Akasa Air's Braille Menu Cards: A Touch of Inclusivity

Akasa Air's Braille Menu Cards: A Touch of Inclusivity

By Author

Published on October 15, 2023

In the ever-changing world of travel, Akasa Air stands out by making inclusivity a top priority. The airline has taken a remarkable step towards enhancing accessibility for its passengers with visual impairments. Recently, they introduced Braille menu cards as part of their inflight dining service, Café Akasa. In partnership with The Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC), Akasa Air designed these Braille menus to provide a seamless dining experience for all travelers.

These Braille menu cards are both thoughtful and practical. They offer a range of meal options, snacks, and beverages that passengers can easily order during their flight. By incorporating Braille, Akasa Air empowers passengers with visual impairments to independently browse and select their meal preferences, enriching their overall travel experience.

This initiative is in line with Akasa Air's ongoing commitment to creating a unified flying experience for all passengers. Earlier this year, they introduced Braille versions of their inflight safety manuals, which provide detailed safety instructions in both English and Hindi, ensuring a secure journey for travelers with visual impairments.

Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing & Experience Officer at Akasa Air, expressed the airline's dedication to social responsibility, economic sustainability, and empathy. He emphasized how the Braille menu cards allow passengers with visual impairments to access and enjoy refreshments from Café Akasa, one of the airline's standout offerings. Akasa Air extends its heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Taraporevala and the entire XRCVC team for their unwavering support in achieving the goal of inclusive travel.

Dr. Sam Taraporevala, Executive Director of XRCVC, shares the commitment to creating an inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities. The Braille menu cards are designed with large fonts and synchronized Braille to cater to the needs of passengers with visual impairments. Dr. Taraporevala hopes that other service providers will take inspiration from Akasa Air and work towards creating inclusive and accessible solutions for customers with diverse needs.

In addition to these inclusive measures, Café Akasa, Akasa Air's inflight meal service, has recently refreshed its menu. It now boasts over 50 meal options, including healthy, festive, gourmet, and fusion choices. These meals are exclusively curated by renowned chefs from across India, providing passengers with a delightful gourmet experience during their journey.

Akasa Air, India's fastest-growing airline, has been working diligently to expand its network to offer seamless connectivity at affordable prices. They've launched new routes and increased flight frequencies from key metro and non-metro destinations. For example, with 200 weekly departures, Akasa Air connects Mumbai to 12 domestic destinations, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Lucknow, Goa, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra, Kochi, and Guwahati.

This initiative by Akasa Air is a testament to their commitment to creating a warm, comfortable, and efficient flying experience for all passengers. The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft used by the airline provide ample legroom and come equipped with USB ports in most aircraft, allowing passengers to charge their devices on the go. Akasa Air's enhanced Café Akasa menu, with over 60 meal options, offers an indulgent gourmet experience in the skies.

Moreover, Akasa Air understands the importance of being pet-friendly, allowing customers to travel with their pets. And to ensure the safety of all passengers, Akasa Air has introduced safety instruction cards in Braille for individuals with visual impairments.

Since its launch in August 2022, Akasa Air has rapidly grown, carrying over 3.5 million revenue passengers and operating over 900 weekly flights. Their network now covers 35 unique routes connecting 16 cities across India.

Akasa Air's commitment to social responsibility and inclusivity is commendable. With these initiatives, they're not just an airline; they're a caring and considerate companion for travelers of all backgrounds.


Manam Chocolate Spreads the Joy This Diwali with Its 2025 Festive Collection

Manam Chocolate Spreads the Joy This Diwali with Its 2025 Festive Collection

By Hariharan U

Published on October 11, 2025

The clinking of glasses, laughter echoing through homes, and tables filled with sweets, snacks, and gifts, it can only mean one thing: Diwali is here. And this year, Manam Chocolate joins the celebration with its Diwali Edition 2025, crafted to capture the spirit of togetherness that defines the season.

Manam’s festive collection celebrates the tables we gather around, where families reunite, friends reconnect, and conversations stretch late into the night. Whether it’s for a long dinner, a taash night, or simply a quiet evening at home, the brand’s new collection brings something special to every kind of gathering. Because at the heart of Diwali, there’s always room for more, more laughter, more food, and of course, more chocolate.

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The Manam Diwali Edition 2025 is designed around the theme of festive tables, filled with gifts to share, flavours to discover, and moments to savour. The collection includes an array of indulgent chocolates, pastries, and desserts, offering something for every celebration and every palate. From grand centerpiece assortments to small treats meant to be shared, Manam invites everyone to create their own kind of Diwali.

India’s award-winning craft chocolate brand brings a collection of bonbons, palettes, tablets, clusters, cookies, thins, spreads, and more, all made from cacao beans grown in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Each creation is beautifully packed in limited-edition boxes illustrated by artist Namrata Kumar, whose signature impressionistic style captures scenes from Manam’s cacao farms and fermentery, the Chocolate Karkhana in Hyderabad, and homes filled with festive warmth.

