Goodbye, Ganpu!

When my children were much younger, they believed ( and still do!), that Ganpati was their BFF. Their pet names for the deity varied from 'Gannu' to 'Ganpu'. Well, later this afternoon, I'll be visiting the mighty Lalbaug Chha Raja with two of them, and praying for all of them.... and several other people I love dearly. I'll also be praying equally fervently for Mumbai itself. And India.... the world. What can I say? In the limited time one gets for the darshan, one tries sincerely to fit everybody and everything into the prayer.
After that spiritually uplifting experience, I shall watch " Quick Gun Murugan, " and share my reactions with all of you in the next post. Till then ... mind it.... the rascalla has already captured my heart.
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Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya…

Just a few days off from D-Day (Ganpati visarjan), and I am filled with anxiety. We are coming closer and closer to the dreaded 26\11 anniversary, and our city continues to be on red alert. Twelve long months have gone by, and what have we done to further secure our city and reassure its people? It is such a strange thing about us Mumbaikars – either we are far too fatalistic to bother about our own safety, or we are suicidal. There is such a puzzling nonchalance about our indifference to key issues ( evident in the disturbingly low turnout at the polls earlier this year), that I wonder sometimes whether we ask for it – on multiple levels. The state government’s utter apathy in most matters, be it civic affairs, mismanagement of crises and related lapses, we are all too ready to forgive and forget. But there is some hope – at least a few vigilant and concerned citizens continue to soldier on, braving the odds and keeping awareness campaigns going….at least in areas that concern our polluted environment . Kirti Oza is one such relentless person. I remember being introduced to her more than a decade ago as Mumbai’s ‘Kachra Lady.” Perhaps the man who described her thus was trying to be funny. But Kunti had no problems with the tag – she was a woman on a mission. It was her commitment to ‘kachra’ ( separating wet from dry ) and its disposal that made a lot of building societies sit up and follow the sensible practice. Today, it has become mandatory to do so all over the city. Did Kunti get any recognition for her initiative?? If she did, I am not aware of it. Well, she is still at it. This year she has roped in dabbawallas and other groups to try and ensure the Visarjan is conducted in as eco-friendly a manner as possible. Following the same principle of sifting through the puja ka saaman that is disposed off in the sea when the deity is immersed, the Nirmalaya group is trying to get various sarvajanik mandals to co-operate and sort out the flowers, garlands, leaves and other such material, from whatever else that has been used during the 10 days of worship. Colour coded bags will be provided, and all citizens have to do is use the gigantic bins at various immersion points , following simple instructions that will enable the BMC to do its clear up job more effectively. Is that too much to ask?
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Mumbai needs many more ‘Kachra Ladies’, who work tirelessly for the causes they believe in… with zero acknowledgement. Often when I see the lists released by various social service organizations giving awards to pretty undeserving candidates , only because they happen to be pushy and well connected, I feel like recommending more deserving people like Kunti . And to think not so long ago, some of these same award givers would run in the opposite direction at the sight of Kunti, knowing she’d collar them and demand more civic responsibility! I ran into her the other night at one of those art events that attracts the same old kadka crowd evening after evening. There she was sitting quietly at Priyashri Patodia’s auction, watching other aggressive women hustling mediawallas and grandly hogging the credit for the initiative even though they had very little to do with it. And there were the talented kids from the Dr. Ambedkar School, largely left out of the frame, all on account of these preening, pretentious ladies walking around dishing out empty, self- promoting quotes. Priyashri herself was caught in a bind, since the whole idea was to generate sufficient interest in the works of these kids from under privileged backgrounds, so has to replicate the model and include several other municipal schools where kids do not get the exposure to art or the chance to explore their own creative potential in different ways. I hope Priyashri doesn’t get discouraged and goes after corporates and persuades them to come forward and support this movement in a more meaningful manner. Meanwhile, it is a pity, our mediawallas report such events so superficially and carelessly, preferring to focus on the same old vacuous attendees who go from one art show to the next mainly for the free wine, superior snacks,and those infernal photo-ops.
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When I wrote about ‘Kaminey’ on my blog and voiced my utter disappointment, I received so much hate mail, it made me wonder why we create these sacred cows in the first place. There were those who posted comments comparing Bharadwaj to Tarantino and asking me cheekily if I’d heard of him ( Tarantino, that is). Of course, I didn’t bother to respond ( I never do), but being a Bharadwaj fan, alarm bells did go off inside my head. The day people put these sort of original and powerful directors on a pedestal, it spells the end of their creativity – they join the Bollywood bandwagon and start believing in their own mythology. I hope that never happens to Bharadwaj ( he has another film coming up), but I am not at all surprised ‘Kaminey’ didn’t set the box office on fire, nor the fact that audiences came away puzzled - had they’d watched a spoof or an action thriller? No such confusion with the uber clever ‘Quick Gun Murugun”, though. The rascalla has hit bull’s eye!

