Chef Ramasamy Selvaraju awarded with 'Best Chef Award'
Chef Ramasamy Selvaraju awarded with 'Best Chef Award'

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India awarded Chef Ramasamy Selvaraju, Executive Chef, Vivanta by Taj, Bangalore with the ‘Best Chef in the Five Star’ category at the National Tourism Awards held in New Delhi.

Speaking on the same, Chef Selvaraju, Executive Chef, Vivanta by Taj, Bangalore, said, “Such recognition motivates us to experiment, consistently innovate and train the next generation in the right direction.’

 
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V&RO's Taki Taki & Mirage Win Restaurant Awards 2023
V&RO's Taki Taki & Mirage Win Restaurant Awards 2023
 

India’s fastest-growing hospitality chain, V&RO Hospitality won honours at the latest ‘Restaurant Awards 2023’ Bengaluru Edition with Taki Taki and Mirage winning multiple awards and CEO & Co-Founder Dawn Thomas being recognised as the Young Restaurateur Of The Year 2023.  

 

V&RO’s popular Japanese Restaurant - Taki Taki was recognised as the Best Foreign Cuisine Stand–Alone/Chain Restaurant of the Year (Pan-Asian/Chinese/Italian/Mexican/American). Their crown jewel brand, Mirage, was also recognised as the Best Gastro-Pub/Restro-Bar with Outstanding Ambience and Interiors Awards.

 

The year couldn’t have started on a better note for us than this. Any recognition by industry peers is special and a testament to our efforts in offering food connoisseurs the best in different cuisines. These recognitions will inspire us to offer the best experience to our patrons as we move into newer markets across the country and abroad.” said Dawn Thomas, CEO & Co-Founder of V&RO Hospitality

 

Taki Taki has become synonymous with Pan-Asian cuisine in Bengaluru and Mumbai. It has become the go-to place for food lovers to celebrate the finest Japanese and Pan-Asian cuisine. Known for its opulent ambiance, bespoke cocktails, and world-class cuisine.

 

V&RO hospitality owns some upscale bars and restaurants across Bengaluru, Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Ooty.

 

Some of their brands include Badmaash Lounge, Mirage, Plan B, Taki Taki & Cafe Noir. V&RO is on an expansion drive nationally and internationally, with brands such as Badmaash, Cafe Noir, and Taki Taki being the pioneers in pitching the V&RO flag in uncharted territories. 

 

India’s only Registered Restaurant Award Show – “Restaurant Awards 2023” Bengaluru Edition, is one of the most prestigious awards for the Food & Beverage sector organised by Franchise India and www.restaurantindia.in in media partnership with Retailer Magazine and Charity Partner Feeding India Zomato.

 

The ‘Restaurant Awards’ premium focus is to create recognition for various industry experts who are a part of this affluent industry. The awards create a platform for Indian players to showcase their expertise and gain prominence by acknowledging outstanding creativity, customer service, and top-quality dining in India.

 

 

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Franchise India awarded the title of Indian Power Brand at the launch of Power Brands
Franchise India awarded the title of Indian Power Brand at the launch of Power Brands
 

Franchise India, was awarded the title of Indian Power Brand at the glittering ‘Franchise India presents Omaxe Power Brands Glam 2016' held in the Capital recently.

The power packed function also saw the launch of the 2015-16 edition of Power Brands where Franchise India got felicitated. The function was presided over by Ms. Najma Heptulla, Minister for Minority Affairs.

“Franchise India has been making its mark is felt all over the nation and it totally deserves the title of Indian Power Brand for its great brand,” shared Arindam Chaudhuri, Founder Planman Media.

Planman Media also launched the 'New Look' version of its News Magazine, "The Sunday Indian" at the event.

