Darbaar - e - Awadh at Kangan

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Chef Shamsher Ahmed is back with his culinary fanfare from Awadh, India at Kangan from May 4 - 20, 2012 onwards 6.30 pm - 12 am. For reservations call +91 9765 411 032. Do join us in conversation and share your  dining experience at Kangan on

      

Fashion Friday - Spring/Summer Color Trends

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With the ABIL Pune Fashion Week this month The Westin Pune Koregaon Park launched its Fashion Fridays at Kue Bar. The concept being simply to celebrate the trends and style of the season and bring out the best in oneself while partying all night along at this trendy watering hole. Every week Kue Bar would bring the fashion trends for the season to party like there's no tomorrow and look every inch a world famous fashionista or style icon. This week it showcases the color trends for spring summer season collated from the many insights from designers around the globe and the very own showcased at the fashion week. 

Courtesy - Pantone.com

Courtesy - Pantone.com

When you step out to party this season on a Fashion Friday night at Kue Bar the color trend to stick to would be pastel. Spring is the season of renewal and energizing ones spirits to discover, explore and venture into the brighter future. Tangerine Tango, Bellflower, Cabaret, Solar Power, Starfish, Sodalite Blue, Cockatoo, Margarita, Sweet Lilac, Driftwood are the color trends to look out for this season. 

For an ultra-bold vibrant look this spring, try mixing Bellflower with Tangerine Tango and Cabaret. Combine Margarita with Sweet Lilac and Cockatoo for a subtle alternative, or combine Margarita with Sweet Lilac and Driftwood for a more practical variation. Solar Power is best juxtaposed with Sodalite Blue. For a safer bet, add a natural neutral like Starfish to the mix.

Share your Fashion Friday night out experience at Kue Bar by posting pictures and comments on twitter or facebook.

Check in and Review Fashion Friday on
  

VH1 Pub Crawl 3 at Kue Bar

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There is always that night when a jamboree of party hoppers get together and explore the many spectacles of letting their hair down and stepping into a bohemian bus doing the rounds of the best party destination in Pune - Kue Bar. The VH1 Pub Crawl has finally made it to the desired night destination of the city in its third leg on Saturday April 28, 2012. The team at Kue Bar awaits to welcome the pub crawlers to celebrate the weekend with its passionate ambience and music. Book your seat to get on board on VH1 India. 

Share your pub crawl experience at Kue Bar by posting images and comments on the Kue Bar page or on our location based networks

    

In The League of Extraordinary Hotels

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Every once in a while a life changing event will arrive with fanfare and excitement and like most turning points in life the big ones usually come when we're least expecting them. After winning three business awards at the Hotelier India Awards in December 2011 beating 300 hotels of India, The Westin Pune Koregaon Park has sailed across the waters of the Indian Ocean among 220 hotels in Asia Pacific and Australian Continent to win the coveted 'Hotel of the Year 2011' award conferred upon by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific Division. Anuraag Bhatnagar, General Manager was bestowed by this honor on April 11, 2012 at the St. Regis, Singapore by Mr. Miguel Ko - Chairman & President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific. The proud hotelier once back to the homeland celebrated by popping up champagne and cutting a cake with the entire team of The Westin Pune Koregaon Park in all pomp and glory. With these awards flowing in on the double the team at The Westin Pune galloped from the league of luxury hotels to the league of extraordinary hotels.

On the Runway - ABIL Pune Fashion Week Day 3

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Just one day of this glamour friendly event and it has driven the attention of women and men alike around town of Pune. Bringing you the runway schedule for its third and final day that also happens to showcase mentor Vikram Phadnis' grand finale. Who would be the show stoppers for tomorrow? Who will be wearing whom for the event? and then of course the most exciting part its #FNO after hours party at Kue Bar.


Runway Schedule April 13, 2012 :

5pm - Nithya Bajaj - A NIFT graduate and one of the eleven finalists of the reality show LETS DESIGN1, I specialize in evening wear and statement neckpieces. The brand has been designing for various Bollywood celebrities like Minissha Lamba, Prachi Desai, Bhavna Pani, Anjana Sukhani, Sonal Chauhan, Vidya Malvade, Reshmi Ghosh, Riya sen, Raima sen, Kalki Koechlin. 
MAY 2010 saw Kalki Koechlin wear our draped piece in Harper's bazaar followed by our accessories being used on The cover of GLORIA fashion magazine. Actress SONAM KAPOOR chose to wear our STATEMENT NECKPIECE on the Cover of ace fashion magazine MARIE CLAIRE JULY 2010. The label represents multicultural, multifaceted lifestyles of women today, who believe in elegant, luxurious, timeless, effortless, piece of art as clothing, the brand is synonymous with ethereal luxury. 

