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By Nithyakala Neelakandan
Published on July 28, 2024
Shankar Distillers, the latest venture by tech entrepreneur Varchasvi Shankar, has officially opened in Troy, Michigan. This advanced distillery features a state-of-the-art 45-foot continuous distillation column, so large that the distillery's roof had to be modified to accommodate it. Located in an industrial park, the distillery's glass ceiling is a distinctive landmark visible from I-75, just north of the 14 Mile exit near Oakland Mall.
Varchasvi Shankar, the first Indian immigrant to open an American whiskey distillery, celebrated the grand opening of Shankar Distillers on Friday, July 12. Shankar has also expanded into international markets, making the Varchas Whiskey line the first American craft bourbon exported to India. The distillery team includes master distiller Kylash Sivakumar and senior advisor Dennis Archer Jr., who have together crafted several award-winning spirits. Among their accolades is the Varchas Reserve 102 Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which won gold at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its smooth, earthy flavor profile featuring notes of wood, leather, tobacco, and caramel.
Shankar expressed his enthusiasm for sharing these whiskeys directly with the public. “This is a dream come true for me. I never imagined that I would open a distillery in the USA. I came here for a technology career, but whiskey has always been my passion, and I'm thrilled to bring this unique cultural experience to the people of this country,” he said. “I'm excited to see visitors experience in person the fusion of Eastern and Western traditions in our spirits.”
Shankar Distillers offers a range of spirits, including Varchas Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Varchas Straight Rye Whiskey, Dasara Gin, and Varchas Vodka. Visitors can purchase these products along with branded merchandise like whiskey glasses, flasks, and T-shirts. The tasting room features plush lounge seating and a premium atmosphere, with a diverse cocktail menu that includes classics like Manhattans and barrel-aged sazeracs, as well as a unique gin and tonic made with Indian tonic. House specialties also include the “Gimme Some More,” made with Varchas Vodka, cucumber, and elderflower liqueur.
Shankar Distillers stands out not just for its story of transitioning from tech to distilling but also for the beauty of its bottles. The 750 ml glass bottles feature a two-headed eagle on the label, a symbol of Shankar’s home state of Mysore in southern India, and a 3D eagle on the cork, highlighting Shankar’s accomplishments in the United States. The distillery is proud of its Michigan roots, using locally sourced water and corn in its products.
For those interested in visiting, Shankar Distillers at 1030 Chicago Road in Troy is open from 3-10 p.m. Wednesday through Thursday, 3 p.m.-midnight on Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight on Saturday, and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. Tours are available on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons.
For more information, visit shankardistillers.com.
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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on February 2, 2026
Café Swasthya, a wellness-driven café inspired by Ayurvedic principles and conscious living, has opened its second outlet in South Delhi. Launched on January 20, 2026, at Kailash Colony, the new café marks the brand’s next phase of growth following a year of steady engagement, collaborations, and expansion.
Spanning approximately 1,400 sq. ft. with seating for 43 guests, the Kailash Colony outlet continues Café Swasthya’s signature design language rooted in Indian architectural heritage and sustainability. Designed as a natural extension of the brand’s first café, the space offers a calm, grounded, and thoughtfully curated environment that encourages mindful dining.
The interiors feature a handcrafted bamboo ceiling inspired by traditional bamboo thatched roofs, selected for its renewability, strength, and natural temperature-regulating qualities. Teakwood furniture adds warmth and durability, while jute-matted seating highlights the use of biodegradable, locally produced natural fibres. Rajasthani upholstery with Charbagh-inspired floral prints introduces colour and cultural depth to the seating areas.
A standout feature of the café is its signature mud wall, inspired by sand plaster techniques. Serving as both a visual focal point and a storytelling element, the wall displays Café Swasthya and Butterfly Ayurveda’s curated range of teas, cookies, and wellness products. Terracotta lighting, drawing from architectural traditions dating back to the Indus Valley Civilisation, casts a soft and calming glow across the space.
Alongside the new outlet, Café Swasthya has significantly evolved its food and beverage offerings over the past year. Responding to consistent customer feedback, the brand has refreshed its menu to reflect changing preferences while staying true to its wellness philosophy. The updated menu features refreshing coolers and shakes, traditional Indian classics such as the Thali, and a selection of Indian desserts.
Addressing customer demand, the café has also introduced multigrain pancakes, expanding its breakfast and all-day dining options. Special gluten-free dishes, including an amaranth salad, further reinforce the brand’s focus on inclusivity, nourishment, and mindful eating.
The second outlet follows a year of key milestones for Café Swasthya. In 2025, the brand participated in the Asia Tea & Coffee Expo, sharing the story behind Café Swasthya and Butterfly Ayurveda. It also served as the Chai and Food Partner for the Wellness & Chai event organised by WomenListed, where it curated a 13-item Ayurvedic menu aligned with traditional practices.
Café Swasthya was also invited to the Global Happiness Festival in Jaipur, where it engaged visitors through a food and tea stall and conversations around Ayurveda and holistic well-being. Further collaborations included serving as the health partner for a skating tournament at Vivekananda School and providing curated cookie packs for Lady Shri Ram College’s international academic conference.