The guests of honor at the event that was conducted in association with Times Now and Gitanjali, included Sudhir Chaudhary - Channel Head and Editor in Chief of Zee News, Archana Dalmiya from Congress, Chandan Mitra of BJP, Shahnawaz Hussain - current spokesperson of BJP and former Cabinet Minister BJP, Atul Kumar Anjaan - CPI - National Secretary,  Arun Kumar - National General Secretary, JDU, D.P Tripathi - General Secretary, NCP, Manjari Fadnis - film actor,  Gaurav Marya -Chairman, Franchise India, Mohit Goel - CEO of Omaxe and Dr. J.K. Mitra, former Dean of FMS. The event saw brand owners of the most Powerful Brands of India receiving their honours for being present inside the special - by invitation - only brand compendium, Power Brands 2015-16.

It also saw the announcement of the "4ps Most Recognizable Brands of Indian Origin" and a select list of their brand owners being felicitated.

The research was done jointly by IIPM Think Tank and Franchise India. The event partners included, Bright Outdoor Media, Ravish Kapoor Innovative Invitations, RG Urology and Laparoscopy Hospital, Mandate and Brand Serve.

 

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Great Place to Work ranks McDonald's India as Best Food Retail Company to work for
Great Place to Work ranks McDonald's India as Best Food Retail Company to work for
 

Hardcastle Restaurants Private Limited (HRPL), the Master Franchisee for West and South India operations of McDonald’s Restaurants and a subsidiary of the BSE listed Westlife Development Limited, has been ranked at first place among food retailers in India by the Great Place to Work Institute.

The coveted ranking is India’s largest annual study of workplace excellence and is based on confidential employee feedback and an audit of management processes by the Great Place to Work Institute in partnership with the Retailers Association of India.

"It is an honour to be recognised as a leader among India’s best places to work – in the food retail category. Our unique Employee Value Proposition of Fun, Flexibility and Future are the very foundation of business at McDonald’s. Our ranking among the best places to work is a testament to our strong people policies. We believe that our people are our strongest brand attribute, and we strive to provide them a positive, friendly, collaborative working environment,” said Seema Arora Nambiar, Senior Director – People Resources, McDonald’s India- West & South.

McDonald’s India is an equal opportunity employer and provides quality employment and long-term careers not only to first time job seekers but also to those who have basic training in the hospitality sector.

Each employee undergoes intensive training, based on international modules, that equips them to meet and master day-to-day operational and business challenges that they could face on ground.

 

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Marriott India awarded 'Best place to work' in Asia
Marriott India awarded 'Best place to work' in Asia
 

Marriott Hotels India has won the best organisations in Asia to work with by the Great Place To Work organisation in the US.

Known for its unparalleled hospitality, Marriott Hotels India has won the award not only in India, but across Asia.

“Our employees are our greatest asset. This special recognition reminds us that our workforce is the reason we excel in the hospitality industry. We are thrilled that the award puts us in such fine company not only within India but across the continent,” said Rajeev Menon, Area Vice President – South Asia, Marriott International Inc.

The honour was conferred upon Marriott Hotels from among 900 companies across Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and the UAE.

Marriott Hotels was chosen as one of the leading organisations from among an elite league of 60 workplaces.

The organisations considered for the honour were across industries and sectors ranging from businesses and non profit organisations to government agencies.

Earlier, it was also named as one of the best global multinational companies to work for by Great Place To Work panel in November 2014.

Marriott Hotels India has won the title based on parameters such as levels of trust and transparency, pride and camaraderie, HR practices and policies within the workplace.

 

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Malaysia won World's 1st International Young Chef Olympiad title
Malaysia won World's 1st International Young Chef Olympiad title
 

Ashwin from Malaysia has won the 1st International Young Chef Award that was being hosted at IIHM Kolkata.

World's First International Young Chef Olympiad 2015 was inaugurated in Kolkata on 29th January at the city center.

In an Olympic style opening ceremony, all the participating countries marched along with their respective country flags supported by their teams and cheers of the crowd.