Shraddha & Mayank - The Designers: Shraddha Nigam is a well-known actor. Having worked across media like films, theatre and television and after having established herself in the performing arts, she has now segued into design. Mayank Anand is an artist with manifold aptitudes. He is a reputable actor, an author, a newspaper columnist, an artist and now, a designer. Together they are known for their unique, refined and relaxed sense of style. Mayank Anand Shraddha Nigam brings to you 'Whim'. The garments in this collection are Fun, flirty and glamorous. Light and breezy dresses, tunics and versatile separates form the bulk of the collection. The fabrics used are 100% natural with drama created by various handcrafted dyeing techniques.

Ritika Bharwani - The face behind the designs of is all of 25 years old. Ritika calls herself a perfectionist and extremely organized, she knew she wanted to be a fashion designer at the age of 16. An avid traveler, she says she derives inspiration from most of her travels abroad. She believes in creating pieces that can be versatile to create various looks. Her collection caters to women of every age, who are looking at an understated elegance and yet, make a fashion statement every time they dress up. 'Style Diaries of a Diva' is the Summer/Resort 2012 collection from the contemporary label . is a fusion of understated elegance, intricate embellishment and detailed design. contemporary woman who is distinguished by her desire to experiment with new silhouettes. The collection begins with a subtle color palette of sand beige, white muted gold and lemon yellow, which progresses into a vibrant orange that complements the fluidity of the designs. Cut work embellishment has been redefined with the use of shell and silver metal sequins, which have been combined with intricate, tasseled net and georgette to create dramatic dresses that exude elegant playfulness.

6.15 pm - Babita Malkani - Over the past two decades, Babita Malkani has been successfully embedding aesthetic themes, artistic expressions and an international appeal into her illustrative collections. The widely admired designer outweighs in embracing haute couture, rich fabrics with spirited cuts and shapes that reveal contemporary high fashion. Glittering sequins, intricate crochet patchworks, dangling fringes and cut works play the part of sea shells, gravel and pebble and the hidden coves along the Mediterranean beach side. The Palazzo jumpsuits, drape dresses, dresses, kaftans in the collection give the feel of dancing waves, curling as they meet the shore. A sort of fluidity in the collection has result in a luxurious fusion of easy-to-wear yet appealing silhouette range of unfussy and wearable tops, tunics and wide pajama pants. With the party destination of the world as inspiration, the entire collection is well dressed with exuberance and comforting flair. It's a collection that invites one to let your hair down, flaunt the creative cuts and have a good time.

7.30 pm - Anjalee & Arjun Kapoor - The Flamboyant designer couple Anjalee and Arjun kapoor is all set to bring her collection on to the ramps at Pune Fashion Week. Inspired from the Renaissance Era that marked the birth of the modern fashion, the collection is an assorted prêt a porter. Exquisites Bodices and Corsets, Flowing Blouses and Skirts, Anarkalis, Lehengas, beautiful Dresses and Gowns are the items that will be seen in this Haute Couture collection. The color palette this season is the jewel colors comprising of the topaz emerald, ruby and sapphire. 


The collection has been influenced by vintage feeling along with lace trimmings, constructed tops with voluminous bottoms. The look of the collection which has been given is very feminine. The label reflects an aura of international chic and a celebration of the angelic Victorian designer through arty elements and refined detailing. Drama meets restraint and fables flow along the quiet bank of reality. Translucence, shimmer and shine come together to create a contemporary classic. The silhouette is experimental.

