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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 September 1, 2026
Even Steven has opened its doors in Bandra, Mumbai, bringing a new all-day diner concept centred around flavour-driven food, house-made breads, inventive beverages and an easy-going neighbourhood atmosphere.
Founded by Geeta Amin and Timanshu Mokal, Even Steven is designed as an unpretentious neighbourhood diner where guests can drop in throughout the day for breakfast, lunch, coffee or dinner.
The 25-seater space features an open kitchen that allows diners to watch their food being prepared, while its signature green aesthetic and warm interiors create a relaxed setting designed for lingering over meals and conversations.
Chef Christopher Fernandes worked closely with the founders to develop the culinary and beverage programmes while also helping shape the overall character and energy of the diner.
The menu represents one of Chef Fernandes' most extensive explorations of vegetarian cooking, with vegetarian dishes given equal prominence alongside meat-based offerings.
The Egg Section moves beyond conventional breakfast dishes with options such as Jumbo Lump Crab or Chicken Krapow French Toast and the Arnold Bennett Omelette, adding a more contemporary approach to familiar egg-based preparations.
At the centre of the offering is the diner's sandwich programme, with every sandwich built using bread baked in-house.
The non-vegetarian selection includes the Fried Chicken Donut, combining hot honey, smoked cream cheese and crispy fried chicken, along with the Pain Suisse Smash, featuring a double beef patty, charred onion, cheddar, pickles and black garlic aioli.
Vegetarian options receive similar attention. The Grilled Halloumi sandwich combines grilled halloumi with pesto, charred tomato, balsamic and smoky romesco in fresh ciabatta, while the Caprese Sando brings together stracciatella, tomatoes, pesto and balsamic on house-made focaccia.
Beyond sandwiches, the menu features familiar comfort food with contemporary touches. The vegetarian Rigatoni combines roasted red pepper emulsion, creamy cheese curds and fresh herbs, while the Steak & Frites pairs tenderloin fillet with green peppercorn jus and truffle fries.
The beverage programme is led by an experienced master barista and spans traditional coffee preparations as well as more experimental creations. The menu includes Chemex pour-overs and Hot Matcha Lattes, alongside signatures such as Coca-Cola Espresso, Tiramisu Iced Coffee and Island Pineapple Coffee.
Coolers, frappes and teas further expand the beverage offering, creating options suited to different times of the day.
Desserts include Banana Foster Toast and Dark Chocolate Ganache, providing a sweet finish to the diner experience.
Located in Bandra West, Even Steven aims to establish itself as a neighbourhood destination where guests can enjoy everything from a quick coffee to a leisurely meal, with the philosophy "Eat Easy, Live Easy!" guiding the overall experience.
By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Hospitality entrepreneur Puneet Anand, known for creating Anandvan Resort in Bhandardara, has launched his latest venture, Rola, in Pali Hill, Bandra. With the new restaurant, Puneet brings his people-first approach to hospitality to Mumbai.
Rola has been designed as an all-day, multi-cuisine destination, offering everything from breakfast and lunch to dinner and specialty coffee under one roof. Located in a neighbourhood known for its independent and niche dining concepts, the restaurant aims to become a place that guests can visit at any time of the day.
The menu brings together a mix of familiar and international favourites. Guests can find home-style Indian curries, Neapolitan pizzas and a thoughtfully developed coffee programme, creating a varied offering for different dining occasions. The concept is built around the idea of creating a comfortable space that people can return to throughout the day, whether for a morning coffee, a casual meal, an afternoon break or dinner with friends and family.
For Puneet Anand, Rola marks a move from the resort space into Mumbai's dining scene, while carrying forward the warm and people-focused hospitality approach associated with his earlier venture. With its all-day format and broad menu, Rola adds another dining option to Pali Hill, Bandra, bringing breakfast, coffee, Indian food and pizzas together in a single destination.
Published on August 31, 2026
Third Wave Coffee has entered Andhra Pradesh with the opening of two new cafés in Visakhapatnam, marking another step in the brand's South India expansion.
The new cafés are located at Waltair Road and Inorbit Mall, taking Third Wave Coffee's South India footprint to over 100 cafés. With these additions, the brand's national network has also grown to 240+ cafés.
The new Visakhapatnam cafés have been designed around the city's coastal character and growing urban community. The spaces bring together specialty coffee, food, comfortable work-friendly settings and a relaxed environment for customers to meet and spend time. The menu features Third Wave Coffee's signature brews, specialty single-origin coffees, artisanal bakes, quick bites and curated food offerings. Customers can also access a tech-enabled café experience through the Third Wave Coffee app.
Speaking on the launch, Rajat Luthra, CEO, Third Wave Coffee, said:
“We're excited to bring the Third Wave Coffee experience to Andhra Pradesh with the launch of our cafés in Visakhapatnam. The city's vibrant culture, expanding IT and academic ecosystem, and growing appreciation for specialty coffee make it a compelling destination as we deepen our presence across South India. As we look ahead, the South will remain a key pillar of our expansion strategy. Backed by our Food Innovation Lab and state-of-the-art roastery, we remain committed to offering our signature food and beverage experience as we scale into new markets and serve more coffee lovers across the country”.
Third Wave Coffee continued its expansion across South India during FY26, adding to its presence in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mysuru. The brand also entered new markets including Ahmedabad, Agra and Kolkata, further extending its reach across India. Building on this growth, Third Wave Coffee plans to open 100 additional cafés by FY27, with an aim to take its national store count to 320.
As the brand continues to grow, it remains focused on product innovation, operational excellence and creating café spaces built around local communities. The latest launch in Visakhapatnam adds another destination to its growing network while strengthening its position in India's specialty coffee and QSR market.
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