12 Established 1961 Lifestyle Features Sunday, September 13, 2020

In this photograph a man walks in front of the entrance of an outlet of CoCo Ichibanya Japanese curry chain restaurant in Gurgaon on the outskirts Customers eat sitting at a table at CoCo Ichibanya Japanese curry chain restaurant in of New Delhi. — AFP photos Gurgaon on the outskirts of New Delhi.

ne of Japan’s most popular restaurant chains is embarking Oon what could become one of the all-time crowning achievements of salesmanship-selling curry to India. Coco Ichibanya has more than 1,400 locations worldwide but its owners are eager to find a foothold in the world’s second-biggest nation, and favor among a middle class with a growing appetite for international food. But it remains to be seen whether its own signature curry dish-a distinctive, thick brown sauce and sticky white rice-can lure diners accustomed to local vari- eties honed over thousands of years. “We are not here to compete with Customers eat sitting at a table at CoCo Ichibanya Japanese curry A chef holds a curry dish in a container prepared for a customer. Indian curries,” Ichibanya India’s assis- chain restaurant in Gurgaon. tant chief executive, Devesh Srivastava, told AFP. ed in India thousands of years ago but India. “Initially there is going to be a lot immediately piqued local interest. “We have a flavorful Japanese curry in the late 19th century British seafarers of interest,” Kavita Devgan, an author Diners said they enjoyed exploring the which is a bit different from the Indian introduced it to Japan, where it evolved and food columnist, told AFP. “If the contrast between the flavor of the one... and the response has been pret- into a beloved national comfort food. curry works for the Indian palate and is Japanese sauce and the familiar Indian ty good so far. People are coming back Rising disposable incomes have left not very unfamiliar, then it has a varieties laden with onion, tomatoes as well.” Beef and pork are absent from India an attractive market for Japanese chance.” It has shrugged off the chal- and local spices. “The taste is some- the tailor-made menu, in deference to companies, which are looking to offset lenges of opening in India during the thing that is very addictive,” said religious requirements and local tastes. declining consumer spending at home coronavirus pandemic, at a time when Aakash Nakra. “You want to eat more Substitutes such as paneer and egg- by expanding abroad. Ichibanya many restaurant-goers are tightening and more and more.”-— AFP A chef prepares a dish for a customer at plant are on offer instead, making a believes its successful step into their purse strings and eating at home. CoCo Ichibanya Japanese curry chain unique global hybrid cuisine reflecting Thailand, another curry-loving nation, is Its first Indian franchise opened in restaurant. the chain’s dual origins. Curry originat- a sign the chain could succeed in August near the capital New Delhi and

cinema festival red carpet without AFP the day before the 11-day event internationally known celebrities, began. “Will there be less glamour? Ascreaming fans and over-the-top Yes. Will there be fewer stars on the red fashion excess turns out to be, well, not carpet? Certainly.” much more than a carpet that’s red. Such has been the case over the past Wearing it twice two weeks at the Venice film festival, Gone were the top Hollywood faces which is set to award its top film on that flocked to the festival last year- Saturday, due to the absence of A-list Penelope Cruz, Kristen Stewart, Iman, Hollywood celebrities and throngs of Kate Upton, Scarlett Johanssen and frenzied admirers. To be sure, the ruf- Sienna Miller, among others, with Brad fles, sparkles, plunging necklines and Pitt and Johnny Depp representing the gravity-defying heels have been in full tuxedo-clad men. Instead, Cate show at the glitzy festival on the beach- Blanchett, president of the jury, took on front Lido. the mantle of fashion authority, making But for dedicated fashion watchers her opening night appearance in a shim- A general view shows press photographers waiting for guests to arrive at the festival’s palace British actress Vanessa Kirby arrives for the accustomed to the high drama of pranc- mering midnight blue Esteban Cortazar for the screening of the film “Nomadland” presented in competition on the tenth day of the screening of the film “Pieces of a Woman”. ing, preening stars in more normal caped gown, a look she wore once 77th Venice Film Festival. — AFP photos years, Italy’s world renowned cinema before in 2015. The Australian actress catwalk has lacked sparkle, like an repeated again another night, pairing an and black flouncy skirt and blouse from internet or Instagram for inspiration, as Aperol Spritz without the prosecco. “It’s Alexander McQueen floral top with black French house Chanel to accept her life- Covid-19 regulations have prohibited a festival without stars because pants, replacing the long skirt it originally time achievement award, top Italian their presence at the event. “The red Hollywood is still in lockdown,” Festival accompanied in 2016. designers dominated the red carpet carpet of this edition is a bit like those Director Alberto Barbera explained to While Tilda Swinton chose a white elsewhere. Gia Coppola sported a yel- (football) league games we have seen low, pink and green boho chic look from in the last two months: without fans, with Gucci, while Vanessa Kirby opted for a only insiders,” wrote Grazia magazine. dramatic crimson Valentino gown with a Still, one veteran photographer who has turtleneck and an exposed back. The covered the festival’s red carpet for 21 British “The Crown” actress, who stars in years said this year’s version was still two films in competition at the festival, rewarding, despite its lower profile. also showed up on the red carpet in a “If there were George Clooney, Lady severe but sexy black square-shoul- GaGa or Madonna it would be the best,” dered Armani suit with plunging neck- Getty Images photographer Daniele line. Another Italian label, Ermanno Venturelli told AFP. “But we can be sat- Scervino, was unwittingly caught up in isfied.” “I’m very happy it’s happened,” the festival’s only fashion faux-pas, wit- he said. “It’s a good sign.” Volume lev- nessed by sharp-eyed paparazzi. The els on the red carpet were still high girlfriend of football star Cristiano despite the lack of fans, Venturelli said, Ronaldo, Georgina Rodriguez, showed given that the photographers shout, up at the Lido in a water-taxi, posing for hoping to catch the eye of the stars in photos in a sharp white jacket and pants their finery. “It seems like we’re the created by the fashion house-but forgot fans.” he said. “Photographers who to remove the label inside. transform into fans, because we’re File photo shows Jury President of the 77th US actress Maya Thurman-Hawke and US screaming all of us.”— AFP Venice Film festival, Australian-US actress director Gia Coppola (right) arrive for the Insiders only British actress Tilda Swinton arrives for the Cate Blanchett arrives for the opening cere- screening of the film “Mainstream”. Fans wanting to follow the latest red opening ceremony and the screening of the mony and the screening of the film “Lacci”. carpet looks have been following the film “Lacci”.

hose who think they have had a mous, filed a complaint last week after hair on fire.” Police discovered that the salon bad hair day might want to think going for a haircut in the small Brittany After investigating, police discov- owner, a mechanic, did not have the Tagain. A man who went to a town of Lannion. His stylist “put gel on ered an “Egyptian technique, which necessary professional diploma, and French hair salon walked out with a his hair, took a lighter and suddenly, has only recently arrived in France, nor did his three employees. Kerdraon burnt forehead that forced him off work he lit it on his hair. The victim panicked where you burn a bit of hair to make it said the salon has been shut as they for a week after his stylist attempted an and was burned on the forehead,” more malleable to style, more for kinky probe alleged illegal employment and Egyptian burning technique he hadn’t police officer Daniel Kerdraon told hair,” Kerdraon said. But the hairdress- tax fraud.— AFP actually mastered. Police said Friday AFP. “We were surprised by this story, er, a Libyan in his 30s who speaks that the client, who remains anony- we didn’t understand why he set the English, “didn’t master this technique”.