Nisha's Mumbai: Nisha JamVwal's Week Was A Delicious Blend Of Taste, Thought, And Tribute

Fiery flavours

Fireback by Rohit Khattar, the visionary founder of Indian Accent and Comorin, arrived in Mumbai with spectacular fanfare with its theatrical kitchen show window and fiery, glamourized Thai cuisine. I must confess, it took me some time to decipher what I was actually eating, as i was served various punchy concoctions in dark coffee-colored shallow bowls and I inadvertently consumed several of those formidable banana chilies—my mouth was absolutely ablaze! But what an exhilarating culinary adventure it proved to be.

The pineapple som tam, succulent pork belly, and delicate soft shell crab emerged as the evening's triumphant stars. Rohit and Rashmi Khattar were there to greet me as I entered, their warmth and hospitality setting the perfect tone for the evening. Rashmi Uday Singh has returned—both literally and metaphorically—looking more glamorous than ever, while the presence of culinary luminaries like Suvir Saran, Chef Ajay Chopra, Udai Pinnali, Rachel Goenka of Sassy Spoon, Pankaj Chaturvedi, and Shafquat Ali transformed the evening into something magically familial and fabulous

My favorite part of the evening was my conversation with founder of Ishaara, Dobaraa and Julius - Prashant Issar — a true visionary with a heart of gold. His innovative and socially conscious approach to hospitality has been revolutionary, and as an equal rights activist, I find his journey fascinating and deeply endearing.

I’ve hosted my birthday at Prashant’s Dobaraa and the serving staff that was hearing and speech impaired was exceptionally gracious warm and endearing- an experience that had left me very emotional and warmed! In a country like ours there is so much that one can do to enhance the livelihoods of people who may need that help and assistance. Kudos to Prashant who has created magic with Dobaraa and Ishaara.

Wellness Revolution

Speaking of restaurants, I've seen a fascinating global shift toward vegetarianism, health-conscious beverages, and a marked departure from alcohol consumption over recent years. Catching onto this transformative trend, developer and fitness entrepreneur Shital Nahar has ‘Beetroot Cafe’ a delightfully quirky cafe in an area that was desperately crying out for such a venue.

Whenever I ventured to Nepean Sea Road for work, I was struck by the complete absence of a place where I could grab a proper coffee and a bite. Flamboyant businessman Yash Birla, affectionately known as Guddo Birla, known for his penchant for wellness partnered with Shital for this charming 'Beetroot Cafe’ with quirky beet roots and quotes painted on the walls. She graciously hosted a table for me alongside my friends Viresh Chabra, Vibhuti Desai, Sherwin Nazreth, and my mother Shashi. The blueberry smoothie was the most popular drink among them, and no prizes for guessing that the mixed beetroot, curry leaf, and ginger juice was the evening's undisputed champion!

Congratulations to Shital and Guddo—you've perfectly captured the zeitgeist of this new healthful wellness era.

Celebrating Public Service

A grand dinner at Mumbai's World Trade Centre honored Rahul Narwekar, the unusually affable Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, recognizing his exceptional leadership and invaluable contributions to the Colaba assembly constituency and this entire downtown revival. The evening had many of the luminaries of Cuffe Parade and Colaba dressed sparklingly to celebrate him, alongside his sister-in-law Harshita Narwekar and his lovely wife Sarojini Ghadge. The buffet dinner that followed created a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere for conversations and connections of our favorite townies.

Literary Revelations

Earlier in the week, Rahul’s wife Sarojini Ghadge Narwekar hosted the unveiling, reading, and discussion of "Maharaja In Florence" by her relative Nandita Ghadge, who is an author and historian. Kitab Khama came alive with spirited discussions about this literary work that chronicles the fascinating story of Chhatrapati Rajaram II of Kolhapur. The book was originally published in Florence, Italy in October 2024 and unveiled in the presence of many celebrated personalities and representatives from the office of the Mayor of Florence. Rajaram II died in Florence in 1870 and was commemorated with the monument ‘Monumento all'Indiano’ erected in Florence's Cascine Park to honor his memory, which has recently been beautifully restored.

Nandita’s ‘A Maharaja in Florence’ tells the captivating story of his visit to Florence, chronicling his colorful interactions with Italian royalty, artists, and intellectuals of the era. The book reading and discussion was a revelation about the extraordinary honor bestowed upon the Chhatrapati, illuminating a lesser-known chapter of Indo-Italian cultural exchange that deserves far wider recognition.

These connections between our maharajas and European courts remind us of the rich tapestry of cultural diplomacy that has long existed between our nations, often in ways that surprise and enlighten us.

Write to Nisha JamVwal at nishjamwal@gmail.com