BJP.... R.I.P???

I swear.... no more on this subject. BJP-RIP. Jai Hind!

This appeared in the Asian Age\Deccan Chronicle today.....

Humpty Dumpty had a big fall….

It is amazing how the aam aadmi has responded to the BJP- bombshell – indifferently and with a sense of sardonic amusement. If anything ,there has been a show of healthy irreverence, especially after Arun Shourie’s fiery outburst across countless tv channels. A couple of wicked observations at this point - Jaswant hogged more media time than poor SRK. Most channels switched scheduled stories and panel discussions from the SRK imbroglio in Newark to the ‘Jassu Jaise Koi Nahi’ royal scandale heating up across India. Jassu himself outdid top Bollywood stars who rush from one tv studio to the next before the launch of their latest blockbuster. Jaswant, at one point was everywhere…..simultaneously….like a Jack-in-the-box. He had his quotes and expressions perfectly worked out and he cleverly made sure not to repeat himself. Oh…. And the voice sounded better than Amitabh’s – could that have something to do with the magic potion laced with opium that he offers to his ‘subjects’ ? About Shourie – what can I say?? Those of us who remember Shourie as the firebrand editor of ‘The Indian Express’, were not surprised by his impeccable timing and the provocative choice of words. Sadly, there is a generation of ‘Twitter’ type people out there who have never heard of Arun Shourie!! Shocking! I was amazed by their ignorance, till I realized their sense of history stops at 2005. If one mentions the ‘Emergency’, they immediately associate it with a misplaced SIM card. And here I am not talking about uneducated, ignorant creeps but urban careerists – though, in real terms they may qualify as urban illiterates. I received hilarious responses when I wrote about the Jinnah-Jassu controversy on my blog, and quoted Shourie’s Humpty Dumpty remark. Said someone naughtily, “ Nothing new – that’s what politics is all about – humping and dumping!” I cracked up reading that comment. And then went on to the next one that stated solemnly , “ Shall we observe a two minute silence for the demise of the BJP?”
Such is the state of public opinion, it no longer matters who is getting thrown out of which party and why. The game of musical chairs carries on… and on… it’s Jaswant today, it should have been L.K. Advani yesterday, and it could be Rajnath tomorrow. Jaswant won from Darjeeling ( where’s the bloody connection?). He is currently being wooed by the Samajwadi party, and could join the Congress soon. Is anybody outraged?? Hell, no. It’s business and politics as usual! The happiest folks right now are Jaswant’s publishers – a fairly boring book is selling like hotcakes. The only interesting portion in the uninspiring tome does not exceed beyond a few paragraphs. And even those are turgid. He has said nothing startling or new that hasn’t been said before ( and better!) by others. By expelling him like one expels a naughty school boy for not doing his homework on time, the BJP has devalued whatever little equity was left, post-elections and the resounding defeat at the polls. By banning the book in Gujarat, Narendra Modi has further pumped up the sales. As we all know, the dry state of Gujarat is possibly the ‘wettest’ state in India – by banning alcohol, Modi has created countless closet-drunks who can’t get enough of the forbidden booze! Go to any of the fancy homes in Ahemedabad and the host is bound to sidle whispering, “ Drink?? Don’t worry… my bar is full.” So it is with the book. More copies got sold because of the ban and now it has become fashionable to flash it at visitors without reading the damn thing.
What next?? Well… with so many rats abandoning the sinking ship, it is getting increasingly difficult to figure out who’s in and who’s not. Age issues have raised new problems. New blood, say some. While the oldie goldies refuse to budge from the gaddi. Is it at all possible to clone Rahul Gandhi??War has been declared, but against whom? If the ‘bad guy’ is Advani, hey, come on, he’s the same guy who went to Pakistan and praised everybody not so long ago. The world didn’t collapse then! It is also being speculated that Manmohan Singh may be up for Pakistan’s highest civilian award soon. So?? Will the sky fall down if he accepts it? Jaswant’s book is being lapped up across the border, and his promotional tour there will undoubtedly be a huge success. The only person who could upstage him at this point is Sallu Bhai and his IPL dhamaka. Imagine, Jaswant even managed to outshine the Imran Khan-Benazir Bhutto love chakkar, which would otherwise have kept the chattering classes fully occupied on both sides of the border. But then again, one has to remember the attention span of the chattering classes these days. For most, Imran and Benazir are two has- beens with no relevance to their lives. Tell them that Shahid Kapoor is about to marry Piggy Chops, and there will be instant excitement. It boils down to the same blight that is destroying the BJP – youth issues.
There are things in life that politicians believe can be easily fixed ( “ throw out the bugger and all will be well again”), and some that simply can’t – youth icons are impossible to ‘manufacture’ overnight, especially in a party where the average age is over 70. Today’s voter regards veterans as Ancient Mariners - dodderingly old creatures who should be preserved as fossils in a museum, if that. Cruel, but true. In such a scenario, nobody cares whether the BJP commits hara-kiri, self- destructs or disappears without a trace. Even the Jaswant saga is a two day carnival – and largely because the media has played up the story and carried every sigh and groan. I’m pretty sure Jaswant is loving his current stardom – who wouldn’t? Here is a guy who’d been written off and his position diminished by party bosses who did not like his attitude ( and angrez accent?). He may have stuck it out for 30 years with the same parivar, but it was never the best or most compatible of relationships. Now that the divorce is official, it remains to be seen which new bed partner Jaswant takes up. As of now, he is playing the ‘single and ready to mingle’ game. It’s a good move and signals his availability. He claims he enjoys his independent status, and why not believe him? There’s nothing quite as liberating as getting out of a bad marriage. Jaswant has done just that. But bachke rehna, Sirji…idea achcha hai…. however you need to watch out for the kaminey in our midst.

