Category: Events & Happenings

The world’s first Indo-Japanese Gin Launches in Goa

DOJA is the world’s First In(do-Ja)panese Craft Gin. It’s the first craft spirit launched by East Side Distillery, a new and
innovative Indian spirits company with global aspirations.

INCA and Heineken Bring Sisterhood Soiree to Goa!

The India Nightlife Convention and Awards (INCA) in association with Heineken, hosted #TheSisterhoodSoiree – an initiative to recognize and encourage women in the nightlife and hospitality industry at Saligao Stories & Soro – The Village Pub, Goa. I felt extremely privileged to be a part of this initiative and so glad it came to Goa.

Fund Raising With Liv-Ing Fashion Show!

Fashion, glamour and vivacity came together to raise financial support for children with cancer through Sabrcare at the LIV-ING fundraiser at the gorgeous Acron Waterfront Resort in Baga on Friday, February 21, 2020.

Sol de Goa Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary!

Sol de Goa has been a place that I have frequented quite often. From heading there for a mini staycation to many fine dining experiences and evenings of immersive music on Solday Thursdays, it has never failed to impress me with its impeccable hospitality and amazing food. So when this awesome hotel celebrated its 10th anniversary, I just had to be there.

Palolem, South Goa Gets A Taste Of Luxury & Service With Sobit Sarovar Portico!

The latest player in South Goa, Sobit Sarovar Portico brings about the much needed balance of luxury and service with their new hotel in Palolem.

The property was launched recently by Mr. Amit Prabhu, Owner of Prabhu Realtors, and Ajay Bakaya, Managing Director, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts amidst great pomp and show.

Promoting Poker As A Sport With Deltin Poker Tournament

For the longest time, Poker has been perceived as a gambling game and not as a sport, despite the fact that it is a skill-based card game. In order to change the perception and create more and more awareness about Poker, Deltin in a continued effort organizes poker tournaments in Goa along with Adda 52, which is a part of the Deltin group.

Just recently, Deltin successfully completed yet another poker tournament where in many celebrity and pro players were seen not just participating, but also starting a conversation about taking up poker as a profession.

Adda52 Pro Nikita Luther, Adda52 Celebrity Pro Minissha Lamba, Adda52 Pro Kunal Patni were going head-to-head at the event being powered by Adda52live. It also featured the other pros and past champions of the game battling it out at the felts at the Champions Den onboard Deltin Royale.

The series featured 4 Major events -15K deep dive, 15K bounty, 65K high roller, and the 35K main event. The Main Event featured a 1 Crore guarantee which was one of the star attractions. This event was the largest DPT series spread across a robust schedule over 6 days. Anticipating the growth in the participation post last years staggering prize pools, the Delta Management added another day to improve the playing and overall experience offering players ample rest in between the grueling grind.

The new CEO for Adda52 Mr. Naveen Goyal was also present for the tournament as well as Deltin’s Manish Adnani.

Adnani said, “We have seen many new faces coming into the fabric from all parts and walks of life across India with the DPT journey. This kind of penetration is very encouraging to see, and there is a whole new influx of players looking at poker as a source of income and a skilled game like chess. Players, both young and old, are now more confident in saying that playing poker is their profession without any apprehension.The outlook to the game is visibly changing and this is a positive for the sport and will add to the growing prize pools.”

The latest edition of the Deltin Poker Tournament brought in a robust structure with minor changes that have been optimized to further improve the gaming experience and offer more value to the players.

Poker is growing in popularity in the country, with Indians making a mark worldwide. Adda52Live has been propelling the Live Poker Fabric over the past 3 years offering the Indian players a world-class tournament experience through their 3 Tournament brands – DPT, DPT Xpress, and DPT Colossus. With more than 20 lakh registered users, Adda52 is India’s largest poker site, offering real-time gaming experiences, tutorials and more and continue to propel the fabric with a furious passion both Online and Offline.

