Latest news with #Nayantara
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
In Chennai's Besant Nagar, Cafe Āve balances the comfort of Eden with edgy naked cakes and matcha lattes
Eden played safe for three decades. Not surprisingly, it birthed a rebel. A chic neighbourhood cafe, Āve is carving out its own niche on a leafy Besant Nagar lane, wedged comfortably between a tailoring unit, 'Paul's Unisex waxing bar' and the optimistically named 'Say Cheese' Dental Clinic. This space used to be home to 'Pretty 'n' Passion, a beauty parlour, which has now moved down the road. (No doubt, to a sigh of relief from unisex Paul.) Inside, Cafe Āve is compact and minimalist, filled with sunshine that streams in from the French windows. A dramatic dessert counter, studded with tall cakes and chunky cookies, dominates the room. A waiter walks past with a tray heavy with cheese boreks, a nod to Eden, which is just two streets away. When Aparna Venkatesh, Venkatesh MB and Subadhra Raju, all graduates of Institute of Hotel Management, Taramani, and best friends, launched Eden in Besant Nagar in 1992, they quickly gained a cult following for their dependable, continental vegetarian menu, which still pivots on corn florentines, paneer pasta bakes and olive garlic naans. Aparna and Venkatesh got married and years later their daughter Nayantara, moved to Melbourne where she studied Economics. However, she too felt the pull of the restaurant business and ended up doing a course in Patisserie at Le Cordon Bleu, London, as well as stints at Glazed, a gluten-free Melbourne bakery and a cookie shop called the Cookie Box. Nayantara's menu at Ave is a blend of classics and experimental dishes, for while she is clearly anchored in Eden's comforting carb-laden embrace, she is also determined to let her personality and training shine through. The family legacy is evident, from the creamy coconut curry served with pandan rice, to her dad, sitting unobtrusively behind the counter to help with billing. But so is her individual, Asian inspired style, which she attributes to years in Melbourne, resulting in towering fluffy pistachio-lemon cakes and confident Japan-inspired egg sandos. Already bustling, Cafe Āve can be noisy especially if you land a neighbouring table filled with children squealing for French fries. (Spoiler alert: There are no French fries.) Fortunately, they are mollified by pancakes topped with honey butter. In their defence, most of the menu is rather grown up: the waffles are made with herbed cheese, served with eggs and avocado. And even the French toast has a twist, pav bread with salted condensed milk, berries and malted crumbs. I enjoy the tweaks. My fish – mahi mahi, which is sourced every morning – is light and flaky, encased in a crunchy tempura-style batter. It is served with a salad of finely julienned apples, fragrant with fresh coriander, Thai basil and mint. Sweet, spicy and salty, it is a simple but skillfully cooked meal. There are other reasonably healthy options: from zucchini hummus with pita and roasted vegetables, to pumpkin tacos. I try the chicken congee, which is a brave choice for a cafe, given how unapologetically bland it is, perked up marginally by caramelised onions and chilli crisp. The hefty grilled aubergine sandwich, filled with pesto and ricotta, would be better grilled – Nayantara says it is work in progress. Eager for feedback from customers, she intends to tweak the menu gradually, making space for seasonal vegetables and fruit though the year. Try the matcha, even if you are too cool to follow trends. Bright and refreshing without the grassy taste of desperation evident in much of today's matcha avalanche, this is made with creamy cereal oat milk and topped with a chewy knob of caramelised cereal. The menu also features indulgent no-cream, no-sugar hot chocolate, whipped till its light and frothy, and dependably strong espressos. Using coffee from Vithai, which sources beans from farmers in Palani hills, Nayantara serves typical Melbourne-style flat whites, as well as Spanish lattes, Cereal milk matcha and brown sugar lattes. As she makes me Mont Blanc – black coffee crowned with soft folds of whipped cream and orange zest – she explains how she worked towards tailoring a menu that is concise and purposeful. Eat cake. While this is always good advice, it is especially relevant here. Ignoring fondant (thank goodness for that) and fussy swirls of cream, Nayantara does 'naked cakes', without too much icing. 'I don't like things that are overly sweet. So we try and make our desserts salty-sweet,' she says. By now, the children have left, and their table has been taken by gym bros flexing muscles and baseball caps as they dig into banana pudding. Beside them, a lady dining alone eats a slice of pistachio-lemon cake as she reads her book. In the corner, two bankers discuss strategy for their next meeting with the boss. It is disarmingly warm and homey, especially once I start eating the malted chocolate cake, dark with cocoa and Milo, and topped with a crunchy salty-sweet crumble. 'We grew up at Eden, so Besant Nagar is home,' smiles Nayantara, looking around her new space with contentment. I used to visit this space when it was a beauty parlour. When I walked in, looking for a restaurant, this felt just right.' As it turns out, with life and with food, sometimes you need to travel the world to reignite the joys of home.
