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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 Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on October 31, 2026
Quattro has opened its second restaurant in Mumbai at Sky City Mall, Borivali, bringing its premium pure-vegetarian Italian and Mexican cuisine to the western suburbs. The opening marks 15 years of the brand's culinary journey and introduces a refreshed dining experience with redesigned interiors and an enhanced menu.
The new restaurant offers 66 indoor seats and 43 outdoor seats on a terrace overlooking the surrounding area. Designed to complement the mall's contemporary setting, the space features abundant natural light and striking interiors, creating an inviting atmosphere for family meals, social gatherings and special occasions.
The addition further strengthens Sky City Mall's food and beverage offering, giving visitors another dining option alongside its retail and lifestyle experiences. Located in Borivali, the mall caters to residents and visitors across Mumbai's western suburbs, including those looking for vegetarian dining options.
For Quattro, the opening marks a new phase of growth as it builds on the success of its Lower Parel restaurant. The brand has reworked its identity, interiors and menu while continuing to focus on authentic Italian and Mexican flavours, quality ingredients and consistency.
Speaking about the launch, Aditya Gupta and Anuj Gupta, Founders of Gupta Brands, said, “Quattro was born from the idea to give an authentic Italian and Mexican premium dining experience to the guest. We didn’t want to give the same Indianized version of the cuisines to guests. We spent months sourcing ingredients like tomatoes from Italy, chillis from Mexico and then subsequent months of trials to get a unique dining experience that did justice to the cuisines. We went to great lengths to source our cheese without animal rennet. Chocolate was sourced from Belgium to give it the rich deep flavours of real chocolate in our desserts.
“With the success of Lower Parel, we are excited to bring the brand to Borivali. After 15 years of the brand, we have spent months redesigning and reimaging the brand, to bring a completely new dining experience for the guests, whilst retaining the same brand values and quality. We hope to become a restaurant that guests think of not just for celebrations, but for everyday dining with family and friends.”
Tanu Prasad, CEO – Malls, Oberoi Realty, said, “At Sky City Mall, our vision is to create a vibrant destination that brings together retail, dining and lifestyle experiences for the community. The arrival of Quattro further strengthens our evolving food and beverage offering, bringing its distinctive take on Italian and Mexican vegetarian cuisine to our rooftop, which is emerging as a lively destination for dining and social experiences. We look forward to welcoming Quattro and giving visitors yet another reason to make Sky City Mall a destination for dining, socialising and spending quality time with family and friends.”
The launch reflects Sky City Mall's continued focus on expanding its dining options and creating spaces where visitors can shop, dine and spend time with family and friends.
Following the opening in Borivali, Quattro is preparing for further expansion, building on its 15-year journey and the response to its Lower Parel restaurant.
Published on October 30, 2026
Halloween gets a darker and sweeter twist at Kura, the specialty coffee and all-day dining space on Double Road, Indiranagar, Bengaluru. The café has introduced 'Halloween After Dark', a limited-edition dessert and bakes menu that brings the season's playful and mysterious side to the table.
Built around the tagline Not Everything Sweet Is Innocent, the menu has been created by Kura's culinary team, combining bold colours, interesting flavours and creative presentation. The collection features three special creations that give familiar treats a Halloween-inspired makeover.
The first offering, The Black Magic Apple, brings a dark twist to the classic fruit, with a presentation designed to tempt dessert lovers. Bloody Velvet puts a Halloween spin on red velvet with its rich flavour and creamy texture, while Devil's Double Croissants adds a playful touch to the menu with its striking red-and-black theme. Each creation reflects the fun and slightly wicked spirit of Halloween while staying true to Kura's style.
The limited-edition menu will be available at Kura until 31st October, giving guests a chance to try the seasonal creations before they disappear. The Halloween specials will be served alongside the café's regular menu, which will continue as usual.
With its mix of creative desserts, distinctive presentation and seasonal flavours, Halloween After Dark offers Bengaluru's dessert lovers another way to enjoy the Halloween season.
Quick Facts
Barista Coffee, the largest homegrown coffee chain, has opened its 555th café in Salt Lake, Kolkata, marking its seventh outlet in the city. The new café introduces a hybrid format that brings together food, beverages and flexible spaces for work, meetings and socialising.
The outlet offers more than the usual café experience, with a setting where customers can enjoy their favourite coffee, have a meal, work remotely or catch up with friends. The concept reflects the changing role of cafés, which are increasingly becoming spaces for both social interactions and professional activities.
The beverage menu includes Barista's signature drinks, protein coffee, matcha and bubble tea. On the food front, customers can choose from gourmet sandwiches, pizzas, pasta, rolls and English breakfast options. The varied menu caters to different preferences, whether customers are stopping by for a quick coffee, planning a casual meal or spending time at the café.
The new outlet also provides an alternative workspace for work-from-home professionals, along with a setting for groups to meet for collaborative sessions or casual conversations. By combining food, work and community in one place, Barista Coffee aims to cater to customers looking for more flexibility in how they spend their time at cafés.
Commenting on the milestone, Rajat Agrawal, CEO, Barista Coffee, said, “Reaching the milestone of 555 cafés is a proud moment for Barista Coffee and a testament to the trust our customers have placed in us, the dedication of our teams, and the commitment of our partners. Every café represents our promise to deliver memorable coffee experiences, meaningful connections, and warm hospitality.
As we continue to expand our presence, our focus remains on strengthening our brand, innovating our offerings, and making Barista a preferred destination for coffee lovers across India and beyond. This milestone is not just a celebration of how far we have come, but also a reflection of our ambition to reach new markets, create more opportunities, and bring people together over great coffee.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our customers, employees, franchise partners, and stakeholders who have been an integral part of this journey. At Barista, every cup tells a story, and with 555 cafés, we look forward to brewing many more stories together.”
The opening marks another step in Barista Coffee's expansion, as the brand continues to grow its presence while exploring café formats that bring together coffee, food and everyday customer needs.
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