Raise a Toast

Recounting their meeting a little over a year ago with her partner,Rachel said,“We shared our experiences with food,our individual stories and,over all,our passion for cooking. We both knew we wanted to cook — with love and passion — and wanted our personalities to shine on a plate. What we didn’t know was how that passion would unfold. A year since we opened The Sassy Spoon,I can say that the outcome of our efforts has superseded the raw vision we had.”

Although he had spent the whole day in the kitchen,supervising the preparations for the big evening,Pabaney was in a celebratory mood during the party. “It’s been a busy year because Rachel and I take great pains to design the menu,working with seasonal ingredients. But it’s been worth it,” he said.

The celebrations lived up to the restaurant’s name. For the evening,the team had done away with the French polished tables and cheery-hued chairs,to focus on its eclectic decor and bar. The fairy lights in the al fresco section lent the space a festive mood.

The guests included designers Nishka Lulla and Nikhil Thampi,entrepreneur and chef Nachiket Shetye,society ladies Sharmila Khanna and daughter Shaan,gallerists Jamal and Praveen Mecklai as well as gourmands Rashmi Uday Singh and Farzana Contractor. Rachel’s father,Chairman & Managing Director,The Indian Express Limited,Viveck Goenka,and mother Zita were also present at the celebrations.

First up,when the guests started arriving around 8pm,was their kala-khatta flavoured signature cocktail,called VVK (Very Very Khatta). This was followed by a variety of canapes,including chicken liver pate,corn tarts and one of their specialties,chorizo pita pockets. The evening came to a close with Rachel and Pabaney thanking their guests.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com

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