FLU INFLUENCED MASK APPEAL.....
All the characters in the following article are real and bear every resemblance to who you think they are.

Last weekend, I was invited to a strange gathering. The self appointed, down the road dress designers of Tapi town had held an urgent meeting. The P.S. read,’ since you never pay us any attention, make sure you attend because this is a very serious social matter. ‘

As Swine flu had made sure I drop my travel plans, I had nothing better to do. Letting curiosity get the better of me, I braved the fashion meet.

Three of Surat’s popular tailors Ms.Metoo Kumar, Ms.Neata Khulla and Mr.Fahid Kapoor, had got together to make the Surtis aware of the dangers of swine flu. The purpose of the meet was to promote ‘designer masks’ and thus encourage the junta to take precautions against the same. Here are their presentations-

Ms.Metoo Kumar-Ladies and gentlemen, putting aside all my important orders and assignments, I have decided to contribute my precious time towards making designer masks for our fashion conscious crowd. Keeping in my mind the upcoming Navratri season, here is my line of masks-I have used bandhni, cowries, mirror spangles and bead work to enhance its look. I shall be using the cloth cut out from backless cholis to make the masks and thus recycle, with less wastage. You may mix and match your outfits for all nine days or opt for a single multi coloured one. Group orders are welcome.

Ms.Neata Khulla-Hello sweeties and the not so sweeties ha ha ha! As you all know, the N.R.I’s are always gaga over my designs. So, I have included leather, lace and Swarovskis to my signature styles. Talks are also on for fur and diamond studded custom made creations, for the exclusive, one of a kind type. A lot of Bollywood heroes and heroines are contacting me desperately but I want to serve the Surtis first. You may want to put sunglasses on before viewing my dazzling pieces.Whats more Rs.50 from each purchase will be donated to a good cause by my company, come help make the town better.

By then, the hall was buzzing with excitement.’ I saw models walking the ramp with swine flu masks in the news yesterday,’ said a pretty young thing,’ but they were just wearing boring white masks, nothing this fancy.’

Then, it was Fahid Kapoor’s turn, he looked grave as he said,’Friendf and refponfible citizenf of Furat.Thif if fo fhocking! We are not here to promote fafhion; we are here to promote awareneff.Af we all know, fwine flu if commonly fpread out in crowded placef, fo, the mafkf for the fame fhould alfo be common. I am going to fimply put an emblem depicting the mood of the perfon wearing it.Fmilef for people in authority, profanity for fhort tempered furtif etc.
Unfortunately, no one took him seriously, but I hear the former two got bulk and corporate orders.
Tapi town tattle-America discovers Shah Rukh Khan.

MAD MAN’S TRIANGLES-SURTI STUFFINGS.............
Lest the title scares you, bringing to mind some eerie place like the Bermuda triangle, let me assure you, in Surat, weird names mostly stand for its people or food.
Little did Akshay Kumar know, when he gallantly sang out ‘Jab tak rahega samose mein aalu, tera rahunga o meri Shalu’, that Surti samosas have anything but potatoes in them.
Dough wrapped fried dumplings are very popular in Tapi town. Our Ghanchi and Khatri brothers and sisters excel in conjuring up innovative delights to make the same a pleasure on the palate.
Discover tastes that will tickle your taste buds..........
‘Fataka’ is what gram dal samosas are better known as in Surat. Sautéed with mint, ginger-chilli paste and onions this Surti speciality is available in three different degrees of spice levels.One is a mild, sober taste, the other with a sweet base of raisins while the third is all out on slurplicous spice . Chana dal samosas are sell outs at Nanavat-Gandabhai’s samosas who is the ace of the base in this field since ages; Jain samosas are also a variety popularly sold here.A smaller, milder version of the same are available outside the Syndicate bank, Salabatpura. On Kotsafil Road, above Jyoti plywood, a home run business caters to regulars who buy raw or semi fried versions of these triangular treats.

Bhamardiwala at Khangar Sheri, Salabatpura has the ‘Mastery’, as Surtis put it, in preparing succelent Suran [yam] samosas. Amongst the few who do so in town, it’s a task rarely practised. Yam is first grated, washed and then dried, later sautéed with dry, hot spices and green chilli to make a filling that resembles and tastes like mutton kheema. By the way, mutton samosas are also a speciality prepared to order and unlike the heavy, fried variety available at Chowk, in the by lane that leads to Sonifalia and Sardar museum,Bhamardiwala’s sell a ready to fry version that can be relished hot at home.

At Bibiniwadi, Syedpura, green pea samosas -tempered with curry leaves, cashews, cottage cheese and desiccated coconut are an exotic tropical flavoured filling. Made exclusively by the oil pressers, the Ghanchi community, it is a spicy -sweet delight amidst flaky plain flour pastry.

Innovative stuffings like soybean, sautéed Chinese vegetables and cottage cheese chewies have enthusiastic takers at Anand Mahal Road, near Prime Arcade. The samosa Pattis for these are made from whole-wheat flour.

Suburban Surtis meanwhile, relish the scrumptious taste of Rachna‘s tasty treats at Ghoddod road. The most expensive in their league , the cheese samosas are an exclusive variety from a secret recipe that was handed down from a home in Singapore, by a Surti N.R.I. Also available here are Mexican samosas packed with bean, corn and spring onions.
Surti samosas vary in crispiness according to their shells- from chewy, crispy to gritty.
Pyramid like savouries that now have a commercial existence, originally prepared by experts, within kitchens of Surti homes.

Tapi town tattle-Swine Flu-Kamina fever.