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.


BeeYoung Tropic: India’s First Crafted Tropical Pilsner Makes a Refreshing Debut

BeeYoung Tropic: India’s First Crafted Tropical Pilsner Makes a Refreshing Debut

By Hariharan U

Published on December 8, 2025

Kimaya Himalayan Beverages has launched a refreshing new addition to its popular BeeYoung craft beer lineup, BeeYoung Tropic, India’s first crafted Tropical Pilsner. The new variant made its debut at Doon Music Festival Season 4, setting a lively and youthful tone that matches the brand’s spirit.

BeeYoung, known across India for its crisp taste and energetic vibe, created this new brew at its microbrewery in New Delhi’s BeeYoung Brewgarden. What began as an experimental favourite among visitors soon turned into a standout creation worth taking nationwide.

BeeYoung Tropic is crafted to bring a bright, feel-good experience with every sip. The flavour profile highlights gentle notes of mango and passion fruit, layered over a light-bodied, crisp pilsner base with a smooth malty finish. Designed to pair comfortably with all cuisines and seasons, it’s the kind of beer meant for unwinding, celebrating and connecting with friends.

After extensive trials, the team perfected its canning process to ensure the same fresh, clean and fruity profile reaches consumers everywhere.

Expressing his excitement, Abhinav Jindal, CEO and Founder of Kimaya Himalayan Beverages, said, “With the launch of BeeYoung Tropic Pilsner, we aim to capture the feeling of pure joy and togetherness that arises from great craft beer. Launching it here in Dehradun, the city where BeeYoung was born, surrounded by music and mountains, feels like the perfect homecoming for this tropical journey.”

BeeYoung Tropic now joins the brand’s flagship craft brews, continuing the brand’s strong connection with India’s young and fearless beer community.


Papaya Unveils “The Yin & Yang Menu” Inspired by Asia’s Timeless Philosophy

Papaya Unveils “The Yin & Yang Menu” Inspired by Asia’s Timeless Philosophy

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on December 7, 2025

Papaya, India’s pioneer in modern Asian dining, has launched The Yin & Yang Menu, a unique culinary experience inspired by one of Asia’s oldest philosophies, the harmony created when opposites come together. Rooted in the belief that contrast completes rather than divides, the menu brings the essence of balance to the plate through taste, texture and emotion.

For generations, the concept of Yin and Yang has symbolised the universe’s natural rhythm, light and shadow, calm and energy, softness and strength. Not opposites in conflict, but partners in balance. Papaya brings this timeless idea to life by blending fire with flow, depth with delicacy, and spice with serenity.

“The Yin & Yang Menu is our homage to the philosophy that defines Asia itself,” says Zorawar Kalra, Founder & Managing Director, Massive Restaurants. “Papaya has always led from the front in redefining how India experiences Asian cuisine, by blending innovation with integrity. With this menu, we explore how contrast doesn’t divide; it completes. It’s a dialogue between opposites, a reminder that flavour, like life, finds meaning only in balance.”

True to Papaya’s style, the experience goes beyond food. The two curated menus are crafted as emotional journeys that reflect each other, with one finding strength in what the other releases.

The Yin Menu celebrates calm, subtlety and restraint. Dishes like Smoked Avocado Nigiri and Avocado Carpaccio with Yuzu Soy bring gentle brightness, while Crystal Truffle Cream Cheese Dim Sum and Cantonese Dumpling Broth offer soothing depth. Highlights such as Rainbow Roll and Salmon Uzukuri with Jalapeño Relish pair coolness with a hint of heat. The experience concludes with Thai Green Curry with Stir-Fried Asian Greens and a serene Vanilla Panacotta with Citrus Glaze, echoing the quiet charm of dusk.

The Yang Menu brings energy, boldness and expression. The journey begins with spirited dishes like Spicy Tuna Maki, Som Tam Seafood Salad, and Shaomai Chicken & Chestnuts. The flavours intensify with Tom Yum Soup, Spicy Red Dragon Roll, and Papaya’s signature Layered Sushi Pizza with Salmon Carpaccio. Power-packed plates such as Wok-Fried Tofu & Mushrooms in Crispy Chilli and Thai Red Curry keep the momentum strong, ending with the dramatic Chocolate Ball on Fire, a blend of dessert and theatre.

Across both menus, every element is designed to create balance, colours, aromas, ingredients and textures come together to bring harmony to each plate. Calm meets chaos, heat meets coolness, and structure blends with flow. Diners are invited to experience both sides and discover how each enriches the other.

With The Yin & Yang Menu, Papaya continues to lead India’s modern Asian dining scene by blending philosophy, creativity and cuisine into an experience that feels deeply rooted yet refreshingly contemporary.


Bernini Unveils a New Era of Real Wine Spritzers with Its ‘Pop It, Swirl It, Breathe It In’ Ritual

Bernini Unveils a New Era of Real Wine Spritzers with Its ‘Pop It, Swirl It, Breathe It In’ Ritual

By Hariharan U

Published on December 7, 2025

Bernini, South Africa’s only real spritzer made from wine with flavours, has introduced a fresh look and an elegant new campaign rooted in a simple yet meaningful ritual: Pop It, Swirl It, Breathe It In. The idea celebrates the sensory experience of real wine, its aroma, taste, and the memories it evokes, while inviting women to pause, be present, and enjoy moments that feel softer and more intentional.

The campaign draws inspiration from the sunset aperitivo culture, a time of day when conversations feel warmer, connections linger, and everything slows down. This is the space Bernini wants to live in during long lunches that flow into golden-hour evenings, relaxed weekends, and moments where life feels beautifully unhurried.

There is a quiet but powerful shift happening in how South African women choose to live and experience their world. After years of rushing and performing, many are seeking moments that feel softer, slower, and more intentional,” said Paigon Prince, Senior Brand Manager for Bernini South Africa. “True authenticity exists when there is no audience, and Bernini makes space for that. The quality is in the experience and not the broadcast.”

The real-wine ritual is designed to transform a simple drink into a grounding experience, Pop It to enjoy the gentle sparkle of real wine with flavours. Swirl It to release the natural aromas in the signature Bernini coupe glass. Breathe It In to savour the refreshing wine notes.

The range offers a smooth, easy-drinking taste across variants:

  • Classic – white style with honey notes

  • Blush – rosé style with soft florals

  • Mimosa – sparkling white with real orange juice

Each variant is crafted for moments of calm, celebration, or connection.

Bernini has also revealed a more sophisticated visual identity. The refreshed blue stripe design brings a timeless and premium look, while the iconic crown “B” and signature Bernini blue strengthen the brand’s chic personality. The move to a flint glass bottle for the Classic variant enhances the delicate sparkling liquid inside.

“As we evolved the brand, our intention wasn’t to make life louder, but to make it feel more meaningful,” Prince added. “Because life becomes more beautiful when you pause long enough to savour it and Breathe It In.”

Bernini continues to be a brand born from real wine, offering spritzers available in multiple variants and convenient formats, including bottles and cans.

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