsorships promised and not
yet forthcoming, the frenzy was palpable — even at the curtain raiser to
The mind of a
curator
Jitish Kallat, one of India’s
the KMB, which was held in Mumbai. With less than a month to go for the
most renowned artists and
art festival to begin, Kallat was a much-harried man. But the artist deftly
artistic director of the 2014
Kochi Muziris Biennale, talks
about the similarities in
creating and curating art and
the themes at the festival.
fielded questions, and was his affable self in interviews.
What did you feel about putting your own work on hold to take
up the role of the curator?
The main shift from making art to curating was, perhaps, a shift in ambience
from the solitary reflections in one’s studio to a space of dialogue with
numerous artist colleagues. As disciplines go, curating art and making art
Interviewed by Maria Louis
could be seen as versions of the same intention. At the fundamental level,
Photographs courtesy
Kochi Biennale Foundation
the work one makes as an artist or through dialogue with several artists
isn’t it all an attempt to understand reality? One can do this either through
when one curates. In the studio, you set afloat questions in solitude and
converse with your inner voice; as a curator, you conduct the inquiries
through an expanded format along with fellow practitioners — thereby
co-creating the project in dialogue.
Jitish Kallat
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echoes the very creative properties of ‘art making’. My letters to artists
There were no such stipulations. In the final list we have 42 from India and
would often vary from one another and were not dispatched as curatorial
the rest from across the world.
concept-notes — but as a sharing of intuitions in the form of ideas and
Tell us something about the locations selected for the display of
text that invoked imagery.
I began with a small, core group of artists, whose work, for me,
art and installations.
became the nucleus of the project. The process began as a solitary
The Kochi Muziris Biennale 2014 has largely returned to the same venues
journey in November 2013. By March 2014, I had invited more than half
as the first edition, to develop its narrative and vocabulary by letting
the participating artists. Thereafter, the process of inviting artists has
residues of memory from the previous edition filter through. For a young
been primarily one of responding to the biology of the project which is
biennale like ours, I felt it was necessary that its relationship to place and
The Venues
Aspinwall House, Fort Kochi
Cabral Yard, Fort Kochi
Pepper House, Fort Kochi
David Hall, Fort Kochi
CSI Bungalow, Fort Kochi
Vasco Da Gama Square, Fort Kochi
A painted and carved brick wall by artist Unnikrishnan C
Kashi Art Gallery, Fort Kochi
From Unmarked, a collateral event at the Kochi Biennale
Durbar Hall, Ernakulam
Do you think Kochi is the best place in India for an art biennale?
changed rapidly in the 1500s, with the arrival of navigators at the Malabar
a shifting field, and every invitation greatly alters this constellation of
community is deepened by its re-emerging in several of the same spaces.
Kochi, with its history and unique location on the southern tip of India
coast, seeking spices and riches… And within the revised geography were
signs. The whole endeavour involved six months of incessant travel and
There are a total of eight venues, almost all of them colonial era residences
— away from the organised art worlds of Delhi and Mumbai — is an
sharp turns in history, heralding an age of conquest, coercive trading and
dialogue with artists and scholars in various places around the world. The
and warehouses that are being reset to receive art. There is also Durbar
interesting observation deck from where to reflect on the world through
colonialism, animating the early processes of globalisation.
biennale is a snapshot of this journey in a sea of possibilities.
Hall, a state-of-the-art art gallery that the Kochi Biennale Foundation put
the discipline of contemporary art. The local audiences here are citizens
A reflection of this navigational history, as well as a shift of one’s
actively engaged in cultural, social and political processes — which more
gaze deliberating on the mysterious expedition of our planet Earth
Were you given a brief about how many Indian and how many
than compensates for their relative lack of exposure to contemporary art.
hurtling through space at over a dizzying 1,00,000 kph, where none of us
international artists [and from which parts of the world] you
Maria Louis is the editor of Architect and
I would even say that their unfamiliarity could help draw a differently rich
experience this velocity or comprehend its direction, were two prompts
could include?
Interiors India, published by ITP
experience of art, free of preconceived notions.
made in my letter to artists. The seemingly unrelated directions of
these suggestions were intentional; one was a gaze directed in time, the
In what way is the second edition of KMB different from the first
other in space. Drawing a cluster of signs, images and metaphors from
one? What innovations have you introduced?
these references, allusions to the historical and the cosmological recur
I might say that this edition of the biennale is conceived as an observation
throughout the exhibition. One could say that the exhibition exaggerates
deck hoisted in Kochi. The ideas are catalysed by this historic site and,
gestures we make every day, when we try to see or understand
hence, it is ‘site-responsive’. Kochi, in this instance, is the viewing device
something. We either go close to it or move away from it in space to
and not the vista.
see it clearly; we also reflect back or forth in time to understand the
present. Whorled Explorations draws upon this act of deliberation across
What were your curatorial intentions and ideas for the event?
axes of time and space to interlace the bygone with the imminent, the
Two chronologically overlapping, but perhaps unrelated, historical
terrestrial with the celestial.
episodes in Kerala became my points of departure for this exhibition,
titled ‘Whorled Explorations’. The 14th to 16th centuries was a time
What considerations did you keep in mind while making your
when the Kerala School of Astronomy and Mathematics was making some
selection of artists? Did you specify what you wanted them to
transformative propositions for locating human existence within the
create and display?
wider cosmos. It was also the moment when the shores of Kochi were
From the start, I felt that the biennale must produce themes rather than
closely linked to the maritime chapter of the ‘Age of Discovery’. The maps
reproduce a pre-meditated curatorial theme, where ‘exhibition making’
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 58 | SPRING 2015
in place in the run-up to the 2012 biennale.
100 artworks, 94 artists
T
he exhibits are up at the eight different
at the Aspinwall House, a large sea-facing
Kader Attia who takes a poetic and symbolic
venues in Kochi, while a series of
heritage property in Fort Kochi, the primary
approach to exploring the repercussions of
concurrent exhibitions, stage programmes
venue of the biennale; video and installation
Western cultural hegemony and colonialism.
and interactive sessions grace locations in
artist of Palestinian origin, Mona Hatoum, who
Iconic contemporary artists Anish Kapoor and
the city and in neighbouring Thrissur District.
has earlier been part of the Venice and Sydney
Yoko Ono, who have recently exhibited in India,
There are also parallel shows celebrating the
biennales and Documenta X; the first winner of
are exploring their experimental practices
country’s traditional yet evolving music, dance,
the prestigious Artes Mundi Prize, Xu Bing from
through their work for the biennale.
percussion, theatre, cinema and ballet.
