Bite Into Bharat: The Chocolates That Bring India’s Local Delights to Life

Bite Into Bharat: The Chocolates That Bring India’s Local Delights to Life

By Nishang Narayan

Published on July 3, 2025

India’s identity is woven not just through its myriad languages and breathtaking landscapes, but through the vibrant tapestry of its flavours. Every region brings its own sensory signature—tastes that spark memories, transport us back home, and gently remind us who we are.

It’s a legacy that doesn’t merely nourish; it narrates. A handful of spices from Kerala’s lush coast or a melt-in-the-mouth biscuit from a Hyderabadi bakery can stir more emotion than a stack of photo albums ever could.

Now imagine capturing these soulful regional stories in something as universal as chocolate. That’s exactly what MISHTHAAN, a beautifully curated collection of regional-inspired chocolates, sets out to do. Born from a passion to celebrate India’s rich culinary soul, MISHTHAAN transforms the country’s most iconic local flavours into luxurious chocolate experiences.

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Each bar isn’t just a sweet treat—it’s a taste memory reinvented. A heartfelt indulgence where heritage meets innovation, turning chocolate into a canvas for India’s most beloved stories.

Here’s how this delicious journey across Bharat unfolds, one irresistible bite at a time:

MISHTHAAN Mahabaleshwar Berries & Rose Dark Chocolate

From the strawberry fields of Maharashtra
This bar is a quiet homage to Mahabaleshwar, the famed land of berries. It brings together handpicked strawberries and cranberries from the misty hills, layered with delicate rose petals that add a fragrant, almost poetic softness. Wrapped in velvety dark chocolate, it tastes like early morning walks, market stalls overflowing with fruit, and rose gardens still wet with dew.

MISHTHAAN Kolkata Meetha Paan Milk Chocolate

A sweet stroll through the bylanes of Bengal
Kolkata doesn’t just serve paan—it offers a whole ritual, rich in charm and tradition. This milk chocolate bar captures that experience with surprising grace. Delicate notes of betel leaf, cardamom, and traditional paan ingredients blend seamlessly into creamy chocolate, transforming a beloved street-side delight into something smooth, nostalgic, and deeply satisfying. It’s paan without the chew, only the enchantment.

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MISHTHAAN Maharashtra's Alphonso Mango & Cardamom Milk Chocolate

A slice of Ratnagiri summers
Few things announce an Indian summer quite like the golden glow of Alphonso mangoes. This chocolate celebrates that lush sweetness, pairing it with the gentle warmth of cardamom—a spice often hidden in grandmother’s mithai boxes. The result? Sunshine in a bar—rich, juicy, aromatic, and comforting. A celebration of mango season you can relish all year round.

MISHTHAAN Kerala’s Malabar Black Pepper & Pineapple Milk Chocolate

Where spice meets sweetness on Kerala’s coast
At first bite, the pineapple shines through—tangy, tropical, playful. Then comes a gentle whisper of Malabar black pepper that adds depth and a subtle thrill. It’s a bar that tells two stories—the fruit vendor and the spice trader—blending them into one delicious narrative. Kerala, in its layered, generous, slightly mischievous glory.

MISHTHAAN Hyderabad Osmania Biscuits Milk Chocolate

Tea-time nostalgia, reimagined
Osmania biscuits are a Hyderabadi classic—soft, buttery, just a touch salty. This bar folds that comforting flavour into a creamy milk chocolate base, creating a treat that feels like a warm cup of chai and conversations that linger into twilight. It’s subtle, familiar, and nearly impossible to stop at just one piece.

With each thoughtfully crafted bar, MISHTHAAN doesn’t just satisfy sweet cravings. It reconnects us with places we miss, people we cherish, and traditions we carry in our hearts.

This isn’t just chocolate.
This is India—made beautifully, delectably edible.


‘The Malabar’ opens as Sterling’s new culinary landmark in Wayanad

‘The Malabar’ opens as Sterling’s new culinary landmark in Wayanad

By Hariharan U

Published on September 3, 2025

 Sterling Holiday Resorts has announced the opening of The Malabar, its new fine dining specialty restaurant at Sterling Wayanad, Sulthan Bathery. Designed as a destination dining concept, the restaurant highlights Kerala’s culinary heritage through heirloom dishes, cultural storytelling, and refined service rituals.

The launch was celebrated with a cultural showcase featuring floral arrangements, a puja ceremony, a Theyyam performance, a spice garden tour, and an evening of live Sufi music paired with a curated dinner reflecting the restaurant’s philosophy of food as theatre.

