Books form an integral part of any book lover?s life. To anyone else, they may look like pages full of countless words but for the self-confessed bookworms, these are stories that transport them to a completely different world of fiction, fantasy and magic. Today on Exec Lifestyle, we spoke to KV Sridhar, Monica Tata, Prasana Krishnan, Rajat Barjatya and Rajshree Naik to find out what their favourite books are.

By Ritwika Gupta

Satiating the palate with some delectable food is what many a people live for! The world is a food paradise and every season, we look forward to new dishes that could tingle our taste buds! India is a volatile market and the way we bring food to our plates is constantly evolving every year. Thanks to rapid globalization, we are now aware of new food ideas and our expectations are higher than ever before. Chefs have a daunting task of keeping up with customers? changing tastes and today?s top culinary leaders gave me a lowdown on the food trends and cuisines that will gain momentum in 2015.

Local Sourcing of Ingredients & Quality, Organic Food

With an increasing demand for healthier and a variety of food options, the rules of how food is being sourced and marketed in the menus are changing.

?In 2015, organic brown rice, multi-grain roti, laccha paratha and healthy items are on the rise. We are sourcing a lot of local ingredients. We have started growing our own vegetables in local farms and use them in the dishes. Similarly for meat, instead of using imported lamb chops, we will be using everything that is available in India,? says Four Seasons Hotel head chef - Indian cuisine Vikram Arora.

Elaborating on local sourcing of ingredients, Four Seasons Hotel executive sous chef Anshuman Bali informs, ?Chefs nowadays are foraging; we are looking for locally available organic ingredients. More and more people are asking for organic dishes and menus are being planned according to that. Organic food is a trend to look out for in 2015.?

Quality ingredients are also gaining popularity fast alongside healthy food recipes this year. Grand Hyatt Mumbai executive chef Hermann Grossbichler emphasizes that quality fruits, vegetables, green leaves, grains and freshly prepared food with quality ingredients will succeed this year.

He adds, ?I love when a chef wants to be creative and prepares something new but creativity must never be second to our constant aim to serve the highest quality food to guests. True quality in terms of ingredients right down to the freshness of the finished product will be a top priority in 2015.?

Small Sized Portions

According to Chef Bali, small sized portions of food will be the rage in 2015. Eating smaller portions of food is one of the easiest ways to cut down on calories in order to maintain a healthy consumption pattern. It keeps a tab on our diet and helps us to lose weight. Bali says, ?Portions are getting smaller as people are becoming more calorie conscious. We are even using small cutlery and utensils to serve the guests as well.? Chef Arora also feels that small portion food is an emerging trend amongst both consumers and restaurateurs. He says, ?Gone are the days of eating three full heavy meals a day. Practising to eat small portions will help you lose weight. Eat only when you are hungry. There is no point of over eating."

Fusion Trends

In 2015, one will also get to witness a mix and match of different cuisines and ingredients in order to create fusion recipes. Chef Arora adds, ?There is a rising trend of ?desi international cuisines?. A lot of international food restaurants have opened in the past few years. Owners know that there is a market and that is why you can find different joints of cuisines everywhere.?

Agreeing with the same, Waters Beach Lounge director Aziz Lalani says, ?A fusion of Indian and international cuisine is something we are looking forward to in 2015. Chicken wings are equally popular as chicken tikkas.? Water Beach Lounge is situated in Goa and offers grilled Italian food. Lalani elaborates, ?We have guests from all over the world visiting our restaurant and I can tell you that foreigners love Indian food. As a result, fusion cuisine will be a fascinating trend in India this year.?

Asserting that Indians are foodies by nature, Chef Bali feels that the current local cuisine in India has gone into a bit of a fusion state, which will continue in 2015. He cites the example of the restaurant ?Masala Library,? which offers a fusion of Indian and western food, served in an unconventional style.

Chef Arora feels that people also want a novel touch to existing dishes. He states, ?People are experimenting with ethnic sweet dishes. Rather than having plain ice-creams, people are having shrikhand but made with different flavours like chocolate and butter scotch.?

International Cuisines in India

Grossbichler feels that Mexican and Moroccan food have been underrated for sure in the last couple of years but sure to pick up on popularity in 2015. He also adds that international cuisines like Italian, Chinese, Javanese and Thai will continue to remain popular in 2015 but they have becomes far too expensive. Grossbichler expresses, ?We need a higher variety of imported food at a lower cost if we want to say serve good international food in this country. Our imports have become way too costly for the restaurant to re-sell for the local audiences.?

