>> BMW launches 5th gen super premium car in India
>> Monet’s ‘Dans La Prairie’ auctioned cheap for £11.2mil
>> Indian treasure heading for London
>> Bulgari to aid ‘Save the Children’ organization
>> Tyeb Mehta collaborates with Ali Akbar to paint for charity
Truffles- the exotic and wild fungi
By Neelima Mishra Agrawal
At first look, it is an ugly tuber of insignificant size and at first sniff (depending on which variety) it is a repulsive/alluring aroma of garlic, dampness, soil minerals, shallot, cheese, LPG gas. There are harsher descriptions, from even those who are passionate about it. Ever shrouded in mystery, this alleged aphrodisiac has been described as ‘something that God threw away’. In realty, truffles are highly prized and sought-after as a food. The French and Italians hold it in high esteem and no international haute cuisine is complete without a shaving or whiff of truffles. Alexander Dumas, the nineteenth century French writer and lover of women and food, said of Truffles, "The most learned men have been questioned as to the nature of this tuber, and after two thousand years of argument and discussion their answer is the same as it was on the first day: We do not know. The truffles themselves have been interrogated, and have answered simply: Eat us and praise the Lord." A mere shaving or whiff of the stuff to a risotto, pasta, omelet or even a Tiramisu will transform the flavor and arouse cravings for more of it.
true truffle is a subterranean ascomycete fungus of the genus tuber. They grow around the year and are found near the roots of some trees like oak, beech, hazel etc. The white truffle or the Alba truffle are held in high esteem and are exclusive to the Piedmont region in northern Italy and the countryside around the city of Alba. There are other varieties of white truffles which grow near Tuscany and nearby regions but the Piedmont truffles are the most aromatic.
The Italians swear by their white truffles, unlike the French, who love the black variety. The Black Périgord Truffle grows only in the Périgord region in France with only oak. Other regions like Spain, Italy and even Slovenia produce them, but they are not the same as the Périgord variety. The harvesting season for these is usually around autumn. Another variety known as the Black Summer Truffle is harvested from June to November and thrives in northern Italy, central Europe, UK, Turkey and North Africa. While they do not have the same strengh (aroma vise) as their winter cousins, they are still highly valued in the growing culinary market.
In the US are grown the lesser known Oregon white truffles, which are the poorer cousins of their European counterparts. Lower in the ladder are the Chinese truffles, the winter black truffle and the summer white truffles. The growth is plentiful and they are exported to the West to substitute for the more expensive varieties. Chinese don’t much care for the stuff traditionally and in the Yunnan region they feed it it to the pigs.
The truffles are traditionally harvested with the help of pigs (truffle hogs) and sniffer dogs. The female pigs are naturally drawn to the aroma which is similar to the sex pheromones of boar saliva and a sow will break down the cage door to get at the truffle. Problem is she would also eat it. More recently dogs are being trained and are a better bet, so long as they contain their tendency to pee on their finding.
Truffles have a very low ‘shelf life’ and have to be consumed within 10 days of being harvested and are anyway available for only a month each year. They can not be refrigerated either. Despite a growing number of trufficulteurs in France, the truffle farmer is against increasing production in order to preserve the exclusivity of the fungus. No wonder a mere kilogram of the black tuber costs close to $9000 and has spawned a major truffle scam industry. Enter the Chinese truffles. Very close in appearance to the Black Périgord Truffle, they are often doctored with extracts to pass off as the real thing. Truffle oils, very popular with chefs, are actually flavored with 2,4-dithiapentane to emulate the flavor and aroma of truffles. There are all those truffle flavored cheese, butter, pastes in the market too, just read the label carefully.
We in India have only recently been introduced to the magic of truffles. Merely a decade and a half back, the only truffle we loved was a chocolate confectionary, which acquired that name because of its similarity in appearance to a real truffle. They are now being appreciated more as the exposure through travel and availability of truffle-based cuisine in some of the finer eateries has grown. Besides lifestyle writers, the travelogues on the joys of a truffle tour in Italy or France have also played a role. In the coming autumn, round up your friends and take a truffle vacation to get a taste of the real thing. And find out if Alexander Dumas knew what he was talking about.