Modaks... and more...

Andrea Costabir has become my new BFF. We have spent a considerable amount of time together last week ( reasons will be known on 7th September), and the more I see of her the more I like and respect her. Sober, observant, discreet and sensitive. Tell me, how many people do you meet these days who can lay claim to any\all of these qualities? She has been the hard working editor of 'Savvy' for 13 years. Well. She has been with the Magna group that long ( Btw, I've just seen the first issue of their brand new, chatpatta film glossy, 'Star Week', and it has the potential to really take the pants of all those smarmy, cheesy established film mags crammed with stale, thakela p.r. stories). Back to Andrea and her decade long association with the group - this is a record in a field where journos jump from one job to the next like they're switching autoriks at Bandra station. Andrea goes about her work with total commitment and admirable professionalism. She does not seek personal glory nor does she misuse the access she gets to the top women of the country. We bonded over tea (for me) and limbu paani ( Andrea). When I offered her a pastry, she politely declined saying she'd had modaks for lunch. That's when my eyes lit up! Modaks!!! Ukdi chhe modaks??? Yes, she confirmed. The steamed ones (like momos), with a fresh coconut and jaggery filling. My eyes misted over. As much for the modaks as for my mother who used to make them at home in a copper modak steamer. What happened to it? Who threw it away once she was gone?Now, not even a physical memory remains.... but the taste lingers. Perhaps sensing my feelings, Andrea offered to send some across. I gladly accepted.... but didn't want to sound too eager. Well.... as I write this, the modaks are on the way. I shall share them with my family ( brother, bhabhi, daughters, son-in-law, husband... maybe Kiara, our crazy Irish Setter) at dinner. We were planning to serve phirni and shahi tukra with the biryani. But modaks sound far better. Amazing co-incidence - Ganpati and Ramadan overlap this year. The biryani is coming from Zafferbhai's ( iftaar special), and the modaks from Andrea ( Roman Catholic), to be enjoyed in a Hindu home! If only all those guys bleating away on tv at prime time , digging up old ghosts ( Kandahar, Jinnah), would abandon divisive debates based on religion ,and break bread (gobble modaks!) together - wouldn't it be a far better world?? Here's to modaks! Ganpati Bappa Morya!

