Friday, February 18, 2005
CHEERS!
Setting up a home bar and you’re all ready with your vodkas and whiskeys, but seem to be missing out on a certain something? Tired of shots and spirits on the rocks? Save your frettin’ and fumin’ for a rainy day pet, ‘cos we got some great ideas lined up for you – all ready to shake ‘n stir up things around the ‘ol celler!
- FRESH JUICES
Fruit juices should be right up there on your list this season. With a dash of lime juice and light rum, your ordinary apple juice could become a potent Apple Daiquiri; conjure up a petit Fuzzy Navel with peach schnapps and fresh orange juice; whip up the fav party Champagne Punch with strawberry nectar; or better still, stir in pineapple juice, cranberry juice and fresh OJ with vodka and you could have the perfect Sex on the Beach right here at home!
Taken undiluted, these fruity drinks could also be the best energy drinks. You could churn them into rich smoothies, shakes, mocktails and summer coolers too! (Real, 1l; Rs70) - BAR BASICS
For innovative cocktails it’s good to keep ingredients like Angostura bitters, lime cordial, brown sugar and coconut cream handy at all times. The classic Manhattan is made with vermouth, whiskey and a dash of Angostura bitters (Angostura, 100ml; Rs200), while other cocktail classics like the Cosmopolitan and Moscow Mule are variations on the basic vodka and lime cordial (Druk, 700ml; Rs52). Holiday drinks like Eggnog need brown sugar (Solar, 500gm; Rs45) and coconut cream is used in all tropical cocktails like the popular Piña Colada. - SAUCES N' SYRUPS
These might look like an unlikely bunch for your home bar, but you’d be surprised by what you could turn up with them! Load up the chocolate syrup (Hershey’s, 680gm; Rs130) with Bailey’s Irish Cream, kahlua and vodka for Mudslide or create Cocoa Colada by replacing vodka and Bailey’s with white rum and coconut cream! Worcestershire (Lea & Perrins, 200ml; Rs175) and Tabasco sauce (Tabasco, 60ml; Rs90) usually go into spicy favourites like Bloody Mary and Caesar. - FRUITY FLAVOURS
Sandeep Verma, bar and beverages expert, feels, “All fruity flavours will work wonders this season.” A sucker for all things natural, he urges that we store up on all those summer-fresh fruits – kiwis, melons, mangoes, peaches – the works. “Nothing like fresh fruits,” he avers, but in their absence syrups are our best option! Look out for flavours of melon, cranberry, peach and kiwi this summer. (Monin, 700ml; Rs440)
CHOICE OF THE MONTH: MOJITO MINT
Sandeep chooses mint syrup as his personal favourite for FnL readers. Muddled with white rum, crushed ice and lime wedges, Mojito is as refreshing as summer rain. Alternately, replace rum with vodka, stir in some brown sugar and voila, you have Mint Caipiroska!
Creativity is the essence of all good recipes, whether in matters of food or beverages – just go ahead and enjoy concocting your own inventions with these basic bar ingredients. Cheers!
Inputs: Saon Bhattacharya
Photographs: Naveesh Tejpal
CAUGHT NAPPING!
Of Napkins and Serviettes
Have you had a feeling lately that whenever you’re out at these swanky eating places, those moments of stunned silence were not exactly being directed at that mutt on the next table? Have there been increased incidents of collected intakes of breath while you pulverised your pasta with the butter knife – or better still – while you were busy slurping up those dregs from your tilted soup bowl with the desert spoon? Well pal, even if you don’t, we think it’s time we gave you a few pointers on fine dining. And while we’re at it, why not start with napkins?
Napkins, or serviettes, traditionally originated in the city of Rheims, noted for its fine cloth. Research has shown that 15th century table linen included long and narrow runners, which were laid over the table cloth to protect it. Diners were expected to wipe their hands on these. Italian inventories of the same period mention guarda nappi or ‘cloth protectors’, narrow pieces of cloth that were stored in sets of six. Individual silk and linen napkins became fashionable in France towards the end of the 15th century. The rules of etiquette in the placement of napkins varied with fashion in clothing. When ruffled collars were in vogue, men knotted their napkins around their necks; and later they tucked them into collars to protect laced shirtfronts.
