Pudding & Mink: Where Alcohol Meets Ayurveda

This is certainly a new high as far as restobars go. Pudding & Mink, a just launched venture by the versatile Tejuswini Chowdhury, the younger daughter of firebrand Congress politician Renuka Chowdhury is a cocktail room like no other in the world. The concoctions here are all based on ancient Ayurvedic recipes and will help control any negative effects of alcohol and food as you imbibe. The idea of course is unique and Tejuswini, a young wife and mother who explains she discovered that Ayurveda is a storehouse of wisdom about four years ago when she became became a mother and was concerned about her baby’s health and nutrition. Now she says “I am constantly learning new ways to incorporate it into all areas of life. Ayurveda is the science of balance and an area that needs the most balance nowadays is our modern city nightlife. It came about organically in my thought process and I am so excited about it.”

Though Tejuswini loved good food, she candidly admits that during her growing up years, her interest in food was confined to eating it, but all that changed when she became a mother. When putting tasty, nutritious and holistic foods on her son’s plate became a daily challenge, she turned to Ayurveda and then she began spending all her time in the kitchen. The interest turned deeper and soon she was fascinated by the thought of a restaurant with a menu based on Ayurveda. Once she had decided on it, there was no stopping her because as she says firmly. “I've always marched to my own tune. I am lucky that I am able to convince people and get their support. My husband and family have stood by me completely from conception to execution of P&M.”

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It was tricky balancing time between her son and the restaurant but she points out , “ I do my best. It is critical to get the support of your family and gender roles have to be thrown out the window. Everyone has to just pitch in. I have such respect for single mothers with children who work and who don't have family close by helping. They are truly society's super heroes because they are picking up the slack that everything else has dropped”.

A graduate in entrepreneurship from New York, Tejuswini has always been adventurous in spirit, she was a gold medal athlete, a certified Hatha Yoga teacher, a Vipassana meditator, has dabbled in modelling, is a social activist and has now with Pudding & Mink (tantalizingly named after her pets), turned an entrepreneur with this rather unusual concept of a menu based on Ayurvedic recipes. An experience at Pudding and Mink begins with an Ayurvedic test for guests to take. This is a quite detailed test but then tells you what your body type is and what foods/ drinks are best suited for you and will be most in sync with your system. The P&M menu is categorised by body types and Tejuswini adds, “We encourage people to forget about calories and allow their taste buds to choose. Not everyone goes for sweet stuff. A lot like bitter and spicy drinks which is very telling of their unconscious balancing of their body types.”

As for an answer to the question how does Ayurveda accommodate alcohol, Tejuswini replies,” If Ayurveda was a religion, nature would be its Goddess. If you mix a drink keeping ancient Ayurvedic tenets and remedies in mind, every recipe will be perfectly balanced. Also one would only use natural, organic, freshly squeezed ingredients! This means the end product is a good balance between nature and chemical and is designed to counter the toxic load on the liver and kidneys. One you ensure this balance there are no morning after hangovers!

Done up in deep red with crystal and glass lending sparkle, the ambience at P & M is one of operatic grandeur. Tejuswini says, “I wanted an ambience that is full of class and mystery. I want people to feel comfortable talking to anyone about anything. The interiors are based on creating intimacy and glamour. A Jamavar shawl print is inspiration for our walls as I wanted to showcase to the world India's great legacy of design, 5 star luxury and service with the feel of a club.”

A privie club, P&M is restricted to a select few, For now around 400 members are allowed to use its facilities and taste its unique menu. The reason to restrict entry is because, explains Tejuswini, “I wanted to create a powerhouse of freethinkers, entrepreneurs, actors, models, doctors, next gen politicians, artists etc. The guest list is very restricted to protect the atmosphere within the club and create an energy that is free of any negativity. It was also important for me that women feel safe in there and can walk in alone by themselves.

For now there is nothing comparable to PNM in India and the response to the concept of a Ayurvedic cocktail room and menu has been pretty good says the enthusiastic owner.

Ask for one of her recipes and Tejuswini is quick to say that these are not to be shared since it has taken her many hours of experimentation and research to develop each recipe. But she does share some interesting ingredients. “ Chyawanprash is used in one of our cocktails It has been used in a drink for the first time and it tastes delicious and actually helps your system. Another drink of ours has a home made rosepetal jam which is fabulous for cooling the system, improve heart function and help you sleep better. We are the first in the world to create Ayurvedic Cocktails and to bring the wisdom of Ayurveda to nightlife. There is nothing comparable in the world and I feel so grateful to be a part of this process of creating a safer nightlife out there.”

Already there is global interest in the project and people in the west are eager for this unusual Ayurvedic experience. She says, “ There is a lot of interest from abroad as people in the west have a lot more respect for things like Yoga and Ayurveda than our own culture unfortunately. So that is super exciting. And I can't wait..” And what about politics as a career option since she belongs to a political family ? She retorts with a laugh, “One year ago I didn't know I would be in the f&b industry. So I don't try to predict what the future holds. I like to go with the flow of life I have tremendous compassion for our people but would never join politics just because I was born into a political family. I have sooo much to learn and a long way to go.

So don’t be surprised if the next time you are in NYC, you can ask for a chyawanprash cocktail!

SHASHI SUNNY