Banking on adventure

Papiya De finds that being a busy investment banker has not dampened Lazard India chairman Udayan Bose’s urge to explore

My wife thought that was the end of all of us, but I was totally absorbed in capturing it on film,” says Udayan Bose, chairman, Lazard India, describing an incident during a game safari in Kenya, when a leopard coolly clambered and sat on top of their open jeep. Even after four years the glint of pride in his eye for having shot the entire episode - the leopard perching on their jeep and then leaving the shaken Bose family to chase a deer and making a successful kill, is unmistakable. “Kenya was an incredible experience, it was clearly one of the best holidays,” confesses Bose.

Based in London, Bose, a busy investment banker travels often to parts of Europe on work, especially Germany and France and nurtures this insatiable desire to explore and absorb more of the continent. “One doesn't require a reason to go to Italy,” avers Bose, who tries to visit the country at least twice a year. While Italy is high on his list of favourite places, with Venice reserving a special place in his heart, it is Paris that fascinates him despite his English connections. “I love the culture of Paris, a wonderful blend of many years of civilisation and history, the wines and the food,” says Bose. Europe apart, Bose is equally fond of New York, which he describes as “full of life.”

However, quiz him about his all time favourite destination and he has a hard time deciding between Mauritius and Venice. “I love Mauritius for the sea and find the overall atmosphere of Venice enthralling,” informs Bose. However, his taste buds vote for Italy and Tulio's a tiny restaurant in Rome is his favoured gastronomic haunt. But his roots, the formative years of childhood spent in Kolkata make him partial to the king of fish, Hilsa.

“Besides my mother who still lives in Kolkata, it is the sheer joy of devouring Hilsa that draws me to the city during monsoons,” laughs Bose. Kwepi, a joint tucked away in Kolkata's Elgin Road, his birthplace is a must visit on his list of things to do even if he is on a flying visit to the city. Bose declares that it is the best restaurant in the country for the fantastic `Bong' fare it serves and is popular with foreigners too.

Shuttling regularly between India and London on business his travel within the country however is restricted to Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. “Though he visits Delhi very often he is not particularly fond of the capital. But he singles out the Italian restaurant La Pizza at the Hyatt Regency as simply fabulous. “The food served is comparable to the very best in the world,” he admits. Good food is a passion for Bose like most true-blooded Bongs. What's more? This gastronome, is also an “exceptional” cook! In fact, he claims to don the apron “two to three times a week” and finds cooking to be thoroughly relaxing.

This culinary explorer naturally has a tongue that likes to experiment. “Fortunately my daughter and one of my sons have inherited this trait from me and the three of us are always game to try out new things,” he reveals. He further divulges, “while quality of food is what lures us to any restaurant and not snob value, at times I do crazy things just for the kids.” He recalls going to Bell Cap, a Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles, primarily because it attracts Hollywood stars and that his children could catch a glimpse of their favourite film stars.

Despite his hectic globetrotting work schedule, going for a holiday together is a must for the Bose family. With five of them scattered around the world, holidays allow for a much-longed family reunion. During December, the entire Bose `parivar' converges at their Mumbai residence and then usually takes off for a short vacation together. Whether it is travelling on work or on vacation Bose believes in being practical about the hotels and the airlines he chooses. He claims to normally opt for one with most convenient timing and avoids certain airlines, “that I am not too sure of.” He nurses a soft corner for British Airways because, “I kind of know what service to expect.

The same holds true for hotel preferences as well. By and large, Four Seasons is his favourite, though he also rates the Peninsula in Hong Kong and Intercontinental in Singapore highly. “What bothers me a lot is having to haggle for a good room,” says Bose, a stickler for quality of service and cleanliness. Get these two right and extend a hearty welcome and Bose is happy.