Brunching with foodie Rashmi Nigam at Westin

It is that time of the year when festive cheer is evident everywhere, especially at star-rated hi-end luxury hotels where Christmas trees and gingerbread houses adorn the lobbies transporting you another realm. Taking this spirit forward with me was Bollywood actor Rashmi Nigam whom I invited to have a Sunday brunch with me at Hotel Westin Mumbai Garden City in Goregoan. Especially since the food festival called Phir Pehle Aap is going on simultaneously in their Indian restaurant Kangan put by Chef de Cuisine Ajay Chaudhary which gave us an edge to taste both the brunch delicacies and the Awadhi specialties of Nawabi kebabs, curries and biryani. We could already get the aroma of the cuisine’s flavors using gentle spices wafting through the open kitchens. Rashmi was aptly dressed for a casual Sunday brunch in a crisp white-blue printed outfit and her gorgeous presence and cheery smile made the Sunday brighter. Master Chef Ajay Chopra welcomed us and I was taken by surprise, when he took us around the various food stations and live counters, to discover that the Bollywood beauty has a brilliant culinary knowledge and is a gourmet. Soon we were ushered into Kangan and Chaats like Paani Puris, Aloo Tikkis and Masala Dosa were served. We raised a toast with Bloody Mary and our exchange of conversation began. The sprightly actor observed that the drink tasted different (was sweet instead of salty) and the Aloo Tikkis were a tad too dry. I also tried the refreshing cooler Aam ka Panna. Starting her job as a Marketing Executive in a petroleum company, Rashmi landed in the film world via an ace photographer who shot her portfolio for a lark and had it circulated among ad agencies. Her career then took a turn to become a model and landed her a lead role in PNC’s Popcorn Khao Mast Ho Jao. Her first car was an Alto and though she has moved on, she has retained it to navigate around in the busy bylanes of Bandra where she stays. Chef Ajay Chopra had the special Awadhi dishes like crisp Lachcha Parathas, Khoya Khubani ki Seekh, Gosht Kundan ki Qaliya, Dal Makhni, Dum Biryani, Mirchi ka Salan sent to our table. Though it was difficult to try all of them, we did find Dal Makhni and other gravies really good with Rashmi giving her thumbs up to the main course. Recently, this vivacious starlet has garnered a lot of attention for her role as a star wife in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Heroine. She is presently busy shooting for Satish Kaushik’s comic caper and she sees herself doing more films in the future. I query her about the casting couch syndrome in the industry and Rashmi tells me it does exist at the entry level but she was lucky to get a break with a female producer (Rongita Nandy). And yes, fame is heady but one must know how to handle it, says the actor. She loves to travel and reminisces having spent a white Christmas in Germany a few years back. We indulge in some exotic Sushis and while on the extravagant buffet, we get tempted to treat our palate to the yummy desserts – both western like mousse, gateaux, cheesecake and on the Indian side to kaju katlis, gulab jamuns, malai sandwich. Rashmi skips ice cream while go for the kiddy Sundae. Which reminds me, we both turned equally childlike interacting with Mickey Mouse and also had a guy with guitar serenading us while we relished Westin’s popular and mouthwatering delicacies. After a sumptuous meal in keeping with Westin’s hospitality and Chef’s personal attention, when we decide to take leave, there seems to be more coming our way – Chef Chopra presents us a Christmas goody hamper and that’s what I call a happy ending to an enjoyable afternoon!