Press Release

Lounge, Shop And Read At This Cafe

 

Lounge, shop and read at this cafe

Sit on a tree stump, flip through an array of bestsellers and have a leisurely English breakfast. And if you fancy, shop a bit. At Ants Cafe in Indi-ranagar, you can do all that. The eatery is attached to The Ants: Crafting Traditions, an apparel and acces­sories store whose proceeds go towards giving a voice to underprivileged communi­ties in the north east.

Pradeep and Smitha, the husband-wife team that runs the store and cafe, initially intended to serve north-east cuisine. "But we couldn't risk such a business proposition. We were not sure how Bangaloreans would resiwnd. So we decided on serving sandwiches, pastas and om-lettes. Including the original idea is still on the cards, though," Pradeep says. And joy of joys! Here you can have custom-made meals. A look at the menu reveals a range of exciting and mouth-watering omelettes — Spanish, cheese, masala, corn, mushroom and cheese, ham and mushroom. Then there are exotic pastas, sandwiches, salads and burgers. "I really dig the ambience. My oilice is nearby and I drop by thrice a week, usually for lunch. Their Assam tea is really nice," says Amitabh, a regular. "We clear oui' heads and relax," his friend Sudarshan adds. Sneha and Shweta, sitting in a corner digging into herb chicken salad and ham and mushroom omelette, are also regulars.

 

So what moves the fastest here? "Our omelettes are very popular. So are the toasts and pastas. We use only organic ingredients," says Smitha. Quench your thirst with Assam tea, flavoured granitas (crushed ice dessert), sparklers (soda-based) and smoothies (milk shake), besides the regular tea and coffee selections. To finish, you can choose from a va-riety of mocha and caramel desserts. Though footfall at the cafe is not heavy, many are attracted towards its semi-formal, laidback approach. "There are offices and apartments nearby. People come here, crash on the couches and relax. There is a college too, so lots of kids hang around," says Smitha. Business is brisk everyday, but more so on weekends. The ambience is also worth a dekko. "The idea of tree-trunk couches came after a sale here. We rent out the premises sometimes for weekend sales. We spotted these at one of them and struck a deal whereby visitors here can ictual-ly try them out before buying. They add a rustic touch," Pradeep says.

 

Smitha is a textile designer, Pradeep is also into textiles. They have personally designed the place, selected the menu and set up everything else here. The place sports bamboo blinds to shield the sometimes harsh natural light. Come sunset, Smitha's personally designed fabric-wound-around-bamboo lamps are turned on. 'Ants' stands for 'The Action North-east Trust', an Assam-based non-profit organiza-tion that works with and acts lis a resource for village communities, especially weavers. Pradeep and Smitha worked with the Trust for three years before bagging the arrangement. The store opened in 2007 and the cafe sometime last year, but it was formally launched in November 2008. "Since this is a semi-residential area, it's not all that noisy. The place also attracts many stags, who just sit in corners and read novels," Pradeep adds. They have an arrangement with a used-books dealer. You can read your novel and place it back if you don't intend to buy it. Surrounded by trees, on a quiet street off busy 100-Feet Road, Ants Cafe is ideal for both a refreshing beginning and a hassle-free end to your day.

• Ants Cafe ,1st Cross, 14th A Main ,HAL,2nd Stage,Indiranagar(Landmark:New Horizon Public School)
• Ph:080-41715639,41521742
• Meal for two: Rs 500
• Open from 9 am to 8,30 pm

 

Ants

This is the north-east at it's bestl Catch authentic yet fashionable garments, accesories, furniture, home linen and much more at this store that specialises in hand made goods. The store also features an exclusive section on muga silk and at present has an ongoing exhibition by Raasa — a boutique home decor company that specializes in concept based designs. On display you will find a range of furniture and home accessories unearthed from different parts of India with an emphasis on rare and exotic north-eastern furniture.

 

AT : 2023/8.1 Cross, 14 A Main, HAL 2 Stage, Indiranagar
CALL : 41715639
PRICE RANGE : Rs 200 onwards

Naturally Made Handicrafts-Bangalore

Nestled amidst lush green trees in Indiranagar in Bangalore, lies Ants, a great handicrafts store. The Ants was started under the guidance of the Action Northeast Trust (ANT), a non-profit organization based in Assam. The store stocks crafts made by tribal groups from north­eastern India including a contemporary array of apparels, furnishings, jewellery, accessories, pottery and stationery. The store also offers customized and tailor-made products and takes bulk orders too.