Art in recessionary times...

There are two sparkling young ladies in the art space that i like extending support to - Punita, who runs 'Hacienda' , and Priyashri Patodia who has set up a foundation that bears her name. Punita is a true bohemian who can be found serving masala chai to visitors at her gallery tucked into a narrow gully close to Lion's Gate at Fort. Her enthusiasm is highly infectious and I love her passion for plants ( I'm forever stealing hers). She is currently hosting a 'Postcards' show that is bound to find several takers. Never mind that Sunil Paudwal is selling his for 20,000. I've liked whatever I've seen, especially the charming postcards painted by young artists from Baroda. These are affordable and attractive, priced at a reasonable 5,000. Next up is 'Devis and Diyas' of Gujarat - a case of perfect timing, with Navratri round the corner. Over the years, I have bought some really great art from Punita - not big names, but big talents.
Priyashri is also hosting a worthwhile auction this friday. It's offering works created by under- privileged (class 8 and 9 ) children from a government school. The effort deserves to be lauded and supported since these children rarely receive this kind of exposure and encouragement. The idea is to raise enough money to set up scholarships for deserving kids to pursue their dreams later. Priyashri is another bubbly, vivacious art promoter with a good eye and an even better heart.
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I just loved Arun Shourie's Humpty Dumpty comment. He is the master of repartee and it is great to see him back to his old feisty self - not sparing anybody and slicing through opponents effortlessly. We meet rarely since I avoid Delhi and I guess, he avoids Mumbai. But whenever we do run into each other, he invariably announces me as the person who got him sacked as the editor of the Indian Express!! We have a good laugh over this. But looking back at that candid interview with Shourie that I'd conducted for my magazine, I can see how it must have jolted his then boss, the indomitable Ramnath Goenka ( supreme maalik of the Express Group), into summarily dismissing his high profile editor.
Woh din hi alag theh.... tum rahey na tum.... hum rahe na hum....

Jassu Jaise Koi Nahi....!

This is the biggest story in India right now. I am already sick of it. Khair.... I've said my piece.

Divorce - Desi style… Why Jaswant should demand alimony.

