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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 December 15, 2025
Christmas in Mumbai is all about coming together over good food, warm conversations, and festive cheer. This season, the city’s dining scene is celebrating the holidays with thoughtfully curated menus, cosy settings, and experiences that feel both comforting and special. Whether you’re planning a relaxed Christmas brunch, a celebratory dinner, or a family meal filled with nostalgia, these restaurants promise flavours and moments worth remembering.
Onrique brings a sense of European winter nostalgia to Mumbai with its specially curated Christmas menu. Inspired by slow-cooked comfort food and seasonal produce, the menu highlights ingredients like pumpkin, young roots, mulled grapes, and brie. Guests can enjoy dishes such as Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with brie crostini, Brussels Sprouts & Kale Salad with cranberry vinaigrette, Smoked Corn Ravioli, Maple-Glazed Chicken Roulade, and a festive Pumpkin Spiced Tart with rosemary semifreddo.
The celebrations peak on December 25 with a special Christmas Brunch featuring a live saxophonist, cookie and cupcake painting, tableside mulled wine and hot chocolate, and a chocolate truffle rolling station, making it an ideal afternoon outing for families and friends.
When: 10 December – 15 January | 12 PM onwardsWhere: Santacruz (West), Mumbai
DEA offers a bold take on Christmas dining with a menu rooted in fire-led cooking and fermentation. The festive spread opens with Smoked Tomato Tartare layered with rucola, leek ash, and mustard ice cream, along with Fermented Jalapeño Maki. Comfort-driven mains like Pahadi Morels with water chestnut orzetto, King Chilli Miso Cabbage, Crispy Pork Belly, and a classic Chicken Pot Pie bring warmth and depth to the table.
Desserts such as Smoky Pumpkin Gelato and Sticky Toffee Pudding with jaggery and Sichuan peppercorn round off the experience on a dramatic, festive note.
When: 16 December – 31 December | 7 PM onwardsWhere: Prabhadevi, Mumbai
Luuma House welcomes the festive season with warm décor, comforting flavours, and indulgent cocktails. The Christmas menu features Scotch Eggs, Red Wine Poached Pear Salad, Baked Phyllo Pastry Kofta Biryani, and Pan-Grilled Chilean Seabass. Desserts include classic Christmas Pudding with brandy sauce, Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cheesecake, and a Chocolate & Coconut Yule Log.
Seasonal cocktails like The Snow Globe and Santa’s Slam add to the celebratory mood, making Luuma House a cosy spot for relaxed Christmas gatherings.
When: 16 December – 31 DecemberWhere: Vile Parle West, Mumbai
Epitome ushers in Christmas with a decadent vegetarian menu served against its striking “heaven-meets-hell” interiors. Festive highlights include Cream Cheese Avocado Tartare on a Kataifi Nest, Truffle Mushroom Baklava with parmesan emulsion, Tokyo Caesar with crispy nori, and Miso Garlic Linguini finished with house-made chilli oil.
The experience concludes with the restaurant’s signature Dubai Bling Bling dessert, presented tableside for a touch of festive drama.
Where: Lower Parel West, Mumbai
Devangere Benne brings a warm, nostalgic touch to Christmas with comforting flavours from Karnataka. The festive menu centres around the iconic Benne Masala Dosa made using butter and batter sourced from Davangere. Guests can also enjoy Gini Dosa, Kadi Patta Cashew Idli, Stuffed Medu Vada, and soft Vellayappam, paired with filter coffee and masala chai.
It’s an easy, comforting way to celebrate Christmas mornings with family.
Where: Borivali East, Mumbai
Sora by The Nines offers a calm and contemporary Christmas experience with a vegetarian menu that feels light yet festive. Popular dishes include Chimichurri Paneer, Khow Suey, Mock Meat Chilly, and Broccoli Corn Cheese. The bar complements the spread with elegant cocktails like Purple Mist, Elder Blush, and Pink Amber.
With its sky-inspired interiors and relaxed vibe, Sora is ideal for a laid-back Christmas celebration.
Amritsr celebrates Christmas with hearty Punjabi flavours and festive warmth. The menu features classics such as Dal Makhni, Butter Chicken, Sarson da Saag, Amritsari Fish Fry, Tandoori Chicken, and the much-loved Amritsari Kulcha. Winter favourites like Gajar ki Kanji, Punjabi Lassi, and Sikanjvi add to the seasonal cheer.
It’s a soulful, flavour-packed way to enjoy Christmas with friends and family.
