Time Management is something most of us claim to either have mastered or are completely useless at. Some signs are, being perpetually running late for meetings, not able to schedule, so on & forth. Over the years passing thru these phases & watching a bunch of friends & colleagues namely R. Sriram; Soeb Fatehi; Sunil Sheth; Hemant Gajjer; Devangshu Datta to name a few have managed to change myself to a greater extent, more importantly becoming adept at managing time most of the days — Read the rest of this entry »

According to the media & the highly qualified common man, the last month has been extremely bad for India, with inflation at a record high etc. etc. These articles, comments (most of them given by people who have no clue or at times by people who can only retain their job provided they comment) are mostly to be taken with a pinch of salt. Whilst there is some truth involved, some thoughts that occur to one that can be practiced maybe now or forever by businesses -

1 Remember what Sam Walton said: Trust your customers. Go talk to them, bad times or good times.

2 Ask yourself what you want to look like when recovery comes & start working towards the outcome. Read the rest of this entry »

Sundar the ever perfectionist, had announced his arrival to Mumbai nearly a month in advance.

As usual it looked as if everyone was too lazy to coordinate the entire effort, with details flying back & forth but nobody taking the initiative.

With a idea of calling Milind, Manisha, Sumir etc. over to Mumbai & make it a good reunion.

Milind confirming his arrival. Tushar already on his visits to mumbai (already participant in the earlier one 22nd april) confirms that he would be available.

Closer to the date, Doc decides he does not want to grace the occasion.

AND mercy, I am down with fever, cold that gains complete control over my speech, so I can no longer be a part of the merry gang!!

Sundar announces his arrival to me, Tushar, Sarabjit, Husseni, Sonal, Sunita. But as wonders shall never cease, everyone calls each other up, enquiring about what is to be done?

With Sarabjit & Sunita not answering their emails, cellphone, text; it remains my constant sms push to husseni & tushar (but pushing a car on the highway, husseni has lost his cell phone).

Finally aided by the local ENT (good one actually, who said that it is my shouting to baroda that led to this problem with the throat), push by Nippa (since she had to answer my phone) a super human effort by me, that I manage to speak with Husseni & Tushar - Viola - we have agreed to a place - PREETAM da Dhaba in Dadar - midway for sundar & radhika; husseni & rosemin as well as sonal & tushar(tg); tushar & hiren; me & nippa. We were optimistic till the 3rd that Sunita would be contacted. Personally I had given up on Saberjet, since there was absolutely no response from him. Read the rest of this entry »

IPL had started with a lot of matches under the bridge so to speak, along with a lot of issues, harbhajan, sreesanth, cheer leaders etc having passed under the bridge, a close friend & single malt enthusiast (Mehul A Desai though 3/4 of us can be termed more enthusiast than collectors/connoisseurs) had been calling us over for a dram! beside watching the match also.

Co incidentally, another friend (Neil Rodrigues) was promised some exceptional Rye whiskey. Templeton Rye Whiskey

I was completely exhausted from the morning session of meeting old school friends at Preetam da Dhaba, where the company was great, food ok, beer chilled…..all of which ran till 5p.m.

As a confirmed foodie, with a bit of interest in wanting to experiment my favorite food with whiskey & wine, I had decided that today we would have the universal, chat (mumbai style) along with the Macallan 12yr Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Read the rest of this entry »

Bombay Hospital Lane, Near Liberty Cinema, Marine Lines, Mumbai

Sab ko gaurav milega

They open the restaurant with the entire staff doing puja, aarti & then ushering the guests in, offering prasad. One of the first restaurants to offer complimentary mineral water, way back in 1995.

The thali is very similar to gujarati thali, but there is more of gujarat & less rajasthani here which is sometimes a good thing.

Quick service, VFM, personalised service & you are out in the sun in 30 minutes…what more do you want for less than 200 bucks

115, S. V. Road, Irla, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai

Kya Baat hai Harish Ki

An impromptu afternoon session on the 30th dec 2006 with 3 friends deciding to have some beers in anticipation of the year end & all that jazz….

Went up the stairs….surprise some 5 friends had also the same idea….with the orders flowing, mobiles were whipped out & in no time more dropped in….by 2 pm there were 18-20 of us(bit diff to remember) Beer, vodka, gin flowed along with the lovely free chakna, interspersed with fish items, sukha chicken & mutton.

Finally it was the cell phone ringing from home, that decided to close the session at around 8pm

Been there a couple of times after that, met some unique people but never had such a blast.

Ward No. 752, Opp. Traffic Police Chowky, S.V. Road, Khar (W), Mumbai

No Idd required

A superb muslim place, serving fantastic food for years now. Sit in the AC comfort, start with the kababs, phudina chutney, onions. Clean your palate with a fresh lime soda & order kheema ghotala, chicken tikka/hyderabadi with their large rotis or pav. Go for an additional sin by asking him to fry the papads also…..BLISS…..Stagger out, stop for a paan, get into your car, go to sleep till you reach home. (This has been written after a nos of visits to this place over the last 20 years after taking on liquid at the willingdon/khar gym till 11.30)

Fun Republic, Level 3, Opposite Laxmi Industrial Estate, Andheri (W), Mumbai

Frangi ho ya Firangi

One of those places where the wife managed to visit first & give the signal…..Some friends had overseas visitors & all of them decided to celebrate.

Guess they took pity on me, at home with a torn ligament, sent the passat over to pick me up in style. Getting down, was mistaken by two ladies for a singer……accompanied to the level 3, where the greeter & chini mini threw some attitude, but Luck favors….the manager of the place, an old sun n sand friend whisked me & the ladies right in. Bid them good bye & sat with boys & girls to have a time…

Tried out a variety of starters all of them uniformly good, however the sauces, dips were severely lacking, had to constantly ask for refills.

After a gala time, demolishing a couple of bottles of fancy wine(don’t ask the names); whiskey, tequila & what have you, paid(this is one amount that will be imprinted) but WTF someone else’s entertainment bill….however luckily, checked the total…& lo there was a service charge quietly tucked in, so did restrain ourselves on the tip factor.

Overall a good place, where would definitely visit again, but the loud music puts you off, the mix of music does not go with the decor, service needs to be brushed up, particularly on a tuesday.

Will check it out when a buddy Keith vegas plays there.

Infiniti Mall, 2nd Floor, New Link Road, Oshiwara, Andheri (W), Mumbai

Nope maybe on a monday

Angrez chale gaye, inko chodd gaye.

Okay place, with too loud music, suddenly hovering over to take order when you are not ready & then disappearing till god knows when.

Had a warm discussion regarding my wearing a shorts…don’t know what is their problem when my wife does not mind….

Ok if you want to have a drink whilst waiting to go for a movie

Outside Andheri (W) Station, Opposite McDonalds, Andheri (W), Mumbai

Brun hi Brun

Morning breakfast can be those lovely brun maska, kheema followed by the great irani paani kam chai.

Around 9.30 - 10 you can have their super kheema, chicken pattice or rolls. Even the veg pattice is good.

The smiling service once you come in from the heat is something that is great!!!