The ground floor of Ants has apparel, black pottery and bamboo furniture. There are kurtis (Rs. 400-900), stoles, scarves and shawls made of Aagor cotton and Endy silk (or Eri Silk) for women, apart from men's kurtas and shirts besides a collection of trendy and traditional stone jewelry. An exciting range of products carved out of black pottery by the tribes of Manipur is available in a separate section These include pots, tea sets, mugs (Rs. 500-600), jugs, cooking utensils like girdle and the like priced Rs. 175 onwards. These black pottery items are polished dull black. Also, there are mud pot serving sets available at Rs. 300 and candle holders at Rs. 30. A wide range of cane and bamboo basketry by the tribes of Meghalaya is an addition. These are priced between Rs. 500 andRs. 1,000. The last section on the grouro floor has furnishing and home decor products made.

The Ants was started under the guidance of the Action Northeast Trust(ANT), a non-profit organization based in Assam. The Store Stocks Crafts Made by tribal groups from north -eastern India . From  loin loom weaved by  Women in Nagaland.

These include  cushion covers, boo coasters, floor mats me like. The section also ks Kauna Reed mats and :ets, a unique craft of ipur. Besides, there are boxes, pen stand, photo frames, wall hangings, diaries and board  games that are indmade. The toys for sale are  made by physically disabled  children, so when buy one, you know you hopping for a cause. An open terrace cafeteria upstairs s special multi-cuisine recipes. To engage You further is a collection of around 200 books through a tie up with Blosoom,Bangalore's bookstore.

So Visit the store anytime between 11 AM and 8 PM and go for the black pottery and bamboo products,if not,a visit to the cafeteria (9 AM to 8:30 PM )to enjoy a cup of tea while reading Your favorite book is a must try.Ample Parking space is available and the attendants are warm in serving

Flavours From The Northeast
Event the Ants Cafe organised a dinner to showcase food from Nagaland

Simplicity is probably the cornerstone to food of the Northeast. The spice levels are tempered down; The flavours not very pungent. The preparations are low on oil, providing a great opportunity to health conscious people t» have a hearty meal without worrying too much about the calories. As part of the initiative, "Bringing Positive Stories about the North East", the Ants Cafe in In-diranagar organised "Delicacies of the Nagas", a dinner, where an array of culinary delights from Na-galand was on offer. Most of the preparations, both vegetables and meat were not fried, but boiled, lending a distinct character to the food.

The meal began with liberal portions of kek-hrezhu (mandarin juice) which is slightly sweet and leaves a mild after taste. It was served in bamboo shoots and was refreshing. Rice is a very important part of the Naga cuisine and we started the main course with a steamed rice and a dal preparation, which was bland. However, the blandness was well compensated in the spicy ga, a mix of steamed vegetables and fermented soyabean.This spicy preparation is nutritious and went well with the steamed rice. Another dish that deserves a mention was the special stew chicken that offered a host of flavours with every bite . The chicken was extremely tender. It was not very spicy and is a fair weather dish in Naga cuisine, served at all occasions.

Another item that got much praise was the kelhe, a pork preparation cooked with bamboo shoots and spicy king chillies. We also sampled the soft angnopongsen, fish cooked in bamboo and king chillies, an excellent preparation, that is spicy and offers a wide variety of flavours. The boiled fish, another speciality with a hint of spice and offering a sour after taste is light on the palate.

We finished the meal with a serving of cut fruits and honey, a simple dessert that helped in finishing off a nutritious meal in style.

NIKHIL VARMA

The Ants Cafe Pans To Eventually Specialise In Northeastern Fare

Till last week, for example, the restaurant served a delectable salad with avocado, but this week, Appa has devised a dish with cheese panna cotta served with figs. "I've had people walking in asking if we're serving it," she says. For now. a seasonal fresh fruit panna cotta dessert is served with peaches, soon to be replaced by strawberries. Along with the regular dishes, there is a day's special that one should never miss. And a word of advice: Try the banana walnut loaf at the end.lt is served with a dollop of fresh butter that is bound to drop you in heaven.

The Ants Cafe Meal for two:Rs. 400-500
2023/B 14th A Main,HAL llnd Stage, Banglore 560008,Phone 41521742

Stepping into the cozy, newly opened Ants Cafe off one of Indira Nagar's quieter lanes will quickly  soothe the nerves. Located  above the Ants store, which offers crafts and unusual arte- facts from the northeast, the new cafe serves salad, pasta, sandwiches and an extensive ' beverage menu of coffees and teas. Owners Pradeep Krishnappa and Smita Murthy have burger patties and bread crumbs made fresh and tomatoes sun-dried on site. The vegetables are all or­ganic and sourced from Namdhari's and Orchidia. "We just wanted the food to be as healthy as possible," says Murthy. "And though we have a menu, we are always doing new things according to the customer's require­ments," she says. The menu has four major types of salads: diet green, corn carrot, classic Caesar and herb chicken. "But if someone wants a different combina­tion of vegetables and dressings, we do that," she adds.

