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.


Opus at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai Brings Chinese Hot-Pot Experience This August

Opus at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai Brings Chinese Hot-Pot Experience This August

By Hariharan U

Published on August 22, 2026

This August, Opus at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai is bringing a warm and comforting Chinese dining experience to the city with Hot-Pot: The Comfort of Togetherness, running from 17–30 August.

The experience offers guests a choice of three broths, Sichuan, Asian Mushroom and Tomato Stock. These can be paired with a selection of vegetables, meats, seafood and noodles, giving diners the option to build a hot-pot meal to their liking.

Designed for sharing, the experience is well suited for Mumbai's monsoon season and offers a relaxed way to enjoy a meal with family and friends.

With its focus on warm broths, fresh ingredients and a shared dining format, Hot-Pot: The Comfort of Togetherness adds a seasonal option to Mumbai's August dining scene


Harajuku Bakehouse Brings Sweet Japanese Inspired Treats for Rakhi

Harajuku Bakehouse Brings Sweet Japanese Inspired Treats for Rakhi

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 22, 2026

Rakhi gifting gets a sweeter and more playful touch this year with Harajuku Bakehouse at BKC, offering Japanese-inspired desserts that make for a fun surprise for siblings with a sweet tooth.

Known for its kawaii Japanese-inspired look, colourful bakes and picture-perfect treats, Harajuku Bakehouse brings together desserts that can be enjoyed as gifts or shared during a sibling outing.

For those looking to try something different, the menu features Bento Cakes in chocolate, vanilla and rainbow flavours, along with the soft and jiggly Japanese Cotton Cheesecake and the eye-catching Mt. Fuji Tiramisu.

Smaller treats are also available, including Nutella Dorayaki and Japanese Nama Chocolate Fudge Brownies, offering easy gifting options for siblings who enjoy trying new desserts.

The experience goes beyond desserts, with Harajuku Bakehouse also offering a selection of matcha, hojicha and boba drinks. Guests can choose from Iced Strawberry Matcha, Hojicha Lattes, Tiger Brown Sugar Milk Tea and Iced Boba Matcha, making it easy to turn a Rakhi dessert stop into a complete sibling date.

With its colourful setting and playful presentation, Harajuku Bakehouse offers a different take on Rakhi gifting. Whether it is a cute cake to share or a selection of desserts and drinks to explore together, the Bakehouse gives siblings another reason to spend time together this Rakhi.

This Rakhi, instead of going with the usual mithai or chocolates, siblings can explore Harajuku Bakehouse’s Japanese-inspired desserts and add something new and sweet to the celebrations.

Rakhi Gifting Details:

  • What: Rakshabandhan Dessert Gifting from Harajuku Bakehouse
  • Where: Harajuku Bakehouse, BKC, Mumbai
  • When: Available now | 10 AM - 10 PM.


The Hazelnut Factory Opens THF Lakehouse in Nainital

The Hazelnut Factory Opens THF Lakehouse in Nainital

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 21, 2026

The Hazelnut Factory (THF) has marked its entry into Uttarakhand with the opening of THF Lakehouse on the iconic Mall Road in Nainital. Inaugurated on 10th August 2026, the new destination is the brand’s 23rd edition, bringing together its signature artisanal mithai, handcrafted desserts, specialty coffee, fresh bakery and all-day dining.

Set against the scenic beauty of Nainital Lake, THF Lakehouse has been designed to blend with the character of the hill destination. The space combines contemporary touches with the old-world charm of Nainital, creating a warm setting for travellers, families and locals to spend time over food and coffee.

The launch was celebrated in the presence of Smt. Sarita Arya, MLA of the Nainital Assembly Constituency.

For Ankit Sahni, Founder & CEO of The Hazelnut Factory, the opening also carries a personal connection, as he spent his school years in Nainital.

“Nainital has always held a very special place in my heart. I spent my school years here, and to return to the city with something we have built from the ground up is an incredibly meaningful feeling. With THF Lakehouse, we wanted to create a space that feels connected to Nainital - warm, welcoming and rooted in its character, while bringing the quality, craftsmanship and hospitality that define The Hazelnut Factory. It is wonderful to see locals and travellers come together over good food, coffee and the simple joy of being in a beautiful place.”

The Nainital launch is also an important step in THF’s growth journey. Starting from Lucknow, the brand has grown into one of North India’s fastest-growing premium food and beverage brands, bringing together artisanal mithai, specialty coffee, bakery, patisserie and contemporary hospitality.

With THF Lakehouse, the brand continues its approach of presenting familiar Indian flavours in a contemporary way while creating spaces that connect with their surroundings.

In Nainital, this connection comes together through the setting itself, where mountains, coffee, conversations and memories meet against the backdrop of Nainital Lake.

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