Brunches, tea parties and evening soirées dot the calendar at this time of the year. But how do you make your do stand apart from the crowd? These Indian brands have your back with their tableware and accessories that will add a distinct touch to the festivities you host.
In the meanwhile, give your mithais a twist with recipes from Rachel Goenka’s new book, Adventures with Mithai, published by Harper Collins. The Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef has created dishes like cinnamon shahi tukra and Kashmiri kahwa macroon. With the burgeoning global interest in Indian food, she says, “The idea was to introduce these flavours to an international audience. And those who have grown up with these sweets will still find it familiar and comforting.” (At ₹899 in stores and online.)
Or learn how to entertain like the celebrity swish-set, with recipes, tips and photos from actual parties thrown by Bollywood stars and big brands. Shilarna Vaze (Chef Chinu Vaze on Instagram and TV) has a detailed plan of action for every kind of party in her book (from Penguin Random House India). For Diwali 2019, she suggests The Flying Buffet. “This basically means little mini meals circulated in bowls so people can keep drinking and chatting and playing cards and eating as well,” she explains. While “nouvelle Indian is not that nouvelle anymore”, she doesn’t shy away from fusion dishes like mussalam raan phyllo cups, vada pav sliders and shrikhand profiteroles — “these are some of our favourites this season”. (At ₹699 in stores and online.)
Good Earth | Mandalay Wine Bowl: Keep your bubbly and wine at just the right temperature with this wine bowl. The hammered brass, coated with nickel, has a textured look that contrasts with the smooth polished base. At ₹18,000, on goodearth.in
Ikkis | Dining Set: Clove, the Mumbai-based luxury retail store, has curated a special edit of home decor, dining and statement accessories, among others. The dinnerware set includes brass thalis (₹4,150 for the large, ₹2,150 for the small), enamel plates from the Spice collection (₹4,150 each), and a set of four chai glasses (₹1,850). Details on clovethestore.com
Shazé | Cage and Tumbler Set: Add some drama to your bar table with this striking piece. Metallic gold fins encase the crystal decanter and release it when it is time to pour yourself and your guests a drink — preferably in the accompanying whisky tumblers with its hand-cut wave pattern. At ₹27,400, on shaze.in
Ware Innovations | Revolve Platter: No more reaching across the table for chips, dips or hors d’oeuvres. This marble platter is part of a limited-edition collection that comes on a revolving brass base. The centre bowl can be removed for quick and easy refilling. At ₹11,250, on wareinnovations.com
Xaka Cutlery | Azella: A sit-down dinner doesn’t have to mean staid, boring tableware. Get your guests talking with cutlery from the Azella collection, which features a spiralling design in gold. The stainless steel spoons, forks, knives and dessert spoons come in sets of 24, 32 and 48. From ₹10,080, on xakacutlery.com
Add a dash of shine to your festive table with these woven gold paper napkins. On elvy.com, at ₹495 for a pack of 20.