Presenting a different perspective on international cuisines, Thai Sous Chef of San Qi, Seefah Ketchaiyo feels that this year could open doors to experimenting with authentic international cuisines. She explains, ?I think bringing authentic dishes to the plates could be a promising trend for this year. For instance, Thai dishes are often adapted to the Indian taste here. People still do not really know what authentic Thai food is. My attempt this year would be to use authentic ingredients to make people aware of the real taste of Thai cuisine.?

Low Fat Diet

People are cutting down on junk and fast food these days. As such, low fat meals are certainly going to trend this year. Chef Ketchaiyo opines, ?Although junk food is popular and cheaper, people are thinking about their health first.? She adds that people will prefer veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains and lean protein.

Lalani speaks about today?s youngsters who have become cautious of the health properties of a dish. ?The youth today measure each and every calorie in the meals. As such, we are going to incorporate nutritional values and indicate how healthy each dish listed in a menu is, without sacrificing the taste and quality,? he says.

Chef Bali says that people are going to large extents in order to sustain healthy eating. ?The trend this year is to alternate certain ingredients. For example, replacing ghee with olive oil or replacing normal rice with brown rice. Eating clean would also involve the consumption of more vegetables and less sodium,? he says.

Artistic Presentations

Chef Ketchaiyo explains that artistic presentation of food will be a priority this year. She candidly confesses, ?We are also focusing on new presentation so that people will not get bored when they come to San Qi.?

According to Chef Grossbichler, minimalistic and contemporary look of cuisines will be important in 2015. He feels that less is more and that should be kept in mind during the presentation of dishes. However, he is also quick to add that a strong focus should be put on quality and great artistic presentations must be secondary to the true taste of the product.

On a similar note, Chef Bali feels that novelty in presentation catches attention but one should not deviate from the flavor and authenticity of the food. He says, ?Most of the time, the essence of the food changes when experimenting with presentations in attempt to do something new. The concept of the restaurant also matters when considering the presentation of the dishes.?

Declining Trends

While fat free cuisine is rising fast along with fusion and organic food, there are some culinary trends and dishes that will see a decline in 2015.

Chef Grossbichler feels that Bruschettas, the Italian dish consisting of grilled bread topped with tomatoes, will become less popular this year. He explains, ?The problem with Bruschettas is that they are done with the wrong bread and with a topping that?s been sitting for eight hours in a fridge. Customers are becoming more discerning and they want to spend their money well. Everything mediocre will be on a decline this year.?

Chef Bali believes that there is a certain decline in the processed food category this year. He shares, ?Few years back, there was an upsurge of ready-to-cook meals which you could just warm up in your microwave and eat instantly. However, people are getting more health-conscious and they are aware of the amount of preservatives in it. As such, these ready-to-cook meals will see a drop in popularity.?

Elaborating on Bali?s stance, Chef Arora reasons that people prefer natural items and ingredients that can be made at home. He says, ?Thanks to the cookery shows on television and internet, people are getting ideas on how to make products organically. For example, black pepper sauce that is available in the market can actually be made at home and people prefer that.?

Eating Healthy Is the Way Forward in 2015

Well, the Indian food scene is an ever evolving palette and looks like healthy food trends are sure to be winners this year. ?People who eat healthy food look better, have more energy and are generally more positive, it just shows!? exclaims Chef Grossbichler.

According to Chef Arora, dishes, which are low on carbohydrates, high in protein and involve the usage of less oil, will be the most sought after this year. While he agrees that eating healthy is the way forward in 2015, Chef Bali informs us that while swapping ingredients could give us healthier alternatives, the dish will not taste the same once we change an ingredient.

?The choice is ours to prioritize what we want more in the New Year ? taste or health?? he concludes with a smile.

Today we have Chef Shipra Khanna presenting her favourite dessert recipe for exclusively for Indiantelevision.com?s Exec Lifestyle. Chef Khanna is the winner of masterchef India season 2 in 2012 and has been taken on board by Tourism Australia and Cox & Kings as their culinary patron.

Recipe for Assorted Spinach Beetroot Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS:

• For the Cupcakes:
• All-purpose flour- 175 grams
• Baking powder- 1 ? tsp
• Unsalted butter- 155 grams
• Caster Sugar- 150 grams
• Eggs- 3
• Vanilla essence- few drops
• Milk- ? cup

For the Icing:

• Whipping Cream- 150 grams
• Flavours- Spinach puree, Beetroot puree, Vanilla essence.
• Garnish- mint leaves, Jelly and sprinklers respectively.