Jaswant Singh is behaving like an emotionally injured bride who has been thrown out of her ‘sasural’ and is back in the marital home, sulking away, while the neighbours gossip and speculate ( “ Bhai…. asli reason kya hai?”). Political divorces are no different from regular ones. In this case , nobody is sure on what grounds the papers have been filed - proven infidelity? Impotency? Dementia? Abject cruelty? Dowry demands? Irreconciliable differences? Or a plain and simple irrevocable breakdown of the shaadi? If it’s infidelity, the ‘other man’ has been dead and gone for decades. In fact, there are two ‘other men’ in the picture ( Jinnah and Patel ). Jaswant’s tell-all tome boldly names names, and provides ample fodder to the complainant to go ahead with the proceedings. In India, a great deal of value is placed on this particular virtue ( fidelity). An unfaithful wife is the bane of our society, and is frequently beaten\stoned\killed for her crime. In less drastic circumstances, she is given marching orders and instantly ostracized by family and friends.
In such a grim scenario, there are two options. The aggrieved wife can battle it out in court and claim alimony, or she can go public with her multiple grouses and expose her in-laws. Jaswant is in the happy position of a woman scorned – public sympathy is largely with him. What is the guy’s crime, the aam aadmi is wondering? He has written a book – and some would say – shot himself in the foot. Big deal. As an acknowledged intellectual with a track record of controversial actions and utterances, nothing that he has stated in his latest labour of love is all that radical or shocking. But in a country like ours ( hypocritical and judgemental), with so many sacred cows, even the mildest criticism of our national icons and praise for our declared enemies, is taken as blasphemy .Forget criticism, even an analytical assessment of history is considered sacrilege. We insist on sanitizing and neutering history to make it more palatable. This is such a bloody shame, particularly since we pride ourselves on our great democratic principles, free speech etc etc. And we can’t handle a few paragraphs that challenge popular perceptions? What has Jaswant written that is so terrible? He has certainly not made a huge hero out of Jinnah… nor a despicable villain out of Patel. But even if he had done so, does he not have the right to his theories and viewpoints? This is Jaswant’s individual take – he is entitled to it. You don’t have to agree with his views – that is your prerogative. But to reduce the whole thing into a ‘tu tu main main’ farce … or an episode out of the old ‘saas bahu’ serials, is to insult public intelligence…. bring out the dirty linen, but don’t wash it!
Let’s look at the worst case scenario – assuming Jaswant has indeed glorified Jinnah, does that alter history? Assuming he has vilified Sardar Patel, does that impact Patel’s elevated position in our minds?History depends entirely on who writes it. It has always been open to interpretation… it will continue to be written , re-written and re-re-written. An educated, mature society is willing to acknowledge as much and allow a thousand dissenting voices to be heard. Challenge opinion by all means, but don’t hang the opinion maker.Unless, of course, the entire expulsion natak is just that – a pantomime designed to distract attention from pricklier issues corroding the innards of the party. If ‘chintan’ ( introspection) was indeed the main agenda of the BJP ‘baithak’, there is little evidence of it in the hasty action taken against a stalwart. There can be some show of civility even in the bitterest of break-ups. Divorce doesn’t have to be this dirty. Warring couples in a civilized society speak through their lawyers and mutual friends. A 30- year-old marriage isn’t called off via a peremptory phone call made by a flunkey. Of course, Jaswant is appalled and hurt. And like most aggrieved wives, he has gone from playing martyr to attacker, with a li’l help from media buddies. It’s clearly beyond the scope of a competent Family Court to settle this dispute. The Padosis in Pakistan are going to town with the story. And Jaswant will have no trouble finding a fresh sasural across the border if he so chooses. In the meanwhile, he can hire a competent lawyer ( definitely not Arun Jaitley!), to represent him and fight for a big, fat alimony. Though, frankly, with all this masala and tamasha , the juicy royalties from his book (it is bound to become a runaway best seller), he should be in a very happy financial position.However, as any wronged wife will tell you – it’s not about the money. But like that old cliché goes – success is still the best revenge. Next time darling, stick to Teddy Bears’ Picnic!
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I watched the Sarvajanik Ganpatis coming to their temporary homes late last night, and as always, my eyes filled with tears at the innocence of faith.
I ate puran polis at a friend's home, and broke my Shravan diet with juicy mutton chops, succulent prawns and tender chicken. Not forgetting the delicious kebabs with shredded mint patta. It was a small 'focus' group of powwrful and opinionated 'Thought Leaders'. Everybody was discussing just one thing - Jaswant Singh's explosive book. Well, my husband fell for the hype and bought a copy this morning. Tame stuff. The BJP should ask for a hefty share of the royalties - the tome may have gone unnoticed had Jaswant not been expelled by the party.

