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.


McDonald’s India (North & East) Spreads Festive Cheer with Special Meal Offers

By Manu VArdhan Kannan

Published on October 5, 2025

McDonald’s India – North and East has announced the launch of its Festive-Meals, available at a special price with up to 51% off, adding more flavour and joy to the celebrations this festive season. The limited-time offer aims to make moments of Durga Puja and Diwali even more special by bringing families and friends together over affordable and delicious McDonald’s favourites.

As part of the campaign, McDonald’s has also released a festive anthem film celebrating togetherness, joy, and inclusivity. The film showcases how Festive-Meals bring communities closer, allowing people to share laughter, music, and happy moments over their much-loved burgers and fries.

Speaking about the initiative, Rajeev Ranjan, Managing Director, McDonald’s India – North and East, said, “For more than 25 years, McDonald’s has been woven into the fabric of India’s festive spirit. Each festival gives us the chance to connect with our customers through cherished moments of celebration. This year, the Festive Meal offers continue that tradition by making every festive gathering more delightful, with the familiar taste and everyday value that bring families and friends together at McDonald’s.”

To ensure inclusivity, McDonald’s is also offering No Onion, No Garlic (NONG) versions of favourites like the McAloo Tikki Burger and Happy Meals®, catering to festive food preferences. The brand continues to uphold one of the strictest vegetarian and non-vegetarian segregation practices in the industry, maintaining separate kitchens, storage, and equipment to ensure 100% purity for vegetarian food.

Notably, McDonald’s India stands out as the only market globally with fully vegetarian restaurants, located in Jammu (New Track-Tarakote Marg and Ardhkuwari) and Amritsar (near the Golden Temple). These outlets reflect the brand’s respect for local traditions while offering the familiar McDonald’s experience.

The Festive Meal brings exceptional value , the McAloo Tikki Value Meal (Burger + Fries + Beverage) is priced at just ₹99 instead of ₹203, while a wholesome 4-course meal available at a special price. Exciting offers are also available across McDonald’s premium burger range, making the season even more delightful.

Customers can enjoy these Festive-Meals via dine-in, takeaway, drive-thru, or through delivery on the McDonald’s app, Swiggy, and Zomato.


KFC and Snickers Team Up for India’s First-Ever Brand Collaboration

KFC and Snickers Team Up for India’s First-Ever Brand Collaboration

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on October 5, 2025

KFC India and Snickers India have announced their first-ever brand collaboration with a limited-edition dessert,  the KFC X Snickers Choco Mousse Cake. This unique creation combines layers of chocolate-soaked sponge, creamy chocolate mousse, and finely chopped Snickers pieces, making it a dessert that’s indulgent, fun, and unforgettable.

This partnership marks a milestone moment, bringing together KFC’s 30-year legacy of delivering innovative food experiences in India with Snickers’ reputation as the ultimate hunger-satisfying chocolate bar.

Speaking on the collaboration, Aparna Bhawal, Chief Marketing Officer, KFC India & Partner Countries, said, “Who would’ve imagined KFC & Snickers in the same sentence, let alone the same plate. That’s the fun of this collaboration, two iconic brands coming together to create something unexpected and delicious! The KFC X Snickers Choco Mousse Cake is our first co-created dessert and the ultimate finger lickin’ good finale to a KFC meal.”

Adding to this, Nikhil Rao, Chief Marketing Officer, MW India, shared, “Today’s Gen Z audience seeks not just great taste but also share-worthy experiences. Our collaboration with KFC India brings the iconic taste of SNICKERS® into a dessert experience that is indulgent, fun, and crafted for a new generation of food explorers. This partnership celebrates two beloved brands coming together to offer something bold and exciting that consumers didn’t even know they wanted but will now crave.”

The KFC X Snickers Choco Mousse Cake is available for a limited time across 1,300+ KFC restaurants in India, for dine-in and takeaway, as well as via the KFC app, website (online.kfc.co.in), and leading food delivery apps. Fans can also pre-order via the KFC app to skip queues and enjoy this finger lickin’ good dessert right away.


Celebrate Diwali with Quro: India’s Artisanal Liqueur

Celebrate Diwali with Quro: India’s Artisanal Liqueur

By Hariharan U

Published on October 4, 2025

This Diwali, make your celebrations memorable with Quro, India’s first liqueur of its kind. More than a drink, Quro is an artisanal expression of heritage, craftsmanship, and individuality perfect for gifting during the festival of lights.

Crafted from 36 carefully selected ingredients sourced from across India including vibrant fruits, fragrant flowers, and traditional herbs and spices, Quro balances smoothness with complexity. Its flavour is at once familiar and intriguingly new, making it ideal for festive toasts, sharing special moments, or gifting to loved ones.

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Quro’s elegant packaging, inscribed with the name in multiple Indian scripts, celebrates the country’s diversity and adds a distinctive touch to any Diwali gift. The liqueur is versatile: sip it neat, enjoy it as a spritz, or try signature serves like the Quro Qrisp.

“Gifting Quro isn’t just about celebration; it’s about honouring tradition, togetherness, and the spirit of Diwali with something thoughtfully crafted and truly original,” says the team at Inspired Spirits.

About Inspired Spirits

Founded in 2023 by Anmoll Alok Bansal, Inspired Spirits was born out of a vision to bring innovation and creativity to India’s spirits category. Recognising a gap for bold experimentation in flavours and ingredients, Anmoll set out to reimagine what premium homegrown spirits could be.

Quro is the first creation from Inspired Spirits, a contemporary liqueur that celebrates curiosity, craftsmanship, and bold ideas. It marks the beginning of a journey to redefine how India experiences and engages with artisanal spirits.

  • Available at: Select premium wine stores across Goa

  • Follow on: Instagram and LinkedIn

This festive season, let Quro light up your celebrations with a gift that is bold, timeless, and unmistakably Indian.

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