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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.
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."
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.
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By Hariharan U
Published on February 18, 2026
Daryaganj has expanded its culinary legacy with the launch of Rolls & Kebab by Daryaganj, designed for quick delivery and easy enjoyment at home. After six successful outlets worldwide, the brand now brings its signature North Indian flavours to customers’ doorsteps, combining traditional recipes and techniques with a fast, convenient format.
The menu features soft, flavourful rolls and kebabs, perfect for anytime indulgence. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian options include Paneer Tikka, Soya Malai Chaap, Aloo Tikka, Chicken Tikka, Chicken Malai Tikka, Chicken Seekh, Bhatti Chicken, Mutton Seekh, and Sole Fish Tikka. Each roll is wrapped in soft rumali roti and paired with mint chutney, onions, and chaat masala for that authentic taste.
Amit Bagga, Co-founder & CEO of Daryaganj, said, "Rolls & Kebab by Daryaganj was created for people who love our food but want it in a quicker, more convenient format. It carries the same recipes, techniques and flavours we have followed for decades, just wrapped in a way that fits into today's fast-moving lifestyles."
Whether it’s a quick lunch, a late-night snack, or a comforting bite during a busy day, Rolls & Kebab by Daryaganj offers the warmth, familiarity, and flavour of classic North Indian cuisine in a format made for modern life.
Golden Dragon at Taj Coromandel Chennai invites guests to celebrate the Chinese New Year and welcome the Year of the Horse with a thoughtfully curated festive menu. Symbolising energy, progress, confidence, and good fortune, the occasion is marked with Cantonese classics and creative interpretations that reflect prosperity and togetherness.
Known as one of Chennai’s finest Chinese restaurants, Golden Dragon offers authentic Sichuan and Cantonese flavours. The special menu begins with comforting bowls like Double Boiled Monkey Head Mushroom Broth with cilantro, carrots, and sesame oil, and Shi Hu Lamb Soup enriched with minced lamb, tomatoes, and egg drop. Guests can also enjoy delicate Chicken and vegetarian Shuijiao dumplings.
Highlights include Braised Duck with Chilli Bean slow-cooked with garlic and sesame, Pulled Duck Spring Rolls with roast duck shreds and blanched greens, and seafood specials such as Tiger Prawns in XO sauce and Lobster with Ginger Scallion and Shaoxing rice wine. Other offerings include Koi Rou, pork belly steamed with bok choy and soy, and Hang Zhou Tenderloin stir-fried with okra and young chillies.
Vegetarian options feature Kong Cin Chai, morning glory tossed with garlic and dry red chillies, Silken Tofu in Fresh Chilli Sauce, Steamed Longevity Noodles, and Moon Fan jasmine rice with Chinese five spice. Desserts include Water Chestnut, fruit and Lotus Dim Sum with Pineapple Sweet Chilli Ice Cream, and Chocolate & Banana Cremeux with candied walnuts and salted caramel.
The festive experience is complemented by signature cocktails like Rose Mary Gin Fizz, Dragon Wall with dragon fruit jam and jasmine tea, and Cherry Moon, along with refreshing mocktails including Cucumber Lemonade Huanggau and Lychee Delight.
With its auspicious menu and elegant setting, Golden Dragon offers the perfect way to welcome the Year of the Horse, celebrating new beginnings with flavour, tradition, and style.
Spice Traders at W Goa has reimagined Chinese dining in India, combining authenticity with a modern, balanced approach. The restaurant’s renewed menu embraces the philosophies of China’s Eight Great Cuisines without merely replicating regional dishes. Instead, Chef Avinash focuses on understanding how each cuisine thinks, layering heat, using fermentation for depth, and achieving balance through contrast.
This contemporary take is guided by Spice Traders’ BA philosophy - a space between opposites. Tradition meets modernity, fire meets freshness, and comfort meets curiosity. Every dish is composed intentionally, letting flavours unfold naturally without overwhelming the palate. Sauces support, techniques are precise, and the experience feels both familiar and thoughtful.
The menu highlights seafood as the star, with scallops, prawns, sea bass, and black cod prepared to retain their natural character. Dim sum is crafted delicately, while vegetables like mushrooms, lotus root, and tofu are treated with equal care. Fire and smoke are used subtly, adding warmth and depth through gentle charring and slow cooking.
Chef Avinash explains, “The Eight Great Cuisines were our starting point, not our framework. What interested me was how each cuisine thinks about balance, restraint, fermentation, and heat. BA is that space in between. This menu is about understanding ingredients deeply and letting flavours speak with clarity and confidence.”
The storytelling extends beyond the plate. A curated cocktail program mirrors the same philosophy, using Chinese ingredients, teas, spices, and fermented elements. The gong service ritual punctuates the dining experience, blending tradition with contemporary expression and reinforcing the restaurant as more than just a place to eat- it’s a full sensory journey.
Spice Traders at W Goa offers a fresh route to Chinese dining in India, presenting a story of flavours, thought, and time, an old tradition told again with clarity, balance, and quiet confidence.
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