By Subhash K Jha

"The Gala opening of the festival with our film at Los Angeles was a smashing success."

So says Dilip Mehta, the director of Cooking With Stella.

Speaking from LA, Mehta says, "It was a sellout screening and the party that followed at the Cabana Club was unbelievably riveting. The entire venue was packed to full capacity with great India cuisine and the bartenders kept every glass brimmed."

The response to the film at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles was overwhelming.

Says Mehta, "The huge theatre was packed. The audience was enormously supportive and so fully understood the many layers of our film. Even in the darkness I could make out the smiles and and hear the laughter!"

After the screening there was chaos. "We were mobbed by strangers following the screening. This is always gratifying because they give honest opinions since they don't have an axe to grind with you.

The verdict was that they loved the film, they loved the dialogue and the fresh storyline because it was unlike the usual masala dished out and they loved Seema, Shreeya and Lisa's convincing performances. The compliments were many, many, many, " signs off Dilip Mehta.