18042025-LSTC-01.qxd 4/18/2025 12:21 AM Page 1 c m y b A ROLLER COASTER RIDE The countdown begins for Netflix’s much-anticipated film Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins, starring Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Kunal Kapoor and Nikita Dutta in pivotal roles. TRIBUNE The host Life Comedian Nate Bargatze has been chosen to host the 77th Emmy Awards, which will air live on CBS from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on September 14. CHANDIGARH | FRIDAY | 18 APRIL 2025 PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR Mona W HEN a young, aspiring hospitality management student from a bankers’ family came to Chandigarh, little did he know that 25 years later he would open a plush restaurant here. A journey that would be the testament to his success with a string of high-end hotel kitchens in the country, reality show franchise MasterChef, books and prestigious culinary events around of the world! Celebrity chef Kunal Kapur, who has kept in touch with the city over the years, is back with his pan-Indian restaurant called Pincode. “I feel very fortunate that life has come full circle. I hope Pincode here does fantastically well.” GEETANJALI GUPTA, LEENA GUPTA AND BANI CHEEMA On common ground Vikrant Parmar On a sultry Thursday afternoon, after previous night’s surprise thunderstorm, it was nice to be inside the spic-and-span Ikk Punjab, Sector 26, for the unveiling of The Common Table (TCT), a pioneering platform for social change and community collaboration, which is the brainchild of two women from Chandigarh, Bani Cheema and Geetanjali Gupta. The event also witnessed the launch of former Miss IndiaAmerica Leena Gupta’s debut book Anchor Within. It was all about purpose and transformation as the three shared words of wisdom. Both Bani and Geetanjali returned to India from the US to give wings to their passion of doing something socially beneficial and impactful in their home country. Bani, an Indian-American entrepreneur holding a Master’s degree in International Studies in Global Health & Development from the University of San Francisco, shared, “Rooted in Chandigarh yet global in its outlook, TCT intends to host curated events, thematic workshops and meaning- The Common Table, a platform for social change and community collaboration, launched Gauri Khan’s restaurant Torii refutes ‘fake paneer’ allegation by YouTuber’s iodine test video ful exchanges between innovators, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders from across India and even the world. TCT is a space for learning, for listening and for sharing.” TCT as an initiative will focus on areas like education, health, arts, culture and sustainable development, encouraging cross-sector partnerships and solution-driven dialogues. Geetanjali, a former Certified Public Accountant (CPA) & Global Financial Analyst, added, “Both me and Bani came back to our roots in India not just to give back, but to build something transformative together. The Common Table is our way of creating a compassionate future.” TCT was unveiled on the sidelines of a uniquely devised programme—Breaking Barriers—which was headlined by Leena Gupta, a former Miss India-America, renowned transformational life coach and now a Penguin-published author. Leena was the first change-maker brought in under the TCT banner. Leena shared, “Anchor Within is a ‘go-to’ for all such people who, probably, at times think of giving up on life. My vitiligo diagnosis during the peak of my career was a big set-back, but I chose to rise above personal and societal challenges, converting adversity into a message of authenticity and power.” More power to them! DISHING OUT Chandigarh has given Kunal Kapur his base. The celebrity chef acknowledges it by launching his signature restaurant Pincode at a Tricity mall A day before the launch, dashing in a powderblue shirt, Kunal sits down to talk about his vision. “It’s Pincode’s fourth outing. Pincode generally specifies a location. For us, it specifies a particular cuisine. Here, under one roof, we bring together diversified Indian menu and hence the name,” he avers. Courtesy Google maps, pincode is now old style and it invokes the old-world Kulfi with Kunal charm. This is the hallmark of Kunal’s Pincode too. Wooden and cane chairs, postal stamps for décor, old cameras to elaborate chandeliers, oriental lilies interspersed with fresh Rajnigandha, Punjabi folk playing in the background, the place is warm and welcoming. Kunal is proud of his robust cuisine. Gujarati dhokla gets a chaat makeover here, bedmi poori from Braj is served with doobki-wale aloo; Old Dilli ki nihari to Bombay’s tawa pulao, there is plenty on offer. Interestingly, Pincode at CP67 mall gets some signature dishes that are not part of Pincode in Delhi, Abu Dhabi