Sampan Partners with Honk for a Unique Culinary Collaboration

Sampan Partners with Honk for a Unique Culinary Collaboration

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on August 10, 2024

Mumbai’s dining scene is about to experience a unique culinary collaboration. Sampan, the popular Chinese restaurant at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, is joining forces with Honk, a celebrated pan-Asian restaurant from Pullman New Delhi Aerocity. This special partnership will take place from August 9 to August 25, 2024, during which Honk’s culinary team, led by Director of Culinary Sandeep Kalra, will take over Sampan’s kitchen to offer an exclusive dining experience.

Sampan is well-known in Mumbai for its signature dishes such as Jin Chicken, Cha Chu Prawns, and Three-Colour Lobster. During this collaboration, the menu will be expanded to include a selection of Honk’s distinctive dishes. New offerings will include Chong Qing Chicken, Pao Jiao Tiger Prawns, and Silken Tofu with Bamboo Shoot and Shimeji Mushroom, among others, promising to bring a fresh twist to Sampan’s established favorites.

Vishal Gupta, General Manager of Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “This collaboration between Sampan and HONK will help us cater better to Mumbai's diverse and ever-evolving palate, with much loved pan-Asian delicacies. Our intent is to craft experiences that resonate with the city's sophisticated diners, who crave both tradition and innovation on their plates.”

Neelabh Sahay, Director of Operations at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, added, “As Sampan invites HONK to take charge of its kitchen, we are excited to see how our diners respond to the new flavours and cuisine. This partnership is a testament to our commitment to gastronomic excellence and our belief that great food, like great art, knows no boundaries.”

Sandeep Kalra of Honk also shared his excitement, saying, “We are thrilled to bring Honk's unique flavours and culinary artistry to Sampan at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach. This collaboration is a fantastic opportunity to share our signature pan-Asian dishes, spread across eight Asian cuisines, with the vibrant food community in Mumbai. We look forward to delighting guests with an unforgettable dining experience that merges the best of both our culinary worlds.”

About Novotel

Novotel Hotels are known for offering guests a place to relax and enjoy life’s important moments. With over 530 locations in more than 60 countries, Novotel provides a range of services for both business and leisure travelers, including spacious rooms with natural design, 24/7 catering options, and various amenities like fitness centers and family zones. Novotel is part of Accor, a leading global hospitality group with over 5,400 properties worldwide, and participates in the ALL - Accor Live Limitless lifestyle loyalty program.

About Pullman New Delhi Aerocity

Pullman New Delhi Aerocity, located near IGI Airport and close to major business hubs, offers a blend of modern luxury and convenience. The hotel features 670 suites and rooms, extensive meeting and event spaces, and a variety of dining options. Guests can also enjoy leisure facilities such as a spa, health club, and outdoor swimming pool, making it a top choice for both business and leisure travelers.


Sector 144 JP Nagar Brings Live FIFA World Cup Screenings to Bengaluru

Sector 144 JP Nagar Brings Live FIFA World Cup Screenings to Bengaluru

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on July 1, 2026

Football fans in Bengaluru have a new destination to enjoy the excitement of the FIFA World Cup as Sector 144 in JP Nagar is hosting live screenings of every match throughout the tournament.

Guests can catch all the on-field action on multiple high-definition screens, making it the perfect place to cheer for their favourite teams while soaking in the lively atmosphere with fellow football enthusiasts. From thrilling goals to nail-biting finishes, Sector 144 promises an engaging match-day experience every night.

Adding to the excitement is The King of Pours craft beer menu, featuring signature brews including Billie's Wit, Beat It Hefe, Off The Wall Stout, Dangerous IPA and Mango Jam NEIPA. The beverage selection is complemented by a range of bar bites and sharing plates, making it an ideal spot for friends and football fans to gather during the tournament.

With live football, refreshing craft beers and a vibrant ambience, Sector 144 offers a complete FIFA World Cup viewing experience for guests throughout the competition.

  • Venue: Sector 144, 4th Floor, Above Style Union, JP Nagar 7th Phase, Bangalore – 560078
  • Duration: Throughout the FIFA World Cup
  • Time: Onwards 10:30 PM
  • Live Screening: All FIFA World Cup matches on multiple high-definition screens.