8.45 pm - Adam Saaks - Adam Saaks is famous for his live T-shirt cutting performances; he made his mark in the fashion industry as one of the most unique talents the world has ever seen. Armed with only a pair of scissors, Adam crisscrossed the globe wielding his razor sharp blades, spontaneously creating jaw-dropping designs in front of thousands worldwide. Known as "The Master Shredder" and "Adam Scissor Hands" he works with the biggest stars, and has influenced the global success of fashion brands such as Von Dutch, American Apparel, Ed Hardy and Christian Audigier.
Adam Saaks fell deeply in love with drawing, and then eventually redirected his artistic eye to wardrobe styling. His years of sketches and working with fabrics soon collided into the perfect marriage.  Eva Longoria, Alicia Keys, Keira Knightly, Jessica Simpson, Meagan Good, Taryn Manning, Fiona Swarorvski, Beth Chapman, Eve, Vanessa Hudgens, Theodora Richards, Carmen Electra, Angela Basset, Mariah Carey, Kathy Najimy, Sun Ho, Dido, Jessica Alba, Hilary and Haley Duff, Paris and Nicky Hilton, Nicole Ritchie are all his clients. 

10 pm - Vikram Phadnis - Needs no introduction as a mentor of the Pune Fashion Week. Retailing from his store in Mumbai, the label stocks high-end Indian and western wear for both men and women. The designer is also available in Dubai and New York along with Mumbai and Delhi within the country. He is now a veteran on the fashion circuit with some of the finest fashion shows to his credit. He has always endeavored to achieve the synthesis of popular and avant-garde preferences. This has been his unique selling point be it bridal wear, pret-a-porter or couture wear. The collection is a concoction of Indian and western influences. The sense is very summer, perfect for resort wear. The colors palette comprises of creams, gold, black with a hint of prints. The fabrics range from Nets, Georgette, linens, voils to pashminas. Silhouettes are dominant and playful at the same time chic & classy. They vary from cigarette pants, palazzos, skirts, kalidaars teamed with bundis and structured jackets and capes making the look very extraordinary. The lavish gota work dupattas and stoles are well adorned with elaborate tassels.

On the Runway - ABIL Pune Fashion Week Day 2

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The second day of the much talked about glamorous event #PFW at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park's Inspirations venue is replete with all the elements of the moda world and promises nothing but tres tres chic experience.

Runway Schedule April 11, 2012 :

5pm - Payal Singhal - 

British Vogue Editor Dolly Jones summed up her collection saying "Gorgeous dresses for dressing up in downtown New York with just enough of the genuine Indian magic that designers all over the world try to recreate." Inspired by the essence of an Indian summer wedding with all its rich culture and aromas of jasmine and turmeric and the magical and mystical chaos of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's dream' the Payal Singhal Resort Bridal 2012 collection is a melange of ethereal resort and Indian bridal clothing.

Perfect for the summer bride and her destination wedding the collection showcases dresses, gowns, lehngas, sarees and shalwar kurtas in colours of blush, mint and sand with richer Indian colours like indigo, purple, emerald and turmeric. Textured in with georgettes, silks, banarsis, brocades, tulle and taffeta and embellished with pita kora work and filigree with gota, moti and crystals.

Malini Agarwalla - 

Malini Agarwalla launched the label Malaga in 2004. Malini started her company as a manufacturer of quality handbags to fulfill the demanding and continuously evolving taste of the contemporary woman. Malaga specializes in carefully handcrafted bags, belts, and footwear and fashion jewelry. The vast range encompasses designs for women with both traditional and contemporary tastes. Rich embellishments of jeweled pieces, swarovski crystals, embroidery, beadwork and zardosi (gold thread work) are interwoven with use of materials such as fiber, leather and various fabrics (silk, brocade, jute, linen, denim, velvet, cotton etc.) to create a stunning array of formal and casual line of accessories for women. 

6.15 pm - Surily Goel - One of the most established and recognizable names in the Indian fashion design fraternity today, Surily Goel, studied Fashion Designing at FIDM, (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising), Los Angeles.

In November 2003, Surily started her own line of garments under the eponymous title 'SURILY'. The designer launched her collection at India's leading fashion store 'Ensemble', where she currently stocks. Her long list film credits include big-budget movies like Salaam Namaste, Janeman, Ta Ra Rum Pum, Rituparno Ghosh's, The Last Lear and more recently Chance pe Dance.

7. 30 pm - Sanjay Hingu - From the J.D.Institute of Fashion technology Mumbai India in 2006. Sanjay Hingu the label was launched in 2008 at the Lakme Fashion week. Primarily into men's clothing he also dabbles with woman's wear from time to time. He retails out of his own store in Mumbai and stock with few designer stores in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chandigarh. He has dressed few Bollywood celebrities and leading magazines have showcased or shot with my designs for their exclusive articles and coverage several times.

