Rock lovers in Lucknow were invited for a big treat as Numero Uno - the leading informal wear company - organized a unique composition of leading rock bands from Delhi at prestigious MB Club lawns. Rock bands - Prestorika and Hundred Octane - performed to the delight of the crowd as dozens of specially designed T-shirts were flung into the crowd from Numero Uno.
However, a small goof up from the organizers of the event created a lot of problems for the guests. Tickets had been sold for the evening but the dress code, strictly adhered to in MB Club, was not printed on the tickets. Therefore, all the ticket holders who turned up in collar-less T-shirts were turned away. Ironically, this was the treatment meted out to the guests who had come to attend the event organized by a leading informal wear company. Thankfully, this dress code of round-necked, low-necked or no-necked T-shirts was not applicable to the fairer sex, present in large numbers. Perhaps Numero Uno didn't realize that MB Club's strict dress code would not gel with their dressing. Lessons learnt, for future!
Showing posts with label Published on Page 11 (HTE). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Published on Page 11 (HTE). Show all posts
Saturday, December 2, 2006
Doctor continues with a unique tradition for the benefit of asthma patients
He is a practicing physician for 364 days in a year. But as soon as full-moon night of Poovar’s Poranmashi (the last full moon prior to Diwali) descends, Dr. Anoop Kumar Srivastava, an MBBS doctor, sheds his doctor’s robe to distribute a very traditional medicine for chronic asthma patients. Thousands of patients from far and near descend on his house, with kheer (a traditional delicacy cooked in milk) in earthen bowls to take the medicine at midnight. This is a practice that has continued in his house in Lucknow for last 75 years, right from the time of his famous homeopath grand father, Pyare Lal Srivastava.
Coming from an ordinary person, you would have been tempted to discard this. But the thousands of people, who descend on Dr. Srivastava’s ancestral house on Poovar’s Pooranmashi every year, suggest that there could be some veracity in his treatment. Moreover, he is a practicing physician who would otherwise test all things on the basis of science before believing them.
Elaborating on the procedure, Dr. Srivastava tells that the patients are required to bring kheer made in old chawal (rice) and no sugar, cooked in cow’s milk in an earthen utensil and on fire lit by igniting gobar (cow’s waste). No metal is to be used in cooking, not even a steel spoon. Medicine is given in this kheer, which is to be eaten there only and the patient is advised not to sleep or have water for two hours. Thereafter, one can continue with his daily routine. “It is purely a traditional medicine and contains neither asteroid nor anything that could be harmful,” the doctor adds.
When asked how he would correlate this with that particular night, scientifically, Dr. Srivastava says that he too, as a doctor, would not believe it on scientific grounds. “As a doctor I would say this night is same as always,” says he and adds, “Or one can say this has been done to fix a date or else people would be queuing here everyday.” However, he reiterated that he has seen people benefiting so much that he never thought of discontinuing the practice.
Dr. Srivastava further adds, “It is a matter of faith though some people claim that amrit falls down from sky on this night. More importantly, I am following the tradition of my father, Dr. RP Srivastava, who had followed on the tradition of my grandfather.”
When asked whether this medicine could be given other than the specified day, he said that it could be given a try, though he has not tried it until now.
This one night institution that Dr. Srivastava runs is totally charitable and no money is taken from the patients. “Earlier, we used to give the kheer as well, but now that practice has been discontinued.” Whatever, the endless queues of earthen utensils with white kheer in them, waiting in the lawns of Dr. Srivastava’s house, for the medicine to be delivered at midnight, itself presents a picture that cannot be easily forgotten.
Coming from an ordinary person, you would have been tempted to discard this. But the thousands of people, who descend on Dr. Srivastava’s ancestral house on Poovar’s Pooranmashi every year, suggest that there could be some veracity in his treatment. Moreover, he is a practicing physician who would otherwise test all things on the basis of science before believing them.
Elaborating on the procedure, Dr. Srivastava tells that the patients are required to bring kheer made in old chawal (rice) and no sugar, cooked in cow’s milk in an earthen utensil and on fire lit by igniting gobar (cow’s waste). No metal is to be used in cooking, not even a steel spoon. Medicine is given in this kheer, which is to be eaten there only and the patient is advised not to sleep or have water for two hours. Thereafter, one can continue with his daily routine. “It is purely a traditional medicine and contains neither asteroid nor anything that could be harmful,” the doctor adds.
