Experience a Culinary Extravaganza: Novotel Vizag's Bao Food Festival Takes Center Stage

By Author

Published on February 3, 2024

Date: February 1st to 10th, 2024

Venue: Red Bowl - The Pan Asian Kitchen

Get ready for a delectable adventure as Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach presents the city's first-ever Bao Food Festival at Red Bowl - The Pan Asian Kitchen, from February 1st to 10th, 2024. This culinary fiesta, masterfully curated by Chef Vikram, pays homage to the globally celebrated Chinese steamed bun, promising a unique and unforgettable dining experience.

Embark on a gastronomic journey featuring an array of mouthwatering bao tacos, each carefully crafted to surpass the last in deliciousness. The festival menu boasts a diverse selection of flavors, including exotic mushrooms, tofu, vegetable tempura, Schezwan cottage cheese, ginger scallion pokchoy, bell pepper, Cantonese vegetables, Sriracha mayo prawns, ginger chicken, char siew pork, Hosi Chilli duck, Schwejwan chicken, and five-spice prawn bao and tacos.

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Chef Vikram, renowned for his mastery of Asian cuisine, dedicated months to perfecting the Bao Food Festival recipes. The freshest and highest-quality ingredients were sourced to ensure each bao bursts with flavor. His passion for Asian cuisine is palpable in every dish, showcasing meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to culinary excellence.

Lakshmi Sridhar, General Manager of Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, expressed excitement about hosting this groundbreaking festival at Red Bowl - The Pan Asian Kitchen. She stated, “Chef Vikram has created a truly exceptional menu, and we are confident that our guests will love every bite. This is an opportunity for food lovers to indulge in a unique culinary experience that they won't find anywhere else in Vizag.”

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For those seeking a distinctive culinary adventure, make your way to Red Bowl - The Pan Asian Kitchen. Immerse yourself in the enticing flavors of the Bao Food Festival, where each bite tells a story of culinary expertise and passion. Mark your calendars from February 1st to 10th, 2024, and elevate your dining experience with the city's first Bao Food Festival.


Together: Delhi’s New Hidden Bar Where Music, Design and Connection Converge

Together: Delhi’s New Hidden Bar Where Music, Design and Connection Converge

By Hariharan U

Published on February 17, 2026

Delhi’s nightlife scene has a new address - discreet, design-forward and deeply immersive. Together, a hidden bar inspired by Tokyo’s iconic kissa culture, opens its doors on 13 February 2026, offering a slower, more intentional way to experience the city after dark.

Tucked behind a quiet alley and marked by subtle discovery rather than signage, Together is designed to be found, not flaunted. Conceptualised by Manav Dangg of Studio Dangg, the interiors layer warm wood, textured mirrors and cobbled walls under a soft red glow, creating an intimate setting where conversation and music take centre stage.

Music is not an accessory here -  it is the anchor. Vinyl records line the space, while curated jazz and throwback selections flow through strategically placed speakers. A dedicated listening room ensures the sound remains immersive, never reduced to background noise.

We exist somewhere between Japan and Delhi. You taste it in the cocktails and hear it in the gentle, jazzy, throwback music,” says Vansh Pahuja, Co-Founder, describing the bar’s cross-cultural inspiration.

The cocktail programme reflects this philosophy. Head of Bar Ravi Negi shares, “We draw from Japanese sensibilities — savoury notes, highball forms and quiet balance. Flavour has nowhere to hide when you strip things down.” The menu moves like a record, beginning with low- and no-alcohol options before building into fuller expressions. Signatures such as Rum Whisper, Golden Hour and Rosé Martini sit alongside inventive creations featuring yuzu, basil, miso butter-washed scotch, grape brine, wasabi-washed rum, mango and clarified coconut milk. Timeless classics including the Dirty Martini, Sidecar and Old Fashioned complete the selection.

The food menu is crafted for sharing and easy pacing, moving from dips and small plates to crisp tempuras and composed dishes. Offerings include edamame hummus, Bangkok guacamole, miso tahini, vegetable tempura, cornflake-crusted onion rings, chicken karaage, prawn tempura and gomae salad, alongside vegetarian and non-vegetarian sandos.

