Smartbuy issue dated August 24, 2011

SmartbuyWednesday, August 24, 2011

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Sneak peek:Nintendo Wii URestaurant review:Stix, Hyatt Regency

2 August 24, 2011Smartbuy

WHAT’S HOT this week

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Follow us on Twitter Part of Razer’s Battlefield 3 branded peripherals is this Tournament Edition Xbox 360 controller. The controllercomes with adjustable resistance on both analog sticks for better sensitivity control and two fully programmable multi-function buttons. Other features include an improved D-pad, Hyperesponse technology on the backlit action buttonsand a 15-foot lightweight braided cable with quick release USB connector. $59.99

Cover Photo: Better Interiors

Military action

Razer Onza Xbox 360 controller

The FREEWAY is theworld’s first 2.1 stereoin-car handsfreespeakerphone. TheHD-ready devicemakes sure that yourconversations sound asnatural as possible. Itcan also play music,podcasts and audiofrom GPS applicationsby itself or send it toyour radio with A2DPwireless streaming.The speakerphonedisplays caller IDs onthe car radio display ifyou have RDS support. Rs 7,499

The 19-inch LED monitor sports an anti-glare display to keep the reflections at bay.A smart reminder system which is created based on the expert-recommended “20/20/20 Rule” reminds you to take a break and regain focus. The monitor also comeswith a 1.2M: 1 dynamic contrast ratio, 5ms response time, 5:4 aspect ratio and1280x1024 (SXGA) resolution, giving you a better user experience. Rs 7,850

Touch me not

Jabra FREEWAY

Relax as you work BenQ BL902M


The C2-06 is the latesttouch and type phonefrom Nokia. Available in arange of fresh colours witha smooth, metallic finish,this dual SIM phone letsyou easily change SIMcards without removingthe battery or turning offthe phone. Users will alsohave access to a range ofapps from the Ovi Store aswell as Maps. The phonefeatures a 2-meg camera,FM Radio and storageexpandable up to 32GB viamicro SD card.Rs 5,349

Double the fun

Nokia C2-06

This wireless gaming headsetfrom Creative’s Sound Blasterrange is compatible with PS3,

Xbox 360, Mac and PC. Itfeatures FullSpectrum tunable

50mm audio drivers,independent voice and game

volume controls on the earcupsand a detachable noise-

cancelling microphone. Theheadset has an optimised

lightweight design for marathongameplay and customisable

illuminated earcups. The basestation features a line in, idealfor use with media streamers,

TVs and MP3 players. Rs 10,999

Blast off

Creative Tactic Omega

This brand new home theatre systemfrom Sony comes with widerdirectional speakers to createimpressive surround sound. You canconnect wirelessly to BRAVIA InternetVideo and stream media. Regardless ofthe size or shape of your room, Sony’sproprietary Digital Cinema AutoCalibration (DCAC) lets you positionyour speakers in a way that theyprovide the ideal sound quality for yourroom. With the HDMI connector youcan stream hi-def content on the telly.Rs 39,990

Standing tall

Sony BDV-E980

GAMER’S delight

Well, it’sabout time. Ev-er since thecurrent genera-

tion of consoles took up residence in our livingrooms, the annual gaming expo E3 has been bereft

of any big hardware announcements. E3 2010 wasdominated by Microsoft and Sony as they fought over

who could best imitate the hugely successful NintendoWii’s motion control, which this year has left Nintendowith only one choice: innovate yet again. The result is theNintendo Wii U. Well, mainly the controller for it. Butthen, it’s the controller that counts… With HD graphicsand a full complement of controls, this is the Wii madehardcore.

The first thing you might notice is that the U controlleris rather large. That’s because there’s a honking great,6.2-inch touch screen around which sits a more traditionalcontroller setup: four action buttons and dual thumbsticks, shoulder buttons and triggers. There’s also full,360-degree, motion-sensing capabilities and a forward-facing camera. It’s lighter than it looks and is comfortableto hold, even if the triggers require both index and middlefingers. The console itself is more of a mystery. The unitwe used was clearly a prototype, but we do know that thefinished product will have full-HD, 1080p visuals, usesolid-state storage and optical discs, be backwards com-patible and have access to downloadable content. Willthere be a 3D element? No. Nintendo describes this revo-lutionary console and controller duo as “something foreveryone”. That means keeping the motion-control as-pects of the Wii – all existing Wii controllers will workwith it – while adding a full complement of more tradition-al controls and HD graphics.

