Scene & Heard

Marcellus Baptista

Just Japan

Sushi and sake came alive at Spices, the Asian restaurant at the JW Marriott. Japanese Chef Kazuhiro Koizumi was in action at the chef's table with guests like Sindhura, Miss India - World, Niharika, Miss India - Asia Pacific, Jyoti, Miss India - Dubai, Gwen, Miss Mumbai and others like VJ Sophia, TV anchor Roshan Abbas and wife Shaheen, Adam Bedi and Nisha Harale. On offer was a sushi platter with fresh seafood. There was Zuwai (crabmeat), Ikura (salmon roe), Mentaiko (chili cod roe), Tako (octopus), Katsuo (bonito) and Unagi (eel). Sake was served as the able complement to the meal. It is the traditional rice wine said to be a spiritual experience for the emotional lift achieved by its consumption and the energy received from the nutrients. Guests savoured Chiko Shochu, Ounmai, Kiku Masa Honoyozo, Masamane Taru and Kiku Masamune Nama sake and also sake cocktails like Eager Ninja (sochu sake, Midori, blue Curacao, pineapple juice) and Saketini (sochu sake and dry vermouth). On offer at the Sushi and sake festival at Spices was a sushi course complete with appetisers, salads, yaki tori, yama kake and sushi and the sake mixes.

Into Italy

It was time for the flavours of Italy at Celini, the Italian restaurant at Grand Hyatt. Celini played host to Chef Matteo Francini, the second in a series of three visiting Italian guest chefs. Chef Francini, a native of Domodossola, Italy and Chef de Cuisine at Spasso at Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok introduced some authentic Italian dishes prepared in his unique style at Celini. This followed the success of Chef Samuele Rossi who visited the hotel recently. Chef Francini also conducted a cookery class, part of the hotel's culinary classes. Participants interacted with the Italian master at the show kitchen at M, the signature restaurant at Grand Hyatt. The media was treated to a special Italian luncheon. There was asparagus with cherry tomatoes, Taleggio cheese and sautéed spinach. Eggplant Parmiggiana style backed with tomatoes mozzarella and basil. Guazzetto seafood, tomato, herb oil and crispy focaccia with garlic. Ravioli filled with ricotta cheese and spinach, lettuce cream.

Macaroni carusu, fresh tomato sauce, eggplant, zuccini, bell peppers and oregano. Grilled chicken breast with sautéed spinach and Taleggio cream sauce. Followed by Tiramisu and a selection of loose-leaf teas and coffee.

Deep Delight

The delights of the deep surfaced at Word Ocean Day at Olive bar and kitchen. There was the screening of Reef Watch Marine Conservation's award-winning film 'Troubled Waters' by Sumer Verma with narration by Naseerudin Shah. Present were Mitali and Prahlad Kakar of Reef Watch Marine Conservation and A D Singh of Olive. Seen over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres were M B Parekh of Pidilite, Sunil Alagh, Anaita Shroff, Homi Adajania, Sapna Malhotra, Meeta Vaishisht, Papri Bose, Sheetal Mallar, Diandra Soares, Mridula Chandrashekhar, Lisa and Kamal Sadanah, Kitu Gidwani, Marc Robinson, Dolly Thakore, Pradeep Gidwani, Anuradha Tandon, Nasser Abdullah, Shaina N C and Raageshwari.