China, whose artistic practice is an exploration
The international line-up of artists
Among the Indian names at the event are
of language; and probably the world’s most
Bharti Kher, Dayanita Singh, Gulam Mohammed
includes Italian contemporary artist Francesco
famous electronic artist, Mexican-Canadian
Sheikh and Surendran Nair, as well as young
Clemente, whose installation is showcased
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer; and French-Algerian
artists Sahej Rahal and Manish Nair. •
The Kochi Muziris Biennale 2014 will go on till March 29, 2015
SPRING 2015
| 59 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
CONNOISSEURSHIP
India’s
Textile Heritage
T
he history of India’s achievements in
the city for his collection: Ahmedabad was a
textiles is long and much-celebrated.
trading centre for textiles, where the Mughal
Accounts of fabrics and finery can be
emperors, too, had their clothes made. “A spark
found in Hindu epics such as the Ramayana
didn’t start a forest fire; there was already a
and the Mahabharata; in the 13th century, India
large
exported cotton to China through the Silk Route,
inheritance, which had been passed on through
and silk was exported to South Asian countries
several generations,” he says about his treasured
such as Indonesia; Surat, one of the oldest
textile collection.
Umang Hutheesingh
centres of trade in cotton textiles, attracted both
cauldron
of
historic
reference
and
In the past two decades, he has added
another 10-15 per cent to the collection that
the Dutch and the English in the 17th century…
Unfortunately, many of the country’s textiles, such as Patola
includes pieces from early and late Mughal period, with textiles
ikat silk of Patan and Rogan printing of Kutch of Gujarat, Eri silk of Orissa,
and costumes from the 18th century Raj period constituting a
the Lambani costumes of Karnataka and the hand-woven Jamaver face
significant part. “Acquiring a piece is not the tough bit, preserving
the threat of extinction — only a handful of craftsmen know how to
and
create these — in today’s world of homogeneity. And many others,
adding how most textile need to be kept in climate-controlled
such as the Banarasi brocade, Chanderi, Zari work, Pichwai paintings on
conditions. He, however, relies on age-old measures such as
cloth, bandhni dyeing, etc., face a present and future fraught with
challenges from the ubiquitous white shirt, blue jeans and the
conserving
it
is
the
real
challenge,”
says
Hutheesing,
storing textiles in termite-resistant wooden cupboards made of
rosewood or camphor. His textiles are stored painstakingly
among muslin lined with cloves, and tobacco and neem
little black dress.
leaves. Once a year, the collection is aired and sunned
In this context, collecting and preserving ancient
to ensure no bacterial growth takes place.
textiles is, it goes without saying, very important.
We spoke to four collectors who are doing their bit
“For me, preserving the collection is not
to save this heritage from the ravages of time —
about storing them in cupboards alone, but taking
from taking their collection to foreign shores for
them around the world — preserving it in the
creating awareness to encouraging young brides
minds of the people,” he says. The efforts he
to wear the masterpieces.
has undertaken have been many. In 1997, for
instance, Ralph Lauren asked him to show the
An intricately embroidered Chinese collar top by Umang Hutheesingh
From Ahmedabad-based royal family scion Umang Huthiseeing
to Mumbai-based interior designer Kavita Singh — collectors of
ancient and rare Indian textiles talk about how they’ve acquired
the fabrics and what they are doing to promote them.
By Prerna Raturi
Umang Hutheesingh
collection at an exhibition at the Metropolitan
Umang Hutheesing remembers his childhood
Museum of New York. In 1999, Anna Wintour
days when his clothes were being made right
did a 22-page story on his costumes in the
at home by in-house tailors and craftspeople.
American Vogue. “The issue had John Galliano,
Gucci, Chanel and other top designers, and put
“The entire process would take place in front of
our eyes; we grew up wearing beautiful clothing,”
Indian design and craftsmanship on the world map,”
he says.
he says. In 2010, Hutheesing took his collection
to Paris at the request of Pierre Berge, Yves Saint
Hutheesingh’s family is one of the most
privileged in the region and had a business in
Laurent’s partner, and it opened a year of India in
luxury goods such as jewelry, furniture and
Paris. In the pipeline are exhibitions in culture
capitals such as Spain, Italy and the US.
textiles. But Hutheesing is also quick to credit
Mughal-inspired velvet achkan by Hutheesingh
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
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| 61 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
rarest
collections
that
need to be shared; we truly
believe that the culture of
Jaina Mishra
and artisans from old royal families, who work
does
have
some
favourites among her “babies”,
and talked about,” says
however,
Radhika.
proud of her extensive pichwai
Jaina Mishra
collection. Her net pichwais, for
Textile art collector, curator
instance, have been painstakingly
and gallery owner Jaina
created by embroidery on the
Mishra can’t remember if
delicate fabrics. She also has a rare
it was her love for textiles
piece of patchwork pichwai, which
that fuelled her passion
has everything patched on to the
for travel or if it was the
fabric — from the eyes of figures
other way round. “I like to
to the patterns on their clothes
believe it was the former,”
and their jewelry. “It is more tribal
she says. For Mishra, who is
and one of the most beautiful
and
is
particularly
Kavita Singh
things to look at,” she says.
And while her one-year-old Interior Store in Mumbai does have a
textiles was an organic process that
part of the collection on display, Singh would like to exhibit her entire
started with her noticing them in
art collection in an old house that can be turned into a museum. “The
local markets in India, flea market
love of labour is lost in today’s times and the younger generation will
and even on the internet.
as preserving. So, he supports craftspeople
Singh
— and she likes to call it that — for
Radhika and Abhishek Poddar
“I tell my friends’ children who are
to take them,” she says.
India needs to be shared
now based in Singapore, the obsession
For Hutheesing, patronage is as important
with their treasures and I offered
For Singh, it was a different, story, however, since she grew
getting married to wear whatever they want
is only a small part of it —
up in the textile capital of India, Ahmedabad, where art and craft
to from my collection, but you know how
the real thing is to meet the
was not only displayed in museums but was also present in the
with him and restore old costumes. They also
girls are today — they prefer bling,” says
people who make it and have
clothes people wore and the houses they designed and decorated.
make new pieces inspired by the old ones, thus
Radhika, who also owns a large collection of
a close look at their lives,”
Her sensibilities were most responsive to Indian aesthetics — and her
giving a new lease of life to traditional art.
brocade saris that she has been collecting
From Mishra’s antique textiles collection
collecting
probably never see art such as this,” she says.
textiles
for 20 years.
“But
she reveals.
journey continues.
She has been documenting her travels and the stories behind the
Radhika Poddar and
Abhishek Poddar
textiles
textiles (some of which are about to go extinct) through her website
complements her husband Abhishek’s vast
wovensouls.com (and wovensouls.org). “The costumes of Lambadi tribe
Growing up with a mother who was obsessed
collection of Indian art (Abhishek is director
are a generation away from extinction — it is only the 40-year-old
with Indian textiles and works with weavers
of Tasveer, a pan-Indian gallery dedicated
women you will see wearing bright mirror-work clothes and hair tied
from Madhya Pradesh, it was only natural for
to photography). Being from Kolkata, he has
with bold silver jewelry,” she says.