It was hard to tell just how powerful the Wii U is from

Nin-tendo’sdemo. Thegeneral idea isthat graphics will be ona par with PS3 and Xbox 360.However, all Nintendo actuallyhad to show off were some rather basicmini-games.

The Nintendo Wii U is an ambitious attempt todo three dissimilar things at once: become the mostinnovative console on the market once again; win backhardcore gamers; and retain the Wii’s family-friendly im-age. No small feat, but Nintendo might just pull it off,thanks to the mind-boggling tech inside the U’s consoleand touch screen controller. Rather magnificently, you canspin the console to view what’s going on around you,independent of what’s happening onscreen. The fact youhave your own display also adds a new dimension tooffline multiplayer gaming.

But one of the concerns is the fact that Nintendo couldpotentially alienate developers with too many options. Dothey use the screen for key gameplay or just mini games?Do they use motion control or just treat the controller likea giant joypad? We know innovation is Nintendo’s bag, butwith popular franchises, game makers find it easier whenyou give them a set of rules and say, “Just put FIFA 13 onthat”. However, that has not been sufficient in putting offlaunch partners EA, Bandai, Ubisoft and Eidos. As with theoriginal Wii, the test will be whether third-party devel-opers are able to make the Wii U’s innovative bells andwhistles, sing; to produce something brilliant. Among thegames said to be coming to U are Assassin’s Creed, BatmanArkham City, Tekken, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon, Aliens:Colonial Marines, Battlefield and a much applauded Super

SmashBros sequel.

The Wii U’s poten-tial awesomeness out-weighs any worries about thesprawling newness of it all. Nintendoreferred to this year’s E3 as a “coming outparty” rather than a launch, stating that the Wii Uwon’t hit the shelves until April next year. We can’t wait.

The controllerScreen - The 6.5-inch touchscreen is bold and bright. Itdoesn’t boast the 3D tech found in the 3DS, nor is it hi-def,but it rivals anything seen on the PS Vita.Controller extras - The controller’s screen is touch-sensitive. There’s also an accelerometer for full motioncontrol, plus a front-facing camera and microphone forvideo calls.Handheld gaming - Single-player games can be trans-ferred to the controller and played on its touchscreen aslong as you remain within range of the console – the rangeand battery life are not yet known .

This Wii’s for U!

SpecificationsProcessor - IBM Power-based multi-core

Storage - Flash memory plus SD card

Media - 12cm proprietary high-density optical discs

Controller - 6.2-inch, 16:9 touch screen, control pad,

four buttons, two shoulder buttons, two rear triggers

Conectivity - 4x USB, AV multi-out including HDMI

Console size - 267x173x46mm; controller TBC

PLAY TIMENo proper titles yet, but these demos gave us a taste of the Wii U’s potential… HD Experience 1 - A brace of full-HD birds fly around a colonial Japanese gardeneating blossom, flying over carp ponds and generally looking stunning, if a littlecartoonish HD Experience 2 - A short clip of Zelda (above). The touchscreen can switchbetween night and day, change the camera, or toggle through the HUD info on the TVor controller Battle Mii - Metroid-style shooting, in which the player with the new controller flies agunship around an arena, while players with Wiimotes fire at it from below Shield pose - Designed to show how the Wii U utilises motion control. Lift thecontroller to use it as a shield, deflecting arrows fired from passing pirate ships Panorama view - Footage of a car cruising through Tokyo plays on the TV. Thecontroller’s screen shows the same footage, but by moving it you can get a full,360-degree view Chase Mii - Four players armed with Wiimotes have two and a half minutes to chasedown the player with the Wii U controller, who has the benefit of an onscreen map

This material is translated or reproduced from T3 magazine and is thecopyright of or licensed to Future Publishing Limited, a Future plcgroup company, UK 2011. Used under license. All rights reserved.