London's Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), already home to priceless treasure from all the nations Britain colonized, has entered into a collaboration with the ex royalty in India to showcase their priceless heirlooms for a period of four months in London. Mark Jones, director of V&A, has reportedly said, "A few months ago, a select group of three curators working with the Victoria and Albert came down to India personally met the maharajas, assured them of the safety of their most prized possessions, and short-listed more than 250 items including paintings, jewelry, weapons and items of personal use used by royals dating from the middle of the 18th century to the 20th century that are to be taken to the London museum." Some of the items are being taken out of India for the first time. The collaboration of this kind is supposedly, the most comprehensive and large scale ever. He also said, "All these artifacts are excellent dossiers of court life and princely patronage, and throw light on the way this royal patronage affected the production of luxury goods in India and the West."
"In luxury, you don’t want to be loved by everyone. You just want it to be different."
- Jean-Christophe Babin, President and CEO, Tag Heuer
BMW launches 5th gen super premium car in India
BMW, the German luxury car manufacturer, has shown its faith in the growing luxury segment in India and in an aggressive move, launched the fifth generation of its flagship 7Series saloon in Delhi last month. The new 7 Series debuted only last October at the Paris Auto Show and was said to be a challenge for the likes of Audi A8, Lexus LS and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The India offering will have its 750Li petrol variant as well as the 740 Li (petrol) and 730 Li (diesel) to be made available by mid 2009. Some of the sterling features include night vision on the windscreen, Heads-Up display, and integrated TV and 6-DVD changer music system. Price tag for the currently available 750 Li (Petrol) version is Rs 93.3lakh ex showroom.
Tyeb Mehta collaborates with Ali Akbar to paint for charity
Tyeb Mehta, for the first time ever, has collaborated with 25 year old Ali Akbar to paint for a Delhi based NGO, Khushi. Ali, who happens to be Tyeb Mehta’s grandson, convinced the veteran artist to associate with him for Khushi’s art-for-charity program. Tyeb Mehta’s painting, ‘Celebration’ had been auctioned at Christie’s in 2002 for Rs 1.5crore, a highest ever for an Indian artist. His ‘Mahishasur’ sold in 2005 at a Saffronart auction for Rs1crore. Ali Akbar, although young in the field, is already fetching up to Rs8lakhs for his large canvasses. For someone who started out in animation and is yet to hold a solo, he is already way ahead of other artists his age, vis a vis the sale price.
Plans for first Armani Café in India shelved
The plans for setting up an elite café-cum-bar in a 10,000sqft Emporio Armani store at The Collection Luxury Mall in UB City in Bangalore have been dropped due to slowdown. Armani had opened its first store in DLF’s Emporio Luxury mall in New Delhi in 2008, with plans to extend the format to Mumbai and Bangalore. However the discouraging consumer and economic trends have stopped the expansion plans for the time being.
Designer Italian Gold Fever Edition Murano glass faucets
Mario Bongio, Italian manufacturers of designer bathroom and kitchens, has launched their Soffi Gold Fever Edition, the highlight being their Murano glass faucets. The luxury fittings on the painstakingly crafted Murano faucet is in the Optical Style Collection and is subtle shades of ivory and gold, lending a delicate touch to the faucet’s unique design.
American Le Mans 2009 partner – Mikimoto Pearls
Mismatched as it may sound, Mikimoto, the famous makers of cultured pearls are to be the corporate partners of a tough and rugged sport like American Le Mans 2009 season. The event which opens on 21st March at the Sebring International Raceway in Florida will feature four classes of cars which will compete in a demanding test of endurance and focus. The 12 hour Sebring race sets off the pace of the series. The series is modeled after the European 24 Hours of Le Mans and features the world’s top notch car brands. Mikimoto is to assist with the series VIP hospitality functions and offer support to the Austin Hatcher Foundation, the official charity of the American Le Mans Series. Of course, it will also display its jewelry collections at the events
Karl Lagerfeld’s commemorative coin collection for Chanel
Karl Lagerfeld was commissioned by the Monnaie de Paris to design a collector series of gold and silver coins to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Gabrielle Coco Chanel, the founder of the namesake Parisian couture house. The four variations of the series are: two gold and two silver and all with the denomination of five euros. The Paris mint will make 11,099 of these coins in all. The coins portray the side profile of Coco Chanel wearing her hats with a flat bow and pearl necklace on one side and the reverse side is adorned by her signature ‘metalasse’ quilting. Karl Lagerfeld’s signature appears just below Coco’s profile. The coins are only available at Chanel stores and tagged at €300 onwards.
