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.


Coffee Sutra Enters Delhi with NOD Collaboration

Coffee Sutra Enters Delhi with NOD Collaboration

By Hariharan U

Published on April 24, 2026

Marking its entry into the capital, Coffee Sutra has partnered with NOD Punjabi Bagh in a move that redefines how beverages integrate into the dining experience. As part of the collaboration, Coffee Sutra takes over NOD’s entire beverage program as its official partner.

Founded by Dushyant Singh, the Jaipur-based brand brings its specialty coffee expertise to Delhi, marking its first major step beyond its home city. The partnership reflects a shared vision between both brands to create a dining experience where food and beverages complement each other seamlessly rather than exist as separate elements.

At NOD, Coffee Sutra curates a diverse beverage menu that extends beyond coffee. Guests can expect specialty brews made from ethically sourced, single-origin beans, alongside a selection of shakes, smoothies, and handcrafted mocktails. Each offering is designed to pair thoughtfully with the restaurant’s globally inspired cuisine, enhancing the overall guest experience.

Dushyant Singh shared that Delhi’s dynamic food culture makes it an ideal market for the brand’s expansion. He emphasized that every aspect—from sourcing beans to the final pour, is crafted with intent, ensuring a meaningful experience for guests.

Beyond menu creation, Coffee Sutra manages the complete beverage operations at NOD, including barista training, daily execution, and equipment maintenance. This end-to-end involvement highlights the brand’s focus on consistency and quality across all touchpoints.

With over 15 years of industry experience, Coffee Sutra has built strong sourcing networks with farmers in India and globally. The brand operates its own roastery and Coffee Lab in Jaipur, while also offering workshops, brewing masterclasses, and barista training. Its growing footprint includes five cafés in Jaipur and partnerships with over 40 establishments across India, including global hospitality names.

This collaboration signals a significant step in Coffee Sutra’s national expansion, bringing its curated and experience-led approach to Delhi’s evolving café and dining scene.


Rumour Brings Speakeasy-Style Nights to Vasant Vihar

Rumour Brings Speakeasy-Style Nights to Vasant Vihar

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on April 24, 2026

Delhi’s nightlife has a new address with the opening of Rumour, a speakeasy-style lounge in Vasant Vihar that brings together curated drinks, music, and a lively social setting. Designed to offer a fresh take on after-work and late-night outings, the space draws inspiration from New York’s intimate wine and cocktail bars.

Rumour is built around the idea of easy, enjoyable social experiences. Created by founder Rhea Parekh Jain and co-founder Nishchay Jain, the lounge aims to be a go-to spot where guests can simply walk in and unwind. “We wanted to build a place that feels like your go-to spot where you don’t overthink plans, you just show up and know you’ll have a good time,” says Rhea Parekh Jain - founder and Nishchay Jain - co-founder. “Rumour is about energy, great wines, familiar drinks, and nights that never go exactly as planned in the best way. It’s the kind of place where one drink becomes three, and you leave with a few good rumours to take home.”

The interiors, designed by Sussanne Khan’s The Charcoal Project, reflect a mix of quirky luxury and raw New York loft aesthetics. From a hidden entrance to warm lighting and layered textures, every detail adds to the intimate and energetic feel of the space. With seating for around 45 guests, Rumour offers a mix of cosy corners, group seating areas, and a balcony that overlooks the main lounge, making it suitable for both small gatherings and larger groups.

At the heart of the experience is wine, with a strong focus on tastings and curated selections. The cocktail menu complements this approach, with nearly half of the drinks built around wine-based creations. The food menu features shareable plates that are designed to pair well with the beverages, adding to the overall experience.

Rumour is aimed at urban professionals, creatives, and those looking for a well-curated nightlife spot. The speakeasy concept adds a sense of exclusivity, while the overall vibe keeps it social and engaging. Open from Wednesday to Monday, between 6:00 PM and 1:00 AM, the lounge offers a perfect setting for after-work meetups, date nights, and late-evening gatherings.

Located at 12, Basant Lok, 1st Floor, Priya Market, Vasant Vihar, Rumour adds a new dimension to Delhi’s evolving nightlife scene. With plans to introduce more concepts in the future, the brand is focused on creating spaces that bring together design, atmosphere, and memorable social experiences.


Burger King & Coca-Cola Roll Out ‘Feast on Wheels

Burger King & Coca-Cola Roll Out ‘Feast on Wheels

By Hariharan U

Published on April 23, 2026

In a move aimed at capturing India’s youth-driven consumption moments, Coca-Cola India and Burger King India have announced a strategic, long-term partnership with the launch of ‘Feast on Wheels.’

The initiative introduces a first-of-its-kind mobile food truck format, designed to bring curated Burger King meals paired with Coca-Cola directly to college campuses. Built around affordability, accessibility, and immersive experiences, the platform aims to meet Gen Z consumers in their natural social environments.

The concept was unveiled on April 15, 2026, at Lovely Professional University during its inter-college festival. The activation transformed the campus into a lively brand hub, featuring a fully branded food truck serving Whopper meal combos paired with Coca-Cola at student-friendly pricing.

Beyond food, the experience leaned into youth culture with live music, DJ sets, gaming zones like tic-tac-toe and ping pong, interactive brand installations, and dedicated content creation spaces to encourage organic sharing among students.

Abhishek Gupta, Vice President, Customer Development at Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, highlighted the strategy behind the move, stating that youth consumption today is spontaneous and social. He noted that the partnership brings a proven meal pairing into environments where such moments naturally occur, making the experience more accessible and engaging.

Kapil Grover, Chief Marketing Officer at Burger King India, emphasized the importance of cultural relevance, sharing that college campuses are where trends and energy thrive. He added that the initiative goes beyond food, helping the brand build deeper and more meaningful connections with young consumers.

By combining Coca-Cola’s global food pairing strategy with Burger King’s youth-first engagement approach, ‘Feast on Wheels’ is positioned as a scalable platform aimed at driving high-frequency consumption and long-term brand recall across India’s Gen Z landscape.

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