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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 May 22, 2026
Poppadum has officially launched in Kilpauk, introducing a contemporary Indian dining concept centred around nostalgia, familiarity, and culinary surprise.
Positioned as a fresh addition to Chennai’s evolving dining landscape, the restaurant celebrates regional flavours and stories from across India while reinterpreting familiar dishes through modern techniques, textures, and presentation styles.
Founded on the philosophy of making guests experience familiar Indian food differently, Poppadum draws inspiration from the humble papad or appalam, a staple accompaniment found across Indian households that often transforms an entire meal through texture and flavour.
Speaking about the concept, Abbas Shahzad said the restaurant aims to revive the excitement of eating Indian food by presenting known flavours in unexpected ways without losing their emotional connection and authenticity.
The menu reflects this approach through a range of small plates and mains inspired by diverse culinary traditions across India. Signature dishes include Khaman Chaat, Burrata “Masala Papad”, Thattai Tostada, Railway Beetroot Cutlet, and My MIL’s Daal Pakwaan, each offering a balance of familiarity and contemporary creativity.
The mains menu further explores layered Indian flavours with dishes such as Burrata Tikka Masala, White Dal Makhani, Tawa Kheema, and Smoked Masoor Pulao. Accompaniments including Scallion Parmesan Chur Chur Parotta and Poppadum Garlic Naan continue the restaurant’s playful reinterpretation of traditional formats.
Desserts such as Nichani’s Filter Coffee Pudding and Falooda Baraf Gola complete the dining experience with nostalgic flavours presented through a modern lens.
Spread across approximately 2,200 square feet with seating for 60 guests, the restaurant has been designed as an intimate and energetic space encouraging conversation, shared dining, and community-driven experiences.
With its launch, Poppadum adds to Chennai’s growing appetite for contemporary Indian dining concepts that blend regional storytelling, innovation, and comfort-led culinary experiences.
By Author
Jango has officially launched in Sahakarnagar, introducing an all-day café and cocktail bar concept aimed at blending work, dining, music, and social experiences under one roof.
Positioned as a neighbourhood-driven social space, Jango reflects Bengaluru’s evolving hospitality landscape where consumers are increasingly seeking flexible and experience-led venues that transition seamlessly through different parts of the day.
The venue operates as a relaxed, coffee-focused café during the daytime before evolving into a more energetic cocktail and dining destination in the evening. Designed to accommodate work sessions, casual meetings, dinners, music-led gatherings, and community events, the concept focuses on creating an adaptable environment for different audiences throughout the day.
Speaking on the launch, the founding team shared that the vision behind Jango was to create a space that guests could return to at different moments, whether for coffee and work during the day or cocktails and music later in the evening.
The menu features comfort-driven dishes with global influences alongside an approachable cocktail programme curated for easy-drinking experiences. The atmosphere also evolves through the day, shifting from quieter daytime energy to a more vibrant social setting by night.
In the coming weeks, Jango plans to introduce a dedicated breakfast menu along with curated community programming including founder meetups, creator gatherings, and music-led experiences.
The launch comes at a time when Bengaluru’s dining and nightlife culture is increasingly moving towards hybrid hospitality formats that combine cafés, social spaces, and experiential dining concepts.
By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Mumbai’s popular neighbourhood bakery, TwentySeven Bakehouse, is heading north with the launch of its newest outlet in Goregaon. The opening marks the brand’s fourth physical store in the city, adding to its existing locations in Mahalaxmi, Bandra, and Nepean Sea Road, along with its delivery-only cloud kitchen in Chembur.
Located at Oberoi Garden City in Goregaon, the new outlet expands TwentySeven Bakehouse’s growing presence in Mumbai’s evolving food scene. Following the response to its Mahalaxmi flagship outlet, the new space brings together everything the brand is known for under one roof, fresh breads, artisanal bakes, specialty coffee, sandwiches, and its well-loved New York-style pizzas.
Guests can expect familiar favourites that have helped build the bakery’s loyal following over the years. The menu includes its signature artisanal sourdough range, fresh loaves, and buttery croissants known for their flaky texture.
For quick meals and lunch breaks, made-to-order sandwiches such as Halloumi & Harissa and Pulled Pork Kimchi are among the highlights. Spice lovers can also try Thecha Chip Butty, a flavour-packed option with a spicy kick.
The menu also shines a spotlight on TwentySeven Bakehouse’s New York-style pizzas. Diners can choose from vegetarian options like Fiamma 2.0 and Basil Pesto, or go for the Chermoula Chicken with Vodka Sauce pizza. While waiting for orders, guests can snack on the bakery’s crowd favourite ‘Better Than Dr*gs Garlic Knots’.
Coffee lovers can also stop in for a quick cup of specialty coffee before meetings or work sessions, making the space suitable for both quick visits and long catch-ups.
To celebrate the launch, the bakery has introduced a series of in-store offers. Customers can buy three coffees and get one free until Sunday, May 24, 2026. Pizza lovers can enjoy a special Thursday and Friday offer where buying three pizzas comes with three soft drinks and one portion of Better-Than-Dr*gs Garlic Knots free. There is also a daily 35% discount on all bakes from 7:30 pm onwards, available both in-store and on Swiggy and Zomato.
TwentySeven Bakehouse is located at Restaurant No. 10, Ground Floor Avenue, International Business Park, Oberoi Garden City, off Western Express Highway, Goregaon East, Mumbai, Greater Mumbai, Maharashtra 400063 and is open daily from 8:30 am to 11:00 pm.
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