Football first

We already know that Bollywood stars when not shooting or attending promotional events are addicted to video gaming and in particular the PlayStation game FIFA (blame SRK who we hear even plays FIFA on set between shots) but lately the boys have been taking real football seriously too!

The happy bunch

Every Sunday the All Star football Club, which consists of actors, photographers, producers and directors from the fraternity meet up in Bandra for a game of footie. And word comes in that this past weekend the team was invited to play a special match in Raipur, as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan initiative and to raise funds for drought relief.

We were informed that the team that flew in to participate included players like Abhishek Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Dino Morea, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Armaan Jain, Raj Kundra and Rohan Shreshta. What's more is that not only were they fit enough to play they came back with a resounding 11-1 victory!

Hurley's Ghar Wapsi
Her fulsome welcome to the city of her former marriage has been a heartfelt and wondrous affair and actress Liz Hurley must be still recovering from all that hospitality.

Liz Hurley and Haseena Jethmalani

Last week her erstwhile neighbour Haseena Jethmalani, petite fashionista wife of lawyer Mahesh (Tony), threw a dinner in the star's honor.

The Jethmalanis reside in the same building as Hurley's former husband Arun Nair. As a wag remarked, "That's a whole new twist to ghar wapsi!"

Birthday Celebrations
Tanya Deol, wife of actor Bobby Deol, threw a big party to bring in her 40th birthday over the weekend at the Asilo at the St Regis. Guests on the occasion were Seema Khan, Dipti Sandesra, Surily Goel and Maheep Kapoor. More or less the usual suspects as they say.

Dipti Sandesara, Tania Deol, Surily Goel and Seema Khan

From Farm to Table
We attended the soft launch of Nico Goghawala and wife Kamal Sidhu's new eatery ‘Farmer and Sons' over the weekend.

Kiran Rao, Kamal Sidhu and Nico Goghawala

Situated in the same place, as the earlier ‘Nico's', ‘Farmer and Sons' is further evidence of the young restaurateur's passion for fresh, locally grown produce.

"I have created a network of farmers to source some amazing stuff they're growing in India now," said Goghawala, leading us to the front of the restaurant, which sells artisanal cheeses, breads and pastries. Kiran Rao, Queenie and Rishi Sethia and Asha Puthli were some of those who attended the launch.

Some Goan cheer
His home in Goa has hosted a string of glamorous women from Susan Sarandon to the likes of Mallika Sherawat and Saturday Night at designer Wendell Rodricks house in Colvale, which he shares with his partner Jerome, saw pretty women Benita Singh, Kimi Katkar Sheorey, Suzanne Pillai and Lisa Sadanah experience some legendary Goan hospitality including a walk through the village, a prayer at the 400-year-old village church, much laughter good food and drink, singing and the piece de resistance host Rodrick's soulful rendition of nineties classics on his guitar.

Wendell with Lisa, Benita, Suzanne and Kimi

"Too much fun and a whole lot of nostalgia," said Rodricks about the evening. "The '90s were relived and the warmth survives like a roaring inferno," adding, "I finally caught a glimpse of what all your close friends have known about both of you," said the Mumbai-based Sadanah, a new entrant to the group.

On the Boardwalk
It's known as Mumbai's Hamptons and like its American namesake Alibag attracts some of the best-heeled residents who desire a weekend getaway.

Ashim and Bharti Mongia with guests at the Boardwalk

But unlike the Hamptons, Alibag does not have the trappings of a seven star resort, in fact getting back and forth from their lavish beach front or hillside haciendas is quite an arduous process and many have been known to crib about the lack of infrastructure especially the risky and hazardous jetties at both ends of the journey.

Well, there appears to be a bit of a bright spot recently with the opening up of Boardwalk, a café run by Flamboyante and situated five minutes off the Mandwa jetty aimed to cater to weekenders, who want a bit of respite before they undertake the next part of their journey.

Started by award-winning sailor Ashim Mongia and his wife Bharti, a travel executive, it opened its doors over the weekend to announce its launch with a jolly brunch party that appears to be just what the doctor ordered. Incidentally, it was just in time for the popular Alibag-centered alternate music fest ‘Narial Pani'.

Winners one and all
It's been quite a week for restaurateur Farrokh Khambatta. The nominees for a popular annual restaurant awards show have been announced and Khambatta finds that all four of his offerings feature in the list.

Farrokh Khambatta

His NCPA based eatery Amadeus finds itself in the Best Lebanese - South Mumbai category. Umame, the Japanese outlet at Eros cinema has been nominated in the Best Oriental and Japanese South Mumbai category.

Joss in Santacruz has been placed as a potential winner in the Best Oriental and Japanese - category and finally his Joss at the suburbs has been placed in the Best Thai list. Of course, these are nominations and not wins and it all depends on how the public votes. But we're sure Khambatta's chilling the bubbly in anticipation.