You have Successfully logged In !
Already have an account? Login
By clicking Register you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.
Don't have an account?Register
Enter your E-mail address below, We will send the verification code
Please enter the code send to
Didn't receive the email?Click to resend
Your password has been successfully reset!.
Please login again to access your account.
An OTP has been sent to
Enter the 4-digit code
By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on January 14, 2026
Pongal, the cherished Tamil harvest festival, is a celebration of gratitude to nature and the divine, marking abundance, renewal, and togetherness. Deeply rooted in tradition and ritual, the festival holds special significance as a culinary celebration that brings families and communities together. Honouring this timeless legacy, Southern Spice at Taj Coromandel, Chennai presents a specially curated Pongal Virundhu from 14th - 18th of January, 2026, that captures the essence of the festival through authentic flavours and classic preparations.
Recognised among India’s top 50 restaurants by Condé Nast Traveller India, Southern Spice is renowned for its dedication to South Indian culinary heritage. The restaurant offers delicacies from across the four southern states, served in an ambience inspired by the grandeur of Chola, Pallava, and Pandya temple architecture, with ornate columns, artefacts, and murals enhancing the dining experience.
The Pongal Virundhu is crafted by the culinary team at Southern Spice under the leadership of Executive Chef Vikas Milhoutra. The menu brings traditional harvest-time flavours to the table, featuring comforting favourites such as Kalkandu Pongal, a gently sweet rice and lentil dish that reflects the warmth of festive cooking. Classic treats like Athirasam, prepared with jaggery, rice flour, and ghee, and the beloved Kai Murukku, made from rice flour and urad dal, add a nostalgic touch to the feast.
Adding regional character to the spread is the Vadu Mangai Stuffed Kuzhi Paniyaram, where soft rice and lentil dumplings are filled with tender mango pickle, offering bursts of tangy flavour. Savoury accompaniments include Nattu Kai Sambar made with lentils, country vegetables, and Madras onion spices, along with Padaipu Kozhambu, a rustic lentil curry enriched with seasonal produce. The menu is further complemented by Beans and Carrot Paruppu Usili, where steamed lentils are tossed with vegetables to create a hearty and satisfying dish.
To complete the festive experience, traditional beverages such as a tender coconut mocktail, cooling Nannari Sherbet, and spiced buttermilk are served alongside the meal. Together, these elements come together to create a soulful culinary journey that reflects the spirit of Pongal, celebrating abundance, tradition, and the joy of shared meals.
Dining Details
Venue: Southern Spice, Taj Coromandel, Chennai.Pongal Virundhu, Lunch and Dinner, À la carte options are available.
Indus Towers and Bharti Airtel Foundation Strengthen Digital...
Indus Towers Limited, in collaboration with the Bharti Airte...
Storii by ITC Hotels Expands Presence in Goa with Assagao Si...
ITC Hotels Limited has expanded its presence in Goa with the...
Ambience Mall Vasant Kunj Hosts Victoria’s Secret ‘Rome Afte...
Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj, hosted an exclusive ‘Rome After ...
Punjab & Sind Bank Contributes Rs 50 Lakh to Assam Chief Min...
Punjab & Sind Bank has contributed Rs 50 lakh to the Chief M...
Published on August 27, 2026
Pamma Biryani, a brand by Sandoz, has entered the food scene as India’s first Punjabi Biryani brand, bringing the bold flavours, generosity and warmth of Punjabi kitchens to one of the country’s most loved dishes.
Created as a delivery-first brand, Pamma Biryani combines traditional dum cooking with rich Punjabi flavours. At the heart of the brand is its philosophy of ‘Seva Before Sales,’ which reflects its belief that food should be prepared and served with care, generosity and authenticity.
The idea carries beyond the kitchen, with Pamma Biryani looking at food as an act of care rather than simply a transaction. The biryani menu takes inspiration from the way food is prepared in Punjabi homes, with a focus on patience and traditional cooking methods. The preparations begin with overnight marinades, followed by bhuna masalas that are cooked slowly to bring out their full flavour. Mustard oil, black cardamom, dried plums and white butter add a distinct Punjabi character to the biryani. The handi is then sealed for dum, allowing the rice, spices and protein to cook together slowly.
Along with its biryani, Pamma Biryani serves every order with raita, pyaaz, chutney and a Gulab Jamun, turning the meal into a complete spread. The menu includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, with each dish following the brand’s signature cooking style.
Pamma Biryani has started its journey as a cloud kitchen, allowing the team to concentrate on recipes, consistency and the quality of every order. The brand currently delivers freshly prepared biryani across Delhi NCR through leading food delivery platforms, while also working towards future dine-in experiences.