The Highlights of Manam’s Diwali 2025 Collection, The Diwali Indulgence Collection – Bite-sized bonbons and palettes in flavours like Coconut & Curry Leaf, Hazelnut Praline, Lemon Cheesecake, and Birthday Cake. Treats & Tablets Box – A mix of textures and origins featuring Malabar 69%, Toffee Almond, and Raspberry & Rose, Celebration & Gifting Assortments – Ranging from the lavish Diwali Celebration Box to the compact Diwali Snack Selection, each box is crafted for gifting and gatherings. Diwali Preference Boxes – Curated to suit every taste, including dark, milk, vegan, and sweet-spice profiles, The Diwali Tablet Library – A selection of Manam’s most loved tablets like Pistachio Fudge, Coconut & Almond, Chai Biscuit, and Raspberry & Rose. The Diwali Dessert Spread, A rich mix of cakes and entremets, perfect for post-dinner indulgence, Diwali Celebration Cakes – Made to order, featuring flavours such as Hazelnut Coffee, Dark Chocolate Raspberry, Carrot & Apricot, and Coconut Lemon Custard. 

Each product has been designed to travel beautifully, look elegant, and fit perfectly into every festive moment — from gifting to hosting.

Visit & Order:
Manam Chocolate is available at:

  • New Delhi: Eldeco Centre, Saket

  • Hyderabad: Manam Chocolate Karkhana, Banjara Hills; Manam Chocolate Beverage Bar, Knowledge City
    Pan-India deliveries are available via www.manamchocolate.com. Orders can also be placed through Swiggy and Zomato in Hyderabad.

About Manam Chocolate:

Manam Chocolate, listed among TIME’s World’s Greatest Places 2024 and Conde Nast Traveller India’s Top Restaurants 2024, is a proudly Indian Craft Chocolate® brand. Derived from the Telugu word “Manam,” meaning “We” or “Us,” the brand represents a collective of farmers, fermenters, chocolate makers, and chocolatiers from Andhra Pradesh, redefining the craft chocolate movement in India with over 300 unique products across 50 categories.

This Diwali, Manam invites everyone to celebrate the tables that bring people together — where memories are made, laughter shared, and one more piece of chocolate is always welcome. Because when Manam Chocolate is at the table, there’s always room for more.


Chinese Wok Marks 10th Anniversary by Serving 10,000 Meals to Children Across India

Chinese Wok Marks 10th Anniversary by Serving 10,000 Meals to Children Across India

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on September 17, 2025

Chinese Wok, India’s largest home-grown Desi Chinese QSR brand, marked its 10th anniversary with a celebration rooted in joy and community spirit. Instead of limiting the milestone to its restaurants, the brand chose to give back by serving more than 10,000 freshly prepared meals to school children across 10 cities in 10 days.

The initiative spanned major cities including Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, and Lucknow, reaching underserved communities with hearty Desi Chinese meals. Each event became a celebration of togetherness, with children enjoying not just the food but also moments of laughter, games, and branded merchandise that made the experience memorable.

What made the initiative truly special was the hands-on participation of hundreds of Chinese Wok employees from restaurants, regional offices, and the corporate team. They came together to cook, serve, and spend time with the children, ensuring the celebration went beyond food to create genuine connections.

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Reflecting on the milestone, Aayush Madhusudan Agrawal, Director, Lenexis Foodworks, shared,

“Completing 10 years is a proud milestone for all of us at Chinese Wok. We wanted to celebrate not just within our restaurants, but by bringing joy to children and communities that inspire us every day. This initiative reflects our long-term belief that food can be a force for good, and we will continue to build on this commitment as we grow.”

This initiative also underscores the larger vision of Lenexis Foodworks, the parent company of Chinese Wok, Big Bowl, and The Momo Co. By focusing on food as a force for good, the group continues to expand its footprint across India while making a lasting impact in the communities it serves.


Sip in Style: Yuki’s Tequila Cocktails Hit All the Right Notes

Sip in Style: Yuki’s Tequila Cocktails Hit All the Right Notes

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on July 31, 2025

At Yuki, sipping tequila is no longer just about salt and lime, it’s about exploring bold flavours, subtle aromas, and creative twists inspired by Pan-Asian flair. This stylish spot isn’t just a feast for the palate with its cuisine, but now also delights with a cocktail menu that’s bursting with personality.

Whether you’re a tequila enthusiast or just cocktail-curious, Yuki’s mixologists have designed a lineup that balances classic notes with playful innovation. Here’s what’s pouring:

Pandan Teq-Tea

This one’s a game-changer. A gentle blend of tequila, pandan syrup, and a hint of lime creates a smooth, slightly sweet drink with a vanilla-like aroma. It’s soft, fragrant, and a total crowd-pleaser for those who like their cocktails a little off the beaten path.

Summer in Osaka

If summer had a signature drink, this would be it. Imagine tequila meeting creamy toasted coconut, refreshing coconut water, earthy matcha crème, and a dusting of beetroot. The result? A layered, tropical cocktail that feels like a warm breeze with every sip.

Tuk Tuk Tom

This one’s for the bold-hearted. Inspired by Southeast Asian street flavors, it brings the iconic zing of Tom Yum into your glass. Tequila mingles with chilli heat, parsley freshness, and a citrusy lift from lime, giving you a spicy, herby hit that lingers in the best way.

The Classic Margarita

Some things never go out of style. Yuki’s take on the Margarita keeps it clean and crisp, premium agave, a splash of orange liqueur, and fresh lime juice. It’s a simple reminder of why this cocktail became a global favourite in the first place.

Yuki Picante

Think tropical meets spicy. Pineapple juice, lime, and agave nectar form the base, while coriander and jalapeño bring a zesty punch. It's lively, bold, and designed to wake up your taste buds.

Yuki doesn’t just serve cocktails, it curates experiences in a glass. Whether you're out with friends or just winding down after a long day, their tequila range adds the perfect spark to your evening. So the next time you’re at Yuki, raise a glass to flavour, flair, and a sip-worthy adventure.

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