Radhika Singh to fall in love with it all. “Living
a vast variety of kantha textiles with motifs
Recently, some part of Mishra’s collection has made it to Singapore’s
in Indore, my mother would buy textiles from
that are hard to come by today. “You will see
Esplanade - Theatres by the Bay, and she was recently approached by
all over and had a large collection of the
an English soldier, a cat — something very
the acclaimed textile magazine Hali, where she contributed an article
Benarasi brocade, which I fell in love with,”
random created as a work of art,” she says.
on head dresses of Ladakhi people.
Radhika’s
for
Abhishek’s latest passion is pichwai
says Radhika, who is co-owner of Cinnamon, a
design store in Bangalore.
passion
An antique shawl from Radhika Poddar’s collection
paintings and kalamkari.
Kavita Singh
Radhika says she has lost count of the number of ghagras she
The couple has special boxes for their collection, which has been
Kavita Singh expresses her love for her textile collection aptly when she
has in Benarasi brocade, all in vibrant colors, with motifs varying from
photographed, labelled and documented. Also, Radhika displays some
calls them “my babies”. The art collector has been adding to her vast
elephants, aircraft and gramophones. Her most prized ones include
of her pieces at her Bangalore design store, Cinnamon.
collection for the past 40 years and even took the pains to acquire them
a map of India pre-partition, which has been woven along the entire
length of the piece.
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
Abhishek is keen on donating to a museum in the city and is in
and register them during the Emergency, when any such item of value
talks with the state government about the same. “He has some of the
had to be declared. “It was then that a lot of people were doing away
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| 63 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
From Singh’s Pichwai collection
WheeLS
The legendary luxury marque is enjoying
its most successful revival since its heyday
Bentley
in the early 20th century. Meraj Shah
recounts Bentley’s milestones and traces
its unique sporting heritage.
through the years
F
or the very first time in its 95-year-existence, Bentley Motors has
sold over 5,254 cars in six months — in the first half of 2014 —
and is on track to recording its highest sales figures for a year.
Fuelled in no small measure by the soaring popularity of its cars in China
— popular Bentleys like the Continental GT are a common sight on the
streets of Beijing — Bentley’s fortunes have soared in the aftermath
of the global recession. And even more tellingly, these sales have not
come at the expense of its historic bête noire — Rolls Royce — which,
too, has had a record-breakingly spectacular year. For the first time ever,
two of most pedigreed luxury car brands in the history of automobiles
— and which share a complex and intertwined history — are seeing
unprecedented success.
For Bentley, which has traditionally been considered a notch below
Rolls Royce in the luxury sweepstakes, it has been a stunning return to
the top. And as the carmaker unveils plans to launch, for the first time
ever, an SUV, as well as a clutch of electric-hybrid cars, the countdown to
2019, when Bentley enters the rarefied club of century-old automakers,
has begun.
Bentley’s genesis is steeped in typical British sporting tradition,
rather than luxury. In 1919, W.O. Bentley, a racing enthusiast and aeroengines manufacturer, struck by the novel idea of using aluminium
(instead of cast-iron) for engine pistons to reduce weight and create
automobiles, created the first car bearing his name. The ‘three-litre,’
the first Bentley to receive critical acclaim for its durability, acquitted
itself admirably in the well-known Brooklands Races and even inspired
a bunch of wealthy racing enthusiasts who famously came to be known
as the ‘Bentley Boys’. The crowning glory and the final mark of approval
to the three-litre’s calibre came when John Duff and Frank Clement won
that ultimate test of car and driver, Le Mans, in 1924. It was to be the
first of five victories at that race for Bentley: the ‘Bentley Boys’ piloted
subsequent models, including the iconic 4.5 litre (which was also Ian
Fleming’s original ride for James Bond), and Speed Six to consecutive
wins from 1927-1930. Bentley’s star was in its ascendancy, with other
models like the Blower No. 1 and the 8-litre becoming immensely
popular with enthusiasts. But, perhaps, nothing captured public
imagination like the real-world race which pit a Bentley against the ‘Blue
1925, Bentley Supersport
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| 64 | SPRING 2015
SPRING 2015
Train,’ all the way from Cannes to London. William Barnato, one of the
| 65 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
The 1970s were the bleakest period for Bentley. Shorn of individuality
and labelled the ‘poor man’s Rolls’, sales fell dramatically, only to be
revived by the launch of the Bentley Mulsanne, in 1980, and later with
the Mulsanne Turbo, in 1982. Named after the straight at Le Mans, the
car reprised Bentley’s sporting heritage, which was further reinforced by
the renaming of the Bentley Corniche to the ‘Continental’. The ascension
continued when the first ‘original’ Bentley after 1954, the Continental,
debuted in 1991. Bentley equalled and even outsold Rolls Royce in the
late 1990s.
Considering the tenuousness of their relationship, it’s no small feat
that Rolls Royce and Bentley stayed under the same roof for half-a-century.
The divorce finally came about in 2002, when BMW bought the rights to the
Rolls Royce name and Volkswagen announced that it would invest nearly
$1 billion (in today’s dollars) to revive Bentley. The hunaudieres concept
car debuted in Geneva in 1999, and led to the new Continental. In 2001,
Bentley returned to Le Mans, and five years later, the 2006 Bentley Azure
became the born-again Bentley’s flagship luxury sedan.
Above: Bentely R-Type; Below: Bentley Arnage
Above: Bentley Blower; Below: Bentley Speed 8
Bentley Boys, and then-owner of Bentley, drove his 6.5 litre Speed Six on
public highways, and, inspite of a channel crossing in a ferry, won. That
was to be the last of Bentley’s sporting achievements for half a century.
Popularity aside, Bentley’s struggling finances led to it being surreptitiously
acquired by arch-rival Rolls Royce, in 1931.
The Bentley model most evocative of the 1950s remains the gorgeous
R-type Continental — the first Bentley to carry the Continental branding
which was to become, and remains to the day, the carmaker’s most enduring
franchise. The straight-six engine ‘fastback,’ like other Bentleys of the time,
had custom bodywork — the most-sought-after specimens were built
by the legendary h.J. Mulliner. hugely popular in the vintage car market,
mint-condition R-type Continentals regularly fetch anywhere between
half- a-million to two million dollars today. The R-type was the last Bentley
without a Rolls Royce equivalent. And thus began a long period scoffed by
CORBIS
Bentley purists as ‘badge-engineered,’ during which all the Bentleys were
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
based on chasses sourced from Rolls Royce. During this period, Rolls Royce
and Bentleys were constructed side by side, simply with different badges.
