Daggers Drawn

The whole pier at the Radio Club had been converted into the most fashionable eatery that I have ever been to in the city. There were stalls with the finest food from10 of the city8217;s hotels and restaurants. Khad of Tanjore at the Taj, the spicy coastal fare from Viva Paschim, China Garden at its Nelson best, the Pearl Of The Orient from the Ambassador offering the finest Korean cuts, The crispiest, greenest, at its Brie-best salads from the Brasserie at the Oberoi, continental delicacies from the Sunset Room at the Sun N Sand, Mexican tacos and nachos from El Mexicano, The President, a fusion medley of food from the Boulevard, Orchid hotel, The Club with mouth watering Thai curries and last but not least Uncle Nair8217;s Leela hotel, with the most sumptuous Italian fare from Fiorella. Everyone was eating and drinking while making merry, charming! Now if this were to become a permanent fixture, Mumbai could boast a promenade to beat the ones in Singapore or San Francisco. Ethnic dancers and a live band completed the picture and at the end when the effervescent Rashmi shook a sporting leg with friends and chefs alike it was obviously her way of saying Thank you8217; to all herback up crew. The city has Rashmi Uday Singh to thank for bringing out these two invaluable Good Food Guides, and of course this fabulous, fun evening.

Now if our culture vultures are serious, why can8217;t they give some one like Rashmi a strip of the beach that8217;s been spruced up, or even the self same pier and give her a chance to recreate for Mumbai a world class promenade eatery. The hotels will have not just revenue but eateries that advertise their fare outside of five-star surroundings. We desperately need new ideas and places to invigorate our economy, if not just our imagination. A replay of that night under the tutelage of Rashmi is more than the city can hope for but certainly what we need. Taker8217;s anyone?

In retrospect summer followed by the monsoon is the dullest, most claustrophobic time in the city. The time of yearly hibernation or transcontinental migration to cooler climes. Since the nightclubs and pubs have all but shut down due to the draconian enforcement of the law, let funeateries take their place. We need to celebrate in the city and I cannot think of a more stylish way to do it than sampling the finest fare in the city, under the stars, with a shy moon on the wane. If democracy is truly well and alive in the country, it8217;s not an election a year that proves it, but a place where people from all walks of life can congregate, to eat, drink and create public opinion, as in the days of yore. Come on Mumbai, dikha do!

Speaking of hip eateries and new8217; restaurant culture, Tamarind Court, a newly-opened restaurant in Quatab Collonade, in Delhi, witnessed the cold-blooded murder of Jessica Lal. A heartless, mindless, boor of a man upon being denied a drink as the place was closing, pulled out a revolver and shot the young lady at point blank range and made good his escape with close to a hundred of the argot watching. We now understand the cowboy8217;, one hick-town murderer is the son or grandson of a politician. How dare he pull a gun at a young, attractive lady doing herjob, upon being refused a drink? What are we coming to if we can8217;t protect the life of an innocent lady, at the threshold of life who never ever harmed anyone? Who are these faceless criminals we breed in our midst, who roam around with licensed weapons, with no license to kill, yet do so at will? My heart goes out to poor Jessica, alas no more, and her family. The culprits should be caught and booked and since there were so many witnesses and it was a cold-blooded murder, the trial should be expeditious, and punishment meted out with swiftness. No one has the right to take a life ever, the real power is to give life not take it and since they are not God and can8217;t give life, if they play God and take a life they have to pay for it with their own and soon. May Jessica rest in peace, my prayers are with her and her family in their hour of grief. May Justice Prevail.