Bpb Freebie: Subscribers get an awesome alcohol freebie on bpb & East’s aphrodisiac tasting menu. Sign up for the event at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
 
Contest: Take a shot - be the first to email us about your favourite shot ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and a pair of super funky Happily Unmarried shot glasses from Bliss are yours.

bEGIN

What: Second Helping gets experts to answer your culinary queries, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , free service exclusively for bpb subscribers.

Why: bpb brings together Mumbai’s best – Valhalla’s bartending team; Kshama Prabhu from The Tasting Room; InterContinental Marine Drive’s Paul Kinny; East’s owner Nachiket Shetye and Indigo’s pastry chef Ajinkya Saundankar (read their bios here) - to help out in your kitchen. From setting your cocktails on fire to revealing the secret uses of pine nuts, they’ll answer your quirkiest gastronomical questions.

When: You want too many cooks to help with your broth. On until January 1.

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What: Cutlery couture, Manish Arora for Good Earth, Raghuvanshi Mills, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, call 24951954, price on request.

Why: After stamping his psychedelic prints on everything from shoes to lipstick, fashion’s most colourful figure is all set to gatecrash your dinner party. And if his earlier designs are anything to go by, Manish Arora’s new range of bone china cutlery will be the best thing since sliced bread.

When: You want a new Fish (to) Fry. Launches Wednesday, November 11.

pARTAKE

What: Wine and beer tasting room and store, Santé, Chawla House, 60/62 Woodhouse Road, Colaba, call 64509779, starts at Rs 50 per tasting (includes five 20 ml. wines).

Why: Because of all the Mumbai outposts, the new Colaba branch is the only one that offers wine tastings from domestic and international lists (currently featuring offerings from France, Chile and South Africa) that change every week. Coming soon: a cozy booth where you can enjoy a bottle of wine you bought, fresh off the rack.

When: You want a room with a brew.

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What: Thai catering by Lotus Blossom, call 9967624034, starts at Rs 400 per person for a minimum of 10 people.

Why: Radhika’s delicate lotus fruit appetisers, sweet peanut salad and spicy basil prawn are guaranteed to float your boat.

When: You’re trying to curry favours.
 
bITTERSWEET

What: Liqueur cupcakes by Venial Sin, call Michelle 9867663256, Rs 45 a piece.

Why: The man behind the desserts at Da Vinci and Thai Ban is spiking his cupcakes with Amaretto and Amarula, cointreau and Kahlua, and a slew of other delicious liqueurs. His rich chocolate frosting is the icing on the cake.

When: You want to get battered and boozed.

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Event Round Up: Mumbai Salsa Festival from Nov 6-8 at Bandra (W); Farhan Akhtar, Indian Ocean and Parikrama perform live on Nov 7 at Chitrakoot Grounds, Andheri (W); techno and crazy visuals from Blot at Zenzi Mills, Lower Parel on Nov 7 at 9.30 pm.