Chef Ajay Chopra's Plaka: A Culinary Gem in Bengaluru's Mall of Asia

By Author

Published on February 25, 2024

In a move that's set to redefine the culinary landscape of Bengaluru, celebrated chef Ajay Chopra has launched Plaka, his first foray into South India's vibrant food scene. Nestled in the bustling Mall of Asia, Plaka embodies an exquisite fusion of global travels and culinary expertise, curated by Chef Chopra himself. Alongside director Priyakant Gautam, this venture promises a unique casual dining experience for those eager to explore the world through their taste buds.

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"Bengaluru's food and beverage landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation, and I'm excited to bring my 25 years of culinary adventures to this dynamic city," stated Chef Chopra. Plaka is built on the philosophy that food is a universal language, capable of bridging cultures and traditions in a harmonious blend.

The city's growing appetite for novel dining experiences and its reputation as a hub for culinary innovation make it the perfect setting for Plaka. According to Gautam, the restaurant aims to cater to the adventurous palates of Bangaloreans, offering a menu that's as diverse as it is delicious.

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Plaka's menu is a testament to Chef Chopra's innovative spirit, featuring a mix of traditional regional dishes and imaginative cross-cultural creations. Highlights include the Potlam Biryani and Egg Kalaki, alongside fusion dishes like the Taco-Bab—a delightful marriage of Tacos and Indian Kebabs. The Mezzo Mezzo grazing board offers a taste of the Mediterranean, while the GUAC is Life board celebrates the flavors of Mexico. For a heartier meal, the Chur Chur Naan Board pairs perfectly with Dal Makhni, Butter Chicken, and Chole, encapsulating the essence of Delhi's street food scene.

Dessert at Plaka is an affair to remember, with options like the Strawberry and Cream Tres Leches, a deconstructed Tiramisu, and a classic Carrot Cake, ensuring a sweet end to a memorable meal.

With its innovative menu and commitment to culinary excellence, Plaka is poised to become a beloved addition to Bengaluru's dining landscape, inviting food lovers to embark on a gastronomic journey like no other.


Madam Chocolate and BELAGIO Unveil Festive Christmas Gifting Collections 2025

Madam Chocolate and BELAGIO Unveil Festive Christmas Gifting Collections 2025

By Hariharan U

Published on December 16, 2025

This Christmas, Bengaluru’s dessert scene gets a festive upgrade as two homegrown brands, Madam Chocolate and BELAGIO, introduce their limited-edition Christmas Collections 2025. Designed for gifting, celebrations, and corporate hampers, both collections focus on handcrafted quality, festive flavours, and thoughtful presentation.

Madam Chocolate: Christmas Collection 2025

Bangalore’s fast-growing chocolate dessert brand, Madam Chocolate, brings festive cheer with a playful yet indulgent Christmas Collection that blends craftsmanship with holiday nostalgia. Perfect for personal gifting or festive tables, the collection highlights the brand’s love for detail and flavour.

The collection features the Belgian Couverture Chocolate Santa, a festive centrepiece crafted using premium Belgian chocolate. Another highlight is the Plum Cake House, an eggless plum cake soaked in orange juice and warming spices, then dipped in Madam Chocolate’s signature milk chocolate — a comforting classic with a festive twist.

Adding colour and charm are the Christmas Petit Gâteaux, featuring seasonal versions of popular favourites like Signature Choco Melt, Panda Black Forest, and Dubai Cheese Bomb, all finished with festive décor. The Christmas Bon Bons, hand-painted and artisanal, round off the collection, making them ideal for sharing or gifting.

Every creation reflects Madam Chocolate’s focus on handcrafted indulgence, combining festive visuals with familiar flavours that feel joyful and comforting.

BELAGIO: Christmas Couture Dessert Gifting 2025

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Luxury online patisserie BELAGIO introduces its Couture Dessert Gifting Collection 2025, inspired by Italian-style patisserie and couture craftsmanship. Known for its refined textures and elegant presentation, BELAGIO’s festive range is tailored for premium gifting and holiday celebrations.

The collection includes a curated Chocolate Collection featuring rich, multi-layered entremets, alongside a Berry Collection that offers lighter, fruit-forward flavours. The Fruit Collection brings together tropical and seasonal fruits in vibrant, festive compositions. For customised needs, BELAGIO also offers eggless and dietary-friendly options on request.

Each dessert is built with layers of sponge, mousse, cream, and ganache, finished with flawless mirror glazes and presented in bespoke BELAGIO packaging making every gift feel thoughtful and special.

Order Christmas Gifts: www.belagio.in

Together, Madam Chocolate and BELAGIO offer two distinct yet equally indulgent ways to celebrate Christmas 2025 — whether through playful handcrafted chocolates or refined couture-style desserts. From personal gifting to corporate celebrations, these festive collections promise sweetness, style, and seasonal cheer.


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.

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