Hare Rama Hare Krishna

These Iskcon people are just about everywhere... I took this shot in the Main Square, Prague, and tried my best to explain them away to the Brazilian couple at the next table, who were dying to know more about Hinduism and groups like this one. Janmashtami was celebrated all across India just a few days ago. I thought of this picture and my annoyance at the parody of Krishna that was being paraded across continents by these ridiculous bhakts, distributing prasad and demanding donations from the unwary. For one, they cannot chant or sing for nuts. They are so 'besura', one cringes at the sounds they create. The women look like gora hijras clad in garish sarees and jumping up and down in an ungainly fashion to convey 'bliss'. They give the saree a bad name! Sure they attract attention - but of the wrong kind. People mock and laugh as they watch this motley group clapping and chanting tunelessly ( poor Krishna! ). What can one do with this embarrassment?
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I am feeling fluish. My driver Choudhary has been felled by the virus as well. Now I am praying this sluggishness will pass and it isn't the dreaded you-know-what! I have a bhaari shoot lined up tomorrow, plus another tv interview on the same ghasaa peeta topic ( srk and his outburst). I need my customary stamina! Last week , I was in Alibag having the time of my life tucking into a traditional Saraswat feast. Today, I can't bear to look at food. One more day to go before the holy month of Shravan ends. I'm seriously considering extending my Shravan discipline by another month. It's a great way to detox and destress and all that satvik food has kept my restless mind in check!
More tomorrow. But only apres the shoot. I'll be clad in Dior and feeling rather posh!

Sarjano, the Italian Maestro...

Guys, this is an unusual post about an unusual man!! Sarjano made India his home more than 25 years ago. But he remains as Italiano as the pasta he lovingly creates from scratch. We have been friends forever. He is a fantastic photographer, writer and chef. In fact, he ran the Osho kitchen for a long time till the Ashram changed ( for the worse!), and became a sinister 'Spa' that keeps Indians out ( in their own country!!!). Sarjano moved to Goa and started this utterly charming restaurant in a thickly wooded glade. Sarjano is temperamental and totally crazy. But soooooo gifted, one forgives him everything! Even his star tantrums ( if he doesn't like your face, or gets a negative vibe, he won't cook for you, even if you have a reservation!)

I got the guy to write a book for Penguin. The then editor, Karthika, nearly suffered a nervous breakdown dealing with Sarjano. Even I can handle his intensity strictly at long distance. However, having savoured his impeccably presented ravioli, I can safely vouch for his abundant talent as a cook par excellence. One more thing - there is never a boring moment with Sarjano around. Chances are he'll sing, dance, and play the flute in between courses. That component comes gratis! It's worth the price of the meal, I can tell you! So.... sign up. And spread the word.

Grazia!!