METHOD:

• In a bowl, Sieve flour and baking powder. Keep aside.
• In another bowl, Whisk eggs butter and sugar till light and fluffy.
• Mix the flour in the above mixture alternatively with milk.
• Add Vanilla essence.
• Fill the batter evenly into the silicon Cupcake moulds. 
• In a pre-heated oven (180 degrees), Place the cupcakes and Bake until the top is golden brown (10-15 minutes) or when the toothpick comes out clean once pierced.
• Once done, take out the cupcakes on a wire tray and let it cool.

Icing:

• Whisk the cream till peaks are formed.
• Divide this into three equal portions.
• To one add Spinach, to the other add Beetroot and to the third add vanilla essence.
• Put them into icing cones and ice cupcakes with different flavours.
• Garnish and serve.

By: Ritwika Gupta
 

Home is where the heart is and the heart wants a warm place to come back to at the end of a hard day?s work. Your home's exterior says just as much about you as its interior. The interior design industry is on a new high with an immensely promising growth in the recent years. While companies like Cocoon Fine Rugs, Deco Window, Fabula Rasa and Home Label are creating a giant stir in the interior space, they are also geared up to hop on to the e-commerce bandwagon in the future for home d?cor. Exec Lifestyle spoke to a few talented interior d?cor professionals, who shared unique options that will make homes look more beautiful.

Fabula Rasa, located in the heart of Mumbai?s design district Raghuvanshi Mills, is a four-month-old home d?cor store founded by Anuradha Bhalla and Jeena Shetty.

?At its very core, Fabula Rasa is about self and space. Our focus is on the last mile fatigue. When you are doing up a home or a work place, you are already exhausted by the time you are at the last few stages when you are doing up your home. This is where we come in ? space styling for the last mile, which integrates furniture, light, art and accessories that fit homes and personal spaces,? Bhalla elaborates.

Throwing light home d?cor trends to look forward to in 2015, she says, ?There are so many new mediums out there and some innovative trends to look forward to. This season, the Indian-modern look that will have warmth in terms of colour palette and design will gain popularity. These days it is also possible to keep designs stylish yet economical. One piece of art on your wall can enhance the space. Everything in the home does not have to be super expensive and we are at a stage whereby we can expect the best of both of worlds.?

While space styling is an international concept that goes beyond interior designs, Cocoon Fine Rugs founder Ayush Chaudhury feels that home d?cor techniques should involve creating newer and fresher styles that will appeal to a young generation of homeowners who are not afraid to experiment and try different looks.

?Indians have always had a great eye for aesthetics and a love for all things beautiful. This year, like years before, I expect to see Indian designers continuing to push the envelope. At Cocoon, we are coming up with signature collections inspired from various genres - graffiti, modern art and even prints from the 60s and 70s,? informs Chaudhury.

Cocoon Fine Rugs, a designer carpet gallery that was established in Mumbai in 2009, specialises in exclusive rug collections based on modern, transitional and classical rug designs for homes. The company works with leading interior designers, architects in India and abroad and their clientele includes top industrialists, Bollywood celebrities, corporates and even expats, who are true connoisseurs of design.

?It has been a fantastic journey as our client base has continued to grow year after year, which shows that good design and aesthetics are becoming more and more important to homeowners in India. At Cocoon, we design and manufacture all of our rugs in-house, which allow us to create bespoke designs, sizes and colour ways for our clients. Another interesting aspect to Cocoon is that our stores have been laid out like art galleries, where patrons can browse through our beautiful collections at leisure,? says Chaudhury.

Another novel concept in the business is eco-friendly furnishings. However, Bhalla informs that this developing trend it is clearly ahead of it is time. ?The eco-friendly furniture are pretty expensive, almost 30-40 per cent more costly and they tend to be delicate fabric as well. There is not much of a life and higher cost of replacement. This trend will take time,? Bhalla explains.

The Home Label (styled by Sussanne Khan) head merchandiser Supriya Hiremath Vora says that floral prints, vintage prints, copper barware, rustics and antique wooden serveware are some of the home d?cor trends to watch out for in 2015.

?Our aim at The Label Corp is to provide tastefully curated, signature and rare-to-find products to the discerning Indian audience. We meet the style needs of the working, independent city dwellers with a unique tastemaker backed model where Sussanne Khan helps to curate an assortment of products that are in keeping with worldwide trends. We seek to deliver an inspiring and expert-guided retail experience like no other,? Vora says, explaining the concept of Home Label.

Giving an insight into the way in which the interior d?cor industry in India has evolved over the last few years, Vora says, ?After exposure to global lifestyles, Indians now want well styled and designed home interiors. The shoppers have become more aware and evolved in the kind of products they require.?