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Another Bentley series that enjoyed a dream run during the 2000s
Paris hilton’s Bentley is all pink. The heiress apparently splashed out
was the Arnage, which outsold its Rolls Royce equivalent, the Silver Seraph;
an additional $200,000 to transform her Bentley into a Barbie dream car
it was discontinued in 2009. The Arnage, powered by a BMW V8, was, for a
back in 2008. Kim Kardashian drives around in a black Bentley Continental
short period, the fastest and most powerful four-door saloon on the roads,
GT with monogrammed seats.
Closer to home, the sporty Continental GT appears to be most popular
despite weighing a leviathan 2.5 tonnes.
Today, the Bentley Continental lineup has expanded from one very
with Bollywood actors. Amitabh Bachchan prefers it to all the other rides in
fast sedan to seven even faster sedans and convertibles, including one
his garage, while two of the Khans — Aamir and Shah Rukh — are regularly
flex-fuel vehicle. each has the 6-litre W12 engine, but the Continental
seen at the wheel of their own bespoke versions of the car. even Virender
Supersports, as part of Bentley’s commitment to reducing its carbon
Sehwag, who likes to keep a low profile, couldn’t resist the allure of a fully
footprint company-wide, can run on either gasoline or biofuels. With
loaded Flying Spur...
the introduction of the Bentley Mulsanne in the
summer of 2009, though, Bentley was back on firm
ground with a long, luxurious sedan. Perhaps nothing
exemplifies Bentley’s ethos more than the fact that,
even today, all its cars, without exception, are still
manufactured at the same factory in Crewe, where the
first large production facility was first set up in 1938 (by
new owner Rolls Royce).
The Bentley factory in Crewe has become something
of a pilgrimage site and continues to produce the flagship
Mulsanne, the brand new Flying Spur, and the hugely
Above: Bentley Continental GT Flying Spur; Below: Bentley Mulsanne
successful Continental GT and GT Cabriolet. The differences
in these cars, more than anything else, lie in the number
of man-hours and detail involved in their production.
even though Volkswagen’s ownership has infused
modern manufacturing techniques into the production,
these cars are still largely hand-built and Bentley goes
to incredible lengths to source the best materials. For a
Mulsanne, for example, the company sources 17 full bull
hides for the upholstery. These Bulls are sourced from
barbed wire or insect bites. Bentley’s attention-to-detail
is second to none.
Paris Hilton’s Bentley is all pink
Sticker price is just a number for Bentley owners,
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 68 | SPRING 2015
as the cars often end up costing twice as much, on account of individual
At the end of the day, decadent luxury aside, Bentley’s second
customisation which cover every conceivable detail. Back in the day, Ralph
coming has everything to do with its heritage — the sporting one.
Lauren reportedly asked for ‘Black Chrome’, on his car which Bentley had
Today’s Bentleys whether it’s the unabashedly quick Continental GT,
to invent, since it didn’t exist. And then there’s the incident of Queen
or the more nuanced Flying Spur, and the Mulsanne, are considered
elizabeth, who requested that her state limousine’s doors include part of
‘cooler,’ than Rolls Royce on account of their racing credentials. When
the Bentley’s roof, so that she could stand upright before exiting the car.
the Continental GT was launched in India, Bentley invited the motoring
Bentley has also clearly stolen the mantle for the most popular car
journalist fraternity, not for some sedate coastal drive, but to put the
in the A-grade celebrity set, whether it’s rich Arab princes, top business
car through its paces at the Buddh International Circuit, in the capital-
magnates, hollywood celebrities or American pop stars. The list of famous
region. Luxury and racing performance have traditionally been, and
people who own a Bentley includes the likes of rap stars Jay-Z and Ludacris,
largely continue to be, mutually exclusive. Unless you’re behind the
who often rap about their GTs, and David Beckham.
wheel of a Bentley, that is.
SPRING 2015
| 69 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
CORBIS
specific locations where they are not exposed to either
SnAPShoT
Safety meets
K
LAUnChPAD
luxury
amal by The Leela Palace New Delhi is a unique customisable
butlers, and concierges. She can, as a Kamal guest, also use the services
package meant exclusively for single women travellers. It all
of a personal shopping assistant. There’s a personal chef who curates
The circus
comes to town
A
The famous new York restaurant gets a
presence in the IT city — here’s what food
connoisseurs can expect at Le Cirque
Signature at The Leela Palace Bangalore.
include the fragrant saffron risotto, the tuna tartare featuring
begins with the lady guest being ushered to the hotel from the airport
gourmet experiences, including gluten-free and healthy lifestyle menus,
in a chauffeur-driven BMW sedan. At the room, she gets to enjoy a
specially for Kamal guests. In addition, they can take advantage of a
slew of F&B offerings, luxury toiletries, styling accessories, lifestyle
unique range of on-request services, including exclusive offers on spa
hosting celebrities, politicians, artists and the social elite of the
of Swiss almond ice cream and vanilla sponge cake, and the
magazines, books, Wi-Fi, etc. She also gets to experience personalised
treatments at ESPA, a private yoga session, on-call make-up artist, and a
US. Frank Sinatra, Sophia Loren, Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese —
mille foglie (an Italian version of the French classic mille
round-the-clock service delivered by a team of female housekeepers,
guided day-tour to Taj Mahal, in Agra. . •
Le Cirque had/has been a favourite of these personalities at one
feuille), comprising white chocolate mousse, hazelnuts
fter it first opened, in 1974, in new York, Le Cirque went on
to become one of the world’s most celebrated restaurants,
ahí tuna with mango coulis, the baked Alaska, an assemblage
and delicate eggplant wafers. needless to add, Le
time or another, as also of so many others.
Cirque Signature at The Leela Palace Bangalore, like
The restaurant brand’s India partner is, as you may already know,
The Leela Group, and 2013 saw the unveiling of Le Cirque Signature
its Mumbai counterpart, will also offer guests an
at The Leela Mumbai. The cosy restaurant, which has won a lot of
interesting selection of fine wines.
The fine dining restaurant is located on the
critical acclaim, was helmed by the very creative Chef Matteo
Boglione. Boglione recently shifted his base to The Leela
fifth floor of the gorgeous hotel, and its interiors
Palace Bangalore, where he oversaw the launch of the IT
bespeak refined elegance — subtle tones of beige,
ebony and ochre, with Murano glass chandeliers.
city’s Le Cirque Signature, in november 2014.
There’s also an alfresco seating area. Just after
Boglione and co. are giving Bengaluru’s food lovers
the entrance of the restaurant, you will find wire
the flavour of some of Le Cirque’s most famous signature dishes.
highlights
of
the
drawings, illustrated by Denver-based artist Tim Flynn,
menu,
depicting scenes from the Indian circus (Le Cirque
which is an eclectic mix of
translates to ‘The Circus’).
French and Italian cuisines,
The private dining room at
Le Cirque Signature at The
Leela Palace Bangalore
Le Cirque Signature
at The Leela Palace
Bangalore remains
open from 6.30 pm to
11:30 pm every day.
