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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 January 8, 2026
Romanos, the city’s premier destination for authentic Italian cuisine at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar, is set to unveil Formaggi d’Italia, a refined, cheese-led culinary experience. Launching on 7th January 2026, the showcase celebrates Italian cheese through craftsmanship, storytelling, and interactive dining.
Inspired by Italy’s regional cheese culture, Formaggi d’Italia begins with an artisanal cheese board featuring Bocconcini, Mozzarella, Gorgonzola, pine nut-crusted goat cheese, Pecorino, and Provolone, paired with pecan nuts, JW herb crackers, and mostarda.
Guests can then indulge in a range of cheese-forward pastas including Four Root Cheese Gnocchi with Brie, Fettuccine Quattro Formaggi, and Tortellini alla Fonduta. The experience continues with comforting mains such as Chicken Parmigiana and Spinach Ricotta Lasagna with Brie, and concludes with classic Italian desserts like Tiramisu and Sicilian Cannoli filled with Ricotta.
“Formaggi d’Italia brings together craftsmanship, indulgence, and storytelling,” said a spokesperson for Romanos. “It reaffirms Romanos as a destination where authentic Italian flavours are elevated through immersive, experience-led dining.”
About JW Marriott Mumbai SaharJW Marriott Mumbai Sahar combines elegance and sophistication, conveniently located near Mumbai’s international and domestic airports. The hotel features 588 spacious rooms, world-class dining including Romanos, JW Café, BarQat, and AUTM – JW Lounge, as well as 95,781 sq.ft. of convention spaces, and Spa by JW, Asia Pacific’s first, offering holistic wellness therapies.
For more details, visit www.jwmumbai.com.
About Marriott InternationalMarriott International operates nearly 9,500 properties in 144 countries under 30+ brands. Marriott Bonvoy® offers a highly awarded travel platform. For the latest news, visit Marriott News Center or follow @MarriottIntl on social media.
Published on January 7, 2026
Woodside Inn, Mumbai’s pioneering gastropub, has opened its second home in Indiranagar, Bengaluru, bringing its celebrated pub culture, hearty menu, and relaxed spirit to one of the city’s most dynamic dining districts.
Spanning 2,800 sq. ft. across two floors with a balcony extension, the Bengaluru outpost balances nostalgic charm with local vibrancy. Interiors feature light wood tones, hand-laid interlocking floors, communal tables, and bespoke frames celebrating Bengaluru’s legendary pubs. Large arched bay windows overlook a rain tree, while a carefully curated playlist ties the ambience together.
At the heart of the experience is beer. Fourteen taps feature selections from Bengaluru breweries like Toit, Geist, Red Rhino, and Mannheim, alongside classics like Kingfisher and Heineken. Signature freezer-door cocktails, served at minus five degrees Celsius, ensure each drink is chilled perfectly without dilution, offering crisp, balanced flavours.
Food at Woodside Inn Bengaluru celebrates comfort with refinement. A charcoal-fired live grill brings rustic flavours to dishes like Grilled Harissa Chicken Skewers and Citrus Paprika Chicken. The menu spans bar nibbles, small plates, signature burgers, pizzas, pastas, and mains such as Trio Mushroom Risotto, Steak Frites, and Grilled Rawas with Lemon Caper Beurre Blanc. Desserts include the Flourless Belgian Chocolate Torte.
The iconic Beer & Burger Festival, India’s long-running F&B celebration, also makes its Bengaluru debut, promising new flavours and fresh pairings for enthusiasts.
Speaking about the launch, Co-Founder Pankil Shah said, “Bengaluru is the OG pub capital of India. We’re not here to lead the community, just to be part of it. Our goal is to create a welcoming space where good beer, good food, and good company come together.”
Founded in 2007 in Colaba, Mumbai, Woodside Inn has grown to outposts in Bandra, Colaba, and Andheri. Known for its live music sessions, signature beers, and the Beer & Burger Festival, the brand brings 18 years of Mumbai pub culture to Bengaluru while tuning into the city’s love for craft beer and neighbourhood hospitality.
Address: 35, 80 Feet Rd, HAL 3rd Stage, New Tippasandra, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560075Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodsideblr/
By Manu Vardhan Kannan
After a successful run in Baner, The Gulmohar Bar & Curry House has unveiled its new address in Koregaon Park, Lane 7, bringing its signature blend of contemporary Indian food and nostalgia-driven cocktails to one of Pune’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. The new space reflects the brand’s philosophy of everyday comfort, regional diversity and familiar flavours, designed for both relaxed downtime and lively celebrations.