Talking about the USP of his company that was set up in 2009, which offers a wide range of window solutions for each and every Indian home, Deco Window CEO and managing director Vaibhav Jain says, ?Home decor represents a person's personality and tastes. A major chunk of our customers are married couples who are looking for options beyond conventional available designs. So, we try making some unique options for our customers that will match their personality and help in making their homes more beautiful.?

Jain believes that the d?cor styles that should pick up in 2015 include bold printed and bright perky coloured curtains with a combination of hues mostly pastel shades and shades of red. Also sheer curtains with a combination of bright hues of self-coloured curtains will be a trend to look forward to.

?In addition, the use of garden torches is also a trend that we started last year, which we will also carry on this year as it is the hottest products of the season,? he says.

A popular trend that is picking up rapidly in the home d?cor industry is e-shopping for home furnishings.

?When it comes to home d?cor, there are some apprehensions in the mind of the customers about the look, feel and material of the products. That's why we make sure that the product descriptions are as detailed as possible. Convenience is the biggest advantage of e-shopping for home d?cor. People can sit at home and select the products that they want to buy,? says Jain.

Elaborating on the online shopping for home d?cor, Chaudhury opines, ?The reach of e-shopping is phenomenal. You can have a store in one part of the world but can cater to customers on even the other side of the globe. It also allows people to get a first taste of your brand, even before they walk into your physical store.?

Vora also feels that online purchasing allows quick and easy shopping for just about anything ranging from a surround sound system, an idol for your puja room or a vase for your coffee table. ?You can compare the prices, look at all possible options and decide peacefully without ever leaving your home. You can shop at 7 am or 2 pm, depending on when you have the time or have thought of something you need for your home,? she points out.

Bhalla, on the other hand, has a different taking to the e-shopping concept. While she believes it is a trend that is picking pace at an unprecedented rate, it helps only for low value items and commoditized items like cushion, mugs etc.  

?I agree that online shopping is a youthful medium for people to venture into but honestly if you looking at purchasing higher end products, you cannot just shop online. There needs to be involved shopping for things like furniture ? where one can touch and feel. I think that is still of value today,? Bhalla says.

On similar lines, Choudhury clarifies that the only disadvantage with online shopping is that it does not capture the touch and feel elements of the product.

?However, as long as you can address that somehow, e-commerce is the way of the future,? he concludes.

By: Ritwika Gupta

Rom-coms, cupcakes, candle light dinners, flowers and candies ? some of the most cherished moments in our lives arise out of love. Although each one of us are preoccupied with a million priorities in today?s fast-paced setting, there is no denying the fact that all of us want to be with people whom we care about, who make us happy and who value us for who we actually are. When you find the right person to spend your entire life with, you enable yourself to weave long-lasting moments that create memories of a lifetime and a beautiful love story to share in the coming years. As Valentine?s Day draws closer, I have rounded up five of the true love stories of happily married couples in the television, media and lifestyle industries that truly make me believe that if you?re in love, everyday is Valentine?s Day!

LOVE IS FRIENDSHIP

Sudhir and Seema Sharma, owners of Sunshine Productions, have given us popular love stories on television like Miley Jab Hum Tum and Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha. However, when it comes to their own love affair, they confess that it was not a mushy romantic story at all.

Sudhir and Seema Sharma
 

?We both used to work for Zee Network in Delhi. Seema was a news producer with Zee while I had newly joined as a reporter. We became friends when I started anchoring. Our interaction led to friendship and I got along with her from day one. We became best of friends. So, this is not a typical romantic love story but I can proudly say that even after 15 years of marriage and two lovely kids, we are still the best of friends.?

 Sudhir admits that since they work together, there are bound to be small arguments and issues but the husband-wife duo are so passionate about their work that it hardly matters in the bigger scheme of things.

?Our morning starts with a conversation related to work but we have our ?switch on & switch off? mode. We try to avoid work post 8 pm and try to spend time with each other on weekends. We have an understanding like friends and the trust factor is there which is very important in any relationship.?

This year, the couple will be in Mumbai and you can spot them dining out at a restaurant in the city.

THE ROMANTIC ONE

Subhadarshi Tripathy, who is the cluster head - paid TV at Zee Entertainment, admits that his life would not have been the same without his wife, Shraddha who left her job to take care of his family and children.

Subhadarshi Tripathy with his twins

Subhadarshi and Shraddha know each other for 20 years now and met during an animation course where the former was completely awestruck by his wife.

?She was my batch-mate and way superior to me. I was a nobody and completely in awe of her as she was so good at her work. After knowing each other for sometime, I popped the question and proposed to her. We then got married in 2003.?

Subhadarshi shares that Valentine?s Day does not really have much of an importance in his life as he believes every day should be celebrated in love. Adding on to that, he tells us that there are no specific Valentine?s Day plans for this year.