When asked how he would correlate this with that particular night, scientifically, Dr. Srivastava says that he too, as a doctor, would not believe it on scientific grounds. “As a doctor I would say this night is same as always,” says he and adds, “Or one can say this has been done to fix a date or else people would be queuing here everyday.” However, he reiterated that he has seen people benefiting so much that he never thought of discontinuing the practice.
Dr. Srivastava further adds, “It is a matter of faith though some people claim that amrit falls down from sky on this night. More importantly, I am following the tradition of my father, Dr. RP Srivastava, who had followed on the tradition of my grandfather.”
When asked whether this medicine could be given other than the specified day, he said that it could be given a try, though he has not tried it until now.
This one night institution that Dr. Srivastava runs is totally charitable and no money is taken from the patients. “Earlier, we used to give the kheer as well, but now that practice has been discontinued.” Whatever, the endless queues of earthen utensils with white kheer in them, waiting in the lawns of Dr. Srivastava’s house, for the medicine to be delivered at midnight, itself presents a picture that cannot be easily forgotten.
Friday, December 1, 2006
Authentic Taste is the Greatest Surprise at Shanghai Surprise, Lucknow
You get to know the true taste of Chinese and Thai cuisine only upon coming to Shanghai Surprise – the authentic restaurant for Chinese and Thai delicacies situated in the heart of Lucknow. Barely a stone’s throw from Saharaganj Mall, Shanghai Surprise has authentic taste as the surprise element for food-buffs, as per Lovey Kumar, the promoter of the restaurant whose address 1-A, Sapru Marg is famous not only for original mouth-watering taste but also for the soothing ambience of its interiors.
Shanghai Surprise was the first restaurant to serve Chinese and Thai in a city otherwise famous for housing innumerable restaurants serving Mughlai and Indian cuisine. “Before Shanghai Surprise, the Lucknowites were not much aware about the true taste of Chinese and Thai food beyond Manchurian and Chowmein,” says Kumar adding further that “Mostly, of course, otherwise gourmets were always there, looking forward to an avenue which could satisfy their long-lasting desire for tasty food from across the Himalayas.”
With interiors that could match those of the best Chinese restaurants even in Delhi and other metros, this 80-cover restaurant would sooth your aching nerves even if you go there after a hectic shopping schedule at Saharaganj Mall or for a power-packed lunch amidst vigorous business meetings. Having red ceiling and walls glorified with paintings that give a truly Chinese ambience to the interiors, this restaurant is currently celebrating the Year of the Dog, informs Durga Singh, the manager. The Chinese New Year will begin somewhere in February when Shanghai Surprise will once again go for week-long festivities, as it did in February this year. The restaurant refurbishes its interiors every February after a period of festivities and celebrations. So if you have not visited Shanghai Surprise since February this year, be prepared for an altogether new ambience compared to what you saw last time. Roshan Lal, the Chef at Shanghai Surprise has gained experience in several Chinese and Thai restaurants in Delhi and elsewhere, before landing up in Lucknow to give a helping hand to Lovey Kumar in making this restaurant a one-stop destination for Chinese and Thai cuisine in Lucknow. Lal has even worked at Suko Thai – a restaurant owned by a cook from Thailand, where he mastered the art of cooking delicious, spicy Thai cuisine.
This is to be remembered that original Thai food is so spicy that it could put to shame the true spice-loving Indians. Through his several years of experience, Lal knows perfectly how to blend the right mixture of spices in his food so that the guests go back licking their fingers and wanting for more.
Lovey Kumar fondly mentions the case of a French lady who recently visited the restaurant. “The greatest compliment that I received that day,” says he, “was when this lady said that the Chinese taste that I savoured in an authentic Chinese restaurant back in Paris is exactly what you get here.”