Speaking about the launch, Gurmeet Singh Ahluwalia, Founder, Pamma Biryani, said:
"At Pamma, we commit entirely to two things at once: the craft of biryani and the soul of a Punjabi kitchen. We see absolutely no contradiction in that. The dum is real. The technique is honoured. But the personality in the pot, the audacity of the masala, the sheer quantity of ghee, that is ours and no one else's. Not because Punjab never cooked biryani. Of course it did. It just never planted a flag. Never said, this is ours, this has a name, this deserves to be known. Today, Pamma Biryani is India's first Punjabi biryani brand, and we're proud to finally give that legacy the name and identity it deserves."
The launch is the first step in Pamma Biryani’s larger vision of giving Punjabi biryani its own place alongside India’s well-known regional biryani styles.
With its focus on bold flavours, traditional cooking and the warmth associated with Punjabi food, Pamma Biryani aims to build a brand that gives diners a new answer to a simple question: what would biryani taste like if it came straight from a Punjabi kitchen?
Wednesday nights at Rumour are getting a new identity with Luna de Agave, a weekly experience built around tequila cocktails, food, music and a collective 8 PM toast. The new Wednesday ritual takes guests through different stages of the evening, beginning with cocktails at golden hour and moving into a livelier night with live percussion and DJ sets.
The experience starts at 7 PM with Golden Hour, featuring a new tequila cocktail menu created exclusively for Luna de Agave. The selection includes new takes on the Picante, along with Margaritas and Rumour’s own Paloma.
At 7:30 PM, the evening moves into the Cocktail Tree, featuring twelve mini cocktails served together in one presentation. Designed to be shared across the table, the serve adds a social element to the experience while also becoming a visual highlight of the evening.
The main moment arrives at 8 PM with The Ritual. A surprise mini tequila cocktail is served across the room as the lighting changes and live percussion begins, bringing guests together for a collective toast. From 8:30 PM onwards, After Dark takes over, with the DJ and percussionist building the energy and taking the evening from cocktails into a full night out. Food also plays an important part in the experience, with the kitchen offering social and shareable dishes. The menu includes Korean chicken tacos with gochujang and wasabi aioli, black bean tacos with avocado mousse and feta, salsa macha prawns with furikake slaw, and glazed tofu with peanut, sesame mayo and hot tahini.
Music is also closely connected to the flow of the evening, with percussion marking the transition between different chapters. The lineup will change from week to week, with guest performers and surprise acts joining the experience, while the 8 PM toast remains a key part of Luna de Agave.
Nishchay Jain, Founder, said, “We noticed quite early on that Wednesdays had naturally become one of our busiest nights after the weekend. What was even more interesting was what people were drinking; tequila cocktails consistently dominated the room. There was already this energy around Wednesday that we hadn’t manufactured; our guests had created it for us. Luna de Agave came from wanting to give that behaviour an identity and turn it into a ritual, taking a night people already loved coming to Rumour for and giving them little moments to look forward to, from the first cocktail to the 8 PM toast and the shift into After Dark. We’re not trying to reinvent Wednesday; we’re giving it a ritual of its own.”
Luna de Agave takes place every Wednesday from 7 PM at Rumour. Reservations are recommended for groups and guests looking to experience the Cocktail Tree at their table, while walk-ins are welcome subject to availability.
Ramee Group of Hotels is inviting guests to explore the many flavours of India through “India, Served Whole,” a culinary initiative that brings regional cuisines and food traditions to the table across participating Ramee properties.
Built around the theme “Where Every City Has a Story on the Plate,” the initiative gives each participating hotel an opportunity to showcase a distinct regional cuisine through specially curated dining experiences.
The culinary journey covers a variety of Indian flavours, from South Indian, Awadhi and Maharashtrian cuisines to Malvani, Rajasthani and North Indian specialities. The menus focus on authentic recipes and local ingredients, allowing guests to discover the food traditions that give each region its own character.
Rather than offering one common menu across properties, the initiative brings different regional stories to individual hotels, giving diners the chance to experience the diversity of Indian cuisine closer to home.
Guests can visit their nearest participating Ramee property until 31 August 2026 to be part of the culinary celebration.
Stay up-to-date with the latest Hospitality news and trends in the Hospitality industry!
Subscribe to Hospitality news e-magazine for free and never miss an issue.
By clicking subscribe for free you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.
Advertise With Us
We have various options to advertise with us including Events, Advertorials, Banners, Mailers, etc.
A platform dedicated to showcase the skills and creativity of hospitality professionals. Share your articles, videos and other content related to the industry and get recognized for your unique perspective and expertise. By posting your content and gaining likes from your own community, we'll categorize your talents and expose them to the hospitality world. Join our community of passionate hospitality professionals and let your talent shine!.
Already have an account?Login
By clicking you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.
Subscribe for ₹2,000 and receive our monthly magazine for one year (12 months) from the coming month and save 2 months cost.