Loading...
You have Successfully logged In !
Already have an account? Login
By clicking Register you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.
Don't have an account?Register
Enter your E-mail address below, We will send the verification code
Please enter the code send to
Didn't receive the email?Click to resend
Your password has been successfully reset!.
Please login again to access your account.
An OTP has been sent to
Enter the 4-digit code
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.
Parag Milk Foods Enters RTD Protein Beverage Segment with Av...
Parag Milk Foods has announced its entry into India’s rapidl...
The LaLiT Suri Hospitality Group & Special Olympics Bharat H...
The LaLiT Suri Hospitality Group, in collaboration with Spec...
Clarion Hotel Khayal Kochi Wins Indian Hotel of the Year Award
Clarion Hotel Khayal Kochi has earned a major international ...
Papa Johns India Expands Delivery Reach Through Swiggy and Z...
Papa Johns India has announced the launch of its delivery se...
By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on May 21, 2026
Goa’s growing café culture has welcomed a new addition with the launch of AAMI Café & Bistro in Candolim. Designed around comfort, community, and a slower way of living, AAMI introduces a space where guests can unwind and connect at their own pace.
The name AAMI translates to “we” in Konkani, a philosophy that forms the foundation of the space. More than just a café, the property combines an all-day dining experience with thoughtfully designed Airbnb stays and a restored Portuguese villa, creating an atmosphere inspired by Goa’s easy and unhurried lifestyle.
Built alongside a restored Portuguese home by the Lobo family, AAMI preserves the charm of traditional architecture through details such as laterite stone walls, terracotta roofs, skylights, high ceilings, and a classic balcao-style porch. Adding to its warm and lived-in character are carefully designed gardens by Vintage Gardens and curated furniture pieces from Pink Elephant.
The interiors continue this calm approach through soft lighting, natural materials, muted tones, and simple design details that reflect Goa’s relaxed rhythm.
The food menu focuses on comfort-led all-day dining with a mix of continental dishes and approachable Asian flavours. Guests can choose from breakfast options such as Turkish Eggs, Eggs Benedict, Avocado Toast, Hawaiian Style Breakfast, and Cinnamon Coffee French Toast. The larger menu includes dishes like Goa-inspired Podi Calamari Rings, Chilli Lime Prawns, Chicken Satay, Thai Curry Bowls, Wild Mushroom Risotto, Sriracha Chicken Pizza, and the signature AAMI Croissanwich.
The beverage menu has also been carefully curated with drinks such as Guava Chilli Martini, Espresso Spritz, Virgin Cosmopolitan, Apple Ginger Spritz, and AAMI Cold Coffee. The café has also collaborated with homegrown brands including Cream Choc artisanal Italian gelato and Mumbai-based TOISE Coffee, adding another layer to its dessert and coffee offerings.
Speaking about the concept, Rohit Lobo, co-founder of AAMI Café & Bistro, said, "There is a lot of value today placed on experiences that are louder, faster, or more visually driven. We wanted to create something that felt quieter and more lasting. A place where people could genuinely make part of their everyday lives."
Adding to this, Sudhir Lobo, co-founder of AAMI Café & Bistro, said, "Goa already has an incredible café culture, but we felt there was room for a space that felt a little softer and more grounded. AAMI isn’t built around occasion dining or spectacle. It’s built around everyday comfort and the idea of belonging."
As part of the larger experience, the property also includes Airbnb stays and a restored heritage villa featuring an indoor pool and media centre, designed for relaxed stays and intimate group experiences.
With Goa’s café culture continuing to evolve, AAMI brings a more grounded and personal approach, reflecting a growing shift towards meaningful hospitality experiences.
Published on May 20, 2026
As summer temperatures rise and days grow longer, coffee lovers are turning to cooler, more refreshing ways to enjoy their daily brew. Tata Coffee Gold is tapping into this shift with its premium freeze-dried coffee range, designed to bring café-style indulgence right into the comfort of home.
