Turning 50 in style
In this world of fast cars, fast lanes, 'barter', 'collabs', 'deliverables', ‘networking’, ‘commercialisation’, instant coffee and insta love, to find a bestie is next to impossible. Maybe an insta bestie who is in your life one minute and out the next after some 'barter', but not often the kind that you can hope for a lifelong bond. People have agendas and ulterior motives and are too keen to get ahead at any cost.
So I guess I lucked out with a few good buddies who have been my go-to 'homies'. One of them has been in my life since some twenty-seven years. The kind you don't need filters with - and we can complain about our respective moms knowing we are safe and not judged.
So when Vinny - that's what I call him - celebrated his birthday this Sunday at brunch, I had to go. Even though I had a terribly painful upset stomach since some seafood debacle in Japan a few days ago. As I walked in late to 'Eve', I was admonished by many for showing up 'fashionably late' “considering i was his closest friend” they said. What ‘they’ didn’t know is that I had actually dragged myself out of my bed and my illness with immense courage to show up and celebrate Vinod Mirchandani's 50th milestone birthday!
Until that moment I hadn't realised Vinny knew so many people. Eve was cramped like never before and the DJ accompanied by a percussionist created a magically charged musical atmosphere! Walking through the room reverberating with retro beats-it took a lot of manoeuvre through cheek by jowl crowds. Vijay Arora, designer Esha Amin and influencer Miss Malini were my favoured pit stops apart from Manish Chopra and Hyatt's Sandeep Gupta who had flown down from Delhi.
The cake cutting was the knockout moment at Mumbai's rocking brunch which will be remembered warmly by all guests - despite the one odd pesky inveterate gatecrasher who has managed to gate crash almost every party this week! Phew!!
The party continued until the evening and Vinny never looked happier- surrounded as he was by so many loved ones. I can’t wait for a quiet tea to discuss the party threadbare!
Foodie convos
Going back even further in time, I remember a special person in my life who was just so cool even back then in my childhood and hosted the most snazzy destination parties in Kashmir.
Every year close friends congregated from all over india at what used to be the Kashmir Oberoi Palace hotel overlooking the Dal lake. There was a large banyan tree around which was built an artsy bar and every evening ended up there with sing song favourites.
This was when destination weddings and parties were unknown or scarce. He was also a talented photographer and had kindly agreed at the behest of my fond parents to take my pictures in fancy Kashmiri royal regalia. It's a different story for a different column that I did end up marrying a Kashmiri prince - well actually one from Jammu if we get technical about this. But coming back to the dapper Rocky Mohan, son of VR Mohan the founder of Mohan Meakins - I met him after a bit of a hiatus at this swish rooftop sit-down dinner at the ITC Grand Maratha.
Today Rocky is my buddy and I’m proud to call him that! As flamboyant but with a new talent of preserving indias rich cuisines and of being a gourmet connoisseur of India’s myriad cuisines and authoring cookbooks - as well as presenting royal cuisines at curated sit down black tie events like this one.
Now I must admit here that both Kunal Vijayakar and I didn't bother to read the invite carefully (as usual) - and landed up at ITC Parel before rushing to the airport location - late for this intimate formal sit down. The trek was well worth it. Co-hosted by the prince of Mahmudabad - Professor Ali - and by Parul Kaul of Times Black card - the dinner was a feast of many delectable courses, each one better than the previous. The evening was even more special because Prof Ali, the prince of Mahmudabad, regaled us with tales from his childhood - growing up surrounded by myriad exotic flavours and fragrances from different spices and condiments. His chef from his childhood was also present, as was Salim, his trusted friend and family confidant. It felt like I had walked through the beautiful halls of his culinary upbringing through the courses and flavors and biryanis and kormas and kebabs! Indeed, a night to remember!
The conversation was predominantly about food and Rocky Mohan, I learnt, has authored many cookbooks over time. He has long harboured a deep desire to preserve the richness of Indian Royal cuisines and authentic food traditions—especially the kinds that have been slowly disappearing from our dining tables and collective memory. He has documented recipes, rituals, and stories that shaped his upbringing and cultural identity, in his books.
Coming from a family best known for Old Monk rum, his deep dive into food surprised me, but when I think back to my childhood, I remember how his and Rekha Mohan's table was one of the finest in Delhi. I am an only child whose parents fondly took me with them to their ‘grown up’ parties!
His book "Wazwaan"—a tribute to the magnificent and ceremonial cuisine of Kashmir—feels especially meaningful to me personally, being a Jamwal and closely connected to the traditions and cuisine of Kashmir. "Wazwaan" was not just a cookbook but is a celebration of our heritage, honoring the artisans of Jammu and Kashmir who shape each dish with reverence and skill.
The evening unfolded like chapters from a gastronomic memoir, with each dish revealing another layer of cultural richness and personal histories of many present. Indeed, it was a night of sensory delight and meaningful connection over condiments and curries- one to cherish and remember for years to come!
(Write to Nisha JamVwal at Nishjamwal@gmail.com)