TURNTABLE review

Most people today either use an iPod, Mp3player or their mobile phone to listen totheir favourite music. Even our CD playersat home have become outdated, being in-

creasingly replaced with state of the art iPod docks. But inthis age of digitalisation, the magic of the LP is still not lost.Many music companies continue to produce records andthe charm of listening to the hum and crackle of needle onvinyl continues to enchant us. No wonder then that De-

non, a world class manufacturer of home-theatre systems,AV receivers and various other electronics hasn’t given upfor good on record players. This month, we review theDenon DP-29F, a turntable for the modern day consumer.

Out of the boxAt first glance, we liked the silver finish of the playerwhich gave it a polished, modern appearance. The outerplastic body of the DP may look simple and economical,

but one can hardly complain considering that this is not apremium product. If you’re not looking for an antique, theDPs silver body should fit in nicely with your home theatresystem.

TechnologyThe DP-29F has been constructed with high precisiondiecast aluminium. The rigid diecast material contributesto the turntable’s steady performance, which in turn en-hances the audio quality of the turntable. It also has aninbuilt automated system. Once you place a record on theplatter and press the start button, the tonearm automat-ically positions itself on the record to begin playback fromthe first track. However, you have to first choose the size ofthe record you want to play and for that there is a selectorswitch that gives you options for an EP (17cm) or an LP(30cm). This system saves you the hassle of physicallyplacing the tonearm on the record, not to mention the factthat the human touch, while you place the tonearm on therecord, causes a little surface friction. The DP-29F alsofeatures a built-in phono equaliser. When you turn on thephono equaliser switch (which is hidden below the plat-ter), the RCA interconnects can be connected directly toan integrated amplifier. As a result of this, you needn’troute the low level signals of the turntable to a phonopre-amp.

PerformanceThey say that a record player is a tweaker’s delight. This isbecause if you consider CD players there aren’t really anyadjustments you can make. Most of them come with theirbuilt-in DACs and other electronics with which you reallycan’t play around. But a record player needs proper setupand that is exactly what we ensured with the DenonDP-29F. We placed the turntable on a flat surface to make

Of the record: Denon DP-29F

sure that no external vibrations could make its way to theplayer. Some audiophiles may argue that basic featureslike anti-skate control and counter balance weight aremissing on the DP-29F. In fact, we found ourselves won-dering whether the tonearm would require changing inthe future. We couldn’t figure out an answer to that ques-tion. However, the sound quality of the DP-29F is whatastounded us the most and it almost made us zip our lipswithin moments of listening to it.

When we placed “Plastic Beach” by the Gorillaz on theturntable we couldn’t believe our ears for the first fewmoments. The dynamic range that the player covered wassimply amazing. The DP-29F could easily deliver the deepbass notes from the Gorillaz LP. Usually, it isn’t possiblefor a turntable to enter into the deep bass frequency region

because a lot of low rumble noise is generated by the rotarymechanics and motor systems. But the DP-29F delivered asmooth and rounded bass response. The sound quality ofthe turntable was not only focussed in the low end regionbut also in the audible high frequencies which were sweetand clean. The dirt particles on the surface of the recordsdid generate occasional noise during the audition sessionas they rubbed against the stylus during playback. Howev-er, it did not hamper the overall sound quality of theplayer.

Our verdictThe Denon DP-29F is perfect for everyday casual listen-ing. This player will be an irresistible option for most of us.Tonally, the player is well-balanced, the mid-range is

warm and beautiful and the treble is clean and easy on theears.

In fact, a first time listener would be completely blownaway by the charming midrange quality of the turntable.Moreover, the inbuilt pre-amp saves you the trouble ofadditional electronics and amplification. Overall, theDP-29F does a great job on the musical frontier. Theabsence of anti-skate and counter weight options mayworry certain audiophiles, but the automated system builtinto the player takes care of all those things.

Love: Price, replaceable cartridge, good sound qualityHate: Very basic designRs 9,900

Specifications Wow and flutter: 0.15% Speed: 33-1/3 And 45RPM Tonearm length: 7.67-inch Cartridge type: MM(DSN-82)Output level: 2.5mV Weight: 2.8kg

AV MAX


AUTO focus

Jason H. Harper

Step into the $285,000 Bentley Mulsanne and oddthings happen. Your heart rate drops. The soft-ball-sized knot between your shoulders shrinksto a marble.

