Akerkars No Longer Have Majority Stake In Indigo

Cupcakes at Indigo Deli.

NEWS
• Rahul and Malini Akerkar, the founders of deGustibus Hospitality, which owns the restaurants Indigo, Indigo Deli, Indigo Cafe and Tote on the Turf and the catering service Moveable Feast, have given up the majority of their 100 per cent stake in the company. In 2009, the Akerkars brought in an investor group after the company was rumoured to have suffered financial losses following the launch of Tote on the Turf, their restaurant/banquet hall at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, for which they reportedly pay an annual rent of about Rs3.5 crore. The trouble began when their initial investor reneged on his promise of bringing in funds soon after they won the bid for the 25,000 sq. ft. restaurant . “We were very enthusiastic about the project but then we discovered that the money wasn’t there,” said Rahul Akerkar. “We grew suspicious and finally dissociated from him. But by then we had screwed our cash flows”. While the Akerkars continue to be shareholders, they now have less than a 50 per cent stake in the company they started in 1996. [Mumbai Mirror]

• According to reports, farmers in Nashik, Pune and Konkan regions are spraying country liquor on their crops, and adding the booze to chicken feed because they believe it makes vegetables shinier and chickens fatter. “As fertilisers and pesticides are unaffordable, farmers have been using country liquor,” said Sanjay Pansare, director of the Mumbai-based Agricultural Produce Market Committee. “The efficacy of liquor  has not been proven, but farmers believe their experience is good enough.” The farmers reportedly think that crops are more resistant to disease if sprayed with liquor. Agro scientists however, disapprove of the practice, saying that liquor would only increase the acidic content in the vegetables and destory the nutrients in the produce. [The Times of India]

OFFERS
• Nature’s Basket’s Valentine’s Day hampers are now on sale. The hamper priced at Rs1,650 includes an assortment of chocolate and candy, aftermints, strawberry and yoghurt bars and chocolate biscuits. The hamper priced at Rs2,650 includes a bottle of wine and a similar selection of chocolates. At outlets across the city. See here for locations.

• On Sunday, February 13 and Monday, February 14, Fat Cat Cafe, located in Andheri West, will serve a special Valentine’s Day four-course set menu, priced at Rs750 per head. They will serve crab bisque, asparagus and pickled shallots quiche, Cajun spiced prawns, smoked salmon salad, caramelised onion and walnut ravioli, spiced chicken scallopini with herb rice, pink peppercorn-rubbed snapper with celery mash, and chocolate coated strawberries. 9/10 Bharat Ark Building, Veera Desai Road, next to ICICI Bank, Andheri (West). Tel: 2673 2040.

• Starting Thursday, February 10, Mocha Mojo, the Bandra outpost of the Mocha chain of coffee shops, will introduce happy hours that will last through the day every Thursday. Offers include “buy one beer and get one free”; and “buy two beers and get an imported beer free”. There will also be a 20 per cent discount on Indian and imported wines on Thursdays. Beers start at Rs120. Classic Corner, Hill Road, near Holy Family Hospital, Bandra (West). Tel: 2643 3098.

• Delhi-based pastry chef Deepika Sarin’s brand of cupcakes, called “Crazy for Cupcakes”, is now available at Indigo Deli. In addition to the usual flavours like chocolate, vanilla and red velvet, she also makes liquor-based cupcakes like tequila, pina colada and Cointreau. Other flavours include passionfruit, raspberry, strawberry and mint. Prices start at Rs80. First Floor, Palladium, Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel. Tel: 2498 6262. Also at 5, Ground Floor, Pheroze Building, Apollo Bunder, near Gateway of India. Tel: 6655 1010.

• Maya, the Indian restaurant at the Trident in Bandra Kurla Complex, is hosting a Kashmiri food festival. They’ve flown down six chefs from the valley who will be serving traditional fare like gushtaba, tabak maaz (lamb ribs), dhaniwal korma (lamb in yoghurt gravy), Kashmiri dum aloo, rogan josh and Nadru yakhn (lotus stems). They will also serve kahwa or Kashmiri tea with the meal. Until Wednesday, February 9. C 56, G Block, Bandra Kurla Complex. Tel: 6672 7788.