A few dos and don’ts:
- The napkin or serviette should be taken off the table as soon as you are seated for dining.
- Napkins should never be tucked into shirt collars or belts. They should always be spread on your lap. If it is small, you may open it out fully. If it is large, it should be kept folded in half with the fold towards you.
- If the napkin happens to drop on to the floor, never feel around for it under the table. Retrieve it only if it has fallen quite close by you. It is best to just let it be and ask for another.
- If you must leave the table – for, say, the buffet area – and are going to return, never re-fold your serviette. Place it to the right of your plate or better still, leave it on the seat of your chair.
- Never use your napkin like a handkerchief. Use finger bowls and avoid leaving haldi stains on them. Women should never leave lipstick marks on them either. Simply use the napkin-ends to dab the corners of your mouth.
- When you leave the table, simply pick up your serviette by the centre and place it loosely to the left of your plate. Do not re-fold it or it might be mistaken for a fresh one.
Inputs: Saon Bhattacharya
Photographs: Naveesh Tejpal
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
VISION PERFECT: GKB OPTICALS
By Saon Bhattacharya
India’s eyewear and eye care industry has been up and growing over the years. Chief among the fast growing enterprises in the optical and ophthalmic sector has been GKB Rx Lens Pvt. Ltd.—India’s largest ophthalmic lens manufacturing establishment. Having been around for the last 40 years, this technology intensive company is India’s premium producer of lenses, together with a range of other eye care and optical products. IR takes a look…
In the business of manufacturing as well as exporting quality optical products since the 1970s, the company has recently ventured into the retail sector under the name GKB Opticals. This ISO-9001 certified organisation works in collaboration with global leaders in the optical industry, such as Sola Optical (Australia), Shamir Optical (Israel), Corning (France), Seiko (Japan), Satis (Switzerland) and LOH (Germany), to keep itself abreast of the latest developments in the field of prescription and cosmetic lenses and eyewear.
Manufacturing and Export
The company manufactures its special niche products in the optical industry through its automated plants across the country. India's largest Rx lens manufacturer, GKB Rx Lens has a total capacity of producing 5000 Rx lenses everyday in all its high technology labs in Kolkata, Chennai, Cochin, Bangalore, New Delhi and Mumbai. Additionally, 4000 lenses are daily produced in its mass production plant. Its high quality manufacturing abilities have helped GKB to become a premier plastic, glass and polycarbonate lens processing facility in the country.
Currently serving more than 4000 opticians in the domestic market, GKB Rx Lens has been successful in pioneering the production and export of the finest eyewear and eye care products in the Indian optical scenario through its various advanced automated plants located in Germany, France and Switzerland. Having been in the business of exporting its products since the ‘70s, GKB has since bagged several Export CAPAXIL Awards. At present, the company exports to nearly 50 countries around the world, including the USA, Canada, France, Australia, Russia and the United Kingdom among others. GKB has registered an annual growth of about 23% in this sector alone.
Innovative Product Development
GKB offers a range of safety eyewear products and services for industrial and laboratory conditions. Fitted with ‘duralens’, GKB’s line of safety eyewear comes with this polycarbonate lens material that is thinner and tougher than conventional glass or plastic lenses. The self-same material that actually goes into the making of helmet visors for astronauts—talk about space-age eyewear! Practically indestructible, duralens offers the best possible eye protection against all kinds of mechanical (mineral/fibre/dust projectiles), chemical (aerosol liquids/fumes/biological and viral agents) and radiation hazards. These light, yet strong corrective lenses with anti-reflection coating are also fog and scratch-resistant. Available in single vision, bifocals and progressive lenses, GKB’s range of safety eyewear comes with clear prescription, non-prescription and tinted lenses; as well as with impact resistant frames in nylon, polymer or cellulosics.
In addition to its safety eyewear line, GKB also manufactures Panorama Lenses, an innovative range of progressive lenses. The product of years of R&D and high technology, these progressive lenses are the next step after bifocals. With better distant, intermediate and near vision, GKB’s Panorama progressive lenses offer no breaks in vision—unlike conventional bifocals. The company manufactures these lenses in a choice of plastic, glass, photochromatic and high index lens materials.
