Chef Vedangi Gawde Triumphs as India's Callebaut Pâtissier of the Year 2024

Chef Vedangi Gawde Triumphs as India's Callebaut Pâtissier of the Year 2024

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on May 30, 2024

The prestigious Callebaut Pâtissier of the Year 2024 competition, showcasing India’s finest pastry talent, recently concluded in Mumbai. This year, Chef Vedangi Gawde was crowned the winner, with Chef Yash Chhabria as the first runner-up and Chef Sandeep Sharma and Chef Nilesh Dewulkar sharing the second runner-up spot.

Callebaut, famed for its high-quality Belgian chocolate, organized the event in collaboration with Taj Lands End as the Hospitality Partner. Now in its third edition, the competition aims to provide a platform for India’s top pastry chefs to showcase their innovative use of chocolate in bakery, pastry, and confectionery creations.

The journey to the finale was marked by remarkable talent and creativity. Pastry chefs from across India participated in regional qualifiers held in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru. The eight finalists—Chef Krishanu Dey, Chef Milan Shoran, Chef Sandeep Sharma, Chef Vedangi Gawde, Chef Anshul Grover, Chef Nilesh Dewulkar, Chef Shashi Kiran, and Chef Yash Chhabria—competed fiercely for the top honors.

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Chef Vedangi Gawde, Chef de Partie at Sivako, emerged victorious. Chef Yash Chhabria, Pastry Cook and Co-Founder of Cacaobleu, was the first runner-up. Chef Sandeep Sharma, Demi Chef de Partie at JW Marriott Kolkata, and Chef Nilesh Dewulkar, Pastry Chef at Sofitel BKC, tied for the second runner-up position.

Dhruva Jyoti Sanyal, Managing Director of Barry Callebaut Cocoa & Chocolate Ingredients India, expressed pride in the event's success. He highlighted the competition’s theme, "Craft Your Signature," which encouraged chefs to express their authentic selves through their creations. He praised the participants for their exceptional skill, talent, and passion displayed throughout the competition.

Chef Pratik Deshmukh, Head of Chocolate Academy Mumbai, was thrilled with the level of talent showcased. "Overall, we had a great turnout for the competition. We had the opportunity to taste some really unique flavor combinations as well. The Chefs truly pushed their boundaries through the competition and proudly crafted their signatures. The level of pastry skill has indeed evolved, which was displayed throughout the competition, be it with newer, more efficient methods of working or flavor pairings and techniques used to craft bonbons, entremets, and other creations."

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Global Callebaut Creative Lead Chef Minette Smith, who judged the event for the second time, echoed these sentiments. She appreciated the contestants' creativity and their use of local ingredients. She remarked on the difficulty of selecting a winner due to the high level of competition and wished all participants success in their future endeavors.

Chef Vedangi Gawde said, “I am very happy to win the title of the Callebaut Patisserie for the year. This is a very special title for me, and this win means a lot to me.”

The grand finale featured contestants creating exquisite signature dishes across various categories, judged by culinary experts including Chef Minette Smith, Chef Romain Renard, Head of MENA Chocolate Academies, and Chef Arvind Prasad, Ambassador for Callebaut Chocolates in India.

The event was supported by several partners: Taj Lands End as the Hospitality Partner, The Chocolate Academy Mumbai as the Knowledge Partner, KitchenAid as the Appliance Partner, Unox as the Equipment Partner, Elle & Vire Professional and Delta Nutritives as the Ingredient Partners, BW Hotelier as the Media Partner, Zee Zest as the Lifestyle Partner, and VBev as the Celebration Partner.


Rumour Introduces Luna de Agave, a New Wednesday Cocktail Ritual in Delhi

Rumour Introduces Luna de Agave, a New Wednesday Cocktail Ritual in Delhi

By Hariharan U

Published on August 15, 2026

Rumour in New Delhi has introduced Luna de Agave, a new Wednesday nightlife experience built around tequila cocktails, live music, social dining and a signature 8 PM collective toast.

Running every Wednesday from 7 PM, Luna de Agave is designed as a multi-stage evening that gradually moves from cocktails and social dining into a full nightlife experience.

The experience begins at 7 PM with Golden Hour, featuring a tequila cocktail menu created exclusively for the weekly ritual. The selection includes reinterpretations of the Picante, Margaritas and Rumour's own take on the Paloma.

At 7:30 PM, the evening moves into the Cocktail Tree, a shared presentation featuring 12 mini cocktails served together. Designed as both a social and visual experience, the serve encourages groups to share a round while adding a theatrical element to the evening.