Co-Founder Dhruv Kapoor sums up the philosophy: “This space is built around three things I love deeply — music, cocktails and hospitality that feels human, not rehearsed. If you’ve found us, you’re meant to be here.

Open daily from 5 PM to 1 AM, Together positions itself as more than a bar,  it is a listening room, a design-led escape and a community hub. 

In a city that rarely slows down, Together invites guests to pause — arriving alone, perhaps, but leaving just as its name promises: together.


Spezia Bistro Opens Doors in Gurugram with People-First Hospitality

Spezia Bistro Opens Doors in Gurugram with People-First Hospitality

By Hariharan U

Published on February 16, 2026

Gurugram’s dining scene has a new addition with the launch of Spezia Bistro at Magnum Global Park. The new outlet brings together soulful food, thoughtful design, and a hospitality philosophy that places people at the centre of the experience.

Set against a charming alfresco, fountain-side dining area, the restaurant combines relaxed outdoor seating with Parisian-inspired interiors. The ambience is warm and inviting, making it ideal for early brunches, leisurely lunches, and unhurried evenings filled with conversation.

Founder Abhishek Verma shared the brand’s journey, saying, “From a single inspired moment to a growing brand with multiple locations, Spezia Bistro began with a clear vision to serve an underserved market through people-first hospitality and elevated, experience-driven dining. The idea was validated early on when a guest visited us for brunch, returned later that day with colleagues, and came back again for dinner with family. That moment reinforced everything we stood for.

At its core, Spezia Bistro believes that while food matters, people matter more. The team draws inspiration from the hospitality philosophy of Danny Meyer, focusing on warmth, consistency, and genuine care for both guests and staff. This approach is supported by operational systems influenced by The E-Myth Revisited, ensuring a seamless and high-quality experience across locations.

With its Gurugram launch, Spezia Bistro continues its mission to create spaces where good food meets meaningful connection - offering diners a place to slow down, savour, and stay a little longer.


Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse Relaunches Glass Bar & Kitchen with ‘A Coast Apart’

Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse Relaunches Glass Bar & Kitchen with ‘A Coast Apart’

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on February 16, 2026

Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse has announced the relaunch of its specialty restaurant, Glass Bar & Kitchen, unveiling a renewed culinary direction under the concept ‘A Coast Apart.’ The refreshed identity draws inspiration from the diverse heritage of India’s southern coastline, offering a contemporary take on coastal flavours.

The reimagined menu presents a thoughtful reinterpretation of coastal gastronomy through a modern lens. By blending culinary traditions from India’s coastal regions with seasonal ingredients and slow, traditional cooking techniques, the restaurant creates a dining narrative that is both nostalgic and progressive. The concept honours regional authenticity while embracing refined presentation and contemporary sensibilities.

Shiv Bose, General Manager of Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse, noted that ‘A Coast Apart’ positions Glass Bar & Kitchen with a distinctive culinary identity aligned with evolving guest preferences. Signature elements of the new menu include Tender Coconut Payasam Ice Cream, a curated ‘Amma’s Corner’ section celebrating comforting regional classics, and Glass Special Starter Platters designed for shared dining experiences. The concept has been spearheaded by Chef Tirupathi and Chef Ajit, who have crafted a cohesive menu showcasing nuanced coastal flavours.

Ajit Tiwari, Executive Chef at the hotel, highlighted regional favourites such as Lobster Mappas, Meen Pollichathu, Kuttu Paratha and Gongura Mamsam as standout dishes expected to resonate strongly with guests. The menu reflects a balance of bold flavours and thoughtful contrasts, delivering an immersive coastal dining journey.

Complementing the cuisine is a newly introduced cocktail programme titled “Madya Mix.” Led by Kuldeep Bhure, Food & Beverage Manager, the beverage selection is designed to pair seamlessly with the coastal menu. Signature creations such as Coorg’s Paradise, Bangalore Blossom and Memories by Glass feature botanicals commonly found along India’s coastal belt, layered with tropical infusions and citrus-forward notes to enhance the cuisine’s vibrant flavours.

With this relaunch, Glass Bar & Kitchen reinforces its positioning as a destination for contemporary Indian coastal cuisine in Bengaluru. Offering extended service across lunch and dinner, the restaurant invites guests to explore an expansive coastal repertoire in a modern, sophisticated setting.

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