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IT'S THE SEASON OF FOOD AND GOODWILL
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Saturday, 22 December, 2007, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ronita Torcato, Mumbai
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s and gift-giving are all part of the Christmas spirit. The festive mood lasts an entire week. Christmas parties spin into New Year celebrations. India's multiculturalism means Muslim traders lead the Christmas décor sales; Zoroastrian Irani bakeries churn out yummy plum and rum cakes and Hindu-owned hotels, bars and restaurants go virtually overboard kicking off the festive season with traditional cake mixing ceremonies in Sept-Oct ! Ilan Weil, General Manager of the Grand Hyatt, Kalina, is Jewish, but his hotel was the first to put up a Christmas Tree and celebrate the occasion with a grand party for small children.
Season of sweetness
Christmas is the feast of children and the young at heart and what better way to spread goodwill and cheer in the festive season than with delicious goodies. In olden times, sugar was very expensive; therefore, Christmas cakes were a luxury. But why are they so expensive now? At least the ones sold in five-star gourmet shoppes? Check out the prices: yulelogs (Rs 650) , striped candies, mince pies (Rs 500 onwards), chocolate Santas, cookies, tortes, Italian panettone (Rs 700 onwards) gingerbread houses (Rs 450 for small, Rs 550 or medium) Gingerbread is the king of Christmas sweets. The first gingerbread man is credited to the court of Queen Elizabeth I, who favoured important visitors with charming gingerbread likenesses of themselves.
The queen to share its sugary crown is marzipan, a sweet mixture of almond paste and sugar which is used in baking and filling for mouth-watering concoctions like the German stollen.(Rs 350 onwards) It is also often tinted with food colouring and molded into a variety of shapes such as fruits, animals, flowers and holiday shapes. Different nations eat different foods for Xmas. Norwegians eat salmon. In Mexico, the menu mostly consists of fruits, nuts, and salad. In Poland and the Czech Republic, they eat carp, and in France, the Christmas recipes consist of both foie gras and lobster. In the US, the choice of bird is roast turkey. You can get them all at gourmet shoppes in India.
Suburban sizzlers
As most Mumbai city slickers know, there's entertainment galore to be found in the metro. Like the Leela Kempinski and The Intercontinental's Grand Lawns are hosting a string of all-night pulsating parties offering unlimited food and liquor at tax inclusive prices. Actually, that holds good for most hotels, restaurants and clubs which have been granted special permission by the police to stay open till the wee hours of the morning. Enjoy. Be a good citizen. Don't drink and drive.
The Hyatt's Grand Ball Room is showcasing a High Rollers Night and a casino theme with DJ Nikhil and DJ Pearl playing. The cost? Rs. 6000 per person and Rs.10, 000 per person for private dining area and personalised service.
In the news after being gheraoed by a sons-of-the-soil party for insisting on shoes instead of Kolhapuri chappals at their popular nightclub, Enigma, Juhu's J W Marriott is charging Rs 11,500 per person for a dance performance by Bipasha Basu, 12 bars, 30 food stations, an Australian dance troupe, plus DJ Neeraj, DJ Kam and DJ Legacy (from the UK)
At the five-star Taj Lands End, four banquet halls and lawns, Rs 4500 is all that a couple needs (2500/stag ) for a Mediterranean themed party which will go on till the crack of dawn. Those with money to splash and who want to be different can shell out a steep Rs 16000 per couple for VIP Moroccan Tents accommodating 7-8 people, personalised service, and imported champagne.
At Lands End's Vista, 4500 bucks, you can avail of unlimited food and liquor during a dance party with a 70's theme, live singers and a deejay.
The hotel's Atrium Lounge, Masala Bay, Ming Yang & Pure can set you back for Rs 5,500 for unlimited liquor and starters (Atrium Lounge and Pure ) and buffet meals at Masala Bay (Indian) and Ming Yang (Chinese)
Indie hotspots
Matan Schabraq's Zenzi has pegged passes at Rs 1250 (veg) /1500 (non-veg) per person for a glass of domestic wine or spirit, a six course meal, and dancing to a D J. Popular Bandra hotspot Poison is charging 6000 bucks per couple (inclusive of taxes) for unlimited spirits, small starters, foreign dancers and music by quite a few DJs including DJ Aqeel. Partying at the vastly popular Hawaiian Shack in the same suburb is cheaper, Rs 3,800 per couple and Rs 2500 per person (only girl stags allowed) unlimited domestic liquor and starters.
Downtown
Downtown .on the beach at Chowpatty, the Salt Water Grill is charging Rs 5000 per person on Christmas eve and Rs 8000 per person for unlimited European Cuisine and liquor on New Year's Eve. Rahul Akerkar's Indigo at Colaba is offering a full course gourmet meal and foreign liquors for Rs 6500 per head. Its Thai neighbour Busaba will set a couple back by Rs 9000, an individual by Rs 5000 for a delectable meal of roast pork, lobster morsels, Burmese chicken/vegetable and unlimited alcohol.
Polly Esther's is levying Rs 3800 a couple for domestic liquor and starters with DJs Monty and Gavin playing Retro, hip hop, and Bollywood. Masala Kraft Festivities can be had for Rs 6500 per person for unlimited liquor, a DJ & a set dinner crafted by Chef Harpreet.
Farokh Khambatta's Joss on Rampart Row priced tickets at Rs 3000 per couple, 2000/stag for an a la carte menu, live bands in three different party zones, fireworks, belly dancers et al. Soul Fry Casa is charging Rs 2500 per person for a meal, unlimited IMFL liquor and a live band. A festive night out at Not Just Jazz By The Bay will cost Rs 4000 per couple, 2500 per person for unlimited snacks and liquor and DJ Johnny.
Five star revelry
Entertainment at the Taj's Zodiac Grill comes at a price - a steep Rs 25,000 per couple inclusive of taxes, Dom Perignon, a seven course menu designed by Chef Hemant Oberoi. Austin Alphonso with tinkle the ivories. Souk's Mediterranean cuisine is priced at Rs 8500 per person , plus choice liquor and live music by the "Red Hot and Cool" Band
The Golden Dragon is cheaper. For Rs 6950, you can enjoy a meal designed by Chef Shi-Xi-Lin and alcohol and dance to music. Mexican cuisine at Starboard costs slightly less at Rs 5500 per person.
Merrymakers can drink and dance at the Harbour Bar, topped up with a Japanese menu designed by Chef Morimoto at Wasabi. Cost Rs 8950 per person. Shamiana is offering a Gala Dinner and live music by Lindsay and Reena Vaz for Rs 3950. Celebrate New Year's Day at the Sea Lounge with a Buffet Brunch at Rs 1950. A buffet dinner and drinks will cost Rs 4250
The Oberoi's Tiffin, Vetro and Kandahar are offering pre-Christmas lunches, Christmas Eve dinners, Christmas Day brunches and New Year's Eve dinners with gourmet menus and spirits to spread good cheer.
An external event management company is organising an Icy White theme party ( ice statues, ice den for the DJ ) at the Taj President Hotel's Ball Room for Rs 3000 per person inclusive of a meal (3 different cuisines ) unlimited liquor and foreign performers.
Hubble bubble
But those with a yen for the outdoors might strike out to the Kolad Ecomantra Camp by the Kundalika River where Rs 12,000 per couple will fetch accommodation in dome tents in the forest, folk music and dance, hiking through streams and waterfalls, campfire meals. Needless to say, large numbers of party hearties make the exodus to Goa and the hotspots of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea wh
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