The eternally young songstress and UpperCrust's previous cover 'girl', Asha Bhosle, gave the exhibition a befitting start as she lit the traditional lamp with UpperCrust editor Farzana Contractor and Maharaja Arvind Sigh Mewar of Udaipur. As swarms of guests and cameramen crowded Ashaji, she slowly went from one stall to another viewing and enjoying the goodies with her characteristic smile, signing autographs for everybody who wanted them.

Even when she left, Ashaji hadn't had enough! (Her son Anand and daughter-in-law Anuja were still feasting!) As the enamoured junta patronised the fifty-odd exhibitors (selling beverages, wine, specialty cuisines, tea and coffee, chocolates, bread and cheese, snacks, home furnishings, readymade food, oil and pickles, and a plethora of related style products) at the Expo Centre on the first floor, the Courtyard on the ground floor was teeming with the real food aficionados feasting on the offerings from Delhi Darbar, Golden Star Thali, and Fountain Restaurant, to name a few.

Mumbai's biryani king, Jafferbhai Mansuri, gave a rare demo of the secret behind his famous food item (often breaking into an emotional account of his past) as excited housewives hurriedly jotted down the prized recipe. Zeba Kohli's chocolate-making session drew an unprecedented crowd, so much so that people stood looking through the glass panel when the main area was full. Vithal Kamat made dosas and cocktail idlis with sufficient energy and mirth to keep the watchers glued as did the noted Christine Chang during her session on Feng Shui in the kitchen. Later in the evening as the office crowd began filling up, Italian cooking with RRO and Sanjay Menon's 'discourse' on wine, comfortably passed off as 'blockbusters'. The UpperCrust stall saw a large number procuring the backdated issues at 50 per cent off, so much so that the Shah Rukh, Hrithik and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar covers were sell-outs!

Today's the second day of this landmark food event organised by UpperCrust and Harvest Trade Fairs. And the teachers for the day include Bejan Daruwala, Madhuri Ruia, Chef Imtiaz Qureshi, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Chef Gev Desai, Arunika Shah, Rashmi Uday Singh, Income Tax Commissioner Rama Das and Shathbi Basu. And the excitement promises not to be any lesser than yesterday! From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the World Trade Centre. Entrance is free.

A Milestone In Culinary History!
By Tanuj Garg
The UpperCrust Show drew to a successful close last evening, leaving a lasting flavour on the tastebuds!

Renowned astrologer Bejan Daruwala educated the audience for a good part of the morning, in his characteristically entertaining didactic mode. Prior to that, Asha Khatau had released her cookery book in the presence of VJ Raageshwari Loomba (looking intoxicating as schnapps!) and UpperCrust editor, Farzana Contractor.

Clearly, the 'sweet' season is in. As if Zeba Kohli's chocolate-making demo on Friday wasn't enough, the junta just refused to have enough of Arunika and Devina Shahs's demo on making Cordon Bleu pastries. Those ladies who had reached the venue late were seen clumsily scampering to the Expo Centre to avoid missing the pastry session. Some were disappointed that they could not get hold of the handouts that were issued here.

While foodie Rashmi Uday Singh and Income Tax Commissioner Rama Das appealed to housewives keen on setting up food businesses from home, Shatbhi Basu set the Saturday evening mood tizzy with a fine demo on conjuring up unique cocktails. But unarguably, the stars for Saturday were Executive Chef Gev Desai of the ITC Grand Maratha and Celebrity Chef Sanjeev Kapoor. Their demo sessions saw an unprecedented attendance. Chef Desai created an unusual and memorable experience of Korean cuisine, while Chef Kapoor let the viewers in on some prized recipes and tips on Indian cooking. Each of these sessions was interspersed with light contemporary English and Hindi Music, courtesy Win 94.6.

Even a lazy Sunday failed to keep Mumbai's food enthusiasts at home. The Courtyard was swelling like it was on the previous days. Saba Gaziyani kickstarted the morning with a session on food styling, followed by the incomparable Nelson Wang who dished out a taste of China Garden to the excited attendees. As he revealed interesting trade secrets in the form of answers, tidbits about the origin of Chicken/Vegetable Manchurian, and the wok used in his upmarket restaurant, a deliciously clad Manisha Koirala entered with her London-based beau, Cecile Anthony.

The cynosure of all eyes, Manisha, like an attentive student, observed Nelson cooking up a dish full of Chicken Manchurian, of which Cecile and she had two small helpings. "It's fantastic," she beamed with her mint-fresh smile, after which she did a round of the Courtyard to feast on the goodies by Golden Star Thali Restaurant and Amrish Arora's Fountain.

Later in the afternoon, as experts like Swati Piramal and Karen Anand got going with sessions on Diet and Nutrition, and Salads respectively, Manisha (after posing for a hundred pictures and signing a spate of autographs) and Cecile were whisked away to a quiet room where they chomped the Mutton Biryani and Dabba Gosht from Delhi Darbar. Several youngsters and models (most of whom seem to be aspiring restaurateurs these days) sat for Indigo man Rahul Akerkar's gyaan on running a restaurant, after which the sought-after Rashmi Uday Singh disclosed ideas and techniques on quick cooking in a room pregnant with housewives. Grover Vineyard man Abhay Kewadkar's talk on wine appreciation was the last of the events scheduled on The UpperCrust Show's exhaustive three-day agenda.