IT is uncanny the way things work sometimes. The way things just fall in place. Before we knew it, we had in front of us the most innovative cover, with two of the most simple souls there ever can be. The Art of Living guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Guruji) and the great gourmet, restaurant reviewer and food writer Behram Contractor... my husband, who passed away in April.

Behram never had the occasion to meet Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and benefit from his wisdom, but yet he was the most perfect practitioner of the art of day-to-day living that I know. And I happily discovered something of Behram in "Guruji" too at his ashram in Bangalore. The same child-like qualities, a gentle sweetness that made him so adorable. He was such a joy to photograph, he made my assignment with him such fun.

It has been my experience that all great people, all men of the world, are extremely simple at heart. And this is so especially in their choices of food. Guruji, who makes the cover because he is one great foodie and a gifted cook, who can make a meal for 400 by magic, must have his curd-rice every day. And Behram, who Vinod Mehta, editor of Outlook, said could eat with kings and yet keep the common touch, was a dal-chawal man at heart. We give you both these simple foodies in this issue.

The last three months have been eventful and stressful, and regrettably, we have had to decline invitations to the wine-making Bordeaux and Champagne Valley regions of France that ordinarily we would have grabbed. But opportunity came knocking in the flamboyant shape and rugged form of Michel Rolland... King among wine-makers of the world and a giant in Bordeaux. His work made him catch 165 flights last year, but yet Rolland flew out of India to be back home for the birthday of his 28-year-old daughter. This is a commitment he made to her when she was little. I found him utterly charming!

There are many other real people I was happy to make acquaintance with in this issue, like the go-getting Pickle Queen of UK, Meena Pathak, better known as Lakhubhai�s vivacious daughter-in-law. She breezed into Bombay and declared her love for chillies. Unpickled and simply raw. And to prove her point, she munched one after another before my very eyes. I�m still shuddering! But Meena made great copy... and photographs. Check her out on Page 137 and tell me she isn�t the original Spice Girl!

Also in this issue is a story on coffee tasting. Now, while I do like my coffee in the privacy of my office before I start off my day, I may be proved wrong about what I have to say; but I do believe that coffee-drinking in these flashy new parlours will not be taken more seriously than as a fashion statement. Sure, it�s cool and hip to be seen at these happy and lively espresso bars sharing flavoured coffees with friends... but isn�t tea the national drink! We�ll wait and watch.

Mangalore is the Gourmet City of this issue. This was my first visit there and I found there�s a lot more to the place than Mangalore Tiles and Kori Gassi. Like a cuisine split down the middle into Bunt, Christian and Moplah foods; estuaries leaping with the delicious Kane fish; flavoursome coconuts that lend themselves to meat, fish and vegetable curries; markets of excellent produce and friendly people; gunpowder curry powders; breakfasts that go beyond Idli-Sambar; exotic fruits that are cooked as vegetables and vegetables that are treated as fruits! No wonder Busybee was fascinated by this cuisine. And once again I dedicate this issue to his memory.

Farzana Contractor