Unlike white-knuckle-driving supercars which costmore than a house in Florida, this luxury sedan induces avastly different reaction. Breath out, relax. You’re rich,after all.

The Mulsanne demanded that it be put to the ultimatestress test. Early on a Monday morning, I drove out ofManhattan until reaching the heart of commuter countryin Westchester. I got a deli coffee and idled until trafficbegan to shut down to a bumper-to-bumper clog. Then Iturned the British coach back towards the city.

Stress level: 20 per cent, with an excellent chance ofstratospheric surges.

If the best-selling, bullet-shaped Continental coupe isthe modern Bentley, the Mulsanne evokes the era of thehorseless carriage. A completely new model which replac-es the Arnage as the brand’s flagship, the Mulsanne is agood choice if you aspire to be a modern-day Arthur(either the Camelot king or the rich playboy portrayed byDudley Moore).

Upper-crust blingOwners of the Mulsanne or its competitor, the $246,500Rolls-Royce Ghost, are of a different ilk than those whodrive the Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series.

There’s an inherent declaration of check-me-out entitle-ment.

Yet, the two brands have a different approach. If theGhost wears its extravagance on its bespoke sleeve - call itupper- crust bling - the Bentley has a less showy demea-nour.

At 18-plus-feet-long, it’s certainly formidable. It wouldbe hard to overlook the fantastic upright mesh grill andheadlights the size of salad plates. You can add optional21-inch wheels and a flying-B hood ornament. But thebeltline is high and the side windows small, rather likehedging hiding a Greenwich mansion.

To really be wowed, you have to be invited in. My testcar cost $333,885 with options, and my favourite elementwas the interior oak wood, a shade so light it seemed toglow. For $4,640, it seemed as if all of Sherwood Forest

had been used. Leather? Oh yes, it’s got leather, but it takesa backseat to all that blinding wood.

In typical Bentley fashion, each knob is burred andevery control has a feeling of mechanical weight behind it.You’ll find yourself turning stuff on and off just because.

Back-seat napAs I set off into traffic, I glanced at the rear seats, each ofwhich reclines and has its own temperature control andfolding table (also in wood – part of a $19,860 premierespecification package). Good place to nap or read, ignoringthe congestion completely.

But I was in the driver’s seat and was pleased to find thattraffic was actually moving. The seat was top-rate com-fortable, and the steering wheel surprisingly small andwell-weighted in my hand.

The Mulsanne isn’t bad to drive. It’s powered by a6.7-litre twin-turbo V-8 with 505 horsepower and 752pound-feet of torque. It has a sport setting and even aswitch to shut off the stability control, plus paddle shiftersto manually manipulate the eight-gear automatic trans-mission (yes, eight).

Speed isn’t the point, though. The sedan handles rea-sonably on curves, but the instinct is to slow down andenjoy, not accelerate.

The air suspension not only absorbs bumps, it banishesthem to a parallel universe. So far my stress level hadactually fallen. Even the minivan loitering in the left-handlane wasn’t bothering me.

Revving up Bentley’s stress-buster

Photos: Bloomberg

Gas guzzling

What would stress me would be trying to find a gas stationin the city, a common occurrence since the Mulsannemanages only 11 mpg in the city, 18 highway. No wonder itgets socked with a $3,700 gas guzzler tax.

As I knew it must, traffic stopped, so I turned on theNaim Audio system, which has 2,200 watts, 20 speakersand a price tag of $7,415. The car went from church silentto full-on Carnegie Hall. My blood pressure stabilised.

Unlike the Ghost, which I tested around Los Angelesand was always worried about scraping, the Mulsanne’s

footprint seems to shrink in traffic. It’s not easy to squirtinto tight openings in traffic, but at least it’s possible.

More quickly than I hoped, I found myself on Manhat-tan’s West Side Highway. I’d only used the horn twice. Iwas so relaxed that I decided to really get wild and exitedonto Broadway toward Times Square, a place native NewYorkers believe is best avoided even on foot.

Bus stopTourists pointed. Minutes later I’d left behind the coldlight of oversized LCD screens and was skirting past thetaxi wars outside Penn Station, the Mulsanne’s torque-

heavy engine pulling me by in an irresistible surge. Therewas no stopping me now.