In the cafe, water weed-cushioned stools and dainty wicker chairs surround low wooden and glass-topped tables, and the corner has a few seats and ta­bles carved from tree trunks and fitted with rope mesh. A wooden boat graces the centre of the cafe, where floating fresh flowers add colour. Bamboo shoots on the walls complete the rustic atmosphere. The cafe's owners plan to specialise in northeastern fare to accompany the store theme. "That's in I    the pipeline. But we want people to know about the place first before we introduce the northeastern menu," says Krish- nappa. And the best part is that Ants Cafe is extremely affordable.

 

ANTs Invade Indiranagar

 

Smitha manages the store with her husband, Pradeep, who is also a designer. The ANT store, located close to New Horizon Public School on 100 Ft Road, has skirts in cottons, stoles and shawls in silk, and kurtas and tops in all sizes. The mezzanine floor stocks mattresses and cush­ions made from kona grass from Manipur, and the back­yard has black stone pottery made by the Tangkhul Nagas. From the matrilineal Khasi tribe of Meghalaya comes tidy basketry, while the Karbis and Dimasas con­tribute their weaves. Jewellery from Kinnjura tribe of Himachal comple­ments the clothes that you may pick up here.

The store also offers the facility for a free fitment by the inhouse tailors. The store has a bookstall, where a dis­count of 20 per cent is offered. Blossoms, the Bangalore bookstore, has collaborated with The ANT for a special collection of books displayed here. Don't forget to drop in at the store's cafe. It has really good coffee and refreshing herbal teas.

Where: Next to Pete's Furniture at #2023/B 1st Cross, 14th A Main. HAL II Stage, lndiranagar. Ph -080 41715639, 080 41521742 bangstore@theant.org; www.theant.org, specialfeatures@mid-day.com

 

For A Rustic Look

The first of its kind exhi­bition and sale of North Eastern furniture is on at The Ants in Indiranagar. It was launched by Raasa, a bou­tique home decor company run by Aradhana Nagpal and Pooja Nichlani that spechdises in concept based designs.

"I love the fact that each piece reflects history, culture and lifestyle of the Naga peo­ple and the non fussy lines and the simple harmony of their work They generally use Na-hor palm wood and oak derived from the local forests and primitive tools such as the dao, axe, adze and chisel, which gave their work its distinctive crude look," says Pooja.

"The Nagas have a rich tra­dition of art and craft root -d in a lifestyle that has always 1 been in tune with the natural world around them. They were a self-sufficient tribal community with many skilled tribal craftsman and artisans in their midst who created things with ritualistic and aesthet­ic value. They foraged the forest to search for bark, dyes and wood that gave Naga arts and crafts its distinct appeal. For instance, these benches were carved out of a single piece of wood including the legs and the fertility sym­bols on the sides. The wood is naturally darkened by the fires they always kept going to ward off the cold," she explains.

Also on display are Naga village doors, beer barrels hollowed out of tree trunks used to store rice beer, wooden benches with animal and bird carvings, water troughs and day beds.Tumblers. bowls and plates made of bell metal from Orissa are displayed attractively and the alloy is said to imperl health benefits to the food stored in it. An array of ac­cent pieces made froirdeatl trees is available at the sale. In fact, the Gardenia's range of Natural Tree Furniture is 'made only from dead-stand­ing, beetle-kill, lightning or wind downed trees with in­dividual branches harvest­ed, kiln dried and placed with intention." adds Arad-liana.

High back chairs, large wooden dining tables, shell baskets, coconut shells pol­ished and used imaginative­ly in all sorts of brie- a-brac. woven tea baskets, storage urns,  magazine stands, strips of tree bark strung together to make a place mat or a name board, there is plenty of un­usual variety on view to give your urban space some rustic chic.

The exhibition is on till August 23.

Shop Talk
What a warm and welcoming store that has a rejuvenation of traditional art from the North East, enriched with contemporary aesthetics and design sensibilities. The Ants, at Indiranagar, is a store started under the aegis of the ant — Action Northeast Trust — a non­profit organisation that believes in 'working with the strengths of the weakest'. Right from home decor accessories to bright colours for your wardrobe, Ants is a store that will provide you the right combination of ethnic and contemporary design. The store was opened as an effort towards supporting tribal groups from north-eastern India by exposing the rest of the country to their craft. The Ants also brings alive traditions in a contemporary array of apparels, furnishings, jewellery, pottery and stationary, all handmade by these tribes.

• Location:- The Ants store, #2023/B, 14th A Main, HAL 2nd Stage, Near 100 Ft Road, Indiranagar.

