A year and a half of travel and painstaking research by Corporate Chef Sandeep Bansal has gone into developing 18 authentic rustic biryanis, which have been prepared using healthy and digestive ingredients. The outcome is ‘Petu Pankaj’, touted as the country’s first authentic and exclusive biryani quick service restaurant (QSR), a venture launched in Chandigarh with his chartered accountant brother Pankaj Gupta. The first of a planned chain of QSRs has been opened at Booth No. 40 in the middle of the famous fast food district in Sector 8-C, Chandigarh. An elaborate base kitchen (equipped to prepare biryani for 50,000 people daily) to feed the restaurant chain was formally inaugurated in Industrial & Business Park Phase I on Monday with some of the top notch names from the culinary world present to bless the venture.
With 18 ‘shakahari’ (veg) and ‘masahari’ (non-veg) biryanis on the menu, and more to come, biryani lovers will be spoilt for choice. Hyderabadi Sabz Chilmann Dum Biryani, Saat Nizam Biryani, Kathal Ki Biryani and Vilayati Sabziyon Ki Biryani among veg biryanis, and Hyderabadi Dum Murg Biryani, Awadhi Chicken Biryani and Malabaar Biryani among non-veg biryanis are just a few to excite your taste buds.
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Photos By : Life In Chandigarh
Apart from the biryanis, the restaurant, which also entertains home delivery requests with no minimum order, has on offer lip smacking curries, dals, kebabs and burra, Indian breads, accompaniments, desserts and non-alcoholic and without fruit juice beverages from the ‘bunta bar’.
Pankaj Gupta, the chartered accountant director of Pangu Hospitality Services Pvt Ltd, which owns the QSR venture, informs that utmost care has been taken to ensure that all the preparations being offered are healthy. “So, the use of common salt has been substituted with other healthy and natural salts, and some ayurveda certified ingredients have been added for digestive effect. There are no added colours. The biryanis we prepare are a complete meal with proteins, carbohydrates and mineral in ample measure, with an enchanting taste and flavour to boot.”
Four signature biryanis, including Sone Ki Biryani, Chandi Ki Biryani and Kadaknath Ki Biryani, and several other signature products, solely developed with self-generated ‘secret recipes’ by Corporate Chef Sandeep Bansal, will be introduced shortly, he adds.
Gupta shares with us an interesting story behind naming the venture ‘Petu Pankaj’: “In school, I was notorious for eating from friends’ tiffins and won the dubious title of ‘petu’, hence the brand Petu Pankaj.”
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The venture claims to use eco-friendly and bio degradable materials for packaging, nearly eliminating the use of plastics. The signature products will be served in signature takeaway pots, a souvenir for the customers.
The newest brand, which is expected to uplift the restaurant scenario and concept of traditional foods, is hoping to open four more outlets in the tricity and around by the end of the current financial year before branching out to other parts of the country.
Among those who had especially come down to the city to bless the venture were Chef Vivek Saggar, General Secretary, Indian Culinary Forum, Ashish Chopra, noted culinary historian, Chef Sireesh Saxena, former vice president, ITDC, Chef Arvind Rai, Corporate Chef, ITDC, and celebrity chef Dr. Izzat Hussain.
Call 6230505050 to place an order with no minimum limit, or visit website petupankaj.com. It will also be on all major food delivery apps.
From textiles to home decor items in various mediums, ranging from ceramic to bamboo, to metals to wood and many more, the choice is endless. To take a break from shopping one can take a bite at the food courts and enjoy a camel ride or one of the various performances happening on the trot at multiple locations.
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A write-up of the brand shared with media persons says, “The store houses an enthralling range of fine jewellery catering to varied tastes. Elegantly designed, Being Human Jewellery offers light-weight collections in plain gold, diamonds and coloured stone pieces. The designs are classic, stylish and affordable, catering to every woman’s taste in fine jewellery.” 
A video recording of Salman’s message for the occasion, was also played out on screen in which the star said though he could not be present, despite wanting to, “It feels great that we are taking our next step of expansion with Being Human Jewellery’s first franchise store in Chandigarh! The people of Chandigarh have always given me a lot of love, and I hope we continue to receive it.”
Speaking to lifeinchandigarh.com, Prasad Kapre, CEO and Director, Style Quotient Jewellery Pvt Ltd, the world licensee of the Being Human Jewellery brand, shared that the launch of the brand was sparked by the tremendous popularity of the pendant worn by Salman in the super hit movie ‘Bajrangi Bhai Jaan’. “I had designed the pendant, and when we received a tremendous response for it after the movie, we discussed how to capitalise on it. Thus the seed was sown for launching a jewellery brand in the name of Salman’s foundation, Being Human.”
There will be 170 odd stalls with artisans from nearly all states exhibiting their products. A dozen stalls have been earmarked for the Chandigarh Administration. A special stall will be dedicated to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary. The stall will showcase some rare pictures from the Mahatma’s life, the freedom struggle and other aspects of his journey.
Among the bands and individual artists performing at the cultural evenings will be the famous Bhopal based Sanskrit band ‘Dhruvaa’, which performs to laser lights, the all woman folk band Lasya wow womania, Gurdas Mann’s protégé Lal Chand Lala, Hans Raj Hans, Satinder Sartaj, Jazzy B, Lakhwinder Wadali, B Paraak, Sonu Virk, Kulwinder Billa, Ranjit Bawa, Anadi Misra and Manjeet Nikki.
Replying to a question, Jitender Yadav informed that a detailed project report has been sent to the Union Ministry of Culture to spruce up the Kalagram grounds by laying more tracks and increasing the greenery for a more enjoyable experience for visitors in the future. To this Saubhagya Sharma added that more mega events are being planned to be included in the existing calendar of events at Kalagram with a motive to keep it in a high state of upkeep and maintenance throughout the year and generate more revenues. There is also a plan to revamp the sculpture park at Kalagram to attract more visitors. 
He adds, “We would like to be a testimony of transformation in terms of festivals in the country. We have a variety of festivals, but there is none in the wellness space which holistically combines wellness with adventure and music. The Forest Escape Festival will fill that void. It’ll be one grand festival in the lap of Mother Nature.”
For the first time in the country, a festival is putting together an organic flea market that will offer authentic organic food products, recycled merchandises and clothes to its attendees. 
Considering the region’s penchant for good food, Starbucks is introducing two new food additions to its existing beverage menu to celebrate the flavours of the Chandigarh region. The Chicken Makhani Croissant Bun is a butterfly croissant bun layered with chicken and onions, perfected with makhani sauce and pickled mayo. For the vegans, there is Chole Masala Tortilla Wrap, which has chole wrapped in a tortilla with onions, jalapenos and spinach. The wrap is complimented with green chutney and mango murabba.
Commenting on the choice of Chandigarh, Ghosh said, “We are extremely excited to be in Chandigarh, which is the first non-metro city we have touched so far. The decision to come to the city was taken after receiving persistent feedback from customers belonging here at Starbucks stores in other cities that they sorely missed the coffee chain in their city. And, this is definitely not going to be the only outlet in Chandigarh. We will have many more as we go along.”