Actually, there was, in the form of a stalled bus, blockingthree lanes of traffic. Horns erupted. A bike messengerzinged past my door. A pedestrian yelled at him.

I rolled down my window, turned up the 20-speakerstereo and began idly-fiddling with those well-weightedcontrols. I’d be here for a while.

(The author writes about autos for Muse, the arts and leisuresection of Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)

The Bentley Mulsanne at a GlanceEngine: 6.7-litre twin-turbo V-8 with 505horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torqueTransmission: Eight-speed ZF automaticSpeed: 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 secondsGas mileage per gallon: 11 city; 18 highwayPrice as tested: $333,885Best feature: Magnificent interiorWorst feature: Thirst for fuelTarget buyer: Royals and playboys


MELANGE luxury redefined

L’Occitanelaunches theAngelica range ofskin careproducts, utilisingthe goodness ofAngelica root. Theessential oil andwater from theheart of the rootprovide hydrationand vitality toyour skin.Available at itsstores and selectlifestyle outlets.Rs 1,250 onwards

Angelicradiance

All you need are the bags fromDKNY and Bag Snob’s FiveEssentials collection to dress upany occasion. The Tote,Treasure, Clutch, Travel andTrendy come in catchy colourswith muted gold hardware.Available at the DKNY store atEmporio mall, New Delhi.Rs 6,000 onwards

Jazz up your outfit with Swarovski’srange of Polly bracelets. The blue braceletcarries Indicolite and Caribbean Blue opal

crystals with gold-plated link and endpieces. Also available in red and purple at

all Swarovski boutiques. Rs 3,600

Blue beauty

L’Oreal Parislaunches the newPearl Perfect rangeof skin careproducts enrichedwith powdered pinktourmalinegemstones for afairer, rosier glow.Available at L’OrealParis countersacross India.Rs 350 onwards

Fetching Five

Gemstoneglow

Grab the new Fendi Mia Chain StrapHobo Bag for a day out in style. Pebbledleather in tan, gold-tone chain links onthe strap and a neat hobo design make

this the perfect bag for your free-spirited self. Available at its boutique

at Emporio Mall, New Delhi.Rs 70,818

Strappy & stylish

PREMIUM interiors

Qboid Design Houselaunches its range of designerfurniture featuring statelyrecliners, chairs, tables andbeds with a contemporaryfeel. Teakwood, marble andgold carvings add a touch ofroyalty to the pieces.Available at its store in NewDelhi.Rs 29,900 onwards

Regal recliner

The new monsoon range of bedspreads and bedcovers from Nas Home willmake you want to tuck in early every night. Choose from cotton orpolyester fabrics in vibrant colours. Available at its store in Bengaluru.Rs 3,000 to Rs 15,000

Early to bed !

Add some fun to your cutlery collection with the Hungry Caterpillar range from Art d’inox.The beverage and dining sets are made of ceramic or brass and stainless steel with a hint ofgold. Available at select multi-brand outlets.Rs 600 to Rs 22,500

Cute caterpillar

Find all you need to furnish your home elegantly atHome Et Tu, a high end design store. The rangewhich mixes contemporary and classic styles alsoincludes premier European fabrics and homeaccessories. Located at New Delhi.Rs 1,850 onwards

All in one

International Furniture Brandsintroduces a new furniture range

by luxury designer, ChristopherGuy. The pieces showcase the“Chris-X” design element, tufting

and silk-cut details. Availableat its store in New Delhi.

Price on request

Luxuriousliving



Glass structures have become a pertinent featureof the urban landscape. The ultra-modernbuildings have taken glass to an innovative, dra-matic and surprising high. It is now one of the

most versatile and cutting-edge building materialsavailable.

Newer production and development techniques haveturned construction from glass into an art. Expanses ofglass can now be suspended in front of a series of nearlyinvisible metal trusses and braces. It is not only spectac-ular to look at and look through; it is also safer, strongerand more energy-efficient.

Heat-strengthened glass and tempered glass areamongst the stronger varieties of glass. Glass must bestrengthened for three basic reasons: to handle wind-load,to increase impact-resistance and to combat thermalstress. Architects and designers must consider the force ofwind on a building or installation when choosing to useglass. Wind causes glass to deflect, straining not only theglass, but the entire glazing system: the framework, gas-kets and sealants. Impact-resistance is closely related towind-load, because the wind carries hailstones, dust,small stones and other debris.