Owned by Harsh Agarwal and Umang Bhimrajka, the 3,000 sq. ft. outlet seats up to 120 guests and is envisioned as a warm, easygoing escape in the heart of the city. Speaking about the opening, Harsh Agarwal, Co-Founder, said, “The name Gulmohar is drawn from what the tree itself represents - simplicity with quiet grandeur, an icon deeply rooted in memory. Much like its season of bloom, The Gulmohar stands for nostalgia, good times and moments meant to be shared and returned to."
Umang Bhimrajka, Co-Founder, added, “The Gulmohar is a comfortable, proudly Indian space you can return to often, whether for downtime or celebration. The space is designed to fit into the rhythm of your week, not just your weekend.”
Designed by Natasha and Parzan Daruwala of Studio 1658, Bandra, the Koregaon Park outlet draws inspiration from Pune’s laid-back, unpretentious character while staying rooted in The Gulmohar’s Indian ethos. The interiors feature an earthy palette of greens, terracotta accents, natural stone, teak, bamboo and exposed brick, creating a space that feels warm, familiar and lived-in.
The design also reflects the influence of late architect Geoffrey Bawa, seen in the seamless indoor-outdoor transitions, relaxed spatial planning and custom furniture and artworks inspired by his tropical modern sensibility.
The menu, curated by award-winning Chef Shailendra Kekade, celebrates the depth and diversity of Indian regional cuisine through a contemporary lens. Moving beyond conventional North-South boundaries, the menu brings together familiar flavours, regional techniques and thoughtful reinterpretations crafted for everyday dining.
The Chaat section sets the tone with playful yet rooted dishes such as kale and spicy peach chaat, inspired by palak patta chaat, and Wai Thai Noodles, a bhel-style preparation using Wai Wai noodles layered with street-style Asian flavours. The Salad section balances indulgence and restraint, with Burrata and Bhang standing out for its combination of fresh burrata, mixed lettuce and hemp seed chutney.
Small chakhna-style tapas draw from street food and home kitchens across India. Highlights include Kaju Usali with Goli Baje, a coastal preparation flavoured with coconut, curry leaves and mustard seeds served alongside crisp Mangalorean fritters, and Kharda Mutton, a rustic Maharashtrian dish presented in a refined small-plate format.
The Nosh section focuses on appetisers from the tandoor and grill, featuring kathal seekh kebab, galoutis inspired by Lucknow’s streets, pathar ka murgh and a homestead-style Bombay Duck. Anchoring the menu is the Curry House Extravaganza, where Indian classics sit alongside South East Asian curries adapted to suit Indian palates. Standout dishes include Nihari, Gongura Mamsam, roasted pineapple Sri Lankan curry and Bengali Sorshe Maach.
A progressive approach to health runs through the menu, with most breads and biryanis prepared using millets, adding depth of flavour while keeping wellness in focus. Speaking about the food philosophy, Chef Shailendra Kekade said, “The Gulmohar is meant to feel like a small break in the middle of the city. The food celebrates regional Indian flavours in a way that feels familiar, light and easy to enjoy every day.”
Complementing the dining experience is Guls Café, offering a compact café menu with India-inspired sandos and a focused filter coffee programme, served daily till the evening.
The cocktail programme is a defining element of The Gulmohar experience, built around ingredients sourced from across Indian states and united by nostalgia. Global cocktail formats are reinterpreted through Indian flavours to create drinks that connect emotionally before impressing technically.
Misti Doi, inspired by a martini, uses fat-washed Misti Doi gin for a gently tangy, comforting finish. Malgudi Days draws from toddy shops and slower times, crafted with house-fermented coconut wine. Magai, a paan-infused gin cocktail, is an ode to late-night drives and familiar roadside paan stops. Coastal Trip blends tequila with kokum and amla, recalling school-day memories of kokum sharbat and salt-and-pepper amla from local carts across Maharashtra and the coastal belt.
With its new Koregaon Park address, The Gulmohar Bar & Curry House continues to build on its vision of offering contemporary Indian dining that feels rooted, relaxed and deeply personal.
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