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The Malabar’s compact, story-driven menu offers signature dishes like Chemeen Biryani, Erachi Puttu, Malabar Mango Cloud Fish, and Koonthal Nirachathu, along with forgotten classics such as Chakka Pathiri Nirachathu. Vegetarian highlights include Koon Curry, Raw Jackfruit Cutlets, Mathanga Erissery, and Cheera Parippu Curry, each plate designed with authenticity and cultural resonance.

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Commenting on the launch, Mr. Dileep Nair, Head of Operations at Sterling, said, “The Malabar was built on the voice of our guests. Insights showed a clear demand for authentic Kerala heirloom cuisine in a ₹700+ crore fine-dining market with no regional leader. The Malabar answers with authentic recipes, theatrical service, and a fine-dining format that creates recall and loyalty”.

This marks Sterling’s second major concept-driven restaurant, following Amo Odisha in Puri (2024). The Malabar strengthens Sterling’s vision of transforming dining into a strategic asset across destinations by blending heirloom dishes, local rituals, and sensory immersion.


Welcomhotel Bengaluru Celebrates Teacher’s Day with Exclusive Dining Offer

Welcomhotel Bengaluru Celebrates Teacher’s Day with Exclusive Dining Offer

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on September 3, 2025

Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Richmond Road, Bengaluru, is celebrating Teacher’s Day on September 5th, 2025, with a thoughtful dining experience dedicated to teachers. The initiative highlights the invaluable contribution teachers make in shaping lives and inspiring dreams.

As part of the celebration, the hotel is extending a special 20% savings exclusively for teachers, allowing them to enjoy a memorable evening with fine dining and warm hospitality. Guests can choose from buffet and à la carte dinner options at the Mahjong Room and WelcomCafe Jacaranda, where carefully curated menus promise a delightful culinary experience.

The offer is valid on September 5th, 2025, from 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm. Teachers are required to present a valid institutional ID to avail the benefit.

For reservations, guests can email mytable.whbengaluru@itchotels.com to secure their table for this special occasion.

This celebration reflects Welcomhotel Bengaluru’s commitment to honouring teachers while creating moments of joy through exceptional hospitality.


Bengaluru Savours Ironhill India’s First-Ever “Alchemy Table” at Marathahalli

Bengaluru Savours Ironhill India’s First-Ever “Alchemy Table” at Marathahalli

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on September 2, 2025

Bengaluru witnessed a first-of-its-kind dining experience as Ironhill India, the world’s largest microbrewery chain, unveiled the debut edition of its signature concept, The Alchemy Table at Ironhill Marathahalli.

Designed for an intimate gathering of food lovers, influencers, and beer enthusiasts, the evening blended storytelling, craft brews, and chef-curated pairings into an immersive culinary journey.

An Evening of Culinary Storytelling

Led by Chef Syamal Raju Annamneedi, Corporate Chef at Ironhill India, and Soundera Rajan, Corporate Brewmaster, guests were guided through a sensory exploration of flavors, aromas, and brewing processes.

Ironhill’s signature brews, including previews of upcoming creations, were paired with bite-sized, flavorful dishes spanning starters, mains, and desserts. Each pairing was designed to enhance the umami effect, creating indulgent, memorable bites.

The evening also included an exclusive brewery tour, where the brewmaster explained ingredient selection, brewing techniques, and the delicate balance between food and beer. The interactive session sparked conversations, laughter, and genuine curiosity, transforming dinner into a theatre of flavors.

The Vision Behind The Alchemy Table

Inspired by mythology and the idea of alchemy, the concept celebrates transformation, turning simple ingredients into extraordinary experiences. The décor reflected this ethos, with gold accents, glowing candles, floral arrangements, celestial motifs, and curated hops displays that filled the air with fragrance and story.

Teja Chekuri, Managing Partner of Ironhill India, shared:

“With The Alchemy Table, our vision is to go beyond dining and create an immersive experience where every dish is thoughtfully paired, every pint reflects innovation, and every interaction deepens appreciation for the craft. The response has been incredible, and we look forward to curating this experience month after month.”

What’s Next

After the overwhelming success of its debut, The Alchemy Table will return on September 20th and 21st, 2025, at Ironhill Marathahalli and Ironhill Kanakapura. Guests can expect fresh brews, a newly crafted menu, inventive pairings, and the same captivating storytelling that defines Ironhill India’s philosophy.

From engaging Q&A sessions to shared laughter over experimental flavors, the launch edition proved one thing, Ironhill India is redefining how Bengaluru experiences craft beer and fine dining.

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