Mahe, Modern Coastal Cuisine Restaurant Launched ‘Funked Up’ Bar Nights To Jazz Up Goa

Mahe, has been fast gaining people’s attention in Goa for being one of the best places serving modern coastal cuisine. Although I am yet to have a full-fledged meal at Mahe and review the food, I have attended a couple of events at the place and the entire experience has been great every single time. I actually love the vibes and ambiance of this restaurant.

Barbie initiates Project Udaan to enable girls live their dreams

In a bid to fulfill the dreams of young girls, Mattel India has joined hands with the NGO, Masoom, to launch ‘Project Udaan’. The project has come into the existence with an understanding that there are numerous girls who are locked by boundaries of social and economic status. While these girls have grown up admiring Barbie, Mattel believes every girl, like Barbie, has the right to be themselves i.e. smart, successful, ambitious, poised and confident. Project Udaan aims to give these girls the wings to fly with their dreams.

Project Udaan

Project Udaan is a comprehensive three-fold programme that focuses on leadership skills, feminine hygiene program, and vocational training basis participants’ interest mapping. It is a year-long program which will be actively volunteered by the ‘Barbie’ team, designed to equip over 100 girls aged between 14-18 years. The project is aimed to build confidence, self-expression and enable effective learning and development that can present the girls with a chance for a better life.

Activities

As a part of this initiative, Barbie created an exposure for young and enthusiastic kids of the city. The girls from Masoom were taken to KidZania where they could not only explore but live and experience 90+ role-playing activities. These little girls were shown that their dreams could fly free at KidZania through 90+ career opportunities. The trip enabled a roadmap, guiding these tiny feet towards a realistic and achievable goal to fulfill their dreams. It was also an eye-opener for many, as most of the activities showcased were unique and attractive for many of them, thus further enlightening their vision.

Brand Speak

Commenting on the initiative, Ishmeet Singh, Country Manager, Mattel India, said, “Every girl is talented and has the potential to reach for the stars. But where society tries to pull them down, Barbie supports them to help them to live their dreams.”

“Project Udaan has enabled us see the spark on so many faces and we are highly motivated by their overwhelming response.Through our initial activity at KidZania, children got a chance to experience the world of multiple career options. They cherished the life of becoming a Chef, an RJ, a Pilot, a Teacher, an Actor, and so on”, he added.

About Mattel

Mattel is a creations company that inspires the wonder of childhood. Our mission is to be the recognized leader in play, learning, and development worldwide. Mattel’s portfolio of global consumer brands includes American Girl®, Barbie®, Fisher-Price®, Hot Wheels®, Monster High®, and Thomas & Friends®, among many others. Mattel also creates a wealth of lines and products made in collaboration with leading entertainment and technology companies. With a global workforce of approximately 31,000 people, Mattel operates in 40 countries and territories and sells products in more than 150 nations. Visit us online at www.mattel.com.

 

South Asian Association for Gastronomy Concluded Food for Thought Fest 2018 With A Lot Of Pomp & Show

The Fourth Edition of the Food for Thought Fest concluded in the capital city with celebrating the diverse culinary heritage of the South Asian region. The festival was organized at The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, with countries participating from different parts of South Asia. A one of its kind initiative that focused on the common heritage and history of the region, as well as the unique influences that make up a part of it, it has set a benchmark as a forum for conversations, cuisines and the exchange of ideas and philosophies. The participating countries were India, Indonesia, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. The guest of honor for the event was HE Mr. Sidharto R Suryodipuro, Ambassador for the Republic of Indonesia.

[easy-image-collage id=10239]

I had a chance to interact with his excellency and he shared some behind the scene facts about the event and how it was conceptualized.

This year’s edition of the Food for Thought Fest brought in the exciting components that made this a truly unique event. There were talks and discussions around culture, health, and cuisine in the “Thought Fest” by the expert, while the “Food Fest” offered cookery workshops with celebrity chefs from the participating countries and television celebrities Puja Talwar, Advaita Kala and Imam Siddique, had food stalls from some of the most superlative restaurants from the South Asia region like Soda Bottle Openerwala, Atara Catering, Chaat Chowk and Orza. This year the Bazaar Section was beautifully curated.