Speaking of Shraddha?s role in his life, Subhadarshi admits that Shraddha helps him keep a work-life balance, as she understands his work schedule, which can get quite hectic at times.

?Even though I have a set of house keys, I still ring the doorbell because I want to see her face first when I come home,? he says with a slight blush.

THE FILMY LOVE STORY

Yash and Mamta Patnaik

Yash and Mamta Patnaik, founders of Beyond Dreams Entertainment, had the ultimate Bollywood-ish love story. There was a hero, heroine, villain, action and lots of drama.

?Back in 2001, we both were working for a channel. We knew each other but we were not friends. So during a celebration party for the channel, I bumped into her again. Initially we did not talk much but during the party, a few guys started misbehaving with a few girls. They were forcefully trying to dance with them and that is when I intervened to stop the guys. I guess that was my winning moment. That same night, I danced with Mamta and dropped her home too. This was in January 2001. By May, we got engaged and within the next year we got married.?

Completing 13 years of marriage this April, Yash confesses with a smile that nothing has really changed.

Speaking about how it is like to work with his wife, he says ?I think when you love each other, work becomes much easier. There are differences but the best part is that we spend almost 23-24 hours with each other. Our cabins are just opposite each other. When she is unable to come for a meeting, I attend it on her behalf. I put in the extra effort to do justice to her concepts.

Stating his beliefs that Valentine?s Day is a celebration of love and your loved ones, Yash admits that both of them complement each other perfectly.

When asked about his plans for this year, he laughs and shares, ?Well my wife?s birthday falls on 10 February, so there is a demand for two different gifts. But apart from that, I will also take her out for dinner.?

A FAMILY STYLE STATEMENT

Jawed & Shaheen Habib

Top hairstylist and founder of Jawed Habib Hair & Beauty, Jawed Habib has a very interesting love story to share. ?My wife, Shaheen was one of my clients who used to come for a haircut to me and that?s how I met her and we fell in love,? he admits.

Speaking about his wife?s role in his life, Jawed admits that Shaheen has managed to give all the values to their children that he had received from his mother when he was a child. ?It is not difficult for me to maintain a work - life balance as my wife has been a pillar of strength and support. I live only for today and I don?t depend on tomorrow,? he says.

When quizzed about their Valentine?s Day plans for this year, he shares, ?I normally spend my Valentine?s Day with my family at home. Valentine?s Day is about being with your dear ones and this year, I will be taking them out for dinner. Furthermore, for me it is also about spending time with my employees who work so hard for me day and night. So yes, I have a huge family to celebrate this Valentine?s Day.

LOVE AT WORK

Rupali and Pintoo Guha, owners of Film Farm India, have been married for 21 years now. They met during a work assignment and got married in 1993. Talking about the significance of Valentine?s Day in their lives, Rupali says, ?To be honest, neither Pintoo nor I believe in Valentine?s Day. We believe everyday should be celebrated like Valentine?s Day. I think it is utopian for every working woman to have a man in her life whom she can share the same level of understanding with.?

Rupali and Pintoo Guha

Rupali admits that whether it is work or home, she is lucky to have Pintoo by her side and shares that it is not very difficult to maintain a work life balance if you have faith in each other.

?During work, Pinto and I distribute our responsibilities. While I take charge of the creative aspect, he takes responsibility of the production. It is not like we agree all the time but we debate about it and it works fine at the end of the day,? she tells us with a smile on her face.
 

Exec Lifestyle?s Weekend Watch recommends and previews the television shows and films that you simply cannot miss! Check out what you should not miss watching this weekend (13-15 Feb) ?

Television ?

Cricket World Cup Match ? India vs Pakistan

Get pumped up with all your buddies, wake up to an exciting Sunday as one of the biggest clashes in the World Cup ? India vs Pakistan?s much awaited cricket match will be telecasted at 9am on Star Sports this Sunday, 15 February 2015. Don?t forget to watch the best of players from both the countries battling it out in the ODI match.

Movies ...

Roy

Roy is a dramatic, romantic and suspenseful Bollywood thriller which releases on 13 February 2015. The story is about a filmmaker, Kabir who finds himself in a love triangle with his girlfriend, Ayesha and the criminal, Roy, who is the subject of his movies. Roy is a mysterious thief whom nobody seems to be able to get their hands on but Kabir seems to be the only one making a profit from all of Roy's robberies by making multiple films based on Roy's life and robberies. Directed by Vikramjit Singh, Roy is 2015?s much awaited film starring Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun Rampal and Jacqueline Fernandez.