What’s happening in Mumbai’s hotels? A peek into the party circuit and events in the city… By Marcellus Baptista
Spirited step up
The spirits were flowing as Mumbai played stage to the final leg of India’s first digital mentorship programme, The Step Up by Johnnie Walker. It was the culmination of a journey of four weeks at the Johnnie Walker-inspired evening at Blue Frog where nine participants showcased their talent in the presence of their mentors: Nikhil Chib, Nikhil Thampi and the Midival Punditz. From pop-up restaurants to celebrity styling to creation of original tracks with limited instruments, it was a showcase of the dreams of the final nine. What you experienced was a convergence of fabulous food, fashion and music. The top performers from fashion and food were offered a six-month apprenticeship with Nikhil Thampi and Nikhil Chib respectively, while the best performer in music won a four-city tour with Midival Punditz.
Grill thrill
Food and drink and much merriment were in store for the many guests at the launch of La Ruche Bar & Grill, off Linking Road in Bandra. The bar was abuzz with the choicest spirits, beers, wines and cocktails and the kitchen was busy with an array of delicious hors d’oeuvres on opening night. La Ruche’s partner Amrita Pursnani and restaurant manager Rohan Rampal were present to welcome the many guests like Leena and Nikhil Mogre, Sanjay and Purvi Alimchandani, radio jockey Mallishka, Anirudh Dhoot, Aarrnav Shirsat, Murli Sharma, Ashwini Kalsekar, Vindu Singh and hotelier Vithal Kamat. And everyone promised to come back for more.
Image makeover
It’s amazing how a banquet area can be transformed into another world. Such was the case at Onyx at Intercontinental Marine Drive that took on a totally different image with a tunnel of twigs and orchids greeting the guests while leading them to a photo-shoot themed décor complete with camera, lights, reflectors and mannequins seated on a Harley Davidson bike. It was designer Maheka Mirpuri’s presentation of her summer/ resort 2015 collection titled ‘The Mineral Blue’ with guests treated to sushi and chicken teriyaki along with martinis and margaritas. On view were mandarin-collared dresses, apron-wrap maxis, knee-length sheath dresses, mini-skirts, collar-enhanced crisp white shirts, jumpsuits, lace capris, hand-painted dresses, off-shoulder tops and easy kurtas. And enjoying the experience were the likes of Simone Singh, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, Farah Khan Ali, Pooja Batra, and others.
High tea
One way to promote a restaurant is to tie up with a fashionable event. Such was the case with Yauatcha at BKC as it was the happy venue for the high tea soiree hosted by Sunil and Kiran Datwani along with Karan Johar to unveil the latter’s Limited Edition Holiday Collection for Gehna Jewellers. It was time for steaming dim sums, delicious macaroons and sinful chocolates, besides tea and coffee, among guests like Evelyn Sharma, Zarine Khan, Malishka, Munisha Katwani, Amy Billimoria, Lavinia Hansraj, Rupa Fabiani, Deepika Gehani, Azmina Rahimtoola, Nisha Jamvwal, Shaheen Abbas, Ina Arora, Shaina Nath, Babita Malkani, Monica Shah, Yasmin Morani and Malti Jain among many more ladies plus a few good men.