All About #TILEGurgaon: The Indian Luxury Expo...

The last couple of days have seen the best names from the luxury circuit gather under one roof as The Indian Luxury Expo (TILE) made its impact felt across the length and breadth of the city at Kingdom of Dreams, Gurugram. The high-octane luxury extravaganza presented curated products, exclusive launches and previews, and bespoke pop-up experiences.

A number of prominent brands from a potpourri of industries including travel, fashion accessories, jewelry, real estate, hospitality, art & collectibles, apparel, home décor and luxury automobile brands participated in the Expo.

Some of the noteworthy ones were Jaguar and Land Rover, Ducati, Gitanjali, Nakshatra Diamonds, Hand Painted Stories, Think Tonk, Tie Hub, Mahindra Lifespaces, Grohe, Raymond Made to Measure, INV Homes, Ford Mustang, Embassy, Amex, DAG, Porshe, Gallerie Splash, Kawasaki and Harley Davidson, to name a few.

A successful book launch of She & He by engineer-turned-author Astha Mittal was held and breathtaking artworks by renowned artist Ram Indranil Kamath, which help in understanding the link between Hinduism and Hindutva, were also exhibited at the event.

Having managed to pull off a spectacular luxury show, Karan Bhangay, Founder, #TheIndianLuxuryExpo said

“We are delighted to see the fervent participation of different industries at the event this year. Gurugram is known for having a keen demand for luxury, owing to the standard of living enshrined by its citizen. The city brought forth a wonderful opportunity to display our curated set of brands, for the discerning audience.

Celebrated brands across industries participated and partnered the Gurugram Expo, clearly indicating a growth of interest and consumer sentiments attached to this sector.

Luxury consumption spearheading a country’s economy undoubtedly reflects its affluence and taste. India is set to become the world's fastest wealth creator in the coming years.

Realizing the increasing importance of the country in the global luxury industry, The Indian Luxury Expo endeavors to bring the top-notch luxury brands and the connoisseurs under one platform.”

High On Style With Big Boy Toyz...

Big Boy Toyz is the one-stop destination in India for high-end, luxury automobiles manufactured by legendary automakers across the globe. It has decided to venture into Fashion as one of the means to put forth its style statement.  Recently, BBT unveiled its very own clothing line, during the finale of the GenNex Fashion Show 2017 held at Roseate House. 

Reflecting on its brand mantra of ‘simplified exuberance’, Big Boy Toyz’s collection features a fusion of sportiness and elegance with a class that comes through the fine texture of the cloth material. 

The fashion show finale was centered on the theme of black and white and the collection also featured the same. The quality of the clothing line complements perfectly the commitment and passion Big Boy Toyz displays to serve everything on a platter. 

Commenting on the collection, Mr. Jatin Ahuja, Founder & Managing Director, Big Boy

Toyz said, 

"Big Boy Toyz has established its dominance as the comprehensive, one-stop destination where buyers are guaranteed the best quality and most impeccable service while buying their dream cars. Extending the same level of quality standards, we decided to launch our exclusive clothing line which is an ideal amalgamation of classy sportiness and elegance. We are extremely excited to launch our first ever apparel collection on such a revered platform as the GenNex fashion show. 

The launch of the apparels is a great opportunity for buyers to familiarize themselves with the brand, particularly because of the affordable pricing of the attires below INR 2000/-. It’s a great opportunity for buyers to bring home clothes that symbolize aristocracy, luxury, pure quality and overall, the trust exuded by the Big Boy Toyz brand." 

Gastronomic Delights At Raftaar...

Raftaar is one of the lounges on the happening F&B scene in Punjabi Bagh and the place where the sundowners happen is the coveted Club Road.

Modeled after the need for speed, and all things automobile, Raftaar is being marketed as a 'High Speed Bar And Lounge' since its establishment and is spread across two extensively spacious floors, though seating is not crammed at all.

Out of the third and fourth floors that the outlet is set across, the fourth floor also features outdoor seating that could be considered as the smoking zone.

The place is adorned with a life-size vintage red beast parked at the entrance of the premises with a wheel or two being thrown in as a decorative prop. The entrance also features monochrome snaps of vintage automobiles too. The decor and interiors, however, are done with a modern element going into them.

Being marketed as a lounge, the outlet is moderately lit, with two private dining spaces, occasional live band sessions, live screening of sports matches (with the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy in full swing), and a DJ to its credit.