Apart from constantly upgrading its product profile, the company offers customised eye care services to its dedicated set of customers too. GKB’s Better Vision Program is one such eye care package for corporates, which tries to increase awareness about eye care and provides solutions to vision problems among other services.
Retail Vision
The company feels that retail in the optical trade is poised for a big leap. Compared to the West, there are very few Indian companies with a national presence and a chain of retail outlets that can offer consumers a standardised portfolio of products and services. Mr Lalit Kumar Gupta, Director, Marketing avers, “As more and more companies with sound organisational capabilities and a professional approach to managing a large national chain enter the market, the optical retail business will undergo a major change.”With its high technology manufacturing base, GKB has recently ventured into retailing, armed an elite string of high-profile outlets targeted towards a wide customer base, ranging from the price conscious to the brand savvy. Having made significant investments, the company currently has 14 retail points including shop-in-shops and outlets within malls. All in all, GKB Opticals has six state-of-the-art showrooms in Kolkata, three in Bangalore, two in Chennai and one each in Delhi, Gurgaon and Mumbai.
Open seven days a week, each of the retail outlets is equipped with latest computerised eye testing facilities and an advanced contact lens dispensing clinic. All GKB Optical showrooms offer separate sections for children, pre-adults, premium eyewear and sunglasses and accessories. The stores feature a vast collection of eye care products ranging from prescription to coloured contact lenses from Bausch & Lomb, Johnson & Johnson, besides GKB's own brand. In its sunglasses and eyewear accessories section, the showrooms offer top-end eyewear brands, such as Calvin Klein, Gucci, Giani Versace, Cartier, Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss and many more.
With a total turnover of Rs. 40 crores, it looks like this optical organisation is all set to fire the retail market in the Indian ophthalmic lens industry.
Published in Images Retail (IR), January 2005 issue.
India’s eyewear and eye care industry has been up and growing over the years. Chief among the fast growing enterprises in the optical and ophthalmic sector has been GKB Rx Lens Pvt. Ltd.—India’s largest ophthalmic lens manufacturing establishment. Having been around for the last 40 years, this technology intensive company is India’s premium producer of lenses, together with a range of other eye care and optical products. IR takes a look…
In the business of manufacturing as well as exporting quality optical products since the 1970s, the company has recently ventured into the retail sector under the name GKB Opticals. This ISO-9001 certified organisation works in collaboration with global leaders in the optical industry, such as Sola Optical (Australia), Shamir Optical (Israel), Corning (France), Seiko (Japan), Satis (Switzerland) and LOH (Germany), to keep itself abreast of the latest developments in the field of prescription and cosmetic lenses and eyewear.
Manufacturing and Export
The company manufactures its special niche products in the optical industry through its automated plants across the country. India's largest Rx lens manufacturer, GKB Rx Lens has a total capacity of producing 5000 Rx lenses everyday in all its high technology labs in Kolkata, Chennai, Cochin, Bangalore, New Delhi and Mumbai. Additionally, 4000 lenses are daily produced in its mass production plant. Its high quality manufacturing abilities have helped GKB to become a premier plastic, glass and polycarbonate lens processing facility in the country.
Currently serving more than 4000 opticians in the domestic market, GKB Rx Lens has been successful in pioneering the production and export of the finest eyewear and eye care products in the Indian optical scenario through its various advanced automated plants located in Germany, France and Switzerland. Having been in the business of exporting its products since the ‘70s, GKB has since bagged several Export CAPAXIL Awards. At present, the company exports to nearly 50 countries around the world, including the USA, Canada, France, Australia, Russia and the United Kingdom among others. GKB has registered an annual growth of about 23% in this sector alone.
