Bandra To Get a New Chocolateria

Dessert by Little Food Co.

NEWS
• Celebrity designer Roberto Cavalli is looking to bring his international chain of cafes and clubs to Mumbai, Beirut, Istanbul, Shanghai and Sao Paolo by 2012. By 2015, Cavalli hopes to launch five clubs and 15 cafes. Once rolled out, the value of the properties will be $300 million. [Indiaretailing.com]

• After conducting a two-year study on midnight snacking habits, doctors at Sion Hospital have concluded that it is a disorder, which they’ve aptly called  Night Eating Syndrome. Five per cent of the 230 patients in the hospital’s psychiatry department had symptoms of NES, which is characterised by an urge to eat sweet and oily food at night. “If not controlled, it can lead to obesity and other problems like diabetes and arthritis,” said Nilesh Shah, a doctor heading the department. Other NES symptoms include not feeling hungry in the morning but getting progressively ravenous by night. NES sufferers also have disturbed sleep and tend to get melancholic in the evenings. [Hindustan Times]

• The Australian chocolateria chain San Churro is slated to launch its first India outpost in Mumbai by mid-January. The chocolate lounge, which will open up in Bandra, is similar in concept to A Chocolate Affair,  which launched at Pali Naka in August. On the menu are churros (a deep-fried Spanish confection usually served with chocolate), hot chocolate, shakes, teas and coffees and other desserts. San Churro, Silver Pearl, Waterfield Road, opposite China Gate, Bandra (West).

FESTIVE OFFERS
• Little Food Co., a gourmet food catering service has launched a menu for people planning to host New Year’s Eve house parties. The vegetarian menu includes Thai pani puri, pesto pasta, lemon, thyme and mushroom cream fusili, lasagna, khao suey, roasted baby potatoes with garlic and herbs, Schezwan noodles, Mexican rice, and chocolate with strawberry and cinnamon reduction for dessert. The minimum order is for 15 people. Little Food Co. does not offer home delivery. Packages start at Rs400 per person. To place an order, call Bhakti Mehta on 98191 36441.

• Two One Two Bar and Grill has introduced its festive menu, which will be available for dinner until Sunday, January 2. Chef Alex Bignotti will be serving up a saffron-scented lobster bisque, pan seared foie gras with balsamic marinated fig and amaretto jelly, Fines de Claire oysters with champagne mignonette, ratatouille tart, roast turkey, tenderloin steak and Christmas pudding. 12-a, Hornby Vallard Estate, opposite Nehru Centre, next to the BMW showroom, Worli. Tel: 2490 1994.

• The InterContinental at Marine Drive has introduced special New Year’s Eve packages. At Dome, the rooftop bar, they will host a Mykonos at Midnight party, where they will serve Mediterranean appetisers and martinis, and the in-house DJ will spin party tunes. Entrance to Dome is priced at Rs9,500 per person. Corleone and Kebab Korner, the hotel’s Italian and Indian restaurants will have buffet dinners, priced at Rs3,500 per person. At Thai restaurant Koh, you can sign up for a set four-course meal priced at Rs5,000 per person (between 8pm and 10pm) and Rs7,000 per person (10 pm onwards). InterContinental Marine Drive, 135 Marine Drive. Tel: 3987 9999.

• Koyla, Farhan Azmi’s rooftop restaurant in Andheri, will host live performances every weekend, starting Friday, December 31. The NYE line up includes East India Company, a folk fusion band from Delhi, who will be joined by Assamese singer Papon, Mumbai-based folk band Udan Khatola and Dhruv Sangari, vocalist of Da-Saz, a “Sufiana electro” band from the capital. B47, Paramount, Second Floor, New Link Road, Oshiwara, Andheri (West). Tel: 4006 6060.