Participating countries were United States of America, United Kingdom, Spain, France, Switzerland, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and India, which was represented by Dhriti, 3rd year student of IIHM Jaipur, who was greeted with the largest crowd cheer.

Scott Furssedonn Wood, The British Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, congratulated the teams and wished them luck for participating in the first ever International Young Chef Olympiad in the world.
    
The International Young Chef Olympiad trophy was unveiled by Dr Suborno Bose, Founder of YCO Initiative, Chairman of the Organizing committee of the Young Chef Olympiad and Chief Mentor of International Institute of Hotel Management, followed by the grand entry of the Olympiad flag, carried by four successful women of India - Madhumita Mohanta, Exec Chef, The Lalit Great Eastern - Kolkata; Siddhika Ghosh - Owner of Restaurant "The Wise Owl" in Kolkata; Chef Payal - Master Chef finalist from Kolkata; and Chef Preeti Singh - who made Kolkata proud.

The oath taking ceremony was undertaken by representatives of the participating countries, judges and the coaches. From India, Dhriti took the oath on behalf of all the participants. Equally scintillating was the entry of the brightly lit Olympiad torch carried by Garima Poddar, Winner of the Young Chef India Schools 2014 contest held in London, who along with all the contestants on the stage joined hands together to light up the flames carefully incorporated on the top of the cake, under the supervision of the Culinary Director of IIHM Chef Sanjay Kak.

The Grand Finals were equally competitive where judges asked the contestants to make only vegetarian dishes. To top it up, the contestants from France and Spain had never been trained to make a purely vegetarian dish.

The winner was Ashwin from Malaysia, followed by 1st runner up Marcin from Spain and 2nd runner up Tajinder from UK. Judges were impressed by the talent and introduced an award for the Outstanding Dish as well, which was won by Ian from Kenya.

Ashwin, the 2015 International Young Chef Olympiad winner, took home a cash award of $10,000 USD, a gold medal and memories from India to cherish for a life time.
Quotes:

"I dream to put India on the culinary map of the world. I dream to create the awareness among million of Indian youngsters to realize that culinary and hospitality is the most promising and creative career. I dream of an India where like the IT industry, the culinary and hospitality industry becomes a driving force behind our rising economy and I dream of an India who will produce thousands of celebrity chefs who would conquer the entire world. We promise to bring 100 countries in the 2nd International Young Chef Olympiad in 2016," said Dr. Suborno Bose, Chairman, IIHM Global & Chairman, Executive Committee - YCO.
 

 

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Indian restaurant Dishoom awarded best in UK
Indian restaurant Dishoom awarded best in UK
 

Dishoom, an Indian restaurant located in London, has become the best restaurant in UK according to Yelp, the online urban city guide and app.

The restaurant has beaten Britain's best known Michelin-starredto be crowned the top restaurant in UK.

Dishoom located at Covent Garden serves 'bun maska' (bread and butter) and kaala khatta has always received a large queue outside it of people wanting to dine in it.

Yelp compiled its own review and star-rating data to come out with a list of the Top 100 places to eat in the UK. 

Dishoom was founded by Shamil and Kavi Tharar and Amar and Adarsh Radia in 2010 serves traditional Mumbai food with a little tweak in the menu.

“Dishoom was our loving homage to Irani cafes. Having grown up in London I can't forget the frequent visit to Mumbai to visit my grandparents. The old Irani cafes of Mumbai have almost all disappeared. They are heritage and needed to be preserved. We also wanted to say something about the Indian cuisine that did not conform to the usual cliche”, said Shamil.

Presently the restaurant is operating three outlets in the country.
 

 

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Yum! Restaurants awarded to employ person with disability
Yum! Restaurants awarded to employ person with disability
 

Yum! Restaurants India, the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell is awarded with the prestigious National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Dissabilities-2014 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Disability Affairs, Government of India.

The award recognises KFC’s outstanding contribution as an employer of people with disabilities providing them the opportunity to harness their professional aspirations and potential.

