New Delhi, April 20 -- After rumours flying thick for over a year, Rahul Akerkar has launched his new restaurant Qualia in Mumbai. Named after the philosophical concept "qualia", which refers to the essence of sensory experiences, the restaurant, which opened on 18 April, in Lower Parel, eludes easy categorization and instead brings together a collection of stories, flavours, textures, layers, depths and visuals. "The cuisine is modern," says Akerkar, and that is pretty much his only concession to watertight definitions. Take, for example, one of the dishes on the menu-a yellowfin tuna loin with a curry leaf and sesame rub, avocado pachadi and pickled beets. The surprising mix of flavours draws on the chef's travels to Kerala, a newfound penchant for pickling and his training in European cuisine....