Four Seasons- not Antonio Vivaldi'sHotel Le Meridien specialises in innovative food festivals. Probably for the first time in the city, they have brought an authentic food festival dedicated purely to the vegetarian palate, from September 18 to 24. Four Seasons at La Brasserie captures the flavours of the four seasons: summer, winter, autumn and spring. From the summer season, choose between eggplant tomato and parmesan roulade or then garlic roasted green and yellow zucchini. For spring, take your pick from sprightly white beans with red capsicum pesto or carrot dumplings with coriander buerre blanc.The taste of autumn and winter is brought by the Asian vegetable green curry, the asparagus and basil stir fry. And all these go down splendidly with vegetarian mocktails, interesting combinations of traditional Indian soft drinks. For dessert, sample unique delights like madhosh kheera or the khus-e-ruhani.Little mastersAnd while on Le Meridien, a little while ago, Mexico had come down to Pune, with yet another food festival - Down Mexico Way. For this festival they had designed an exclusive children's menu. The little visitors between three and six years and from seven to 10 years were encouraged to participate in a painting competition, a large number of enthusiastic children participated. The lucky winners were Annika Mirchandani (5) and Namrata Kacholia (8), who will be treated to a birthday party for ten, courtesy the hotel.Tickled pinkA delightful comedy about the last of the romantics, is what the blurb on for It's a Man's World reads. And a delightful comedy it was. Scripted and directed by Bruce MaCFarland and presented by The Encore Circle, the play is an adaptation and the scene takes place in Pune.Tony, the incurable romantic, cannot help but fall in love with every woman he encounters. But, there's a catch. He's married. Sheila, his wife knows about his flings. George, his best friend is usually the one who explains it all to Sheila after each affair.All's well until Tony decides to divorce his wife in order to marry Julie, his latest girlfriend. Tony lacks the guts to tell her himself, asks George to do it.It is hardly smooth and the misunderstandings begin. Sania, one of Tony's exs lands up at the scene. Then two more characters, Vicky and the Fireman turn up.One lie is fed by a few more and soon the play embarks on a roller-coaster ride with the characters forced to introduce one twist after another, to save their skins. The play ends with all the loose strings tied up and a new understanding in Tony.The play is funny and refreshing, though it tends toward the tedious towards the end. Bruce MaCFarland is excellent as Tony with solid performances by Deepak Morris, Ketaki as George and Julie.Rosy pictureBesides coping with the illness itself, cancer also brings in huge doses of depression. To help dispel the gloom and despair in their lives the Cancer Patients' Aid association has organised a Rose Day on September 22. Volunteers of CPAA will visit cancer patients with roses and snacks and spend time with them.All this to make them feel loved and cared for. Another programme has been organised on the eve of Rose Day at Inlaks and Budhrani Hospital, where film actor Shriram Lagoo will be the chief guest and Brahmakumari Saritaben will lecture on stress management. Madhukar Tillu will later present a mimicry show. After all, the healing touch of care is what will bring cheer to these patients. So don't wait, take a rose and show you care.