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The centrepiece arrives at 8 PM with The Ritual, when guests across the venue are served a surprise mini tequila cocktail. As the lighting changes, live percussion begins and the room comes together for a collective toast.

From 8:30 PM onwards, After Dark takes over, with DJs and percussionists increasing the energy and transitioning the evening from cocktail-led dining into a longer night out.

The food menu complements the social character of the experience, with dishes designed for sharing. Highlights include Korean Chicken Tacos with gochujang and wasabi aioli, Black Bean Tacos with avocado mousse and feta, Salsa Macha Prawns with furikake slaw, and Glazed Tofu with peanut, sesame mayo and hot tahini.

Music is also integrated into the format, with live percussion marking key transitions during the evening. The entertainment lineup will change from week to week, featuring guest performers and surprise acts, while the structure of Luna de Agave remains centred around the 8 PM toast.

According to Nishchay Jain, Founder, Rumour, the concept developed from an existing customer trend, with Wednesdays becoming one of the venue's busier nights and tequila cocktails emerging as a popular choice among guests.

"Luna de Agave came from wanting to give that behaviour an identity and turn it into a ritual, taking a night people already loved coming to Rumour for and giving them little moments to look forward to," Jain said.

Located in Basant Lok, Vasant Vihar, Rumour positions Luna de Agave as a weekly social experience rather than a conventional drinks promotion, creating a structured Wednesday night that moves through cocktails, food, music and shared moments.

Reservations are recommended, particularly for groups looking to experience the Cocktail Tree, while walk-ins are welcome subject to availability.

Event Details

Event: Luna de Agave
Venue: Rumour
Address: 12 Basant Lok, 1st Floor, Priya Market, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi
Day: Every Wednesday
Timings: From 7 PM
Format: Tequila cocktails, shared serves, live percussion, DJ and social dining


The Filter Coffee Opens 10th Outlet in Bengaluru with New Arekere Restaurant

The Filter Coffee Opens 10th Outlet in Bengaluru with New Arekere Restaurant

By Hariharan U

Published on August 15, 2026

The Filter Coffee has opened its 10th outlet in Bengaluru, expanding its presence in South Bengaluru with a new 70-seater restaurant in Arekere near BTM 6th Stage and Hulimavu.

Opened on August 1, 2026, the new outlet is located on Sir M. Visvesvaraya Road and brings The Filter Coffee's signature South Indian cuisine and filter coffee to the neighbourhood through a full-service dine-in format.

The launch marks a significant milestone for the Bengaluru-based casual dining brand, particularly as Arekere has been part of its customer journey since its early days.

The new restaurant serves a familiar selection of South Indian favourites, including dosas, idlis, traditional banana leaf meals and filter coffee, alongside a broader dine-in offering designed for everyday dining.

Open from 7 AM to 10:30 PM, the outlet caters to breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its breakfast menu is available throughout the day, while a dedicated selection of snacks is offered from 4 PM for afternoon diners.

To mark the opening, The Filter Coffee has introduced a three-visit offer for customers. The first visit includes complimentary filter coffee for two, the second offers a buy-one-get-one deal on banana leaf lunch meals, and the third visit provides a flat 25% discount on the total bill.

Commenting on the launch, Sankrit Iyer, Co-founder, The Filter Coffee, said, "Every new outlet has a story, and Arekere's story is especially meaningful to us. This is where we built one of our earliest customer communities, and returning here feels like coming home."

He added that the brand's relationship with customers in the neighbourhood encouraged the company to establish a permanent retail presence, allowing guests to experience its food, coffee and hospitality through a dedicated dine-in space.

Strengthening South Bengaluru Presence

The Arekere opening forms part of The Filter Coffee's measured expansion strategy across Bengaluru.

According to Avinit Bagri, Co-founder, The Filter Coffee, the company prioritises locations where it has already established strong customer relationships rather than expanding solely based on market potential.

"Our expansion strategy has always been thoughtful rather than aggressive. We don't choose locations simply based on market potential; we look for places where we've built genuine customer relationships and where we believe we can create long-term value," said Bagri.

The brand's presence across South Bengaluru includes established neighbourhoods such as Jayanagar, with the Arekere outlet adding another location within a region known for its strong affinity towards traditional South Indian dining.

The new restaurant is positioned within a well-established residential belt near Hulimavu, making it accessible to local residents seeking familiar South Indian meals for everyday dining.

From First Store to 10 Outlets

The Filter Coffee is the flagship brand of WishVish Foods Private Limited. Founded in 2014 with its first store in Kalyan Nagar, the brand has grown to operate 10 full-service restaurants across Bengaluru.