However, in a tropical country like ours, it becomesmore important to beat the heat. Certain types of glassavailable absorb over 70 per cent of heat that falls on it.The transmission to the inside of a building is about 20 percent. Energy transmitted through ordinary glass is absorb-ed by the floor, walls and furnishings and released muchlater. The heat storage capacity of these objects tends tospread the cooling load over a considerable period of timeso that the peak amount of heat felt is reduced. The

effectiveness of heat-absorbing glass may be increased byusing it as the outer pane of a double-glazed window sothat absorbed energy is dissipated outside.

Reflective glassReflective glass is clear or tinted glass that has a very thinlayer of metal, metallic oxide or a film of dielectric materi-al on the surface. The reflective coating reduces heat gainand glare from the outside while allowing visible light toenter. Sealed double glazed units are now available with areflective coating on the inner surface of the outer pane.Their reflectivity depends on the angle at which light hitsthe glass, but it is higher than that of ordinary glass.

Characteristics • It gives a building a mirror-like appearance • The coatings are available in silver, copper, gold and

earthtone •It reflects and absorbs the sun’s rays; therefore it re-

duces the amount of solar radiation that enters the build-ing, thus reducing power costs

Low E glassLow emissivity glass, commonly called low E glass, is atype of reflective glass that is gaining popularity, especiallyin residential and office applications. Low E coatings are

very thin metallic coatings that reduce visible light trans-mission by about 10 per cent compared to uncoated glass.In northern areas, low E coatings let in the heat from thewinter sun while retaining the heat generated from insidethe building. In southern areas, low E coatings are usuallyapplied to bronze, green or gray tinted glass. They reduceglare and reflect the sun’s heat away from the structure.

Characteristics•Reduced heat loss through windows•Re-radiation of the heat absorbed from sunlight inside

the room•Allows sunlight into a room without letting heat

outside•Resists ultraviolet light, which results in less damage

to carpets, draperies and other furnishings•Reduces glare

Insulating glassInsulating glass units, also known as IG units, are madefrom two or more sheets of glass separated by a sealed airspace. The metal tube around the perimeter of the in-sulated unit which separates the two sheets of glass iscalled the spacer. It is filled with a special moisture ab-sorbing material called a dessicant. The perimeter of theentire unit is sealed with a high grade sealant.

Characteristics•Reduces the tendency of condensation forming on the

room side of the glass•Reduces cold transmittance at windows and helps

maintain a uniform temperature. In the winter, IG unitsreduce heat loss and in the summer they reduce heat gain

• Reduce the level of noise from the outside

See-through splendourVersatile and cutting-edge,glass has taken over as the

building material of the season


Glass glossary

Float glass: The process involves floating molten glass ona bed of molten tin. This gives the glass uniform thicknessand makes it very flat. Float glass-making was perfected in1959 by Pilkington Brothers Ltd of England.

Tinted, or heat absorbing glass: It is made byadding colouring agents to the batch mix. These agentsinclude bronze, grey, green and blue. Tinting glass reducesthe amount of light that passes through the glass. As theglass gets thicker, the density of the colour also increases.This causes the glass to transmit less visible light.

Patterned glass: Also called figured glass, obscureglass and decorative glass, patterned glass is made bypassing it through rollers that have patterns on them. Thepattern is transferred to one or both sides of the glass.Patterned glass also helps control the transmission of lightand diffuses the details of objects that would be clearlyvisible through ordinary glass.

Mirrors: These are made from high-quality annealedfloat glass designated as either mirror quality or mirrorselect. Mirrors are made by depositing a layer of silver onthe back surface of the glass, because the tin side does notaccept silver properly. The reflectivity of the mirror de-pends on the thickness of the silver layer, glass, and glasscolour. High quality mirrors could have a copper backing,which offers the best protection.

Laminated glass: It is used as the inboard sheet inskylights. By varying the thickness and colour of the PVB(polyvinyl butyral), laminated glass can be used to controlglare, reduce the transmission of solar energy, and screenout ultraviolet radiation.