The ceremony was held on 3rd December 2014 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi with the Hon’ble President of India- Shri Pranab Mukherjee felicitating KFC with the award.

Yum! India has established over 20 special KFC restaurants across India to employee these specially-abled employees. Through this initiative Yum! Restaurants have helped to unleash the true potential of specially-abled people and build on their self-esteem.

To take this effort to the next level, Yum! Academy was established in 2012. The Yum! Academy provides a fully sponsored 11 weeks program in which the specially-abled youth are taught English and critical skills for employment in the retail and hospitality sector.

“We are honored to be conferred with this award which is testimony of our mission of ‘Growth with a big heart’. Started in 2008, this programme aims at creating an equal opportunity workplace for our deaf employees. The Yum! Academy was introduced to train these individuals and make them independent in their respective line of work. At present there are 20 Special KFC stores in India which are run primarily by our deaf employees who man all stations; handling everything from kitchen operations to consumer interactions,” said, Niren Chaudhary, President, Yum! Restaurants India.

KFC has partnered with organizations in different cities that help with recruitment and training in the initial phases including training the managers on sign language. The stores have some special equipment which creates a more enabling environment.

KFC currently has 20 specially-abled stores where hearing and speech-impaired employees account for about more than 50 per cent of the total staff. Operational in cities like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Ghaziabad, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata and New Delhi, the brand currently employs over 350 such staff members.
 

 

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Sarvesh Jodan awarded best Chef in Wales, UK
Sarvesh Jodan awarded best Chef in Wales, UK
 

The Indian chef, who heads the Bokhara Brasserie at Court Colman manor, has been awarded best chef of the year at Wales, UK, according to a report published by Walesonline.co.uk.

Chef Sarvesh Jodan is known for playing with foods and bringing the delicious Indian food at the table in UK. His mouthwatering masala or madras and pakoras are well known among the US customers.

He was awarded chef of the year Wales at the annual Asian Curry Award ceremony.

Not only this, The Indian chef has also made Bokhara Brasserie at Court Colman Manor won as the Best Curry Restaurant in Wales four times over.

“I have worked at Bokhara since 2003 and we have won several awards including Best Spice Restaurant at the British Curry Awards. I am very proud to now have been awarded Welsh chef of the year 2014 at the Asian Curry Awards. I would like to personally thank Vijay Bhagotra, who brought me here to Wales, my team of chefs who work tirelessly in our pursuit of perfection, and of course our loyal customers who give me the inspiration and drive to keep bringing them the real taste of India,” Sarvesh Jodan told Walesonline.co.uk.

Chef Sarvesh began his career as a chef apprentice at Muntaj Hotel in Agra. After his apprenticeship, he started work at the Hotel Clark Shiraz in Agra, where he was promoted to sous chef. He worked in Tokyo Bay Hilton, Japan, for five years, before returning to Agra to work at the Jaypee Palace, where he had a chance meeting with Vijay Bhagotra, the late owner of Court Colman Manor, who had recently set up Bokhara Brasserie and was looking for the right person to take the restaurant forward in UK.

“Sarvesh has given 11 years service to Bokhara and more importantly he has given 33 years service to the industry. His loyalty and endeavour in a tough industry deserves to be applauded. His cooking is true to where he comes from. It is traditional in every sense of the word. In a world where people are trying to be different, Sarvesh stands out because he doesn’t. No gimmicks, no nonsense. Food that people love and keep coming back for," Sanjeev Bhagotra told Walesonline.co.uk.

 

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Manjushree Technopack wins 4 awards at India Star Awards 2014
Manjushree Technopack wins 4 awards at India Star Awards 2014
 

Manjushree Technopack Ltd, South East Asia’s largest PET and Preform manufacturer has won four India Star Awards for the year 2013-14.

The India Star Award, by leading industry body, Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), is the premier award amongst India’s packaging fraternity.