Its offering spans dine-in, takeaway and online delivery, with the brand focusing on traditional South Indian food served with consistency and a contemporary casual-dining approach.

The Arekere outlet represents another step in this expansion, strengthening the brand's network across Bengaluru while returning to a neighbourhood that has been part of its journey since its early years.

Outlet Details

Venue: The Filter Coffee, Arekere
Address: Site No. 501, Vijay Bank Layout, BTM 6th Stage, Sir M. Visvesvaraya Road, Muthuraya Swamy Layout, Hanuman Nagar, Hulimavu, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560076
Opening Date: August 1, 2026
Seating Capacity: 70
Timings: 7 AM – 10:30 PM
Contact: Prem – +91 81058 55391


Anardana Opens Its Biggest Outlet Yet in Noida Sector 50

Anardana Opens Its Biggest Outlet Yet in Noida Sector 50

By Author

Published on August 14, 2026

Anardana has opened its 14th and largest outlet yet in Noida's Sector 50, introducing an upgraded menu and a contemporary Indian dining environment designed to reflect the brand's next phase of growth.

The new flagship builds on Anardana's presence in Noida, following the response to its Sector 129 outlet. The brand has established a growing following across North India with its modern Indian cuisine, bold flavours and vibrant dining environments.

With the Sector 50 opening, Anardana brings together familiar favourites and new culinary creations in a significantly larger space designed to function as a destination for dining and celebratio ns.

Commenting on the launch, Shruti Malik, Founder, Anardana, said, "The launch of our Noida Sector 50 restaurant is a defining milestone for Anardana as we open our 14th outlet and our largest flagship destination yet. Noida has always been an important market for us, and the love we've received at our Sector 129 outlet gave us the confidence to deepen our presence in the city."

She added that the new flagship was designed to offer more than a restaurant, combining elevated design, warm service and a culinary experience that remains rooted in Indian traditions while embracing contemporary influences.

Contemporary Indian Design

The Sector 50 outlet adopts a contemporary Indian design language built around fluid geometry, layered materials and sculptural elements.

A double-height central volume forms the heart of the restaurant, with sculptural domes, suspended installations and cascading greenery creating a strong vertical visual identity. Integrated lighting adds depth to the space, while the interplay of solid and open areas creates a balance between intimate dining zones and larger social spaces.

The material palette incorporates terracotta flooring, timber battens, natural stone, textured finishes and handcrafted lattice screens, bringing warmth and tactile character to the interiors.

A dramatic double-height bar acts as the central visual anchor, while curvilinear seating, raised platforms and carefully framed sightlines create distinct dining zones within the larger space.

The design aims to celebrate Indian craftsmanship through a contemporary interpretation rather than relying heavily on traditional ornamentation.

Upgraded Culinary Offering

The new outlet also introduces an upgraded menu featuring modern interpretations of Indian flavours alongside familiar Anardana favourites.

Vegetarian highlights include In Pulled Jackfruit Cannelloni, featuring ghee-roasted pulled jackfruit rolled into cannelloni and baked in saffron cream sauce.

Among the non-vegetarian offerings are Butter Chicken Gujiya, featuring crispy gujiyas filled with smoky tandoori chicken and served with Parmesan and makhani sauce, and Malai Chicken Roulade, paired with mashed potatoes and smoked red bell pepper sauce.

Other new dishes include Achari Chicken Breast, mushroom-stuffed chicken finished with a pickle brush and mushroom pepper sauce; Lamb Ragout Sambusa; and Mutton Goli Kebab, served with gilafi kulcha and walnut, radish and eggplant chutneys.

For dessert, the Rasgulla Tiramisu combines rasgulla soaked in coffee and rum with mascarpone and cacao, offering an Indo-Italian interpretation of the classic dessert.

The brand said the expanded menu is intended to build on Anardana's approach to contemporary Indian cuisine while introducing guests to new combinations and presentations.

The Sector 50 outlet represents an important milestone for Anardana as the brand continues to expand its presence across North India. Founded in 2018, Anardana has grown its restaurant portfolio with a focus on modern Indian cuisine, hospitality and experiential dining.

With its largest outlet yet, the brand aims to strengthen its position in Noida's competitive dining landscape while creating a larger destination for everyday meals, celebrations and social occasions.

Outlet Details

Venue: Anardana, Sector 50, Noida
Address: Unit No. TF 04, Aditya Ancora, Plot No. 05, F Block, Sector 50, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301
Phone: 9667502046

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