or Dubai. There are beetroot kanji salad with avocado and arugala, palak salli chaat— crispy, shredded spinach served with sweet yogurt, Rajasthani style mutton, kachri ke shole and Kolkata’s chicken bhartha. Dakhani matar mushroom—mushroom stuffed with spicy green peas and cheese, marinated with spiced Decaan flavours! Food is complemented with a hearty drink menu. Their paan mocktail stands out. In the dessert section, Amritsari kulfa with rich kulfi, faluda and basil leaves stands out. Kunal compares food to art. “For a chef, riyaaz is every important, if you don’t practise consistently, the art will be lost! paneer to observe any colour change, which is often considered a sign of starch content. While no paneer samples reacted at the other restaurants, a dish at Torii turned dark when exposed to iodine. In the video, the YouTuber claimed, “Shah Rukh Khan ke restaurant mein paneer nakli tha. Ye dekh ke mere toh hosh udd gaye the (Shah Rukh Khan’s restaurant is selling fake paneer.)!” Torii, co-owned by interior designer Gauri Khan, soon issued a statement in response, explaining the science behind the reaction. “The iodine test reflects the presence of starch, not the authenticity of the paneer. As the dish contains soy-based ingredients, this reaction is expected.” — ANI Kunal fondly remembers his days as a student at Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, Chandigarh. While like any youngster he frequented the popular joints, he remembers one in particular. “There used to be a Chaplin Fast Food in Sector 34 or 35. The person who ran it was a generous soul. He gave extra portions to students as well as free salads. We used to frequent that place.” SERVING BIG B Once, in Noida, my off was cancelled due to staff crunch. I was miffed, but then to my surprise Amitach Bachchan showed up for lunch. Since I was the only chef on duty, I got to be up, close and personal with the legend. He asked for simple UP-style tarkari and dal with roti. I felt over the moon after that encounter. BEING ON MASCTERCHEF Not just MasterChef India, Chef Kunal Kapur also was part of MasterChef America as a judge. “There, I realised that food was inherently connected to emotions. When you cook with all the intensity, the drama comes out in the play.” HIS COMFORT FOOD… Mumma ke hath ki namak ajwain ki paranthi! IN HIS DOWNTIME… Kunal loves to watch wildlife and mystery documentaries. ON HIS BOOKSHELF… Wlliam Dalrymple’s The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World. UP NEXT ■ There are two books—one called The Table For Two–Recipes For Nuclear Kitchens and the other on Indian ingredients. ■ Post Pincode at CP67, he is in the process of launching it in Indore, Goa and Bengaluru. ‘Misinterpretation of food chemistry’ Gauri Khan’s upscale Mumbai restaurant Torii has addressed allegations of using adulterated paneer, clarifying that the claims are unfounded and based on a misinterpretation of food chemistry. Controversy erupted after a YouTuber posted a video on social media in which he visited several celebrity-owned restaurants in Mumbai to test the quality of paneer using an iodine tincture. Among the stops were Virat Kohli’s One8 Commune, and Shilpa Shetty’s Bastian. At each location, the YouTuber applied iodine to samples of BACK IN THE DAY PHOTOS: RAVI KUMAR Anurag Kashyap not too happy with censorship issues being faced by Phule Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has expressed his frustration over the censorship issues faced by the biographical drama Phule, directed by Ananth Mahadevan. The film, starring Pratik Gandhi and Patralekha, was initially set to release on April 11, on the occasion of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule’s birth anniversary, but was postponed due to objections from a section of the Brahmin community. Anurag Kashyap took to his Instagram handle to share his thoughts on the issue, questioning the existence of casteism in India. “Bhai mil ke decide kar lo. India mein casteism hai ya nahi (Brother, let’s decide c m y b SNIP SHOT together. Does casteism exist in India or not?),” he wrote. The Gangs of Wasseypur director believes Phule is among several films facing suppression due to its bold and unapologetic themes. He cited other examples, including Punjab 95, Tees and Dhadak 2, suggesting that these films were being targeted for reflecting uncomfortable truths. Drawing from his personal experience, he recalled his first theatre production, which was centred on the lives of Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule. He questioned the objections raised by the Brahmin com- munity, particularly pointing out the irony that if casteism had truly been eradicated in India, as claimed by some political figures, there would be no reason for the community to take offence. — ANI