Manjushree won the awards for four of its packaging innovations provided to leading companies, Coca-Cola, United Spirits Limted, Nambisans’ and Himalaya. The company won the awards under the category of ‘Consumer Packaged Product Design’.

"It is for the sixth year that we are being awarded with this prestigious recognition. We are excited about winning four awards this year and thank IIP and the rest of the packaging fraternity for the continued support and encouragement. We look forward to continue the good work and more importantly, adding value to consumers and brands through our packaging solutions," said Vimal Kedia, Managing Director, Manjushree Technopack Ltd.

Manjushree is Bangalore based plastic packaging major and the company closed 2013-2014 with a turnover of Rs 437 crores.

The company is involved in the manufacture of specialty plastic packaging products for domestic /export markets; it caters to the packaging needs of leading companies in FMCG, Pharma and Food & Beverages sectors.

 

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Three Indian hotels in top 100 list for quality service
Three Indian hotels in top 100 list for quality service
 

Three Indian cities namely, Amritsar in Punjab, Jaisalmer in Rajasthan and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala has ranked in the top 100 list for hotels in quality service and value for money  by Trivago, reported IANS.

"Our recent survey found that hotels in small cities provide highest quality service and offer accommodation at economic rates," the travel meta search portal Trivago said in a report titled 'Best Value City Index 2015'.

Indian city, Amritsar has been ranked sixth in the list with a score of 96.52 percent on the basis of the service its hotels provided to their guests, while desert city Jaisalmer was listed 12th with 96.37 percent score and Thiruvananthapuram ranked 15th with 96.19 percent score, respectively.

The ranking is based on the hotel price index for overnight accommodation in a standard double room on the search website. The survey was conducted in cities across the world including Asia, Europe and the Americas.

With the highest score of 97.37 percent, Mostar in Bosnia topped the list, followed by Novi Sad in Serbia with 97.18 percent score for best hotel service and value for money.

"The index gives an overview of the best-valued destinations worldwide, reflecting the Trivago hotel price index," the report added.

 

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Fortune ranks PepsiCo's Indra Nooyi third most powerful woman in business
Fortune ranks PepsiCo's Indra Nooyi third most powerful woman in business
 

Fortune has ranked PepsiCo's India-born CEO Indra Nooyi as the third most powerful business woman, as per a PTI report.

Nooyi is the only Indian-origin woman on the 2014 list topped by IBM Chairman and CEO Ginni Rometty and General Motors CEO Mary Barra.

Fortune said nearly half the women on 'The Most Powerful Women in Business 2014' list run huge companies, which is a record and all are working hard to transform their businesses”.
Her innovation push is paying off at PepsiCo, which has increased research and development spending by 25 per cent since 2011. In 2013, of 50 bestselling new food and beverage products in the US, nine came from PepsiCo -- Starbucks Iced Coffee, Muller Quaker Yogurt, and Mountain Dew Kickstart.

"In July the company raised its profit growth forecast for the year, which should help Nooyi counter calls by activist investor Nelson Peltz to break up the food and beverage giant," Fortune mentioned.

The list also includes aerospace and defense giant Lockheed Martin's Chairman, CEO and President Marillyn Hewson at number 4, bioscience firm DuPont CEO Ellen Kullman at rank 5 and Hewlett-Packard Chairman and CEO Meg Whitman on the 6th position.

 

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Tata Starbucks' CEO Avani Davda ranked 13 in Fortune's groundbreaking women list
Tata Starbucks' CEO Avani Davda ranked 13 in Fortune's groundbreaking women list
 

By PTI 

New York: Avani Davda, CEO, Tata Starbucks is the only Indian featured in Fortune and Food & Wine's list of 25 ‘most groundbreaking’ women who are changing the way people eat and think about food.

Davda, ranked 13 on the 'The Most Innovative Women in Food and Drink' list, leads the joint venture between the American coffee giant and its partner Tata Global Beverages in India. In less than two years, Davda has opened 52 stores across major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, and Chennai. Fortune said Davda, 34, has balanced Starbucks staples like Frappuccinos with local offerings.