Fire engulfs new luxury hotel in Beijing
Mandarin Oriental, the newly constructed luxury hotel in central Beijing, was destroyed in a raging fire on 9th February, the day that marks the end of the Lunar New Year. The Rem Koolhaas designed hotel was yet unoccupied and the cause of the fire is said to have been the fireworks which filled the skies in celebration of the lantern festival. The Mandarin Oriental is immediately next to the new headquarters for state broadcaster CCTV, a modern and hulking pair of black glass towers joined at the top and bottom, also designed by Koolhaas. A fire man reportedly lost his life.
Leonardo DiCaprio to redo his private Island
Leonardo DiCaprio, the famous actor and environmentalist, has disclosed his plans to develop his 104 acre tropical private island, Blackadore Caye in Belize, into a conscientious exclusive eco luxury resort. DiCaprio had discovered the island in 2004 while vacationing at the ultra-luxury resort Cayo Espanto and purchased it with Cayo Espanto owner Jeff Gram in 2005 for $1.75 million. They have involved Four Seasons to create a five-star luxury resort based on sustainable design and environmental conservation.
Bulgari to aid ‘Save the Children’ organization
Bulgari, the famous Italian house of luxury, has committed itself to aid the charitable work of the international "Save the Children" organization, through the sale of a range of exclusive products. Bulgari's stated objective is to raise $10 million by the end of 2009, these proceeds going to assist the work of the organization in providing educational opportunities for children in war-torn areas throughout the world. A silver ring that features an engraved logo of the organization on the inside of the band is the symbol of Bulgari's support for Save the Children and its integral "Rewrite the Future" campaign were launched on February 1, 2009 and will retail for $290, with $60 from each ring sold being donated. In June 2009, Bulgari will follow-up with the creation of fifteen pieces of fine jewelry and eight luxury watches that have a combined value of approximately $3 million; which will be auctioned at end of the world tour in December 2009, with all proceeds obtained going to Save the Children. According to the Bulgari Group, all of these initiatives are non profit. Francesco Trapani, CEO Bulgari group, was reported to have said, "For Bulgari, being part of history and at the same time being able to help change it by giving less fortunate people the possibility of a new future is the best possible way of celebrating its 125 years. I am therefore really delighted that the company is actively working on the success of the "Rewrite the Future" campaign – a project consistent with the commitment Bulgari has decided to make to initiatives aiding youth education.”
LVMH scraps Fendi’s Palazzo
LVMH Möet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, has confirmed that it will stop producing the Fendi Palazzo women's scent. LVMH acquired the license from YSL Beaute in 2005 to create the Fendi fragrances and subsequently discontinued the existing Fendi scents to make way for Fendi Palazzo, which was launched in 2007 with much fanfare. The Palazzo fragrance was already being sold in 1,500 counters in US, Canada and Europe in September 2007, before rolling out to Asia in 2008. Gabriella Scarpa, Country General Manager for LVMH Perfumes and Cosmetics in Italy has reportedly said that sales of Palazzo had been "encouraging, but didn't meet expectations." LVMH hasn’t ruled out the possibility of reviving the Fendi fragrance at a later date.
Van Cleef & Arpels Les Jardins at the 2009 SIHH
The 19th Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, which was held in Geneva from 19-23 January, has become a high point in the profession’s calendar and saw the participation of 17 exhibiting brands and their customers. Some 1200 specialized journalists from the global media covered the event where the bands displayed their newest trends and the unique craftsmanship behind each one. Despite a 20% drop in anticipated visitor numbers because of the downturn in the Japanese and American markets, the prestigious watch sector put up an exotic show. Van Cleef & Arpels, the high French jewelry house, presented its feminine and intimate interpretations of time with the quantiemes de saisons Les Jardins watches at SIHH 2009. Their series of four watches is limited to 100 pieces. They have been inspired by four gardens for the creation of four Grand Feu enamel dials. Each dial is partially hidden by a sublime mother-of-pearl section that plays a crucial role in the magic of these watches. Aside from being incredibly striking, these dials (fired at 800 degrees Celsius) rotate on the 365-day pattern of the brand’s 2006 poetic complication. This of course means that one’s perspective on the dial changes every day. Each version is in white gold, with diamonds and alligator straps.
