Thai me up - with
Sunil Shetty!
 'Thai
Me Up' was more like 'Fill Me Up' on 26 November, when 10 lucky winners
and their families were invited to dine with cine star Sunil Shetty
at his Thai restaurant. While the Piranhas and other exotic fish looked
on, a Thai spread of Red Curry, Flat Noodles, Prawns in Green Gravy,
and Spicy Chicken and Vegetables in aromatic gravy was laid out for
the guests to gorge on.
 'Thai
Me Up' celebrated its first anniversary with a 'Sea Food Festival'
from 16-22 October, 2000. Customers got to eat speciality seafood
and, more importantly, experience the Thai feeling as an entire floor
was converted into a street in Bangkok, exhibiting Thai herbs, pastas,
sauces, vegetables, fruits and vegetable carvings, culture and tradition,
with 24-carat handcrafted Thai jewellery also on display. Diners were
presented with scratch-a-gift cards and were selected on the basis
of a lucky draw for a dinner date with Sunil Shetty. The mega bumper
prize of a package tour of 3 nights and 4 days to Bangkok for two
went to Dr P A Sahiar. The tour includes economy airfare for two,
stay at a 4-star hotel and sightseeing, sponsored by Travel Corporation
(India) Ltd.
Sunil Shetty, John Abraham, general manager (Leisure Division-TCI)
and Meher Bhandara, general manager, Corporate Communications of TCI
gave away the bumper prize. "This was first a South Indian restaurant
run by my father, called 'Ramanjaneya.' My father began as just a
cleaner at the hotel and later acquired it. I started Thai Me Up in
1999, firstly because of my wife Manna's and my passion for Thai food.
Secondly, because now speciality food is coming to India in a big
way," says Sunil Shetty on his Thai paradise. Located opposite Minerva
Theatre on Lamington Road, this three-storyed restaurant is like mini
Thailand, with little artefacts of the exotic land lining the walls
and adding to the decor. The warm brick coloured walls do not just
add effect, but even act as appetisers.
 "I
have made many trips to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Thailand. I was fascinated
by Thai food and the restaurants there. I remember especially one
restaurant where the tables were placed on small islands surrounded
by water bodies. You could pick fresh fish from the water for your
grub. The waiters served on skates, and there were Thai dancers to
entertain you," Shetty talks about his inspiration. 'Thai Me Up' has
been rated as a 'Superb Newcomer' by food critic Rashmi Uday Singh
and within a month of its opening was among the "50 best restaurants
of Mumbai.' This Thai place consists of an exciting cocktail lounge,
separate smoking and non-smoking floors, each having their own Thai
world charm. You could try out the Tom Yum soup, chicken wrapped in
Pandana leaves (Kai Haw Bai Tong), divine Chicken Mousse on sugarcane
sticks (Chao Tom), Fish Souffle (Haw Mok Pla) in handmade banana boats,
Thai Money Bags, Phad Phak and Phak Samrot. "We are strategically
located, and when it comes to our South Mumbai diners, surprisingly,
many drive down from the suburbs to experience and feel the taste
of Thai food. I work behind the scenes, and avoid being in the spotlight,"
maintains Mana, Sunil Shetty's wife.
Shetty already has many aces up his sleeve with Thai cuisine, a boutique
and entertainment centres and action movies. Soon, he will be a man
to reckon with on the cricket field, as he plans to have the biggest
indoor cricket academy in Lower Parel, Mumbai. "Cricket is my first
love. Unfortunately my father, a very simple man did not know the
right strings to pull. Perhaps I would have been an ace cricketer
on our Indian cricket team," says Shetty nostalgically. Should we
wait for another exciting career move?
Address:
Thai Me Up, 203-A,
Next to Apsara Cinema,
Lamington Road, Mumbai - 400 007,
Phone: 307 7980
By:
Anupama Vinayak
Photographs: Vinayak
Prabhu
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