MIchelin calling
Back in January, we sensed that we hadn’t seen the back of Atul Kochhar. The chef-proprietor of London’s Michelin-starred Benares restaurant has now signed a deal with Marriott to bring a Benares-style gaff to the 57th floor of Abu Dhabi’s new Central Market Hotel (due 2010). He isn’t alone either. Word is that we can also expect more Michelin quality in the form of the Fairmont Hotel, which has its soft opening next month, and is rumoured to be housing its very own Frankie’s, the restaurant owned by Frankie Dettori and helmed by Marco Pierre White. Not only that, but Pierre White is also alleged to be opening his own signature restaurant there. Food for thought indeed.
Ill communication
People with hearing and speech disabilities in Abu Dhabi are to receive devices to enable them to seek emergency help or do daily chores. Launched by Etisalat, Du and YahSat, the companies are setting up a call centre whereby if the receiver has a hearing disability, the device will print a voice call and send it to the receiver as a message, and vice versa for those with speaking problems. Very good, but we think they got carried away a bit with the name. The initiative has been called ‘Echo Of Silence’, which to us sounds rather more like a Bond film than a disability aid.
Ribbeting stuff
Two frogs have been ‘married’ in a ceremony in Assam in Northwestern India to usher in the delayed monsoon rains. Tradition dictates that if frogs are married off with full Vedic or Hindu rituals, the rain god is pleased and the heavens will open. The frogs were suitably dressed.: the female was even gifted a necklace by the village women for the marriage, which was conducted by a priest. Similar rituals were held across India after the monsoon season was delayed by two weeks.
Driving Miss Paris
It’s nice to know that even mega celebs have less glamorous tasks to perform occasionally. Paris Hilton was scheduled to make a personal appearance at Belhasa Driving School headquarters last month – a move probably linked to the fact that boutique owner, Sarah Belhasa, is a sponsor of My New BFF. Oh to be rich and famous…