News18
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Ishaan Khatter Recalls Childhood Moment With Amitabh Bachchan On Sooryavansham Set: ‘I Pulled His Beard'
In a nostalgic interview, Ishaan Khatter fondly recalled visiting the set of Sooryavansham as a child and having a sweet moment with Amitabh Bachchan. If you've ever lazily flicked through TV channels on a weekend afternoon, chances are you've stumbled upon Sooryavansham—the cult classic that never seems to go off-air on Set Max. Though the film didn't fare well at the box office upon its 1999 release, it has since gained a loyal following. But for actor Ishaan Khatter, the film holds a more personal significance—he actually visited its set as a child, thanks to his actor-mother Neelima Azeem. In a recent chat with Mid-Day, Ishaan shared a delightful anecdote from his childhood. 'I think my mom once did a children's show called Nayantara, and I appeared on it too. It was a talk show where she spoke about parenting and motherhood. I've always been fascinated by film sets," he said. Recounting the moment he visited the sets of Sooryavansham, Ishaan added, 'She once took me to the sets of Sooryavansham, and apparently, I kept saying 'Bade Miyan, Bade Miyan' to Amitabh Bachchan, because I had seen Bade Miyan Chote Miyan," he laughed. What happened next has remained a cherished story in his family. 'He (Amitabh Bachchan) picked me up! And my mom later told me, 'You were the only kid he lifted, and you pulled his beard!' And he just smiled and said, 'It's okay.' These are the stories I've grown up hearing from my mom." In an earlier interview with Mashable India, Ishaan had also revealed how Amitabh Bachchan helped him get into school during his early years. 'At the time, she was trying to get me admitted into a school and Jamnabai was then one of the nicest schools. She was having trouble getting admission for me there and he very kindly, personally went and spoke to the authorities," he said. Neelima Azeem played Mrs. Varun Singh in Sooryavansham, while Ishaan's father, Rajesh Khattar, essayed her on-screen husband. For many, Sooryavansham may be just another film on a television loop. For Ishaan Khatter, though, it's a piece of childhood wrapped in warmth, wonder—and a beard-pulling incident with the Big B himself. First Published:
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Ishaan Khatter recalls pulling Amitabh Bachchan's beard on the set of Sooryavansham: ‘I was calling Bade Miyan'
On a lazy afternoon, if you flip through TV channels and land on Set Max, chances are you'll find Amitabh Bachchan's Sooryavansham playing. Though the film didn't do well in theatres when it was released in 1999, it has gained a cult following over the years. Those who grew up in the early 2000s watched Big B in a double role in the movie, but for actor Ishaan Khatter, the experience was more personal. He actually visited the sets of the film as a child, thanks to his mother, Neelima Azeem, who was part of the film's cast. Neelima Azeem played Mrs Varun Singh in the movie, while Ishaan's father, Rajesh Khattar, played her on-screen husband. In a recent chat with Mid-Day, Ishaan shared a sweet story from his childhood. 'I think my mom once did a children's show called Nayantara, and I appeared on it too. It was a talk show where she spoke about parenting and motherhood. I've always been fascinated by film sets. She once took me to the sets of Sooryavansham, and apparently, I kept saying 'Bade Miyan, Bade Miyan' to Amitabh Bachchan, because I had seen Bade Miyan Chote Miyan,' he laughed. But what happened next made the memory unforgettable. Ishaan said, 'He (Amitabh Bachchan) picked me up! And my mom later told me, 'You were the only kid he lifted, and you pulled his beard!' And he just smiled and said, 'It's okay.' These are the stories I've grown up hearing from my mom.' ALSO READ | Filmistan Studios, founded by Kajol and Rani Mukerji's grandfather, sold for Rs 183 crore to real estate company In an earlier chat with Mashable India, Ishaan shared that it was because of Amitabh Bachchan that his mother could secure an admission for him in one of the best schools in the city. 'At the time, she was trying to get me admitted into a school and Jamnabai was then one of the nicest schools. She was having trouble getting admission for me there and he very kindly, personally went and spoke to the authorities,' he said.
