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.


Third Wave Coffee Enters Andhra Pradesh with Two Cafés in Visakhapatnam

Third Wave Coffee Enters Andhra Pradesh with Two Cafés in Visakhapatnam

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 31, 2026

Third Wave Coffee has entered Andhra Pradesh with the opening of two new cafés in Visakhapatnam, marking another step in the brand's South India expansion.

The new cafés are located at Waltair Road and Inorbit Mall, taking Third Wave Coffee's South India footprint to over 100 cafés. With these additions, the brand's national network has also grown to 240+ cafés.

The new Visakhapatnam cafés have been designed around the city's coastal character and growing urban community. The spaces bring together specialty coffee, food, comfortable work-friendly settings and a relaxed environment for customers to meet and spend time. The menu features Third Wave Coffee's signature brews, specialty single-origin coffees, artisanal bakes, quick bites and curated food offerings. Customers can also access a tech-enabled café experience through the Third Wave Coffee app.

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Speaking on the launch, Rajat Luthra, CEO, Third Wave Coffee, said:

“We're excited to bring the Third Wave Coffee experience to Andhra Pradesh with the launch of our cafés in Visakhapatnam. The city's vibrant culture, expanding IT and academic ecosystem, and growing appreciation for specialty coffee make it a compelling destination as we deepen our presence across South India. As we look ahead, the South will remain a key pillar of our expansion strategy. Backed by our Food Innovation Lab and state-of-the-art roastery, we remain committed to offering our signature food and beverage experience as we scale into new markets and serve more coffee lovers across the country”.

Third Wave Coffee continued its expansion across South India during FY26, adding to its presence in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mysuru. The brand also entered new markets including Ahmedabad, Agra and Kolkata, further extending its reach across India. Building on this growth, Third Wave Coffee plans to open 100 additional cafés by FY27, with an aim to take its national store count to 320.

As the brand continues to grow, it remains focused on product innovation, operational excellence and creating café spaces built around local communities. The latest launch in Visakhapatnam adds another destination to its growing network while strengthening its position in India's specialty coffee and QSR market.


Momoka Brings the Spirit of a Japanese Kissaten to Pune

Momoka Brings the Spirit of a Japanese Kissaten to Pune

By Hariharan U

Published on August 31, 2026

Momoka has brought the spirit of a traditional Japanese kissaten to Pune, offering guests a contemporary interpretation of Japanese café culture through Yoshoku cuisine, desserts, coffee, tea and an intimate neighbourhood-inspired setting.

Founded by Chef Brainard Colaco, Momoka draws inspiration from the culture of Japan's traditional kissatens, neighbourhood cafés that have long been associated with coffee, tea, comforting meals and a familiar, relaxed atmosphere.

The concept brings together these elements under one roof, creating a dining experience that explores a more everyday and approachable side of Japan.

A key part of Momoka's culinary identity is Yoshoku, a Japanese tradition influenced by Western cooking techniques while incorporating Japanese ingredients, flavours and sensibilities. Through this approach, the restaurant presents familiar food forms through a distinctly Japanese perspective.

At the heart of the menu is Chef Brainard's interest in Japan's everyday food culture. His travels across the country and fascination with the dishes found in Kissatens and Konbinis have influenced the restaurant's culinary direction.

Rather than focusing solely on formal Japanese dining, Momoka explores the comforting and casual foods associated with everyday life in Japan, translating those influences into a contemporary dining format for Pune.

The experience extends beyond food, with a beverage programme inspired by Japanese café culture. Coffee and tea are positioned alongside the restaurant's food and dessert offerings, creating a cohesive experience that reflects the slower, more relaxed rhythm of a traditional kissaten.

Desserts form another key element of the concept, with Momoka featuring a dedicated dessert offering designed to complement its Japanese-inspired café experience.

Speaking about the launch, Chef Brainard Colaco, Founder, Momoka, said, "Momoka has always been about sharing a more everyday side of Japan—the warmth of a modern kissaten, comforting food and desserts, and flavours that feel familiar yet exciting. With our new flagship on Prabhat Road, we wanted to create a space where guests can experience Japan through soulful food, a dessert bar like no other and thoughtfully crafted beverages."

Located on Prabhat Road, the new flagship aims to offer Pune diners an experience that goes beyond conventional Japanese cuisine by bringing together food, beverages and atmosphere in a format inspired by one of Japan's distinctive café traditions.

With its focus on Yoshoku cuisine, Japanese café culture and everyday food experiences, Momoka adds a new interpretation of Japanese dining to Pune's evolving restaurant landscape.


Sheraton Grand Bangalore Introduces FOMO Sunday Brunch at Horizon

Sheraton Grand Bangalore Introduces FOMO Sunday Brunch at Horizon

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 30, 2026

Sundays at Horizon, the Pan-Asian rooftop restaurant at Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway, now come with a new reason to stay a little longer. The hotel has introduced FOMO, its signature Sunday brunch experience, bringing together Pan-Asian flavours, free-flowing pours, commercial retro music and panoramic views of Bengaluru.

Located 31 floors above the city, FOMO is designed as a relaxed afternoon where guests can enjoy good food, drinks and music while taking in the changing cityscape. The experience revolves around four elements — Flavour. Overpour. Music. Over the City.

The food offering features a curated Pan-Asian set menu served to the table, with sushi, sashimi, dim sum, bao, Asian grills and wok-fired specialties. Alongside the food, guests can enjoy unlimited champagne and cocktails, while the music gradually picks up through the afternoon. As the afternoon moves towards sunset, Horizon's rooftop setting adds another part to the experience, with wide views across Bengaluru and the city skyline providing the backdrop.

FOMO is positioned for different kinds of Sunday plans, whether it is a birthday celebration, a long lunch with friends, a family gathering, a girls' afternoon or simply a relaxed Sunday spent over good food and drinks. The four-hour brunch runs from 1 pm to 5 pm, giving guests the freedom to settle in and enjoy the menu and free-flowing pours at their own pace.

For guests who want to continue into the evening, FOMO: Sky After Dark offers an extended experience from 5 pm to 7 pm. The sundowner brings together cocktails, sparkling pours, music and the city lights at Horizon.

  • FOMO Brunch: 1 pm – 5 pm
  • FOMO: FOMO Sundowner: 5 pm – 7 pm.

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