Metroscape

July 17, 2000

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Ricky's Camp

Facelift Time

Like mom like son

Sculpture of Substance

Cat call

Mime games

Pleased as punch

Go Delhi
Go Chennai
Go Pune

Chennai Challenge

A Cactus For Lunch?

If you want to write a tell-all book about the rich and famous, Salvador Vazquez Casteaneda, a chef from Mexico City, is your man. Gloria Estefan is a "friend", Rod Stewart has a taste for Tex-Mex, ZZ Top are stuck up and Sting has too much security. But the unassuming Salvador is more interested in reaching out to "all kinds of people" with his culinary skills. Last week, he did just that at Calcutta's Taj Bengal where Calcuttans got to savour some exotic dishes. Like cactus -- diced, low-cal steamed or simply used as topping. "But you will still not have had some our country's most popular cuisines," says the chef. Calcuttans should count their blessings -- he's talking about huitlacoche, a pancake with black fungus from a rotting corn cob or a roll made out of cactus worm. "Next time I do," Salvador promises in his broken English. Any takers?

-Labonita Ghosh

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