For reservations,
please call
+91 (80)30571540 /41
KAMAL services can be added to an
accommodation category of choice at an
introductory price of INR 2000 per night
only, plus taxes. To book, call The Leela
Reservations Worldwide 1800 1031 444, or
send an email to reservations@theleela.com
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
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THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 73 | SPRING 2015
mInI-CITy
luxury of a C
hotel at home
The
ombining the best of luxury and design, Bhartiya City is a
A perfect example of great design, this massive space is aptly
Be it for business, leisure, or fitness, these homes have something
beautiful township sprawled across 125 acres near Hebbal,
named the ‘City of Joy’ and showcases world-class architecture. The
for everyone. If a resident finds something missing or need something
Bengaluru. The development, by Bhartiya Group, includes
property is a collaborative design effort by world-renowned architects
done, an army of concierges, botanists, and even personal trainers will
plush residential premises, gourmet restaurants, a performance art
and urban designers who have benchmarked themselves against
be at his service. The Leela Residences come fitted with the ultimate
pavilion, a four-acre park, shopping avenues, convention centres and
international standards.
in kitchens: Boffi kitchens from Italy, which combine state-of-the-art
design with the best of technology. The residential complex will have
lots more. To achieve the right measure of luxury and comfort for The
The City of Joy is precisely what its name suggests
Leela Residences, the Bhartiya Group has partnered with the The Leela
Living in the lap of luxury
gourmet restaurants manned by master chefs from across the world,
— find out the details of Bengaluru’s most
Palaces, Hotels and Resorts. The Leela Group, after the brand unveiled
The Leela Residences are apartments comprising the finest furniture
truly taking Indian luxury to the next level.
prestigious integrated city project, featuring the
its first hotel around 25 years ago, has been an important part of the
and fittings. These exclusive residences have been designed for the
luxury hospitality story in India. By being associated with projects such
discerning luxury-lover: for those who love the finer things in life.
Relish the finest in style
as Bhartiya City, it is playing an even more significant role in shaping the
These are available in variations of four-bedroom, three-bedroom, two-
The heart of Bhartiya City, apart from the residences, comprises plush
luxury and hospitality industries in the country.
bedroom, one-bedroom and studio apartments.
restaurants, a sprawling High Street, a dedicated area at the piazza to
limited edition Leela Residences, in partnership with
The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts.
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soak up the sun, La Ramblas-inspired boulevards. The fashion space
park in Bhartiya City.
Services galore
out to them felt like a natural step.” Vivek nair, Chairman and
connoisseurs can meet like-minded folks at the various art galleries,
All roads lead home
Apart from umpteen regular services, The Leela Residences also
managing Director, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, is
cinemas and the Centre for Performing Arts.
Bhartiya City is strategically located and is easily accessible both by
offers many that exemplify luxury. A dedicated valet, butler,
equally enthusiastic about this project: “Since its inception, The
will feature some of the world’s biggest names and labels. And culture
road and air and the proposed Peripheral Ring Road will make it even
limousine on call will make your life super convenient; you can
Leela Group has been at the forefront redefining Indian luxury
A world-class lifestyle
more accessible to the rest of Bengaluru. The Kempegowda International
show your family a good time with the on-call in-house fine dining
by providing unique experiences derived from the riches, art and
not only are the residences equipped with a state-of-the-art gym,
Airport is a mere 25-minute drive away.
service; the residences also offer a crèche facility; make full use
history of India. The Leela Residences at Bhartiya City are the
they also house a spa offering relaxing and rejuvenating therapies.
of the secretarial and business services to keep up-to-date with
newest addition to this legacy.”
The residents-only bar and clubhouse stock some of the world’s finest
work; call over your personal yoga trainer for a relaxing session.
drinks. For the lovers of sports, there are swimming pools and tennis
Snehdeep Aggarwal, Founder and Chairman, Bhartiya Group,
courts. The interiors of the integrated city have dedicated cycling
A stunning view
says, “One can’t cycle or even walk in the best Indian cities;
tracks as well as pedestrian-friendly walking tracks. P Landscape
Wake up at The Leela Residences with a breathtaking view
the quality of life is poor. It is my dream to change this through
from Thailand, another collaborator on the project, has manicured the
of four acres of absolute green called the Central Park.
Bhartiya City. I envision it as a place of culture, commerce, a
pristine lawns and terraces at Bhartiya City. Its team of horticulturists,
Located in the heart of Bhartiya City, this open area is ideal
place that delivers international standards of life.” About the
landscape architects and designers have worked keeping in mind the
for an early-morning stroll or an evening picnic with friends
collaboration with The Leela Group, he says, “We want our
fact that Indian urban areas will be twice their current size by 2030 —
and family. The uniquely designed Centre for Performing
guests and residents to feel like kings. And who can facilitate
which is to say, they have planned for the environmental necessities of
Arts is another upcoming landmark located in this park.
that better than The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts? Reaching
the future. The Leela Residences overlook the lush landscaped central
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
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CHEF’S CORNER
MIXOLOGY
Vijayan
Parakkal
Cocktails with a twist
Kinshuk Parnami, assistant manager of F&B at The Leela Palace Udaipur, has been
fascinated by the heritage of the Rajasthan city. Here he gives us the recipes of his
The Leela Kovalam executive chef on
signature cocktail, which has a local touch, and another Martini variation.
what distinguishes Kerala cuisine, and
the must-trys at the resort property.
What’s your favorite
The thin-crust multi-grain pizza
balanced, which really stokes
who have never been to a
type of cuisine?
and the baked gnocchi with
your appetite. Not many other
hotel school, but who have
Italian. It’s simple and light, and,
spinach and walnut. And, of
cuisines in the world can boast
the ability to create great food
to a certain extent, healthy, too.
course, Kerala cuisine.
of this.
using ordinary ingredients, and I
respect those chefs.
Our Royal Travancore Thali
When did you first decide
showcases the best of the
Which chefs do you
you will become a chef?
state’s culinary heritage.
admire most?
What’s your favourite
Chef Auguste Escoffier (the
midnight snack?
since childhood. At community
What is the chief
Frenchman was known as ‘the
Mini tandoori
weddings, I saw people preparing
distinguishing aspect of
king of chefs’). He upgraded
chicken wraps.
food in large quantities, without
Kerala food?
French cooking methods, and
compromising its identity and
It combines a variety of flavours
restaurant menus, and brought
What are the three
taste. This was the initial spark.
— spicy, sour, sweet and salty;
professionalism into the
ingredients you can’t
when you have a SADYA (served
management of the kitchen.
do without?
Tell us the must-try dishes
on a banana leaf) dish, you have
His favourite motto was ‘Keep
Butter, demerara sugar, and
at The Leela Kovalam.
the various flavours excellently
it simple’. Every city has chefs
lots of fresh herbs.