The range is crafted for both hot and cold coffee preparations, making it easy to enjoy everything from iced lattes on warm afternoons to rich, comforting evening brews. With five distinct flavours, each cup is designed to elevate everyday coffee moments into something more indulgent and refreshing.
The Original variant offers a classic café experience with a rich, full-bodied taste and strong aroma, made possible through freeze-dried technology that locks in freshness and flavour.
For those who prefer a softer profile, the Vanilla variant adds a smooth, mellow sweetness, making it ideal for creamy lattes or chilled iced coffees. It brings a comforting touch to everyday coffee routines.
The Hazelnut flavour is designed for coffee drinkers who enjoy a nutty, gourmet twist. It delivers a rich aroma that works perfectly for café-style mochas and mid-day coffee breaks.
For indulgence seekers, the Brownie variant transforms coffee into a dessert-like experience, offering deep, chocolatey notes that pair well with evening cravings or sweet treats.
Inspired by the classic Italian dessert, the Tiramisu variant blends coffee with creamy and cocoa-like undertones, creating a layered and luxurious drinking experience with every sip.
With this range, Tata Coffee Gold aims to turn everyday kitchens into personal cafés, offering consumers a simple way to enjoy café-style coffee experiences at home, one flavour at a time.
By Hariharan U
TWH Hospitality has launched its second Nazeer Foods restaurant at Pooja Plazzio in Zirakpur, marking another milestone in the company’s expanding hospitality portfolio across North India. The newly opened outlet is being positioned as Chandigarh–Tricity’s first authentic Old Delhi-themed Mughlai fine-dining restaurant, combining heritage-inspired interiors with premium hospitality and traditional flavours.
Founded over four decades ago, Nazeer Foods has built a strong reputation for authentic Mughlai cuisine, traditional recipes, and a loyal customer base across Delhi-NCR. The Zirakpur expansion reflects the brand’s continued efforts to take its Old Delhi culinary legacy beyond the capital region while preserving its signature dining experience.
The restaurant has been developed as a premium dine-in destination featuring Mughlai-inspired aesthetics, elegant seating, warm hospitality, and a refined ambience designed for families, professionals, and food enthusiasts across the Tricity region.
The launch follows TWH Hospitality’s earlier strategic partnership announcement with Nazeer Foods aimed at hospitality and culinary expansion. The company had previously integrated Nazeer Foods’ kitchen operations into its Goa hospitality venture to strengthen premium Mughlai dining and online delivery offerings in the region.
Speaking on the expansion, the management stated that demand for premium Indian dining concepts continues to rise in emerging lifestyle destinations such as Zirakpur and Chandigarh–Tricity. The company further shared that it is actively exploring additional opportunities across Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi-NCR through fine-dine and high-street hospitality formats.
Backed by ICCPL Group, TWH Hospitality has steadily expanded its presence across cafés, resorts, and premium food ventures. The group has gained visibility through hospitality ventures including Boho By The Beach Resort and The Boho Box Café while continuing collaborations with established hospitality and food brands.
The Zirakpur outlet is expected to emerge as a key dining destination for residents across Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula, and nearby regions seeking an authentic Mughlai fine-dining experience inspired by Old Delhi’s rich culinary heritage.
Stay up-to-date with the latest Hospitality news and trends in the Hospitality industry!
Subscribe to Hospitality news e-magazine for free and never miss an issue.
By clicking subscribe for free you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.
Advertise With Us
We have various options to advertise with us including Events, Advertorials, Banners, Mailers, etc.
A platform dedicated to showcase the skills and creativity of hospitality professionals. Share your articles, videos and other content related to the industry and get recognized for your unique perspective and expertise. By posting your content and gaining likes from your own community, we'll categorize your talents and expose them to the hospitality world. Join our community of passionate hospitality professionals and let your talent shine!.
Already have an account?Login
By clicking you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.
Subscribe for ₹2,000 and receive our monthly magazine for one year (12 months) from the coming month and save 2 months cost.