30 October,2021 06:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Pic/Rane Ashish
Commuters and Diwali shoppers create a vibrant burst of colours near Dadar railway station on Thursday.
Members of the A Bite Better team
Last year, during their discussions with leaders from the hospitality industry, the folks behind non-profit Veruschka Foundation - which runs Culinaris Cookery Institute that trains the differently-abled in the culinary arts - were faced with a few challenges. "While restaurants were open to hiring our students as interns, employing them full-time was a challenge," shared founder and CEO Dr Tatyana Dias. Secondly, it was easier placing the boys than the girls as in many cases, both employers and parents were concerned about their well-being in the kitchen environment which is often male-dominated. Post the pandemic, the scenario worsened, with many restaurants citing a dip in business for not being able to hire the students. Concerned about them, the foundation decided to start A Bite Better, a Goregaon-based retail venture which formally launched in June. They offer a range of healthy, gluten-free cakes, crackers, cookies and snacks. "It's run by an inclusive team of abled and differently-abled chefs," Dias told us. If you'd like to lend them a hand, call 9833025477.
Patrons remember Pervez Kayani, owner of Pune's Kayani Bakery for his composed, ever-smiling demeanour. Pic Courtesy/Facebook
Whenever you visit Kayani Bakery in Pune's Camp area, there's a rush, reminisced Parvez Patel, the owner of the Fort-based restaurant Ideal Corner. "And instead of a frown on his face, owner Pervez Kayani always had a smile," Patel recollected to this diarist. Kayani, known to the world for his buttery, delicious Shrewsbury biscuits, passed away earlier this week. As tributes from doting patrons filled social media, Gustad Dinshaw Irani, who runs Cafe´ de la Paix in Girgaum, shared that he looked up to Kayani for his service to the Irani community and for spreading the love for their cuisine. "Whenever I have gone to Pune, I have visited Kayani. I didn't know him personally, but he used to always be at the bakery. His Shrewsbury biscuits, mawa cakes and soup sticks have stayed with me, along with the Christmas-time fruit cakes, of course," he said, while Patel fondly tagged their wine biscuits as his favourite. "He [Kayani] was one of the finest old-timers and a hard-working gentleman," Patel added.
The cause of #mymollem, a citizens' movement to raise awareness about the Mollem National Park in Goa, which is threatened by development projects, has often found a voice in art. But now, supporters can wear their heart on a scarf. Artist Osheen Siva has turned her Mollem-inspired artwork into a scarf as part of a series of four scarves, all transformed from her artworks. The piece, featuring species found at Mollem, is available on Method Art Gallery's website for Diwali. "With every show, we present a collectible inspired by the art and the artist. With Osheen's show, we were inspired by her. If you've seen her work on murals, she always has a scarf holding up her hair. When we made some samples, the vibrancy of the colours and the overall unique aesthetic was something we fell in love with," shared founder and curator Sahil Arora.
Mumbai Students for Liberty is an open platform that promotes exchange of ideas and engagement in dialogue on topics that may not be covered in classrooms. Today, this group will discuss two essays by 20th century revolutionary thinker Ayn Rand at a venue in BKC. The discussion will be audience-driven. This session is ideal for those who have a keen interest in the philosophy of Ayn Rand. "The idea is to promote free thought and the Socratic way of learning through discussion," Raufa Shaikh (in pic), regional coordinator, South India at South Asia Students for Liberty, told us.
Dia Mehhta Bhupal. Pic/IAF and the artist
Artist Dia Mehhta Bhupal's transformative work will be one of the prime showcases at the first ever India Art Fair and BMW Art Talk that takes place on Zoom, later today. The acclaimed artist and trained photographer is the first Indian to speak at this virtual event, and is known for her eye for inventiveness and installations of everyday public spaces. "Dia's work is placed in empathy, inventiveness and a deeper understanding of the world around us. Especially this year, we are proud to present such unique and inspiring perspectives and further shared values of community and creativity," shares India Art Fair director Jaya Asokan.