Cooking has fascinated me ever
The Palace Martini
Pomegranate & Ginger Martini
This is our signature Martini based on old recipes of erstwhile royal
households, and garnished with saffron strands floating over silver leaf.
Vijayan Parakkal
An alumnus of the renowned
Institute of Hotel Management,
Ingredients
• Vodka: 30 ml
• Royal Kesar Kasturi (Heritage liquor): 15 ml
• Southern Comfort: 15 ml
Mumbai, Chef Vijayan has worked
for some of the world’s finest
luxury hotel brands. At The Leela
Kovalam, the award-winning chef
has spearheaded the successful
•
•
•
•
Method
Pour all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
Add a little sugar syrup and some ice
Shake it nicely and strain into a cocktail glass
Carefully rest the silver leaf on the drink and let it float with some
silver strands onto it.
•
•
•
•
Ingredients
Whole Pomegranate
Freshly cut and peeled ginger
Vodka: 45 ml
Orange liqueur: 15 ml
Method
• Muddle the freshly peeled ginger pieces and the
pomegranate seeds into a shaker
• Pour a generous measure of vodka
and the orange liqueur.
Add some sugar syrup and lime juice, according to
preference.
• Shake it with some ice and strain it into a cocktail glass.
implementation of HACCP &
ISO 22000 quality standards.
He frequently travels abroad
to conduct food promotional
events, and writes columns for
various industry-related trade
publications. •
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
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OENOPHILIA
A taste of
South America
An insight into Chilean wine and why it is so popular among connoisseurs.
By Aishwarya Nair
C
A wine from Patagonia
Chile offers a beautiful array of white wines as well: Chardonnay,
Riesling, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc, among others
35 South Carmenere 2013
variety of terrior, making for the most beneficial vine growth.
Chile offers a beautiful array of white wines as well: Chardonnay,
New World wines category. Known especially for
Having the Andes Mountains on the east, the Pacific
Riesling, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc, among others. Sauvignon Blanc
Originating in the picturesque Central Valley, this wine is made from
their value-for-money produce, Chilean winemakers have
Ocean on the west, and the Atacama Desert in the north
is the most critically-acclaimed of these. The Chilean Sauvignon Blanc is
100 per cent Carmenere grapes. It has a deep dark purple colour and
set high standards for their competitors. Good quality and
presents a great setting for irrigation, despite the dry
best served as an aperitif or paired with lighter-style foods like seafood
is firmly robust. The tannins are well-rounded, and fruit notes are ever
weather. And the country has very few constricting
and blue and goats milk cheese. It is know for its salient refreshing
present, with gorgeous ripe black cherry and plum. It is completely full-
characteristic, with pronounced citric and mineral notes.
bodied with a heady scent on the nose. Its finish is rather voluptuous
hile has surely become a force to reckon with in the
nominal prices have fuelled the growth of viticulture in
regulations on viticulture and production of wine.
the South American country.
The red wine varietals produced in Chile are
Wine making was introduced in Chile in the
and satisfying.
RECOMMENDED WINES
wake of the Spanish Inquisition. The industry’s
a pastiche of those found in the Bordeaux region
recent progress has been through innovation and
of France, predominantly consisting of Cabernet
an industrious use of its natural resources. It is
Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Malbec,
Vina Tarapaca La Isla Sauvignon Blanc 2012
A seductively dark violet coloured wine that is very revealing on the
the only country to have enjoyed a phylloxera
Carmenere and also Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir, though
Made by Christian Molina at the Tarapaca Estate, known for its Sauvignon
palate. On tasting this wine it certainly benefits from decanting with
(a pest that grafts itself to the root of the vine)-
not a traditional Bordelaise varietal, has seen a
blanc, which has a very fresh, zesty character. Owing to the high altitude
and evolving nose of dark berries, spice, to more tertiary aromas such
free terrior. Chile has become an investment
recent surge in the Chilean wine market owing to
at which the estate is positioned, the vine benefits from the cooling
as vanilla and tobbaco. On the palate, it is well-rounded, with subtle
Aishwarya Nair
its cool climate. Carmenere is really the varietal
effect of the climate. This wine is young, vibrant, fresh, with notes of
tannins, bright acidity.
Food & wine merchandising,
The Leela Palaces,
Hotels and Resorts
Chile can take full credit for, for bringing it back
orange and lemon. It also sports a flint-like nose, which is typical of a
from the dead; it was nearly extinct in European
well-made Sauvignon Blanc.
opportunity for mega-wine producers such as
Chateau Lafitte, Rothschild, Pernod Ricard, Torres
and Bruno Prat.
Blessed with a bounteous climate, Chile
Santa Rita 120 Sauvignon Blanc 2012
vineyards. Found locally grown between Merlot
vines, Carmenere is deeply hued with an intense
provides a perfect setting for oenology, for organic
Castillo de Molina Carmenere 2013
This ripe and lively wine is blended with 2 per cent Semillon,
Vina Tarapaca El Rosal Pinot Noir 2012
which gives it a base and weight. Quite roaring with notes of green
wine to thrive. Being largely influenced by a beneficent Mediterranean
purple, with spicy yet dynamically fruit-forward nature. Carmenere
Made in the famous Maipo Valley, this wine is a true treat in terms of
rip fruit, grapefruit and a more tropical nose. It is gentle, has a smooth
climate accented by the cool and moderating winds of the Humboldt
wine, which is available in the Indian market, goes very well with spiced
pricing for Pinot noirs in the world. It is soft, supple, with curious floral
finish and bears traditional lemon-lime qualities in its essence. A good
current, the Chilean terrain is a cornucopia of conducive climate. With
Indian foods such as curry or stewed meat. The pleasant and cohesive
notes and a bit of spice. I would pair this with a fish like salmon or lighter
wine to pair with salad — even with an Asian-themed lemongrass
such an abundance of diversity in climate the natural terrain offers a
tannic structure of the wine makes it most appealing.
styled meats. It is a good aperitif wine as well.
scented fish.
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
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JET SET GO
ACCOLADES
T
he Leela Palace New Delhi was rated one of the Conde Nast Traveller
Traveller India Readers’ Travel Awards 2014 in November, while The Leela
UK Readers 2014’s Best Overseas Business Hotels, and was one of
Goa was runner-up Favourite Leisure Hotel in India. Today’s Traveller
the top 25 Business Hotels in Asia, according to Smart Travel Asia 2014.
Awards in September voted The Leela Mumbai as Best Business Hotel in
The hotel’s rooftop swimming pool was featured among the loftiest hotel
Mumbai and The Leela Kovalam as the Best Wedding Hotel in South India.
rooftops around the world by Wallpaper Online 2014. The Leela Palace
The Leela Ambience Gurgaon was declared the winner for India’s leading
Udaipur’s ESPA was voted Favourite Hotel Spa in India by the Condé Nast
Hotel Residences by the World Travel Awards in September.
feast
A
of awards
GUEST SPEAK
Le Cirque Signature
What did you find most interesting
Signature. Le Cirque there has a gorgeous room
about Bengaluru?
and two beautiful outdoor terraces. The food
Bengaluru is probably the most international
is as good as that of its sister restaurant in
of all cities I have visited in India. It’s the one
Mumbai, and probably better than that of many
with the best weather, and where everyone
restaurants in Italy and France.
understands American culture.
