Formula Flavours

“Nothing can match the experience of watching the race at the Buddh International Circuit,but we hope to provide the next best thing — the chance to catch the madness in the company of other fanatics like yourself. There’s a lot of bonding and togetherness over food and drinks,” says owner Anoop Singh of Manajsa in Hauz Khas. Manajsa has introduced dishes and drinks named after the top F1 drivers at the opening of the season. Apart from Sebastian Vettel’s Penne Arrabiata,there is Jenson Button’s Tuna Sandwiches,Tony Fernandes’ Bacons and Olive Pizza,Mark Webber’s Meat Pie and Lewis Hamilton’s Chicken Steak. “Based on these drivers’ nationality,we also offer drinks like the German Jagermeister or the Spanish Shandy,” adds Singh.

Two lucky clients who participated in a contest organised by Underdoggs Sports Bar and Grill,Vasant Kunj,have won tickets to the F1 race. The rest can catch the action on the sports bar’s giant screens while they indulge in a competition of their own. “We have four special seating arrangements based on the different teams. So,we expect a lot of friendly rivalry between supporters of different teams,” says Manpreet Saini,owner of Underdoggs. There is F1 merchandise on offer also apart from Team Platters,Team Drinks and Team Shots. Alternately,one could drop into Azure in Surajkund for a Speed Addict’s Cocktail or drive to Dhaba on Aurangzeb Road for a steaming platter of Pit Stop Pulao.

Actors and cricketers are famous for being passionate about other sports. The Amber Lounge in Surajkund expects Bollywood names such as Imran Khan and Chitrangada Singh and cricketer Zaheer Khan to drop in as celebrity DJ Aqeel and DJ Micky play for the F1 after-party. “We first started such after-parties in 2003 in Monaco and have hosted these in Abu Dhabi and Singapore as well. Since F1 is happening in India for the first time,we have brought it to Delhi,” says Hanna Wright,spokesperson for Amber Lounge.

Pampering,too,seems to have been influenced by the F1 frenzy. Check out Body Battery and Pampering Pit Stop,the spa treatments at The Claridges Spa,as you gear up for some twists and turns this F1 season.