LEGO bricks will do the Madame Tussauds act
Forget about becoming a wax figurine at Madame Tussauds, for now Lego bricks can do the same for you. Neiman Marcus has commissioned artist Nathan Sawaya to make His & Hers Life-size Lego Replicas, which is one of the gift ideas in its 2008 Christmas book. Sawaya, who is one of only six certified Lego professionals in the world, can swing it for you for a mere $60,000. The process is a sculpting process and there is no digitizing. He works straight from the photos provided, and some of the life-size replicas he has created include actor Stephen Colbert.
Monet’s ‘Dans La Prairie’ auctioned cheap for £11.2mil
Christie’s of London sold Claude Monet’s painting at an auction on 4th February for £11.2mil. The auctioneers disclosed that this was well below their expected sale price of £15mil. The painting, ‘Dans La Prairie’, was of Monet’s wife Camille reading in a meadow full of flowers. The French artist had painted it in 1876 and had exhibited it in Paris in 1877. Of the other artworks auctioned that evening, Edouard Vuillard’s “Les couturieres”, painted in 1890 when the artist was just 21 years old, also undersold at £5.081mil, its expected price being £5.5-7.5mil. The painting which did outdo its expected guide price of £3.5-5.5mil was a double portrait by Amedeo Modigliani, ‘Les deux filles’, which came up for auction for the very first time and sold for £6.537mil. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s ‘L’abandon (Les deux amies)’ also sold within its guide price for £ 6.2 mil.
Cadillac WTF – the ultimate maintenance free car
The Cadillac World Thorium Fuel concept automobile sounds like an answer to a prayer. Designed by Loren Kulesus to run for a 100 years without maintenance, it will have thorium as a nuclear fuel to power the batteries. The tires too are rather unusual, with six individual wheels assigned to each corner and each having its own induction motor. The tires will require adjusting every five years, but without the need for any other material to be added or subtracted. In event of failure, the other major systems of the mighty Cadillac WTF become redundant. With a lifespan of 100 years, even if it ran for a mere fifty of those years…I would be ok if I had to trash it.
The carnival season is upon us once again. While the build up of the fun and revelry begins by the end of January, the final event takes place on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which itself falls 40 days before Easter and marks the beginning of the period of lent. That would be the Tuesday, 24th February in 2009. The best Carnivals in 2009 are reported here.
Carnivale di Venezia or the Venice Carnival is probably where it all started. It is the most elegant Carnival celebration in the world. The beautiful and elegant masks which were used for all official banquets and celebrations from the day of Santo Stefano are on parade. On 13th February, Venice will open up to a throng of eager tourists. The opening of the event will take place at the historical Luna Hotel Baglioni. Dress code-carnival costume and masks (get one painted on your face if you must).
Mardi Gras in New Orleans becomes the epicenter of revelry in the United States during the Carnival time. Mardi Gras or ‘Fat Tuesday’ in French, is a much awaited and celebrated even in this Louisiana city. The advent of the Mardi Gras probably dates back to eighteenth century when it was more a party for high society balls and elegant galas in stately Southern mansions, far removed from the boisterous parades of elaborate floats, wild music and a free-spirit atmosphere organized by social clubs like Mardi Gras Krewes. The French Quarter of the city gets totally infused with the spirit of Mardi Gras with bars spilling on to the streets and the revelers on the terraces. Endless strands of coloured beads have become synonymous with this event.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival is Spain’s largest and most extravagant carnival. Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, will turn into an enormous party filled with extraordinary costumes, fabulous dancing, and sensational parades at the time of the Carnival. Claimed to be the wildest and most eclectic Carnival in the world, it is said to be a mixture of island flavor with old European traditions. The Carnival Queen will reign again on Fat Tuesday, 24th February, which is the day for the main parade. The theme for Santa Cruz‘Carnival 2009 is “Horror Films.”
