Chinese whispers with Pooja Bedi at Sampan

Click on the pic to view slideshow Call her a single mother/socialite/columnist/actor or reality TV show participant but my guest for the day, Pooja Bedi is undoubtedly a warm and friendly person to know. I have met and interacted with her on several occasions earlier but in the course of my Eating Out column I got to know much more and believe me, every aspect about the agony aunt is positive and touching. Sampan, the first fine-dine Chinese restaurant to hit Mumbai way back in the eighties at Novotel in Juhu (it was till recently managed by Holiday Inn) played the generous host to us. Being festive times, a huge 12ft chocolate Christmas tree and gingerbread houses greeted us at the lobby of Novotel rendering a celebratory mood. Pooja soon emerged, smartly clad in jeans and a black top. Sampan was not alien to her as she had spent her childhood swimming in the pool of Holiday Inn and enjoying their brunches with her family. The first thing a beaming Pooja said was, “You get Indianised Chinese here,” to which their spokesperson agreed saying that though the management had changed hands, Sampan retains its original flavor. After exchanging pleasantries, cheerful Executive Chef Ranveer Brar suggested we go for the set menu and we did not regret our decision. The actor loved the burnt garlic pepper and cilantro in Cha Chu Prawns, Crisp Chilli Chicken and coming down to Crisp Honey Chilli Lotus Root which I was trying for the first time, we truly relished the appetizers. The stylish celeb taught us how to use chopsticks and all of us were thrilled to pick up the first morsel with them. Over Iced Tea and Virgin Mojito our conversation veered towards every stage of Pooja’s life and I realized she is very attached to her mother, the avant-garde late Protima Bedi, whose jaunts kept popping up fondly during our interactions. Having been brought up with an open-mindedness and bigheartedness that was remarkably Protima, I found her daughter had inherited her spirit in a true manner. For who can even imagine buying an apartment to one’s driver, educating several needy children and loving people selflessly. After Prawn Egg-drop and Manchow soups, we geared up to taste the main course – Sampan Chicken/Paneer was presented in the restaurant’s signature gravy; the tangy Ginger Lemon Snapper, the mild Stir Fried Chinese Greens with water-chestnut, Hakka Noodles and Mushroom Pot rice completed our meal. And by now Pooja kept getting calls on her cell phone from her beau Akashdeep Saigal aka Sky who had landed in Mumbai from Delhi. She invited him to join us for dessert and soon we had a well-fed-Jesus Christ-lookalike Sky at our table. It was not easy to ignore the artistic tattoo on his massive biceps which screamed Pooja. Our topic then drifted to the reality show in which both of them met and became friendly – Bigg Boss Season 5 – and we discussed about how they have taken to court the person who maligned Sky in the media. The sweet finale to our pleasant Chinese dinner came by way of yummy Sizzling Brownies with ice cream. And after a round of taking pictures, it was time to bid goodbye to the lovely couple who complimented the wonderful food at Sampan to make our evening so much more enjoyable! Here's wishing al readers of Tellychakkar.com a Very Safe, Peaceful, Healthy, Successful & Prosperous 2013!!!