Her team launched an India-sourced and roasted coffee, called India Estates Blend to mark Starbucks' first anniversary in the country. Fortune and its Time Inc sister publication Food & Wine spent months searching for the ‘most groundbreaking women in the food and drink world’.

The publication said the women on list may not operate at the same scale as the big industry players such as PepsiCo's India-born CEO Indra Nooyi and Mondelez International CEO Irene Rosenfeld, who are regulars on Fortune's Most Powerful Women in Business ranking. But this group is permanently changing the way we eat and how we think about food. Now that's power in its own right.

The list also includes United Nations World Food Programme Executive Director Ertharin Cousin, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, Global Vice President of Quality Standards at American foods supermarket chain Whole Foods Margaret Wittenberg, TV personality and author Rachael Ray, cookware and gourmet food giant Williams-Sonoma CEO Laura Alber and Rural Outreach Africa founder Ruth Oniang'o amongst other.

 

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Subway awards Regional Franchisee
Subway awards Regional Franchisee
 

Prakash Nagabushanam franchisee restaurant Subway has been awarded the best Regional Franchisee of the Year 2014 award. The restaurant chain which has over 42,000 outlets world-wide has recognized Nagabushanam of Bangalore for his utmost dedication to customer satisfaction and outstanding achievement in building sales and traffic.

Speaking on the same, Nagabushanam, said, “Our staffs engage with every customer on their specific requirements. This is a key factor in India given that each customer may have his/her specific dietary preferences.” 

 

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BrewMaster gets accolade
BrewMaster gets accolade
 

The BrewMaster restaurant has received the best restaurant chain award at Prime Time Global Lifestyle award.

Speaking on the occasion, Sartaj Sahni, Director, The BrewMaster, said, “It is a proud moment but the credit for this award goes to the entire team which has worked extremely hard and has always looked to give the very best to guests.”

The restaurant is presently located in Delhi, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Mohali and is planning to open 15 restaurants by end of 2015.

 

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Amul gains accolade
Amul gains accolade
 

Amul has grabbed the World Dairy Innovation Award 2014 title for the best marketing campaign for its ‘Eat Milk with Every Meal’ at 8th Global Dairy Congress held in Istanbul, Turkey.

RS Sodhi, Managing Director, GCMMF, said, “The expansion, innovation and brand building are the three pillars of Amul's strategy to achieve the growth. We are glad that our efforts are being recognised at the global level.”

 

 

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Tetra Pak awarded certification
Tetra Pak awarded certification
 

Tetra Pak, one of the largest food packaging and process companies in Pune, Maharastra has been awarded with Platinum Certification for green factory building by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).

Speaking on the certification, Kandarp Singh, MD, Tetra Pak South Asia Markets, said, "Driving environmental excellence is a strategic priority at Tetra Pak. The Chakan facility is an example of generating sustainable growth for customers with minimum environmental impact."

The company which started its operation in 2012 has become the first facility for Tetra Pak to receive a LEED-equivalent certification. The certification was based on an assessment of the site in six categories - sustainable site, water conservation, energy conservation, indoor environmental quality, material conservation and innovation where Tetra Pak received all the 81 credits they have applied for.

 

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MET bags the 'Outstanding Hotel Partner' title
MET bags the 'Outstanding Hotel Partner' title
 

The Metropolitan Hotel and Spa (MET) has been awarded with the title of 'Outstanding Hotel Partner' for achieving the highest revenue in the independent hotel category by travel portal, Booking.com.

The award is given for providing unmatched hospitality services, comfort and luxury to guests coming from across the globe.

Vipul Gupta, Executive Director, The Metropolitan Hotel and Spa, said, “We are delighted to be conferred with this honor and express our gratitude towards Booking.com for recognising our efforts.”