Seoul Dak Expands Footprint with First Mall Outlet at Phoenix Marketcity Mumbai

Seoul Dak Expands Footprint with First Mall Outlet at Phoenix Marketcity Mumbai

By Hariharan U

Published on June 30, 2026

Seoul Dak has marked a key expansion milestone with the launch of its first-ever mall outlet at Phoenix Marketcity in Kurla, Mumbai. Known for introducing authentic Korean flavours to Indian diners, the brand has previously built its presence through high-street locations and now enters a high-visibility retail environment for the first time.

The new outlet has been designed to bring the energy of modern Seoul into a mall setting, blending neon-inspired interiors, youthful design elements, and a vibrant ambience suited for both quick bites and relaxed dining. With this launch, Seoul Dak aims to make Korean cuisine more accessible to Mumbai’s growing base of K-culture fans, families, and young professionals.

As interest in Korean entertainment, fashion, and food continues to rise in India, the brand is focusing on offering an immersive dining experience rooted in authenticity while reflecting contemporary Seoul’s cultural identity.

The menu continues to highlight Seoul Dak’s signature offerings, led by its popular Korean Fried Chicken available in flavours such as Volcano, Hot & Spicy, Ganjang, and K-BBQ. The outlet also features Korean staples including Ramen, Tteokbokki, and Korean Corn Dogs, along with refreshing K-Pop Coolers and indulgent Bingsus.

To mark the launch, Seoul Dak will host a grand opening event on 10th July featuring interactive games, live entertainment, and themed experiences including a photobooth inspired by Korean pop culture. The celebration is expected to bring together food lovers and fans of Korean culture in Mumbai.

Speaking on the launch, Sean Lee, Founder of Seoul Dak, said the Phoenix Marketcity outlet represents a new chapter for the brand as it expands into mall formats. He added that the goal is to offer not just authentic Korean food, but also a cultural experience that reflects the creativity and vibrancy of Seoul.

With this opening, Seoul Dak continues its growth journey in India, focusing on expanding its footprint through new locations, menu innovations, and culturally driven dining experiences that bring Korean flavours closer to Indian consumers.


Third Table Redefines Goa Café Culture with a “Third Space” Built for Long-Stay Living

Third Table Redefines Goa Café Culture with a “Third Space” Built for Long-Stay Living

By Hariharan U

Published on June 29, 2026

Goa’s evolving café culture is no longer just about holiday stops and beachside breaks. A quieter shift is underway in areas like Porvorim, where cafés are beginning to reflect a more permanent way of living rather than a temporary escape.

At the centre of this change is Third Table, a new café founded by Anjali Gupta and located between Panjim and the busy Candolim–Calangute stretch. The neighbourhood itself has seen a steady rise in expats, remote workers, and creatives over recent years, particularly after the widespread adoption of flexible and work-from-anywhere lifestyles. What was once a transitional space is now becoming increasingly rooted in everyday living.

Third Table is built around the idea of a “third space”, neither home nor work, but something intentionally in between. It is designed as a place where mornings are unhurried, work feels less transactional, and time is experienced at a more natural pace. The café reflects a broader behavioural shift in Goa, where longer stays are reshaping how people interact with food, community, and public spaces.

This philosophy extends into the experience itself. Rather than fixed meal formats, the menu features customizable breakfast boards, allowing guests to build their own plates depending on their pace and preference for the day. The offering is complemented by design-led desserts and freshly brewed canned coffee, blending a sit-down café experience with a more flexible, contemporary format suited to hybrid lifestyles.

Inside, the space is defined by natural light, greenery, and a calm aesthetic that encourages guests to stay longer than planned. The atmosphere is intentionally unhurried, aligning with the café’s core idea that it is not a stopover, but a place to settle into.

Third Table also reflects a wider transformation in Goa’s identity. As the state increasingly becomes a long-stay base rather than a short-term vacation destination, cafés are evolving into anchor points in daily routines. Spaces like Third Table are emerging not just as food and beverage outlets, but as essential parts of how people structure their everyday lives.

For founder Anjali Gupta, the concept draws inspiration from European café culture, where cafés function less as transactional spaces and more as places of ritual, familiarity, and community. Third Table brings that sensibility into a Goan context, blending global influence with the region’s inherent “susegad” approach to life.

Rather than positioning itself as just another café in Goa’s growing hospitality landscape, Third Table is attempting to redefine what a café can represent in a place that is steadily shifting from tourism-led rhythm to lived-in experience.

At its core, Third Table is not just responding to Goa’s café scene, it is responding to how people now choose to live there.

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