(Aruna Rathod – Better Interiors)

GOURMET encounters

Archana AchalAnushya Mamtora

There is something about livekitchens that whets the palette.The clinking sounds of cutlery,the smell of aromatic spices,

punctuated by the laughter and exclama-tions of the chefs working at the cookingstation - the experience of dining reaches anew high. No wonder then that the newlyopened Hyatt Regency in Chennai hasmade live kitchens the cynosure of all itsrestaurants. We decided to soak in the at-mosphere of some Asian street-hawkerstall style food at the hotel’s Chinese res-taurant, Stix.

With an open kitchen in the centre, thepleasure of watching the chefs in action asthey stir fry, braise and toss together yourdish is beautifully blended with the view ofthe zen-style poolside and the cloudy skiesbeyond.

Inviting interiors, Chinese touchesWarm in its use of brown and beige colours,the restaurant brings together rough stoneslabs, wooden panels and polished steel tocreate a contemporary dining space. How-ever, while you step on stone slabs to reachyour table, you can’t miss the elegant Chi-nese touches in the form of traditional tea-pot displays. Large vases containingchopsticks on each table also add a nicetouch. One has the option of choosing acosy corner for private conversations orexperience community-style dining at thelarge table right next to the chef’s station,for a whiff of the Sichuan province.

Sichuan at your tableSichuan cuisine, more popularly known asSzechuan cuisine is known to be spicy andpungent as its most celebrated ingredient isthe Sichuan peppercorn. Yet, there exists acertain amount of subtlety to the food. Af-ter all, Chinese cuisine is based on balanceof tastes. At Stix, you don’t have an elab-orate menu to flip through. Short and crisp,one can easily glance through the appetis-ers, dimsums, soups, main course, rice andnoodles and desserts in one go.

We began the meal with an appetiser ofblanched spinach leaves dressed with Chi-nese rice vinegar, sesame and peanut sauce.Strictly for those who love the flavour of

the baby bok choy and assorted mushroomclear soup was well balanced in its fla-vours.

Non-vegetarians can sample the delec-table clam and bean curd soup and braisedtomato and egg soup.

Chinese mainstayWhile sipping jasmine tea to cleanse ourpalate, the main course was quickly laidout. Kung Pao chicken and the chef-rec-ommended Sichuan style chicken withchilli and peppercorns didn’t disappoint.These dishes show the diverse cookingstyles native to the Sichuan region. Whilethe large cashew nuts tossed in the sweetand spicy Kung Pao chicken was a high-light, the clear winner was the steamedbroccoli in oyster sauce.

The light sauce teamed well with thestir-fried noodles and rice with lettuce andsoy sauce.

Seafood lovers can look forward to sa-vouring stir-fried lobsters, scallops andprawns and also a special mixed seafoodrice with black fungus and carrot. Themore adventurous can try duck withmushrooms in mild, sweet soya sauce.

The Head Sous Chef sent in some yum-my desserts to round off the lunch. Yes,though desserts do not form a part of thecuisine, Stix has a few options for thosewith a sweet tooth. And they have steeredclear of the commonly served darsan(deep-fried flat noodles in honey). Weloved the caramel crust of the egg custardtart, the perfect squishiness and mildsweetness of the honey in the banana frit-ters and the wholesome fruitiness of themango pudding.

What works well for Stix is its warmambience, non-fussy a la carte options, useof authentic ingredients all the way fromChina, a team of expert Chinese chefs andgood food. The burden on your wallet isnot too heavy and the view transports youabove the din of the city and into the joyfulclamour of Sichuan streets.

What: Sichuan Cuisine Where: Stix, Hyatt Regency, ChennaiHow much: Approximately Rs 2,500 for ameal for two

Street-style Sichuangoes chic

peanuts. For non-vegetarians, the recom-mended poached chicken in a crushed pea-nut and sesame sauce is a delightful start tothe meal, with the chicken slightly spicedand served cold on a bed of cucumber.What’s a Chinese meal without dimsums!

We tried the vegetable and spinach oneand it was just right. There were also op-tions of steamed fish, prawn and lamb fill-ings.

The soup choices were interesting too.Served in a traditional urn-shaped bowl,

[email protected]@thehindu.co.in

Documents

Smartbuy issue dated August 24, 2011