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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 November 26, 2025
Burger Singh, India’s largest homegrown burger chain, made a blockbuster entry into Bangalore with ‘The Big Singh Feast’, a mega citywide giveaway that delivered over 3,300 free meals in a single day. Powered by 15,000+ sign-ups, the campaign marked one of the most successful brand activations the Indian QSR space has seen in recent years.
Held across Sarjapur, HSR Layout and BTM Layout on 24 November, the event triggered massive queues from noon to late evening, with customers arriving well before opening hours. Families, students and neighbourhood communities turned the giveaway into a vibrant city moment—highlighting the growing appeal of homegrown Indian brands in competitive metro markets.
Digital + Offline Strategy That created Citywide Buzz, The extraordinary response was fuelled by a sharply executed digital-plus-offline campaign under The Big Singh Feast. The digital play included:
Hyperlocal targeted communication
Countdown posts
WhatsApp amplification
A series of humorous, AI-generated reels that went viral
Offline initiatives such as neighbourhood branding, standees, in-store visibility and strong on-ground teams further amplified the buzz. Together, the campaign created a funnel that delivered exceptional reach, recall and registration numbers.
Guests received two of Burger Singh’s top-selling meals, the Big Crispy Chicken Meal and the Udta Punjab 2.0 Meal, served with Dilli 6 Fries and the signature Gulabo drink. First-time consumers highlighted the bold desi flavours, richly seasoned fries and refreshing masala-infused beverage, noting how distinct the experience was from typical international burger chains.
Ayush Kumar, Senior Vice President – Operations & Supply Chain, Burger Singh, said, “Bangalore gave us a historic moment. We often see queues like this for big movie premieres or major tech launches, but witnessing thousands line up for our desi burgers was truly special. The love, trust and enthusiasm Bangalore has shown inspires us to keep building in this market.”
Since entering Bangalore, Burger Singh has seen strong traction driven by high footfall, repeat visits and strong organic word of mouth. The success of The Big Singh Feast has further accelerated this momentum, positioning the city as a key growth market for the brand.
About Burger Singh
Burger Singh is India’s only major Made-in-India burger chain competing successfully with global QSR giants. Since opening its first outlet in Gurugram in 2014, the brand has expanded rapidly with 180+ outlets across 80+ cities including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Shillong, Jaipur, Dehradun, Jammu, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Amritsar.
It is also the first Indian burger chain to go international, with three outlets and one food truck in London. The brand has strong presence across Tier 1, 2 and 3 cities and recently raised a pre-Series B round, valuing the company at INR 430 crore.
By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Si Nonna’s, known for its original sourdough pizza crafted from a 500-year-old Naples recipe, has opened two outlets in Hyderabad, located in Film Nagar and Khajaguda. As the world’s largest AVPN (Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana) certified pizzeria network, Si Nonna’s brings globally recognised Neapolitan pizza-making standards to the city.
This launch marks the arrival of a true sourdough pizza movement rooted in Italian heritage. Si Nonna’s brings authentic, slow-crafted Neapolitan pizzas built on 24-hour fermented sourdough, premium ingredients, and deep respect for craft. It introduces Hyderabad to a soulful style of pizza that stays closest to the flavours of Naples.
The menu features some of Si Nonna’s classic favourites, including Pizza No. 3 with garlic, olives, capers, fresh basil, and Fior di Latte, and Pizza No. 6, made with a rich pelati base, creamy mozzarella, slow-cooked herb-garlic chicken, Mt. Vesuvius sun-dried tomatoes, spicy chilli oil, basil pesto, and extra-virgin olive oil. The offerings also include artisanal pizzas like Pizza No. 2, 3, 6 and 8, Panuozzo sandwiches, Eggplant Parmigiana, Kombuchas, Coolers, fresh gelatos, and Nonna’s signature Tiramisu. The menu caters to vegetarian, vegan, and Jain food preferences as well.
Both outlets are designed as warm, open kitchen spaces where guests can watch chefs handcraft each pizza the traditional Italian way. The interactive kitchen allows families, kids, and food lovers to choose ingredients, wear a chef’s hat and apron, and create their own sourdough pizza under expert guidance, turning each visit into a memorable experience.
Italian chef Massimo Verzini, the Executive Chef of Si Nonna’s, shared that sourdough has deep roots in Naples. He said, “Families in Naples take great pride in their family sourdough recipes and the well-nurtured sourdough starter, it’s a craft passed down through generations. We’re excited to bring this same tradition of patience and artisanal care to a city that truly understands the beauty of slow-fermented, flavour-rich food.”
Sharing his thoughts on the Hyderabad launch, Ayush Jatia, the visionary behind Si Nonna’s, said, “Bringing Si Nonna’s to Hyderabad feels special. The city is energetic, curious, and deeply passionate about food. Both locations give us the perfect home to introduce a wider range of Neapolitan flavours, from our loved classics to new indulgent dishes crafted just for Hyderabad. Everything we do stays rooted in Italian tradition, yet speaks to today’s evolving tastes.”
With this launch, Si Nonna’s brings a new chapter of soulful, artisanal dining to Hyderabad, blending the warmth of an Italian grandmother’s kitchen with the lively spirit of the city.Address:
Operational Hours:
Hyatt Regency Pune has reopened its much-loved rooftop restaurant, Lotus Deck, bringing back an open-air dining spot that blends calmness, charm, and a refreshed sense of style. The space has been redesigned to feel like an easy escape within the city, with soft lights, green surroundings, and an open-sky view setting the tone for relaxed evenings.
The rooftop now carries a breezy elegance, inviting guests to slow down and enjoy the atmosphere, whether it is for after-work plans, quiet dinners, or simple celebrations. Lotus Deck continues to hold on to the warm character that made it a favourite among Pune’s rooftop destinations, while adding new touches to enhance comfort.
Its culinary offerings make the experience even more appealing. Guests can enjoy global grills, handcrafted small plates, and signature cocktails that complement the outdoor mood. True to its reputation, Lotus Deck also brings back its well-loved Awadhi dishes, including charcoal-grilled kebabs and a wide spread of flavourful biryanis.
To create a memorable evening experience, Lotus Deck will host live music and qawwali nights on alternate weekends, offering a mix of soulful performances and good food in an open-air setting.
With its renewed design, peaceful ambience, and thoughtful food selection, Lotus Deck reclaims its place as one of Pune’s favourite rooftop dining spots, inviting guests to enjoy meaningful moments under the night sky.
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