Readers Chat

Covers make a difference
I am an ardent reader of UpperCrust, but I have to say that I was rather disappointed with the cover of the last issue. So far your covers have been brilliant with a celebrity or some well-known and interesting person on it. What was the idea of putting a model�s picture and that too, one that looks like it is straight out of the Lakme Fashion Week? Here�s hoping that the next one is a mind-blower as always!
� Janavi Krishnan, Bangalore

Kudos to The UpperCrust Show!
The UpperCrust Show seems to be getting bigger and better. I am a regular visitor to your food and wine extravaganza, which if I mistake not is the only one of its kind in India. This year too, the food stalls were good and the products available very diverse (though cheese was missing). The cooking demos, though interesting and adding to the overall charm, was not my cup of tea, I preferred to wander around the courtyard and eat from the numerous stalls selling all the exciting fare. Though my main interest was to look for business opportunities in the food industry.
� Rohinton Gandhy, Pune

The call of New Zealand
I have to say that I just loved the travel feature on New Zealand in the previous issue of UpperCrust. I travel abroad quite a bit but so far NZ hasn�t been on my travel agenda. The general consensus in my family was: it�s too far away. But after reading Farzana Contractor�s accounts of South Island - Queenstown, and the wild beauty of Fjordland, it made me want to pack my bags and head for this beautiful destination. Now we have actually made plans to go there at the end of the year, maybe over Christmas. Naturally UpperCrust will go with us (we never tear pages from this magazine, ever) to lead us to the scenic spots.
� Shweta Khubchandani, Mumbai

Kiwiland capers
When will India come of age? Look how New Zealand has tapped its natural beauty, how well they have understood the tourist market! Picnic on the top! What a wonderful concept, to take a helicopter to a peak and drink champagne there! Who would have thought an idea such as that could have been exploited. My children, who are not really children at 18 and 20 years, want to go there and indulge in all these exciting, adventurous experiences. They could not believe what they saw in UpperCrust, the pictures are fake, they declared, �We have to go there and see the places for ourselves to believe it!�
� Adrian Pinto,Bombay

Wow what an issue!
Wow, what an issue! I really, really, think UpperCrust is India�s best magazine there is. Your travelogue on New Zealand was simply superb. Pure, Chef Nischan�s restaurant was a treat. The UpperCrust Show brought to India the first ever chocolate fashion show, which is such a unique concept. Hats off to you for that! We couldn�t go to Barbados for the World Cup Cricket but at least through the UpperCrust Getaway we saw what the place can be like. Your selection of UpperCrust People is always unusual. It was good to know more about Pheroza Godrej and Monish Gujral of Moti Mahal. Please continue with the good job.
- Happy Chawla,Delhi

Great reading!
I have thoroughly enjoyed browsing through the UpperCrust magazine, which I have subscribed for since the past one year. My neighbours who borrow my copy since it comes from so far away, were indeed surprised, to say the least, at the quality of the magazine. I have been trying out quite a few recipes inspite of the fact that they are so diverse ,with rewarding and fulfilling results ! The magazine offers comprehensive insights into the culinary world and portrays interesting features of many lands; I like that. Also, the glossy magazine makes a good �coffee table� presentation!
� Loretta Wood, Middlesex

Good Living is good but not necessary
I think the Good Living section is good, but not really necessary in a magazine of your genre. Yes it�s nice to know about all the pretty things that come into the Indian luxury market, but what you should concentrate on is what are the new products that can come into our kitchens! Perhaps you could bring to our table the new sauces and jams and other condiments that make their foray into India. That would be cause to bless you. Yes, I am a big foodie and a big fan of your classy magazine.
� Leena Ramesh, Hubli

Pure was just okay...
I have to say I always look forward to your restaurant reviews. However, I was quite disappointed with the last one you wrote about. I went to Pure at Taj Lands End, for a quiet dinner with my husband, purely on your recommendation and came away disheartened. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but that is your fault - Mark Manuel wrote so highly about the organic restaurant. Unfortunately the nice descriptions of the food did not quite match the taste, in the sense that no dish was truly extraordinary. But yes the presentation was extremely good, likewise the service, which to a certain extent made up. But one does go to a restaurant of such a calibre for the total experience, not just the ambience or the service, so�can you please keep that in mind for your future reviews?
� Jasmine Dalal, Mumbai

Include recipes in contents pages, please.
On my friend�s advice I began to subscribe to UpperCrust. I have seen four issues so far and am really glad to have taken a subscription. The travel and food pictures are so lovely! Your photographer seems to make the place come alive, and the food looks so appetizing you want to eat it off the pages.
What I look forward to the most is the recipe section at the back. I have tried quite a few recipes from there with sufficient amount of success. To think I don�t really cook otherwise - so lets just say UpperCrust has inspired me to get into the kitchen. Just one suggestion: Can you please carry the names of the recipes as part of the �contents� section of your magazine which will make it easier to see what is inside and on what page? That would be helpful. Thank you.
� Sama Sarfraz, Pune.

A much-needed spa break
For a person who sometimes has to work on Sundays too, your special feature on Spas - The New Mantra For Health & Peace� in your previous issue - was a relief. I am a dress designer by profession and my time is dominated by my clients, workmen and product sourcing. After reading your article I decided that I am going to try out a spa the next time I feel burned out. Just had one suggestion: Why restrict yourself to Bombay and Pune? Why not feature spas in other cities and reaches of India too? I am sure there must be other travelling businesswomen like me who would love to know what Delhi or Bangalore has to offer.
� Nisha Kedarnath, Mumbai.