 

• Parking: No valet parking. You'll need to park on adjacent roads.

 

• Timings:- 11 am to 8 pm, seven days a week.

 

• Ambience: The store has a warm feel and a cosy atmosphere, the wooden interiors add to the effect. You can sit back and read or relax in the cafe once you're done shopping.

 

• Staff-Well-informed, friendly and courteous

 

• Prince range:- Between Rs 100 to Rs 8,000

 

• Sorting: Different floors for different sections so, nothing is hard to find. Products are well-displayed.

 

• Take home :- Earthen pots and kettles in-quirky shapes which lend a rustic charm to any kitchen. The trendy, stone jewellery and ethnic wear is highly recommended.

 

• Leave on the race:- Kurtas for men.

 

• Fancy Pick : The bamboo baskets and funky snakes and ladder games made by disabled children

 

• Verdict:-: It's a must-visit. Every product is a reminder of the good cause. Besides, the number of impressive accessories on offer will make you want to splurge.

Rashmi Narayan

This Gallery Brings The Rich Tradition Of The North-east To The City

 

The misty hills and the rich culture of the north-east come alive at Ant's, (Action North-east Trust). Inaugurated in the year 2000, the vol­untary organisation works towards rural development in north-eastern India and promotes the art and craft of the region. Located on 14 A Main, Ant's displays a wide range of hand-crafted furniture made from the barks of trees, exotic looking chairs, doors, home accessories, ethnic clothes, ahimsa silk scarves, black pottery mugs, pots, tra­ditional Toda tribe chains, among other things.

Some of the interesting displays include two exclusive tea baskets, which, according to the trust, were used for tea plucking, ages ago and an ancient carved door which is priced at Rs 1.5 lakh. "Since these items are hand made and expensive to trans­port from the north-east, we've priced our goods accordingly. But people who like them buy, irrespective of the cost as they know these are rare finds," says store manager Smitha. She adds, "This is a forum to convey artistic expressions and to give a voice to people who won't be heard otherwise. We help them market their craft and make them aware of their talent. It takes a lot to carve such beautiful pieces and we want people to give these poor people their due."

Ant's also lends its premises ' to other artistes who're involved in a similar mission. Currently, two space make-over spe­cialists, Pooja Nichlani and Aradhana Nagpa are holding Raasa, an exhibition of rare north-eastern furniture, basketry and bark furniture. "Raasa means an ability to create an art form or a venue to touch the inner soul. That is what we aim at and hope to achieve with our , work," sums up Pooja Nichlani. Raasa is on till August 23.

 

Altruistic Design

 

Indira Nagar in Bangalore is a chameleon. It started its existence as a wide, open lung space, then became a quiet, residential locality where the likes of Rahul Dravid played cricket in uninterrupted, shady lanes. The 100 Feet Road here was flanked by sprawling bungalows and has now, over the past few years, morphed into a never-ending avenue of metal and glass-fronted shops. And yet, you still come upon old parks tucked away between neighbourhoods. An old shopping complex or two, or even a little conscience-keeper like The Ants, which has no commercial agendas and only a mission: to keep us connected to parts of our cultural heritage we no longer actively recognize as our own.

The store is the initiative of The Ant (The Action North-East Trust), designed around the idea of "Working with the strengths of the weakest" The weakest in question are the North-Eastern tribes who must be main streamed (or as, The Ant believes, "the mainstream should be North-East-ized!"), if they and their crafts are to survive. The fact that the political situation in the North-East has evoked no response at all from the rest of the country, worries design graduates Smitha Murthy and Pradeep Knshnappa, who went to a tribal region to research a project and discovered their calling. Through this store, they want to initiate constructive dialogue about a marginalized region and to address issues of economic and cultural isolation. "What we want is to disseminate positive images and strengths of a region usually equated by the rest of India with floods and violence," say the duo.

Housed in the unified and renovated space of two renovated bungalows totalling to about 2,500 sq ft of space, the store showcases assorted handicrafts and many tribal identities. There are textiles (designed into skirts, kurtas, cushion covers and more) by Bodo weavers, jewellery, black pottery, a large collection of basketry, Ahimsa silk, pieces of furniture, desk accessories and more by Khasi, Naga and Manipuri tribes. The couple have kept the material and colour palette neutral where space is concerned. The stark white walls, veneered and bamboo accents, discreet storage, simple block shelves fashioned out of MDF and rubber wood keep the focus firmly on the merchandise. Plans are underway to create a well-equipped library and cafe too. The store is a gentie little voice in the commercial din of Indira Nagar, and surprisingly is being heard.

Reema Moudqil

Introduction & Profile