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INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF ITALIAN COOKING ARTS Mastro Sarjano is opening the doors of the International Academy of Italian Cooking Arts at his My Place ristorante in Vagator, Bardez, Goa, to everyone who wishes to learn the subtle art of Italian cooking. The month-long course is for beginners as well as professional cooks, and chefs. Mastro Sarjano promises: "After this course your market value will double.”The course which starts on the first of September , is divided into four weeks. Each week is independent to itself. That allows you to choose according to your needs. You can also choose specific days. Ingredients will be supplied."Bring only a clean hand," says Sarjano.The cost is Rs 10,000 per week and Rs 30,000 for the entire course. Half price for women because Sarjano says "I want to encourage women, to empower them and make them more independent." He also plans on special classes for youngsters so as to groom them for a life in Italian food.Ninety per cent of the food will be vegetarian, where you will learn to work with "fake" meat and local ingredients and also how to make Italian food cheaply, something we would all like to know.Says Mastro Sarjano: "I'm not giving dead recipes, but a living understanding of what we are cooking."Sarjano is also available as a Food and Restaurant Consultant if it's authentic Italian cooking and food you're looking at. This service is available for Hotels/ Restaurants/ Resorts desirous of improving their Italian, Continental cuisine and kitchens, training kitchen staff, or designing and selecting the items for a popular menu which will be attractive to visitors from Europe. Training sessions/ workshops can be undertaken in the hotel itself.Attached is a Full Program of the entire Course.Contact - cell. 9326135721 or write at : swsarjano@hotmail.comMastro SarjanoMastro Sarjano is a widely travelled Italian chef who was in charge of the kitchen and food at the Osho Ashram in Pune for over 20 years. he is the author of 'Food is Home', a book on Italian cooking and food, which will be published in November this year by Penguin India. It has an introduction by Shobha De.Osho said: "Those who have been to his place have tasted Enlightenment in his spaghetti. When it comes to his cooking, there is only one way he goes about it, and that's the path of meditation."Cooking is a noble, loving, caring, alchemical activity, says MastroSarjano. "The greaetest secret about the alchemical art of cooking is this: It's love that is cooking. There's no way to cook foodwithout love. It's like making love; you can't do it without love."Students of the course will have an opportunity to imbibe some of Mastro Sarjano's cooking methods. Each day's session will start and end with Awareness exercises which Mastro Sarjano feels will help the student cook better food. FOOD IS HOME TRAINING PROGRAM Presentation of Students.Introduction to the Academy.The philosophy of cooking.Question & answers on the Book “ FOOD IS HOME”Introduction to HOME MADE PASTA.First samples : Anna sauce, Alberto Sauce: male/ female.Making of Fettuccine. Traditional.First pasta: Fettuccine with Anna sauce.Tasting. Feed back. Questions & Answers.LASAGNA DAYWe make pasta dough again, this time “traditional ‘ and green pasta with spinach.This will open the possibility of 4 different LASAGNA Dishes.TWO GREENS, TWO TRADITIONALSTWO WILL BE VEG, TWO NON-VEG.Theory & Practice of Variations on Lasagna subject.Tasting. Feedback. Questions & Answers.Differences between cooking in electric stove or in a wooden oven.CANNELLONI DAYAs for the previous day, we’ll prepare two kinds of dough, traditional and green. Again we’ll make 4 kinds of Cannelloni:GREEN AND TRADITIONAL, VEG and NON VEG.in this Order:CANNELLONI DI MAGRO: Veg, traditional doughCANNELLONI DI VISSANI: Sardines green pasta, pesto sauce, etc.CANNELLONI DI FUNGHI: Mushrooms with béchamel-sauce (veg.)CANNELLONI DI CARNE: Green dough, tomato, mince-meat (beef, chicken,lamb, mutton.. etc.)RAVIOLI DAYThe enchanted forest of Ravioli cannot be explored in one day, hence Ravioli will be the subject of 2 days: From simple filling with home-made cheese & herbs, to more elaborate fillings: Ravioli with fish pulp, crabmeat, prawns…To Ravioli with pumpkin & cheese, with mincemeat, etc.We will explore the hundreds ways