Many celebrity chefs graced the occasion and showcased their culinary skills in preparing wonderful dishes. I happened to meet and interact with a few of them. Here is chef Ruchira Hoon speaking about her experience at the event

The dishes that she prepared were simply wonderful especially the aubergines.

Well, next I interacted with our very own Khurafati Nitin who never fails to amaze me with his abundance of energy and the ability to make laugh. He shared the stage with singer turned chef Anaida and they both literally rocked the stage together.

From bringing out the benefits and correct way to use saffron, Anaida’s preparation and insights both were valuable. Her traditional Irani dish of rice was simply delicious.

The MC of the day was none other than Fashion Stylist, TV Actor & Bigg Boss fame Celebrity Imam Siddique. He held the audience’s interest all through the event and kept them entertained. His association with the event has been a long one and here is he sharing his thoughts on the event and more

During the festival, I thoroughly enjoyed learning from the greatest chefs in the region, explored some fascinating topics related to food and, of course, and tasted some splendid flavors of the subcontinents.

About the founders of S.A.A.G

Mr. Maneesh Baheti, alumni of The Oberoi School of Hotel Management, is a seasoned hotelier with over 16 years in senior positions at leading brands such as The Oberoi Group and Hyatt International, before branching out as a hospitality industry consultant with a diverse projects portfolio. His love for cuisines has taken him on extensive travels, including the SAARC region of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Ms. Sonali Anand, a Masters in Tourism Management from Bournemouth University, U.K, she has spent over a decade in senior positions with multinational companies including, The Oberoi Group. She went for a second Masters Degree in Social Development from Euromed, Marseille, France, which equips her with an insight into international cultural relations and dynamics.

SAAG also has an eminent Advisory Board with PADMA BHUSHAN Mr. Shashi Kant Misra as the Chairman and comprises of experts such as Michelin Star Chef AtulKocchar from The, Master Chef Abhijit Saha, Chef Michael Swamy and renowned hotelier Mr.Gautam Anand to name a few.

Jack & Jill – The Wonder Years held at National Railway Museum

The proliferation of games for children in recent years is shifting towards technology due to which Indian games have become almost extinct. Board games like Snakes and Ladders, strategy games like Chess or even card games like Patience that helps develop a child’s brain by testing memory and cognitive skills have become a novelty. Giving the traditional games a new enthusiasm- Jack & Jill, a kids Edutainment expo happened in capital over the weekend.

Celebrating its 4th edition, Jack & Jill, the wonder year’s expo made this possible once again for children to relive old memories by participating in various activities at the exhibition which had multiple stalls and fun games for the little ones at the National Railway Museum where the exhibition was held. The main attraction of the museum was the train models stationed everywhere; there were other treasures as well at the expo.

The expo witnessed the presence of chief guest Mr. Ashwani Lohani, the Chairman & MD Railway Board. Redhat Communications, the leading experiential marketing company in partnership with National Rail Museum New Delhi organized the Expo.

Speaking on the success Mr. Ashwani Lohani, Chairman and MD Railway Board, said “A great event for the kids, a unique one that lets them enjoy and learn at the same time, as the children today have forgotten what outdoor fun is, the expo will inspire them to have fun and learn away from technology & gadgets.”

The edutainment concept that combines education and entertainment rendering real experiences that empower, inspire and educate children, covered 4 important aspects i.e. wellness, education, tourism and entertainment that are crucial to a child’s development for age group from 0-14 years.

Talking about “Jack & Jill’ –Jyoti Mayal, Chief Executive of Red Hat Communications avers ”With Jack & Jill, the wonder years expo, we believe in Explore, Educate, Entertain & Enjoy both with children and parents at one platform. The aim of the exhibition was to expand kids’ creative thinking while offering them and their families a great time full of fun and excitement”

 

The event entails kids’ activities along with Educational Tourism, Health, and Knowledge & Experiences – From storytelling to science shows, educational tourism to health & knowledge experiences, fancy dress competition to a magic show, painting competition to wall painting the expo has a rich experience for both parents and children.

While parents discovered value in products for their children, the interactive zone created hosted unique experiences and interactions while encouraging “Save the Girl Child” as the tagline.