The Carnival at Goa is India’s one and only. It may not rate as high as the others mentioned above but it is by no means, any less colourful or alive. It was introduced by the Portuguese who ruled over Goa for five hundred years. The three days in February see endless celebrations with lively processions, floats, strumming of guitars, graceful dances and a stream of tourists. The word Carnival, taken from Latin translates as ‘to take away meat’. To mark the beginning of the fasting and introspective days of Lent, the days before are all about feasting, drinking and merry making. King Momo rules the state and the streets and the event closes with the famous red-and-black dance held by the Club National at Panjim on the final day.
The accessory trends from some top luxury brands this season are head turners and yet elegant and classic.
Salvatore Ferrgamo’s timepieces collection for 2009 comprises six stunning beauties which spell luxury, creativity and style. Drawing inspiration from the brand’s rich history, the Palagio collection is said to be in the tradition of Florentine architecture and the Assoluto and Gancino collections designed around the iconic shape representing the Ferragamo brand, and the Vara and Salvatore collections paying tribute to the fashion house’s famous ladies’ shoes. Swiss made mechanical movements support the inside of the limited editions luxurious creations
David Donahue Caduceus Cuff Links are not designed for doctors; although the Greek symbol caduceus is for medicine. The two distinctive snakes on the silver cufflink are representative of the double helix DNA structure and are wrapped around a winged staff. There is also an alleged association with planets and stars which were believed to be the source of healing powers.
Porsche Design Eyewear unveiled the latest additions to the Heritage collection. With the 70s and 80s as the inspiration, the classic styles are revived. While the Exclusive spectacles reinterpret the timeless design, the classic pilot spectacles have replaceable lenses made of unbreakable polycarbonate and frames made of light and durable titanium. The ‘Folding spectacles can do so to a compact six by six centimeters. Polycarbonate lenses are common to both.
Boucheron Chouette ring is most eye-catching with its fine craftsmanship and unusual design. Made in white gold, it has a setting in sapphire and features gorgeous amethyst and diamonds.
Precious hourglass with diamonds
Time is money and a shop in Thailand has literally translated this by replacing all the sand in an hourglass with diamonds. The sands of time here are actually tiny diamonds weighing 10,000 carats and cost a hefty $6,400,000. Precious sands of time and all that.
Diamond studded car keys – first time ever
Alexander Amosu has diamond studded the Bentley continental car key with 101 diamonds on the famous Bentley wings. He has used a total of 1.09 carats in diamonds which are all Colour F and VS1 grade and cost a cool $7,900. The other luxury cars’ keys having been given the same treatment are Lamborghini, Mercedes and Ferrari. He thinks this will make for a perfect gift idea.
Weighing luxury in India We in the sub-continent are inheritors of appalling poverty. However, this has not always been the case. At the beginning of our independence we ranked shoulder to shoulder with China. Further, wealth has always been part of the Indian heritage. Objectively, we are comfortable with extreme wealth and exclusivity – much more than our brief serenade with socialism. We worship wealth and are as a society the biggest hoarders of the precious yellow metal. However, the concept of luxury products which is being marketed today in chic settings is an import which still has to transcend the India psyche. Indians cannot fathom luxury products whose price is totally out of sync with the intrinsic value. Sure, there is the Westernised globe trotting elite that partakes of the new thesis extolling brands as standard bearers of ‘dreams’. But the blue blooded Indian must still weigh his luxury on the scale! The new promoters of luxury surely need to breach this chasm before they see light at the end of the tunnel. Only then can they translate the ‘promise of dreams’ into the local lingua and exchange it for the heavier native ‘wealth’.
true truffle is a subterranean ascomycete fungus of the genus tuber. They grow around the year and are found near the roots of some trees like oak, beech, hazel etc. The white truffle or the Alba truffle are held in high esteem and are exclusive to the Piedmont region in northern Italy and the countryside around the city of Alba. There are other varieties of white truffles which grow near Tuscany and nearby regions but the Piedmont truffles are the most aromatic.