The Salad Chicken Green Pepper Dry and Vegetable Ofan Noodles that the Chef decided out of his vast repertoire to serve us were simply superb. Vegetable Ofan Noodles had flat noodles that reminded you of Italian pasta whereas Chicken Green Pepper was spicy enough to titillate your taste buds into enjoying the food. Both the dishes were not only good to taste but also good to look and smell, thereby giving an impression that Shanghai Surprise is not just a treat for the tongue but a true treat for the give senses. There were famous Thai dishes like Keng Phat Kai and Keng Kiu Worn Kai besides a range of start-ups and a few great soups. The main course goes more with steamed rice, the cook informed us, adding further that some of the authentic dishes are cooked only in coconut milk.
“We still do not have a competitor,” says Lovey Kumar, adding that people come specially to complement me over taste. “Ours is the only restaurant in Lucknow that serves Beer, which goes extremely well with Chinese.” The restaurant is starting wine and Bacardi soon. Japanese cuisine too is being introduced later this year, which will surely add crabs and lobsters to the Surprise that Shanghai Surprise incessantly gives, every time you decide to visit this restaurant.
Shanghai Surprise was the first restaurant to serve Chinese and Thai in a city otherwise famous for housing innumerable restaurants serving Mughlai and Indian cuisine. “Before Shanghai Surprise, the Lucknowites were not much aware about the true taste of Chinese and Thai food beyond Manchurian and Chowmein,” says Kumar adding further that “Mostly, of course, otherwise gourmets were always there, looking forward to an avenue which could satisfy their long-lasting desire for tasty food from across the Himalayas.”
With interiors that could match those of the best Chinese restaurants even in Delhi and other metros, this 80-cover restaurant would sooth your aching nerves even if you go there after a hectic shopping schedule at Saharaganj Mall or for a power-packed lunch amidst vigorous business meetings. Having red ceiling and walls glorified with paintings that give a truly Chinese ambience to the interiors, this restaurant is currently celebrating the Year of the Dog, informs Durga Singh, the manager. The Chinese New Year will begin somewhere in February when Shanghai Surprise will once again go for week-long festivities, as it did in February this year. The restaurant refurbishes its interiors every February after a period of festivities and celebrations. So if you have not visited Shanghai Surprise since February this year, be prepared for an altogether new ambience compared to what you saw last time. Roshan Lal, the Chef at Shanghai Surprise has gained experience in several Chinese and Thai restaurants in Delhi and elsewhere, before landing up in Lucknow to give a helping hand to Lovey Kumar in making this restaurant a one-stop destination for Chinese and Thai cuisine in Lucknow. Lal has even worked at Suko Thai – a restaurant owned by a cook from Thailand, where he mastered the art of cooking delicious, spicy Thai cuisine.
This is to be remembered that original Thai food is so spicy that it could put to shame the true spice-loving Indians. Through his several years of experience, Lal knows perfectly how to blend the right mixture of spices in his food so that the guests go back licking their fingers and wanting for more.
Lovey Kumar fondly mentions the case of a French lady who recently visited the restaurant. “The greatest compliment that I received that day,” says he, “was when this lady said that the Chinese taste that I savoured in an authentic Chinese restaurant back in Paris is exactly what you get here.”
The Salad Chicken Green Pepper Dry and Vegetable Ofan Noodles that the Chef decided out of his vast repertoire to serve us were simply superb. Vegetable Ofan Noodles had flat noodles that reminded you of Italian pasta whereas Chicken Green Pepper was spicy enough to titillate your taste buds into enjoying the food. Both the dishes were not only good to taste but also good to look and smell, thereby giving an impression that Shanghai Surprise is not just a treat for the tongue but a true treat for the give senses. There were famous Thai dishes like Keng Phat Kai and Keng Kiu Worn Kai besides a range of start-ups and a few great soups. The main course goes more with steamed rice, the cook informed us, adding further that some of the authentic dishes are cooked only in coconut milk.
“We still do not have a competitor,” says Lovey Kumar, adding that people come specially to complement me over taste. “Ours is the only restaurant in Lucknow that serves Beer, which goes extremely well with Chinese.” The restaurant is starting wine and Bacardi soon. Japanese cuisine too is being introduced later this year, which will surely add crabs and lobsters to the Surprise that Shanghai Surprise incessantly gives, every time you decide to visit this restaurant.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)