10 pm - Nivedita Saboo - Through the years Nivedita's creations have surpassed the seas and has been well received in countries like UK , USA , Sweden, Chicago, Tanzania, Middle East, California, Hong Kong, Paris Fashion Week and London Bridal exhibition. Having been in the industry for close to a decade, Nivedita offers a touch of brilliance to the silhouette. Brilliance of the power of the Sun; her creations thus mirroring the sparkling vivacity of life through her use of gold dust on a vibrant use of colours and detailed motifs. Drawn towards celebrating the journey of life's contours, Nivedita's collection takes you on a festive rendezvous as you celebrate many myriad moments through the play of vivacity, hues and sheer Elan. With her artistic genius stemming from the magnanimity of god's poetical creation, the label Nivedita Saboo epitomizes opulence, power and celebration. Nivedita's designs have been consistently appreciated by some of the biggest names in the fashion and glamour circuits with Kareena Kapoor, Diana Hayden, Minisha Lamba, Neha Dhupia, Prachi Desai, Isha Koppikar, Ravina Tandon. 

Fashion Night Outs at Kue Bar - Pune Fashion Week

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New York, Paris & London are known for their #FNO at a sprawling nightclub as much as the pret and couture on the runway. India's very own #PFW Pune Fashion Week is no exception to this fashionable tradition. Its time to slip into your Louboutins, Viviers, Blahniks and Vuittons as well as the Herve Ledgers, D&Gs, Vikram Phadnis and Nivedita Saboo party wear because after the models and the designers set the runway a fire, they'd be heading straight to the dance floor at Kue Bar, The Westin Pune Koregaon Park.
Fashion Night Outs would be on April 11, 12, 13 11 pm onwards with celebrity DJ Akhtar as the spin guru. Call Piyush + 91 9823 450442. The official twitter account of the hotel would be tweeting with guests on #FNOs so share your stories live.
Share your FNO experience with images, videos and comments on

    

On the Runway - ABIL Pune Fashion Week Day 1

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As the curtain raises upon the third season of the ABIL Pune Fashion Week tomorrow April 11, 2012 The Westin Pune Koregaon Park will be host to one of the most glamorous evenings the city will witness. The fashion week will open at 5 pm at the Inspirations venue of the luxury business hotel in Koregaon Park. By the time this posts does the circles of smart phones and tablets alike across Pune's fashionistas the designers and their teams would be at the venues rehearsing from dawn to dusk so they put up the most stunning collections across the runway.

Runway Schedule April 11, 2012 :

5 pm - Swapnil Shinde - One of the sixteen finalists of star ones reality show Lakme Fashion House, where Swapnil was first runner up. The brand Swapnil Shinde a mere 3 yr. old label has rapidly become one of the favourite's amongst India's young and sexy models, Celebrities and jet-sets...

The brand revolves around trying to find the possibility of a balance between the two extreme terms, 'sexy' without being cheap or crude, and 'elegant without being boring or matronly. Apart from styling various celebrities like Aishwarya rai , Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta, Mughda Godse, Amrita Rao, Soha Ali Khan to name a few, he has just finished designing costumes for ideam production "Fired" starring Rahul Bose. He has also designed few key looks for Priyanka Chopra in the movie "Fashion". The collection - juxtaposed with two contrasting ideas, a very tribal/jungle inspired to a sharp futuristic robotic influence from the two key points of inspirations respectively all with the backdrop of the high voltage erotic drive from Madonna in the 80's

6.15 pm - Samant Chauhan - At his 2004 graduating show, a bagful of awards already in his puddle, this New Delhi Niftian always knew what he was in quest of. Thereafter, followed an unstoppable series of proud events – his first award winning show at the Singapore Fashion Week'05; in 2007, he reached his milestone participating in the London Fashion Week and in 2008, he experienced the highest point in his career presenting his SS'09 collection as a solo show at Carousel Du Louvre, Paris. Passionately working for the cause of his native Bhagalpur master-weavers, he received the 'Young Entrepreneur Award' by the British Council in 2009. He's been participating in Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week since 2005 and in WLIFW's SS12; he penetrated into the Indian wear market in grand way by launching his 'Rajputana' collection.

This Spring-Summer 2012, Samant Chauhan presents 'Rajputana,' a collection well-summed up as Victorian influence on the Royal Rajasthani gharanas during the British rule. 