to fill Ravioli, and in different shapes too!As above, RAVIOLI DAY!!GNOCCHI DAY : Traditional, green (spinach) with pumpkin, etc.. The whole of Italian Gnocchi, from North to South will be explored without secrets!!Tasting, feedback. Questions and Answers.COMMERCIAL PASTA DAYWhy so many shapes? BARILLA itself has 12 different shapes on the shelves of Indian shops. Why? For What? One shape wouldn’t be enough? What’s the correct use for each of them? Which sauces are appropriate? And Why?THE CONSISTENCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR.Tasting, feedback. A lot of Questions and Answers, this day!.SECOND WEEK(The thousand and one sauces from Italy)Starting from tomato again: the mother of all the Italian sauces. Variations: CARRETTIERA, PUTTANESCA, ARRABBIATA, CALABRESE, NORMA, etc. When tomato is too acid .When there is no tomato…Tasting, feedback, Questions and Answers.Pesto and other green Sauces. THE MOST DIFFICULT OF THEM ALL: SPAGHETTI AGLIO, OLIO & PEPERONCINO. Etc..Feedback, tasting, Questions and Answers.CREAMY SAUCES : ALFREDO, PAGLIA& FIENO, CARBONARA, PORCINI SAUCE, FUNGHI E PISELLI.. etc.Tasting, Feedback, Questions and Answers.FISHY SAUCES: CALAMARI SAUCE, PRAWNS SAUCE, SPAGHETTI CON LE VONGOLE, SPAGHETTI ALLO SCOGLIO,FARFALLE COL TONNO… etc. etc..Tasting, Feedback, Questions and Answers.THE BEST OF VEG SAUCES: SURPRISES & EXPERIMENTS. DAY OF FREE CREATION, IMPROVISATION, FOR STUDENTS !Feedback, Tasting, Questions and Answers.THE DAY OF THE CANNIBALS: All the sauces you can make with mince meat, bacon, ham, presciutto, speck, sausages, livers, pork, etc.Tasting (optional!), feedback, replacement is an art (Learning the use of “TOFU”, “SEITAN”, and “Soya-MEAT” as replacement for meat- bacon- ham- etc)Questions and AnswersHow to mix sauces.. AND WHEN! Some extravaganzas. Experiments with sauces: aka. "ATHENA PESTO" (they use CORIANDER WITH BASIL !)& other perversions !Feedback, Tasting, Questions and Answers.THIRD WEEKPIZZA & FOCACCE.PIZZA & FOCACCE.Pizza, as for Ravioli, is too vast a field, to be exhausted IN ONE DAY, hence a follow on, dedicated to “FOCACCE”, PIZZA TRAYS, and many variations on the subject.Tasting, Feedback, Questions and Answers.Since we are using the oven in these days, let’s see how Italians cook meat or Veg. (Eggplants Day!)Tasting, Feedback Questions and Answers.RICE IN ITALY/ RISOTTO DI MARE, RISOTTO ALLA MILANESE, saffron risotto, and all you wanted to know about RISOTTO and its secrets.Tasting, Consistency Feedback, Questions and Answers.POLENTA DAY:And how many things you can do with this simple cereal, available everywhere in India: Polenta with Tomato Sauce, Polenta & Cheese, Polenta & Fish, Polenta and Sausages etc. Fried Polenta, Grilled Polenta, Sweet Polenta, etc....Tasting, Feedback, Questions and Answers.Crespelle Day: Classic & Experimentations. With spinach. Or with Maple Syrup! With Fish or with Broccoli. With cheese, or with chocolate and flambé by Grand Marnier! (Or Rum)Tasting, Feedback Questions and Answers.About fish and other mysteries: Why Indians don’t know how to fry, and why Japanese do the best-fried food!Fish in Italy. The secrets of “CARTOCCIO”. FISH DAY, in one word.Including “King Fish al cartoccio with spaghetti.Tasting (optional) Questions and Answers.FOURTH AND LAST WEEK(Only for those who have attended the previous weeks)MOSTLY DEDICATED TO ADVANCED CREATIONS,DESSERTS, APPETIZERS ETC.APPETIZERS DAY will be dedicated to the preparation of an “Italian Food Festival”to be held a LAGUNA ANJUNA, sponsored by Barilla, Olitalia etc..And totally prepared by the students of the Academy, under the guidance of Mastro Sarjano.They will have the opportunity to show their talents and what they have learned.the most eccentric and Mysterious Sauces (Including Mayonnaise, Salsa Aurora etc.).ROLLONE. Soufflé ,and other advanced Creations MORE ADVANCED CREATIONS!!DESSERTS DAYExperimenting and Creating: Each student will be asked to create his own dish for the festival. THE MOST IMPORTANT, ABOUT COOKING, which is merely “ THE ART OF RECYCLING”. The whole day will be dedicated to this important aspect.. SALADS, DECORATIONS, PRESENTATIONS & other relevant items.SECRET TIPS!!LAST DAY: Rehearsal and Finalization of“ THE ITALIAN FOOD FESTIVAL” to be held by students.Mini-preparation & everything. END !_______________________________________________________________>