Any interesting food dish/drink you
particularly enjoyed?
How was your stay at The Leela Palace
Bangalore?
I love The Leela Palace Bangalore because
it really delivers an authentic Indian palatial
experience. It’s a stunning hotel. There is so much
character. The rooms are sumptuous and modern
Carlo Mantica
Managing Member,
LC International LLC
(parent company of Le Cirque,
Circo, and Sirio Ristorante)
lobster risotto and crème brule, I really enjoyed
the ravioli carbonara and the lamb chops. The
place also has a good selection of wines and
spirits. I liked Chianti Castellare, which pairs
options and the easy access to a luxury mall.
What are some of your
What are some of the must-dos
must-pack items?
at the hotel?
A swimsuit, an elegant Italian suit, running gear,
For sure, a trip to Jamavar and Le Cirque
and my iPhone 6 Plus.
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 82 | SPRING 2015
Tommy Hilfiger
Michael Trim
Kenneth Chenault
Kailash Purryag
Fashion designer
Hollywood director,
and producer for HBO
Actor and former governor of
California
The Leela Palace
Chennai
The Leela Palace
New Delhi
The Leela Palace
Udaipur
The Leela Mumbai
Thank you so
much for your
extraordinary
help and service.
I will be back!
Thank you so very
much for a great
stay. I love the
hotel, the room, the
spa, the food, the
service, and, most
of all, the people,
you have trained
so well! I loved my
stay! I will return!
The most
wonderful hotel
in the most
wonderful place.
The Leela
Palace
Bangalore
CEO and Chairman
of American Express
President of the
Republic of Mauritius
At Le Cirque Singature, besides the classic
well both with pastas and meats.
at the same time. I like the diversity in restaurant
Arnold
Schwarzenegger
SPRING 2015
| 83 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
Thank you
for a most
enjoyable
stay. The
service was
outstanding.
This must be the
third time that I
have been staying
here over the last
year. I must say
that the welcome,
the service and
courtesy of the
staff have been
excellent as usual.
EVENTS
International Foray
T
he Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts recently signed a MOU with
Summit Group to collaborate on the first of the four hotels it plans
to launch in Nepal; present on the occasion was Sushil Koirala, Prime
Minister of Nepal. The Leela Kathmandu, which marks a new era of
partnership in tourism between the two countries, is expected to be
completed within 36 months. Summit Group, which has extensive
interests in real estate, hotels and allied businesses, will develop
the property, while The Leela Group will market and manage it. Said
Vivek Nair, Chairman and Managing Director, The Leela Palaces, Hotels
and Resorts, “We are delighted to foray into the international market
with Kathmandu. Given the potential of global tourism, we look forward
to expanding our footprint both in India and overseas.” The hotel in
Kathmandu, which is located close to Narainhit Museum, will be followed
by a property in Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha..
INSIDER’S GuIDE
What to do in
Kolkata
Priyanka and Prateek Raja, the co-founders/
directors of the art gallery Experimenter, share
their insights on food and shopping in the city.
What do you think really sets Kolkata apart from the other
metropolitan cities of India?
The two things that are completely unique about the city are its food and
the people. Every celebration in this city is related to food in some way.
And the people here have a certain depth that you can’t quite figure out.
Marble Palace, Kolkata
It’s so easy to make conversations with strangers on the streets.
Could you recommend a few restaurants for visitors to the city?
Prime Minister of Nepal, Sushil Koirala (centre), witnesses the agreement-signing
and exchange ceremony between Vivek Nair (left), Chairman and Managing Director,
The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, and Amrit Shakya (right), Chairman and
Managing Director, Summit Group, to establish four hotels in Nepal, at PM’s Official
Residence, Balutwar
Celebrating Fashion
Most of the older restaurants of the city continue to do well. We’d
recommend Mocambo, for the old-school Continental food, Peter Cat, and
1658, which, too, serves Continental food. For biryani, it’s either Royal or
Arsalan for us. If you want Bengali food, you must eat at Kewpie’s, and
that is if you can’t get yourself an invite to a Bengali household. Two more
places we’d recommend are Bohemian, a small place that does interesting
fusion food, and The Corner Courtyard Café, for its European menu. You
can also dine at Golden Joy at Tangra (China Town). And if you call them a
We’d definitely
recommend
travellers to
try one of the
heritage walks,
which take you
to places that
are hidden
What are some of the places one
should visit?
The architectural elements of Kolkata
cannot be missed — from New Market,
and College Street, with the Indian
Coffee House, to monuments such as the
Indian Museum and Marble Palace. The
past really comes alive at these places.
We’d definitely recommend travellers to
day in advance and place an order for the specials, you can experience an
exceptional meal there.
try one of the heritage walks, which take
you to places that are, so to speak, hidden. You can also visit Kali Temple,
Kumartuli, where idols are made, and Chitpur, where one can see the dying
What about street food — that’s a separate culture
craft of quilt making.
altogether in Kolkata, isn’t it?
Any shopping tips?
Oh, yes! For kebabs, there’s Zachariah Street, and
Sphere’s Lane (near the Central metro station).
For clothes and accessories: there’s Kanishka near
They come up only in the evenings. Decker’s Lane
Gariahat for saris, Chamba Lamba in New Market for
has all kinds of joints — from places that
silver jewellery, and Dakshinapan for handloom
serve lunch during office hours... kebabs,
B
and other things. Nizam’s is one of
at Dolly’s Tea). Also, make an appointment
our favourite places to grab rolls, but I
with jewellery designer Eina Ahluwalia
recommend that you tell them how to make
lue-chip business titans and daring young designers mixed with top
Attendees were welcomed with Grey Goose cocktails at the celebrated
it for you. Kusum on Park Street, too, offers
models, fashion entrepreneurs and talented creatives from across
Le Cirque restaurant, where they dined on exquisite Langoustine cutlets,
decent rolls. And if you want to try fruit pulp
India to celebrate Business of Fashion’s second annual #BoF500, an index
Scottish Salmon ‘bouchon’s and French madeleines. Guests included
kulfis, head to Pathakji on Theatre Road –—
of 500 people shaping the global fashion industry. The event, supported
Manish Malhotra, Manish Arora, Tarun Tahiliani, Anamika Khanna, Bandana
their kulfis are beautiful. And then there’s
by Gemfields, was hosted by actor Sonam Kapoor and Imran Amed, BoF’s
Tewari, Anaita Shroff Adajania, Cecilia Morelli Parikh, Kalyani Chawla,
the quintessential Kolkata puchka that
founder and editor-in-chief, in November at The Leela Palace New Delhi.
