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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 June 12, 2026
Amoeba Sports Bar has introduced its latest signature creation, Knock Out Kick, a gin-based cocktail crafted by Mixologist Arindam Das. Designed to reflect the thrill of competitive moments and the excitement of victory, the cocktail brings together playful flavour contrasts with a modern, easy-drinking style.
Knock Out Kick is built around a refreshing blend of gin, peach syrup, fresh jalapeño, citrus and tonic water. The drink opens with smooth fruity sweetness from peach, followed by bright citrus notes, before unfolding into a gentle jalapeño heat that lingers subtly on the palate. The addition of tonic water enhances its crispness, making it both lively and refreshing.
Crystal clear in appearance yet layered in character, the cocktail balances brightness, fruitiness and spice in a way that makes it suitable for relaxed evenings as well as celebratory occasions. It is positioned as a go-to drink for game nights, social gatherings and high-energy evenings at the bar.
Speaking about the creation, the concept behind Knock Out Kick focuses on capturing moments of excitement and celebration through flavour, offering guests a drink that feels both familiar and surprising in equal measure. The cocktail reflects Amoeba Sports Bar’s focus on creating engaging, experience-driven beverage offerings.
Sector 144, JP Nagar has announced the launch of its new craft beer experience titled “The King of Pours,” a curated beer menu designed around music, nostalgia, and Bengaluru’s evolving beer culture. The programme was launched on 20th May 2026.
Conceptualised as an immersive experience, the menu reflects the spirit of JP Nagar and the city’s strong community-driven pub culture, blending storytelling with contemporary brewing styles and hyperlocal ingredients.
The new selection features five signature craft beers, each built around a distinct mood and flavour profile. The lineup includes Billie's Wit, a Belgian Witbier infused with mosambi peel; Beat It Hefe, a smooth Hefeweizen with banana and clove notes; Off The Wall Stout, brewed with Chikmagalur Arabica coffee; Dangerous IPA, a citrus-forward American IPA; and Mango Jam NEIPA, a hazy mango-infused New England IPA designed for shared experiences.
Alongside the launch, Sector 144 has also introduced Wednesday Gig Nights, featuring live music and curated entertainment aimed at enhancing its community-focused nightlife experience.
The venue describes “The King of Pours” as more than a beer menu, positioning it as a sensory and storytelling-driven experience built around connection, nostalgia, and local culture. The concept integrates neon-inspired visuals, familiar musical references, and immersive hospitality elements.
Speaking about the launch, founder Kushal Raj said, “With The King of Pours, we wanted to create more than a beer menu. Every brew has been designed around a feeling, a memory, and a moment people can connect with.”
He added that the experience is rooted in the culture of JP Nagar and Bengaluru, aiming to create a space that feels immersive, familiar, and community-driven.
The launch reflects Sector 144’s broader vision of building a contemporary craft beer destination centred on hospitality, entertainment, and shared social experiences.
Published on June 11, 2026
As World Gin Day 2026 is celebrated across global cocktail communities, Bengaluru’s bar scene is marking the occasion with a creative showcase of gin-forward cocktails that highlight the spirit’s versatility. From botanical complexity and tropical freshness to playful heat and citrus-driven refreshment, the city’s mixologists are presenting drinks that reflect both craftsmanship and contemporary drinking trends.
Created by mixologist Mahesh Bhatt, Java Jolt is an aperitif-style gin cocktail that bl ends botanical depth with Indian inspiration. Gin is paired with sweet vermouth and aromatic bitters, while Nannari bubbles add a distinctly earthy sweetness and refreshing effervescence.
The cocktail delivers layered herbal notes balanced with subtle spice and floral undertones, making it both nostalgic and modern in expression.
Ingredients: Gin, Sweet Vermouth, Aromatic Bitters, Nannari BubblesPalate: Herbal, Aromatic, Effervescent, Balanced, Refreshing
Festum is a vibrant, botanical-forward creation crafted for World Gin Day, built on Gondraj lemon-infused gin. The cocktail layers floral hibiscus, ripe peach sweetness, and homemade ginger ale, resulting in a bright and refreshing highball.
Light, aromatic, and citrus-led, Festum captures the celebratory spirit of gin with an easy-drinking yet flavour-rich profile.
Ingredients: Gondraj lemon-infused gin, hibiscus, peach, homemade ginger aleStyle: Floral citrus highballPalate: Bright citrus, floral, fruity, refreshing, lightly spiced
Crafted by mixologist Abhijeet, Lime Emerald is a refined tropical gin cocktail built on clarified coconut water and fresh lime juice. Kaffir lime leaves add aromatic complexity, creating a clean yet layered drinking experience.
Served in a coupe glass, the cocktail is designed to be visually elegant while delivering crisp citrus freshness and subtle tropical depth.
Ingredients: Gin, clarified coconut water, sugar syrup, fresh lime juice, kaffir lime leavesGlassware: Coupe glassPalate: Crisp, Citrusy, Tropical, Aromatic, Refreshing
Created by mixologist Arindam Das, Knock Out Kick is a high-energy gin cocktail inspired by game nights and celebratory moments. It balances peach syrup sweetness with fresh jalapeño heat, lifted by citrus and tonic water.
The drink starts fruity and smooth before building into a gentle spicy kick, making it a bold yet approachable celebratory serve.
Ingredients: Gin, peach syrup, fresh jalapeño, citrus, tonic waterPalate: Bright, Fruity, Crisp, Subtly Spiced, Refreshing
As gin continues to evolve as one of the most expressive spirits in modern mixology, Bengaluru’s bar landscape reflects a growing appetite for creativity, regional ingredients, and experiential drinking. Whether it is herbal complexity, tropical clarity, citrus brightness, or spicy indulgence, each cocktail offers a distinct interpretation of celebration—perfectly timed for World Gin Day 2026.
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