On the operations front, the café has strengthened its capabilities by upgrading bulk cake, muffin, and cookie packaging, enabling safe long-distance delivery of freshly baked products across multiple parts of India within 24 hours.
Commenting on the expansion, Akshi Khandelwal, Founder of Café Swasthya and Butterfly Ayurveda, said, “Café Swasthya is more than just about good food. It is about lifestyle transformation. We intend to integrate Ayurvedic wisdom into your everyday life to help you eat better, and live better.”
With its second outlet now open, Café Swasthya continues to create spaces that blend mindful food, traditional wisdom, and sustainable design. The brand is also open to select franchise and collaboration opportunities with partners aligned with its values of wellness, integrity, and sustainability.
Address: HS-37, 1st Floor, Kailash Colony Market, New Delhi – 110048 (Landmark: Above Madonna Salon).
By Hariharan U
Coffee Island has announced the expansion of its House Fresh Menu across select cafés in Delhi NCR, following a successful initial launch at its GK 2 outlet. From 30 January onwards, the refreshed all-day menu is now available at Coffee Island’s cafés in Delhi’s Netaji Subhash Place and Gurugram’s HQ27 and AIPL Joy Central, Sector 65.
Rooted in its Greek origins and loved globally, Coffee Island continues to strengthen its food-forward café experience with a focus on freshly prepared dishes, generous portions and familiar, comforting flavours. The House Fresh Menu has been designed to cater to multiple dining occasions, whether it’s a relaxed breakfast, a working lunch, or an unhurried evening spent over coffee.
Available across Coffee Island outlets, the menu features a range of café classics spanning pastas, flatbreads, melts and desserts. Pasta offerings include well-loved Italian favourites such as Spaghetti Aglio Olio, Italian Arrabbiata Penne and Three-Cheese Mac. Flatbreads bring together flavour-packed combinations like Basil Pesto Veggie, Italian Margherita and Chicken Jalapeño Melt Flatbread.
The menu also includes indulgent melts and sandwiches served on brioche or flatbreads, with options such as Chilli Cheese Mushroom, Ham & Cheese Brioche and Chilli Cheese Brioche. Desserts round off the experience with choices like Basque-style cheesecake, Biscoff cream cheese and chocolate mousse jars, along with soft tea cakes in almond, choco-banana and cinnamon pistachio flavours.
Exclusive to Coffee Island’s Gurugram outlets at HQ27 and AIPL Joy Central, the House Fresh Menu also introduces an all-day breakfast selection. Guests can enjoy Islander eggs prepared scrambled, boiled, fried or as an omelette, along with Akuri toast and indulgent French toasts served with Nutella, berries or classic maple syrup, making these locations ideal for leisurely mornings and brunch-style dining.
Alongside the refreshed food offering, Coffee Island continues to showcase its coffee expertise with a wide selection of hot and cold beverages, signature blends and non-coffee options such as boba teas and milkshakes, ensuring a complete café experience for every guest.
With the rollout of the House Fresh Menu, Coffee Island reinforces its commitment to freshly prepared food and relaxed café dining, positioning its Delhi NCR cafés as go-to destinations for everyday meals and extended catch-ups.
Event Details:What: House Fresh Menu at Coffee IslandWhen: From 30 January 2026 onwards
Where:• Delhi – PP Towers, Netaji Subhash Place | Open 24 hours• Gurugram – HQ27 | 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM• Gurugram – AIPL Joy Central, Sector 65 | 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Published on February 1, 2026
This Valentine’s Day, BELAGIO is redefining romance with chocolate that speaks straight to the heart. Introducing the Hearts & Roses Collection, a limited-edition Valentine’s special where love is baked, sculpted and savoured, transforming classic symbols of romance into elegant dessert creations.
Known for its emotion-driven craftsmanship and refined aesthetic, BELAGIO brings together flavour, form and feeling in a collection designed to delight not just the palate, but the senses. Each dessert is crafted as a love letter in chocolate, turning familiar Valentine motifs into luxurious, share-worthy indulgences.
At the heart of the collection is the Choco Berry Heart, a striking heart-shaped creation layered with dark chocolate mousse, tangy berry compote and almond chocolate sponge. Finished with a radiant red glaze and delicate gold accents, the dessert balances richness with brightness, offering a bold yet romantic expression of flavour.
Equally aptivating is the Chocolate Truffle Rose, a chocolate truffle cake crowned with a meticulously hand-crafted chocolate rose. Designed as a modern tribute to Valentine’s flowers, the edible rose adds both visual drama and sentimental charm, making it as memorable to gift as it is to savour.
Every dessert in the Hearts & Roses Collection is created as a thoughtful conversation between texture, taste and emotion. Whether shared between couples, friends, or enjoyed as a personal indulgence, the collection celebrates love in all its forms.
Available in limited quantities, BELAGIO’s Valentine’s special transforms everyday moments into romantic celebrations, offering chocolate that doesn’t just taste indulgent, but feels meaningful.
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