Rahul Mishra, Sunil Sethi and JJ Valaya, among others.
everyone must try.
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
| 84 | SPRING 2015
products (one can also grab a lovely tea there
Before venturing into the world of art,
Priyanka was a part of the media division at
Procter & Gamble and Prateek was working
in Tanishq. Both of them have a management
degree. Before they inaugurated the gallery,
they travelled across the world to do research
on art shows and did the South Asian
Contemporary Art course at Sotheby’s London.
SPRING 2015
| 85 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
— she makes some exquisite jewellery.
There are a lot of people who buy antique
furniture from Kolkata, and would be a good
place to check out.
— Interviewed by Priyadarshani Nandy
PERSPECTIVE
Guilt-free
yogawear
SOCIAL INDEX
Welfare of the animals
Mumbai-based Lauren Adelman
narrates the story of Human
Revolution Clothing, which creates
Wildlife SOS is one of the country’s most
yoga gear using GMO-free cotton.
I had a minimal understanding of garments and textiles; I had worked as
a sous chef back in Hawaii. I spent months in India travelling to remote
villages, from Begampur and Howrah in Kolkata, Bagru in Rajasthan,
Auroville in Pondicherry to Rajkot in Gujarat, learning about Indian
RHONDA FORSBERG
craftsmanship.
escuing a four-foot cobra that had wandered into an ATM, a monitor lizard that accidentally
strayed into a school, or a deer that landed up on a golf course — the NGO Wildlife SOS, which
runs helplines in the capital region and Agra, rescues animals from the trickiest of situations.
The organisation is best known for its work for the welfare of sloth bears that were used for
It’s been a journey of sorts since then, working with people who have
Mathura. This age-old practice was endangering the species, for mother bears were being killed
never met a white person and don’t speak English. What amazes me is the
in order to kidnap cubs that would be trained to perform as “dancing bears”. In 1995, a report was
kindness: I have been invited to farmers’ homes who had been reeling
submitted to the government of India to rescue these bears under the Wildlife Protection Act,
under poverty but who still found means to offer me a humble meal. It’s
1972. By December 2009, after 14 years of perseverance, the last of these bears were rescued
like they were saying, “Here, I have nothing, but you can have half of the
from the streets. The NGO has also, it is worth noting, rehabilitated about 3000 of the Kalandar
little I have”.
families, giving them assistance for alternative livelihood sources and seed funds to start small
Speaking of food, I love Indian cuisine. Chai, lassi, dal fry, mutton
curry and masala dosa are absolute favorites. Offer me any of your spicy
and flavored foods, I will not say no!
entrepreneurial endeavours.
Like sloth bears, captive elephants in India have endured a cruel fate — being used for begging,
held in temples for giving 'blessings', forced to perform in circuses. Wildlife SOS rescues injured
when I see some artisans advise their children to give up the family trade,
— Mahatma Gandhi
R
entertainment by a nomadic community of gypsies called the Kalandars, in Rajasthan, Agra and
I wear a nose ring and some traditional jewellery. I’m dismayed
"There is no beauty in the
finest of cloth if it causes
hunger and unhappiness."
By Ritu Goyal
renowned animal rescue organisations.
and sick elephants working in oppressive conditions. The NGO helps in preventing the capture and
trade of wild elephant calves.
because it doesn’t fetch any money, and pursue more lucrative careers.
A total of 627 bears have been rescued and housed in four centres, across India, where they
The Indian handloom is a fascinating invention and takes an entire day’s
have been given excellent medical care, nutritious diet and the freedom to roam in large natural
worth of complicated work to assemble. Making handmade cloth
enclosures. Similarly, 11 rescued elephants
is complex and intricate. You should work hard to preserve your
have found a home in the NGO’s two Elephant
culture and heritage. Consumers should help prevent Indian
Conservation and Care Centers, in Haryana
t all began with the quest for the perfect yoga
undergarment. I was a student of Ashtanga Yoga back
in Hawaii, and was constantly searching for gear that
would allow me to flow through my asanas effortlessly.
SHWETA MAZUMDAR
handicrafts and craftsmanship from becoming obsolete.
I
in India in due to draught and economic distress. I also
researched the increase of cancer, diabetes, heart
disease, fertility problems, birth defects, etc. from
the use of the chemical fertilisers and insecticides
sprayed on cotton farms around the world. That’s
when I realised that my life’s calling was not only
to create the perfect yoga gear, but also to create a
brand that supports organic farming and community
fair-trade.
I was toying with idea since 2008, but created
HRC in 2012. When I arrived here for the first time,
and Mathura. These centres are the first to
As you may have figured out by now, I am a yogini. It’s
provide protected contact enclosures for the
funny how Caucasians are so passionate about yoga, whereas
bull elephants, and doing away with training
most of the Indians I’ve met don’t do it all. I guess we all
My moment of truth was in 2009, when I read
about the mass suicides committed by cotton farmers
methods that involve inducing fear or pain.
take the things we have for granted. Also, America has
Wildlife SOS also works for the welfare
such a strong craving for culture and spirituality that we
of black bears, leopards and tigers, species
have to carve a niche for it into our lives. India has so
that are embroiled in conflict situations
much ritual and tradition that it is often overlooked. I
with humans, particularly in Kashmir and
began practising Ashtanga Yoga as a form of exercise,
Maharashtra. Rapid response teams rescue the
but over time, I have come to the realisation that
creatures that wander into human habitation,
life is meditation in motion. I have integrated the
and the organisation has also conducted
philosophy of the Patanjali Sutras into my daily living.
extensive awareness campaigns to sensitise
Lauren Adelman, 32,
is the founder of ‘Human
Revolution Clothing’,
a Hawaii-based nonprofit that harnesses the
expertise of thousands
of Indian farmers and
craftsmen to create organic
yogawear, among them,
tank tops and pajamas. The
firm uses organic cotton
from Chetna Organics and
Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills.
www.humanrevolutionclothing.com
Back home in Hawaii, we believe in the
spirit
of
‘Aloha’,
which
translates
to
the urban residents.
‘Greet
everyone you meet with the shining spirit of love’.
The Indian spirit isn’t very different, considering
your warmth and hospitality, which is why I feel at
home here. Aloha!
For contributing money to the NGO, check out
www.wildlifesos.org/donate
Kartick Satyanarayan co-founded Wildlife SOS in 1995
Call them: 24-hour Reptile Rescue Cell in National Capital Region (NCR), Hotline number: +91 9871963535. General helpline: +91 9560011875
— As told to Nolan Lewis
THE LEELA MAGAZINE
Wildlife SOS has two elephant conservation
and care centres in India
| 86 | SPRING 2015
SPRING 2015
| 87 | THE LEELA MAGAZINE
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