Innovative Product Development
GKB offers a range of safety eyewear products and services for industrial and laboratory conditions. Fitted with ‘duralens’, GKB’s line of safety eyewear comes with this polycarbonate lens material that is thinner and tougher than conventional glass or plastic lenses. The self-same material that actually goes into the making of helmet visors for astronauts—talk about space-age eyewear! Practically indestructible, duralens offers the best possible eye protection against all kinds of mechanical (mineral/fibre/dust projectiles), chemical (aerosol liquids/fumes/biological and viral agents) and radiation hazards. These light, yet strong corrective lenses with anti-reflection coating are also fog and scratch-resistant. Available in single vision, bifocals and progressive lenses, GKB’s range of safety eyewear comes with clear prescription, non-prescription and tinted lenses; as well as with impact resistant frames in nylon, polymer or cellulosics.
In addition to its safety eyewear line, GKB also manufactures Panorama Lenses, an innovative range of progressive lenses. The product of years of R&D and high technology, these progressive lenses are the next step after bifocals. With better distant, intermediate and near vision, GKB’s Panorama progressive lenses offer no breaks in vision—unlike conventional bifocals. The company manufactures these lenses in a choice of plastic, glass, photochromatic and high index lens materials.
Apart from constantly upgrading its product profile, the company offers customised eye care services to its dedicated set of customers too. GKB’s Better Vision Program is one such eye care package for corporates, which tries to increase awareness about eye care and provides solutions to vision problems among other services.
Retail Vision
The company feels that retail in the optical trade is poised for a big leap. Compared to the West, there are very few Indian companies with a national presence and a chain of retail outlets that can offer consumers a standardised portfolio of products and services. Mr Lalit Kumar Gupta, Director, Marketing avers, “As more and more companies with sound organisational capabilities and a professional approach to managing a large national chain enter the market, the optical retail business will undergo a major change.”With its high technology manufacturing base, GKB has recently ventured into retailing, armed an elite string of high-profile outlets targeted towards a wide customer base, ranging from the price conscious to the brand savvy. Having made significant investments, the company currently has 14 retail points including shop-in-shops and outlets within malls. All in all, GKB Opticals has six state-of-the-art showrooms in Kolkata, three in Bangalore, two in Chennai and one each in Delhi, Gurgaon and Mumbai.
Open seven days a week, each of the retail outlets is equipped with latest computerised eye testing facilities and an advanced contact lens dispensing clinic. All GKB Optical showrooms offer separate sections for children, pre-adults, premium eyewear and sunglasses and accessories. The stores feature a vast collection of eye care products ranging from prescription to coloured contact lenses from Bausch & Lomb, Johnson & Johnson, besides GKB's own brand. In its sunglasses and eyewear accessories section, the showrooms offer top-end eyewear brands, such as Calvin Klein, Gucci, Giani Versace, Cartier, Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss and many more.
With a total turnover of Rs. 40 crores, it looks like this optical organisation is all set to fire the retail market in the Indian ophthalmic lens industry.
Published in Images Retail (IR), January 2005 issue.
Salvador Novo: The Marginal Towards The Centre
Love is to sense that timid silence
near you, without your knowledge
Love is to remember your voice
as you bid good-bye
Love is to feel the warmth
of your greeting on my cheek
Love is to hide you so that we
are alone for games and stories
Love is to perceive in your absence
the perfume of your being in my breath
Love is to contemplate the star as you
diminish into the darkness
Salvador Novo (1904-1974) was one of the most complex and contradictory characters in the hispanic world of letters during the early part of the twentieth centruy. He wrote admirable prose and was an excellent cook, or so it is said. In an age of un-repentant machismo, he agressively assumed his homosexuality and valiantly fought for a space that recognised and respected difference as well as the right to differ.
Cheers in anticipation of St. Valentine's day!
—Hari Nair
near you, without your knowledge
Love is to remember your voice
as you bid good-bye
Love is to feel the warmth
of your greeting on my cheek
Love is to hide you so that we
are alone for games and stories
Love is to perceive in your absence
the perfume of your being in my breath
Love is to contemplate the star as you
diminish into the darkness
Salvador Novo (1904-1974) was one of the most complex and contradictory characters in the hispanic world of letters during the early part of the twentieth centruy. He wrote admirable prose and was an excellent cook, or so it is said. In an age of un-repentant machismo, he agressively assumed his homosexuality and valiantly fought for a space that recognised and respected difference as well as the right to differ.
Cheers in anticipation of St. Valentine's day!
—Hari Nair
