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.


Burger King & Coca-Cola Roll Out ‘Feast on Wheels

Burger King & Coca-Cola Roll Out ‘Feast on Wheels

By Hariharan U

Published on April 23, 2026

In a move aimed at capturing India’s youth-driven consumption moments, Coca-Cola India and Burger King India have announced a strategic, long-term partnership with the launch of ‘Feast on Wheels.’

The initiative introduces a first-of-its-kind mobile food truck format, designed to bring curated Burger King meals paired with Coca-Cola directly to college campuses. Built around affordability, accessibility, and immersive experiences, the platform aims to meet Gen Z consumers in their natural social environments.

The concept was unveiled on April 15, 2026, at Lovely Professional University during its inter-college festival. The activation transformed the campus into a lively brand hub, featuring a fully branded food truck serving Whopper meal combos paired with Coca-Cola at student-friendly pricing.

Beyond food, the experience leaned into youth culture with live music, DJ sets, gaming zones like tic-tac-toe and ping pong, interactive brand installations, and dedicated content creation spaces to encourage organic sharing among students.

Abhishek Gupta, Vice President, Customer Development at Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, highlighted the strategy behind the move, stating that youth consumption today is spontaneous and social. He noted that the partnership brings a proven meal pairing into environments where such moments naturally occur, making the experience more accessible and engaging.

Kapil Grover, Chief Marketing Officer at Burger King India, emphasized the importance of cultural relevance, sharing that college campuses are where trends and energy thrive. He added that the initiative goes beyond food, helping the brand build deeper and more meaningful connections with young consumers.

By combining Coca-Cola’s global food pairing strategy with Burger King’s youth-first engagement approach, ‘Feast on Wheels’ is positioned as a scalable platform aimed at driving high-frequency consumption and long-term brand recall across India’s Gen Z landscape.


Rosetta Sakleshpur Celebrates Summer with Mango-Themed Experience

Rosetta Sakleshpur Celebrates Summer with Mango-Themed Experience

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on April 23, 2026

Rosetta Sakleshpur is welcoming the summer season with a specially curated mango-themed experience, inviting guests to enjoy the fruit in a refreshing and flavourful way. Set across a 100-acre coffee plantation, the property offers a calm and scenic setting where guests can slow down and make the most of the season.

At the centre of this experience is Teatro - The Estate Kitchen, where a thoughtfully designed buffet brings together regional and seasonal flavours. Raw mangoes add a tangy touch to dishes like paneer tikka and dal, while local favourites such as mango gojju and mavinakayi chitranna highlight traditional recipes. A range of summer drinks including aam panna, mango lassi, a mango mojito twist, and a mango basil slush complete the spread, keeping the focus on fresh and seasonal ingredients.

The experience also features a selection of desserts where mango takes on a more refined form. Guests can enjoy options like Alphonso mango white chocolate mousse, mango misu, and mango cream cheesecake, each offering a modern take on classic flavours. In addition, a variety of seasonal mango-based dishes are available à la carte.

With greenery all around and the peaceful pace of plantation life, Rosetta Sakleshpur creates an atmosphere where guests can relax and enjoy their meals at ease. The mango-themed offering brings together food, setting, and season, making it a simple yet memorable summer experience. The experience will be available from end-April onwards.


Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hosts IPL 2026 Viewing Experience at Hydeout Bar & Lounge

Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hosts IPL 2026 Viewing Experience at Hydeout Bar & Lounge

By Hariharan U

Published on April 22, 2026

As the excitement of the Indian Premier League 2026 builds across the city, Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway has introduced a dedicated match-viewing experience at Hydeout Bar & Lounge.

Designed as a lively, open-air setting, the venue offers a relaxed yet energetic atmosphere where guests can catch live matches with comfortable lounge seating, ambient lighting, and a social, fan-driven vibe. The experience will run until May 31, 2026, aligning with the ongoing cricket season.

To enhance the match-day experience, the venue has introduced themed beverage offers inspired by cricket moments. Highlights include the Powerplay Bucket, featuring four beers available until the sixth over, and the Hat-Trick Bucket, where guests receive a complimentary beer if a hat-trick occurs during the match.

Additional offerings include the Free Hit Bucket, paired with snacks such as French fries or masala peanuts, and the Fan Jersey Bucket, which rewards guests wearing an India jersey with a 20% discount. These curated combinations aim to bring together sport, socialising, and casual dining in a single setting.

With its focus on shared experiences, themed offers, and a vibrant viewing environment, Hydeout Bar & Lounge positions itself as a go-to destination for cricket enthusiasts looking to enjoy the IPL season in a more engaging, community-driven atmosphere.

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