BMW launches 5th gen super premium car in India 
Tyeb Mehta collaborates with Ali Akbar to paint for charity
American Le Mans 2009 partner – Mikimoto Pearls
Karl Lagerfeld’s commemorative coin collection for Chanel
Fire engulfs new luxury hotel in Beijing
Bulgari, the famous Italian house of luxury, has committed itself to aid the charitable work of the international "Save the Children" organization, through the sale of a range of exclusive products. Bulgari's stated objective is to raise $10 million by the end of 2009, these proceeds going to assist the work of the organization in providing educational opportunities for children in war-torn areas throughout the world. A silver ring that features an engraved logo of the organization on the inside of the band is the symbol of Bulgari's support for Save the Children and its integral "Rewrite the Future" campaign were launched on February 1, 2009 and will retail for $290, with $60 from each ring sold being donated. In June 2009, Bulgari will follow-up with the creation of fifteen pieces of fine jewelry and eight luxury watches that have a combined value of approximately $3 million; which will be auctioned at end of the world tour in December 2009, with all proceeds obtained going to Save the Children. According to the Bulgari Group, all of these initiatives are non profit. Francesco Trapani, CEO Bulgari group, was reported to have said, "For Bulgari, being part of history and at the same time being able to help change it by giving less fortunate people the possibility of a new future is the best possible way of celebrating its 125 years. I am therefore really delighted that the company is actively working on the success of the "Rewrite the Future" campaign – a project consistent with the commitment Bulgari has decided to make to initiatives aiding youth education.”
The 19th Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, which was held in Geneva from 19-23 January, has become a high point in the profession’s calendar and saw the participation of 17 exhibiting brands and their customers. Some 1200 specialized journalists from the global media covered the event where the bands displayed their newest trends and the unique craftsmanship behind each one. Despite a 20% drop in anticipated visitor numbers because of the downturn in the Japanese and American markets, the prestigious watch sector put up an exotic show. Van Cleef & Arpels, the high French jewelry house, presented its feminine and intimate interpretations of time with the quantiemes de saisons Les Jardins watches at SIHH 2009. Their series of four watches is limited to 100 pieces. They have been inspired by four gardens for the creation of four Grand Feu enamel dials. Each dial is partially hidden by a sublime mother-of-pearl section that plays a crucial role in the magic of these watches. Aside from being incredibly striking, these dials (fired at 800 degrees Celsius) rotate on the 365-day pattern of the brand’s 2006 poetic complication. This of course means that one’s perspective on the dial changes every day. Each version is in white gold, with diamonds and alligator straps.
Christie’s of London sold Claude Monet’s painting at an auction on 4th February for £11.2mil. The auctioneers disclosed that this was well below their expected sale price of £15mil. The painting, ‘Dans La Prairie’, was of Monet’s wife Camille reading in a meadow full of flowers. The French artist had painted it in 1876 and had exhibited it in Paris in 1877. Of the other artworks auctioned that evening, Edouard Vuillard’s “Les couturieres”, painted in 1890 when the artist was just 21 years old, also undersold at £5.081mil, its expected price being £5.5-7.5mil. The painting which did outdo its expected guide price of £3.5-5.5mil was a double portrait by Amedeo Modigliani, ‘Les deux filles’, which came up for auction for the very first time and sold for £6.537mil. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s ‘L’abandon (Les deux amies)’ also sold within its guide price for £ 6.2 mil.
Cadillac WTF – the ultimate maintenance free car
We in the sub-continent are inheritors of appalling poverty. However, this has not always been the case. At the beginning of our independence we ranked shoulder to shoulder with China. Further, wealth has always been part of the Indian heritage. Objectively, we are comfortable with extreme wealth and exclusivity – much more than our brief serenade with socialism. We worship wealth and are as a society the biggest hoarders of the precious yellow metal. However, the concept of luxury products which is being marketed today in chic settings is an import which still has to transcend the India psyche. Indians cannot fathom luxury products whose price is totally out of sync with the intrinsic value. Sure, there is the Westernised globe trotting elite that partakes of the new thesis extolling brands as standard bearers of ‘dreams’. But the blue blooded Indian must still weigh his luxury on the scale! The new promoters of luxury surely need to breach this chasm before they see light at the end of the tunnel. Only then can they translate the ‘promise of dreams’ into the local lingua and exchange it for the heavier native ‘wealth’.