BEST OF FEEDBACK

ZAFAR HAI

I was brought up on biryanis, kormas and pasandas. Lunch was always Hyderabadi, but surprisingly, dinner was always English! Hyderabad was so British-influenced in those days, and we had a Goan cook who made marvellous English dinners — Chicken Roast and Bread-and-Butter Puddings."

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(Archives: October - December 2005)

KABIR BEDI

Growing old sucks! But I take my vitamin supplements, exercise and look after my diet. I work at countering ageing - it can be done!"

KAMAL SIDDHU

One does not have to deprive one’s palate to be healthy. As my mother-in-law said, with her fingers clawing the meat out of a butter, garlic crab, ‘Do whatever your body, heart and mind tells you, whether you are feeling hungry, thirsty or sexy’!"

CHETAN BHAGAT

Food has always featured prominently in my life and my books. Once you get married, you cannot womanise. And I don’t drink excessively, smoke or do drugs. So where does the excitement come from? Good Food!"

JHONTY RHODES

My wife’s family always had an Indian chef, so when I first met Kate, and would visit her parents for dinner, I would need to keep a big glass of milk and a packet of tissues handy at the table! I was not accustomed to the spicy flavours."

KAPIL DEV

I love blue cheese! Stronger the cheese, better I like it. I enjoy ‘spinzer’, a mix of wine and soda, and I’ve just started smoking cigars. I don’t inhale! But smoke for the aroma, it’s beautiful, and the style!"

BRETT LEE

VISHWANATHAN ANAND

I like eating different cuisines. I’m fond of of experimenting with my tastebuds. When I‘m playing tournaments, I am eating out of restaurants all the time."

BAL THACKERAY

I like to smoke cigars, it helps me tide over my loneliness. I’m often miserable. And alone. After I lost my wife, and my son in an accident, I found that the cigar helped me to relax."

DR B K GOYAL

Socially, I drink half a peg of whiskey or a small glass of red wine. I don’t eat at 99 percent of the parties I go to! I am a very light eater, in any case."

MUKESH AMBANI

For me, it’s home-cooked vegetarian food all the way. A Gujarati thali, made by our Saurashtra maharaj and his Nepali kitchen boy. We feed this to guests from all over the world. This is my father’s influence. Keep the cooking simple, he always said."

RITU BERI

I could put away a 300 gm bar of dark Godiva chocolate easily. And, given the choice, start and finish that meal with a chocolate milkshake and chocolate mousse. I’m nuts about chocolate."

HARSH GOENKA

I like to experiment with food… You need to search through a lot of oysters till you finally find the pearl. There is a sense of ‘eureka’ in discovering the perfect dish. As George Bernard Shaw said, ‘There is no sincerer love than the love of food’."

SUSHMITA SEN

I was taught to toast with champagne. I must have had a sip every day I was Miss Universe. Though I prefer wines. I like a good Chardonnay. But I’m not picky and choosy. I’m more a Bacardi drinker. Bacardi, two cubes of ice and tonnes of Coke."

HAFEEZ CONTRACTOR

Lunch is always outside. I don’t like the hassle of bringing a dabba to work and eating like a refugee, I must eat with grace!"