Coincidentally, Chef Karan was there to thoughtfully curate a meal for us when we visited the outlet, presenting us with his favorite recipes tuned to our preferences.

I could see why they're the most popular items on the menu and would recommend the same if you visit Raftaar too. All the dishes were brilliantly prepared as well as presented to us, thanks to Chef.

Appetizers: 

Chicken Akbari

Mushroom Galauti was melt-in-mouth and simply fantastic.

Filo Wrap had melted cheese and veggies stuffed in filo sheet and wrapped thereafter. The accompanying dip went along well.

Chicken Cilantro was served in a crust basket, with chicken chunks topped with cilantro.

Broccoli Ki Shami is yet to be introduced into the Menu, and Chef presented it as his special recipe.

Murg Peshawari

Mocktails: 

Paan Asian Mojito had real पान and गुलकन्द going into its making and thus had a lingering flavor.

Head In The Clouds had blueberries and maple foam as its ingredients, and thus had a symbolic face made on top of the foam.

Blueberry Cinnamon was a refresher, with the striking cinnamon flavor.

Pina Colada is the classic beverage done right, and it was topped with cherries.

Main Course: 

Nachos Crusted Fish 'n' Chips is one of the most innovative dishes I've had. It is Chef's spin-off on Rava Fish and was presented as a fantastic platter.

Dhingri Dolma was a fine preparation involving mushroom and minced cottage cheese.

Paneer Khaas Makhani is Raftaar's take on the classic gravy.

Dal Makhni was quite good.

Jaituni Cheese Naan had life-size जैतून or Olive and it went well along with the curries.

Jalapeno Cheese Kulcha can be considered a sibling of Olive Naan and had an appreciable number of jalapenos as a topping.

Dessert: 

Brownie Sundae was served in a martini glass and had cubes of brownie concealed by ice-cream that had a drizzle of chocolate sauce on top.

All in all, Raftaar comes across as a perfect option in West Delhi for a relaxed weekend evening with friends over fantastic food and great banter. :)

Of The #Hextraordinary With Tata's #HexaExperience...

A new definition of lifestyle has been introduced by Tata Motors at their ‘Hexa Experience Centre’. The new-age lifestyle SUV Tata Hexa is the embodiment of opulence. It was a fabulous #HexaExperience while test driving the brand new Hexa at EO HUDA Gurgaon II, Sector 29, Gurugram on November 26. The three-day mega event spanning November 25-27 was all about experiencing the much-awaited Tata Hexa first-hand and meeting the teams behind this superb creation.

In fact, the on-road and off-road experiences were more than enough to provide an adrenaline rush. In addition, the off-road experience gave a taste of the various tough conditions that the Hexa could face with aplomb, while the on-road one was #Hextraordinary and beyond imagination. While the official launch of Tata Hexa is slated for January 2017, people were excited to go ahead and do an advance booking during this three-day bonanza.

The Hexa Experience Centre has been designed in a very professional manner for prospective customers to gain a first-hand experience of the powerful and beautiful Tata Hexa. Heaps of entertainment was on offer in the lounge area. A separate dining area was arranged for, to satisfy one’s appetite during the day, because once an individual has entered, it is difficult to leave the place without getting the complete picture on Tata Hexa. Also, there were other Tata brands showcasing their products at various stalls within the huge setup.

While driving, we had full liberty to make the Hexa reach its limits. That is what, in fact, I call as a fulfilling #HexaExperience. In addition, there was a special kids’ zone that was engaging enough for kids and their parents. A pet adoption zone also was there where you could play with pets, take them for a round donate for their cause, and adopt one if you wished to.

This centre was the first Hexa Experience Center at EO HUDA Gurgaon II, Sector 29, Gurugram. The event was a grand success. Similar setups are under progress in various cities viz. Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. I feel this is a wonderful concept as far as Tata loyalists, customers, and automobile enthusiasts are concerned.

The off-road experience needs a special mention here because in real life we might not face all such scenarios as bumpy tracks, ramps, and rails but experiencing them and Hexa’s response to them gave a unique feeling and great fulfilment. We experienced inclines, twisters, rumbles, slopes, mud, and a lot more. It was the sheer power of this sturdy vehicle that was showcased untiringly.

Tata Hexa clearly embodies a superior class of power, design and technology. It is a symbol of dynamism and modernity.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that I am feeling #Hextraordinary after this #HexaExperience. Best wishes to Tata Hexa for outperforming its contemporaries in the Indian market in 2017.