Model NIKETAN MADHOK turns bartender for one afternoon

8216;I8217;ve learnt a trick or two8217;

NIKETAN MADHOK, 29, con-fesses that he8217;s lived on take-out since he moved to Mumbai from Delhi four years ago. Evidently, he can just about boil an egg. What he does know, however, is how to mix a great Apple Martini. So we asked the model to try his bartending skills. Despite the fact that Madhok, a fa-miliar face on the Mumbai party cir-cuit, is seen more on the bar stool than behind the bar, he readily agrees.

At Veda, a hip fusion food restaurant with a well-stocked bar in Delhi8217;s Con-naught Place, Madhok gets behind the bar. He is willing to wait till some guest orders a cocktail.

It8217;s not so easy getting that customer, it turns out, even if you8217;re a charming model. Half an hour later, he decides he8217;s going to have to get out there and sell the Apple Martini. He approaches a table with eight guests who are settling in and suggests his special concoction to a lady. She seems unsure, but agrees.

8220;I was in Germany for five weeks and I8217;ve learnt a trick or two,8221; grins Madhok, gearing up to show off his skills. Out come the apple juice, vodka and tum-bler. Madhok mixes the ingredients and pours the drink into a martini glass with a flourish and asks the bartender to gar-nish it with a lemon. 8220;It tastes best with Apple Pucker Schnapps,8221; he says and sends the martini to the lady. When we suggest he serve it himself, he declines.

8220;I8217;m very shy,8221; smiles Madhok. 8220;Also, what if she hates it?8221; No chance of that. The lady raises the glass in approval and Madhok can8217;t stop grinning. I suggest that maybe she8217;s willing to overlook the quality of the drink because he8217;s the best looking bartender she8217;s seen. 8220;Delhi men don8217;t keep themselves fit,8221; says Madhok.

Madhok is still parked at the bar. He attracts curious stares with his chiselled features and strapping frame. However, no one else seems to want an Apple Martini. No wonder the future plans for this Delhi boy don8217;t include 8220;anything to do with the restaurant business.8221; He asks the waiter about his shift and is shocked that it8217;s sometimes 13 hours, without a break. 8220;I have it easy,8221; ac-knowledges Madhok. 8220;This is hard work,8221; he says.