7.30 pm - Joy Mitra - He went to NIFT Kolkata to give a direction to his creative mind. After graduation he got into films. Worked with ace film maker Rituporno Ghosh and designed costumes for leading ladies like Sharmila Tagore, Manisha Koirala , Konkona Sen Sharma , Raima Sen and lot more.

Selling his creations from almost all the premier stores of the country and abroad. AZA, Ogaan, Samsaara, Collage, Elan, Melange, Kimaya to name a few. The label is synonymous with style and elegance and magic of colors.

10 pm - Raakesh Agarvwal - Over his four years in the business, Raakesh has covered diverse grounds. From international events like Fashion Coterie in New York, Miami Fashion Week (2009) to Paris Tranoi (2009), and the acclaimed St. Andrew's Charity Fashion Show in Scotland (2008 and '09), to selling in cities like New York, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Milan, Rome, Dubai, Johannesburg, and Tokyo, the past three years have firmly established Raakesh as a name to watch out for. A favourite of Bollywood style setters, his creations are seen on everyone from leading ladies like Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, and Lara Dutta, to promising talents such as Genalia D'Souza, Asin Thottumkal, Sonakshi Sinha and Jacqueline Fernandez. Always aiming to surprise, Raakesh Agarvwal explores a new vocabulary this season. While still keeping his signature style and glamour intact, the designer offers a range that centers around textures more than embellishment, exploring more silhouettes, and newer techniques, along with a line of especially created accessories. Inspired by the textures and embellishments of the Taj Mahal, and combining that idea with the harmony of the ubiquitous barcode, Agarvwal explored his most minimal offering to date. The tone-on-tone carvings and delicate latticework of the Taj led him to create textures out of decadent lacework.

Awadhi Cooking Workshop at Kangan

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Chef Shamsher Ahmed did stirr up some curiosity amongst women of different ages to come forth and learn his tricks of the trade in Awadhi Cuisine on Saturday April 7, 2012 at the chic Indian dining venue Kangan.

Easter Special Recipes

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Banofee Pavolova Cake

Ingredients: 
Castor Sugar - 180 gm 
Corn Flour - 10 gm 
Cream of Tartar - 1 pinch
Egg White - 4 no
Vanilla Essence - 4 ml 
White wine vinegar - 5 ml 
Banana Slice - 2 no 
Caramel Sauce - 200 gm 
Whipped Cream - 350 gm 
Salt to taste


Method of Preparation
Stir together the sugar corn flour, and cream of tarter in a small bowl.
In a large glass bowl, whip the egg whites with salt, vanilla and vinegar until soft peaks are formed.
Gradually sprinkle in the sugar mixture and continue to whip until stiff and shiny.
Mound the mixture in to the traced circle on the baking sheet.
Bake on 150◦c for 1½ hour, until pale golden brown.
Allow to cool.
Just before serving time, invert the cooled pavalova on to the serving plate and top with slice of banana cover banana with caramel sauce.
Top that with whipped cream and sprinkle with grated chocolate. 

      

     Easter Lemon Chiffon Cake 

    

     Ingredients: 

     Flour - 250 gm 

     Baking powder - 1 tbsp 

     Castor sugar - 250 gm 

     Vegetable oil - 125 ml 

     Egg yolk - 6 no 

     Water - 180 ml 

     Lemon zest - 1 tbsp 

     Egg white - 6 no 

     Cream of tarter - 1/2 tsp 

     Rich whip cream - 250 gm 

     Lemon - 8 no 

     Salt - 1 tsp 

     Method of Preparation

Preparation-45 min; Cooking Time - 1 hour; Temperature - 180◦C

In large bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt and 100 gm sugar.
Add oil, egg yolks, and water and lemon zest in the mix.
Beat with an electric mixer until smooth.
In a small bowl beat egg white and cream of tartar until peaks form.
Gradually add 150 gm sugar and beat until very stiff and shiny peaks form.
Fold 1/3 of the white in to the cake mixture.
Then quickly fold in remaining white until no streaks remain.
Turn cake mixture into ungreased 25 cm tube cake tin.
Bake for 60 minutes on 180◦c.
Allow to cool.
After cooling slice the cake horizontally in to 3 layers.
Add lemon juice in whip cream.
Fill layer with filling.
Spread remaining filling on top layer.
Decorate with lemon slice & Easter eggs.