Chinese Wok, India’s largest home-grown Desi Chinese QSR chain, is adding extra flavour to the cricket season with Wok Mania, a high-energy eight-day campaign running alongside the India vs South Africa T20 series from December 12 to 19.
As part of the campaign, Chinese Wok will be present as an advertiser across all five matches of the series, while also activating cricket-themed experiences across its outlets, digital platforms, and customer engagement programmes nationwide.
To make match days more exciting, Chinese Wok has introduced a limited-period Wok Mania value offer across all its outlets.
The celebration extends beyond stores with the return of the Wok Predictor League – Season 2, an online fan engagement initiative featuring daily match predictions. Winners stand to receive Chinese Wok vouchers, while top scorers on the cumulative leaderboard will walk away with mega prizes at the end of the series.
Inside outlets, customers can expect a festive, match-day atmosphere with a cricket-themed playlist and Chinese Wok’s own cricket-inspired anthem playing throughout the campaign period, adding to the excitement of the Ind–SA showdown.
Speaking about the campaign, Aayush Madhusudan Agrawal, Founder & Director, Lenexis Foodworks, said, “Cricket is an emotion for millions, and as India’s largest Desi Chinese QSR, Wok Mania is our way of celebrating that passion with our customers. With strong visibility across the T20 series, value-led promotions, and energetic in-store experiences, we’re building on the immense consumer love our seasonal cricket campaigns enjoy making this season truly memorable for fans across the country.”
Sharing the brand’s marketing perspective, Vikas Iyer, Marketing Head, Lenexis Foodworks, added, “Wok Mania is a 360-degree cricket celebration that connects with fans at every touchpoint. From ads running through the series and the return of the Wok Predictor League to the high-energy in-store vibe, the campaign brings cricket, community, and Chinese Wok’s bold flavours together in one seamless experience.”
As India gears up for eight days of T20 action, Chinese Wok is ready to serve bold flavours, big moments, and high-voltage cricket energy, inviting fans across the country to walk in, cheer loud, and let Wok Mania take over the season.
About Lenexis Foodworks:
Lenexis Foodworks is a leading quick-service food company in India, operating a growing portfolio of restaurant brands across high streets and malls. Its brand lineup includes Chinese Wok, The Momo Co., and Big Bowl, catering to a wide range of taste preferences and dining occasions.
Founded in 2015, Chinese Wok is the flagship brand of Lenexis Foodworks and India’s largest Desi Chinese QSR chain. Known for its hygienic, flavour-forward, and affordable offerings, the brand operates 250+ outlets across 45+ cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Coimbatore. With nearly a decade of leadership, Chinese Wok continues to shape the Desi Chinese category for modern Indian consumers.
Published on December 14, 2025
Lucofast Foods and Beverages Pvt. Ltd., one of India’s fastest-growing hydration drink brands, has announced its official expansion into Mumbai and Navi Mumbai with the launch of a newly established distributor network. The move marks a key milestone in the brand’s growth journey and strengthens its footprint in one of the country’s most competitive FMCG markets.
With this expansion, Lucofast’s full hydration drink range Strawberry Lemonade, Peach and Passion Fruit, and Citrus Orange will now be available across retail stores, gyms, cafés, modern trade outlets, and general trade locations throughout the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Announcing the expansion, Arif Sharif, Brand Manager, Lucofast Foods and Beverages Pvt. Ltd., said, “We are thrilled to bring Lucofast to Mumbai. In a short span of time, Lucofast has built a strong consumer base across Pune city, and entering Mumbai is a natural step in our expansion strategy. Over the next two months, customers will start seeing Lucofast products widely available across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai as we scale our distribution footprint.”
Lucofast has been witnessing accelerated growth, driven by rising consumer demand for pure, functional, and refreshing hydration beverages. Its non-carbonated, non-caffeinated formulation, enriched with electrolytes and B vitamins, positions the brand as a preferred alternative for consumers seeking sustained energy without the crash associated with traditional energy drinks.
The Mumbai and Navi Mumbai rollout further strengthens Lucofast’s presence across general trade, modern trade, and on-the-go retail formats, supporting the brand’s long-term vision of becoming a hydration-first beverage brand in India.
As Lucofast continues its nationwide expansion, the company remains focused on delivering high-quality, great-tasting hydration solutions tailored to active and everyday lifestyles.
Key Highlights:
Launch of a dedicated distributor network across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai
Widespread availability expected within the next 60 days
Strengthened presence across general trade, modern trade, and fitness-led outlets
Reinforces Lucofast’s mission to lead the hydration-focused beverage category in India
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