 

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Golden Peacock receives Michelin Star
Golden Peacock receives Michelin Star
 

The Venetian Macao’s Golden Peacock Restaurant located in China has been awarded a Michelin star-rating by the Michelin Guide to Restaurants and Hotels in its Hong Kong & Macau 2014 edition. The restaurant is one of the nine Indian restaurants worldwide being currently starred by Michelin.

Speaking on the same, Charles Newland, Senior VP, Food and Beverages, said, “Superb dining is one of the many outstanding and memorable experiences awaiting visitors of The Venetian Macao.”

 

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Bayar's Coffee wins award
Bayar's Coffee wins award
 

Bayar’s Coffee, one of the country’s leading gourmet coffee roasters based in Bangalore, has been awarded with the ‘Best Roasters Gold Award’ for 2014.

The award was given by Coffee Board of India and Indian Coffee Trust recognising the company’s adoption of food safety standards, implementation of new technology and use of high-quality coffee beans in its blends.

R Srikanth Rao, Director, Bayar’s Coffee, said, “We have introduced a variety of coffee products that addresses customer’s unique taste, and our effort has been rewarded.”

 

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Talent hunt by FameBox
Talent hunt by FameBox
 

FameBox to host ‘India’s Best Web Chef’- a web-based talent hunt to find the best chef in the country. The online reality show will be hosted and judged by journalists and talk show-host Vir Sanghvi.

The participation is invited from across the country, and India’s best Web Chef will be crowned after three rounds of intensive competition spanning a total of six weeks. The winner could emerge as the next Webstar by setting-up a YouTube channel to showcase their talent and will be awarded a grand prize of Rs 1 lakh.

Dhruvank Vaidya, Head - Business Development and Finance, Four Cross Media and Business Head, FameBox, said, “At FameBox, we wanted to draw out the hidden talent and bring the rich cuisine of India into the limelight and what better way to do this than the web.”

 

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Leela Palace's restaurants win awards
Leela Palace's restaurants win awards
 

The Qube and Le Cirque, restaurants at The Leela Palace, New Delhi, have been awarded with Times Food & Nightlife Awards 2014 for the best multi-cuisine and the best European categories respectively for the third consecutive year.

Speaking on the occasion, Louis Sailer, GM, The Leela Palace, New Delhi, said, “These awards are a true testament of our efforts to provide exceptional dining experience while maintaining the highest levels of service, and we express heartfelt thanks to our patrons for their invaluable support.”

 

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The Beer Cafe wins award
The Beer Cafe wins award
 

Speaking on the occasion, Rahul Singh, CEO & Founder, The Beer Café said, “Convention rests on the fact that pubs and bars have to be dingy, dark and out of bound for families.”

The cafe plans to open 30 outlets across India by the end of 2014.

 

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The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa bags awards
The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa bags awards
 

The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa has won two prestigious awards from the well-known travel portals, Agoda.com & Booking.com based on the guest ratings and recognition recently.

Vipul Gupta, Executive Director, The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa, said, “We are very happy with these honours being bestowed upon us. The Met has always tried to give the best of the services to its customers and has earned a distinguished position among its customers.”

 

 

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Pride Hotels wins award
Pride Hotels wins award
 

Pride Hotels was awarded the ‘The Fast Emerging 5-Star Luxury Chain in India’ at the World Travel Brand Awards 2013, held in New Delhi, recently.

Satyen Jain, CEO, Pride Hotels, said, “It is a recognition of our commitment of exceeding guests’ expectations, every time.” 

 

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Radisson Blu MBD, Noida wins
Radisson Blu MBD, Noida wins
 

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group awarded Radisson Blu MBD, Noida as ‘Asia Pacific’s Best Performing Franchised Hotel of the Year, 2013’ for the third consecutive year. The announcement was made at the company’s global hotel business conference last week in Cebu, Philippines

The hotel was awarded on the merits of an exceptional performance, having done exceptionally well in the entire criterion winning the awards for its excellence in F&B and other services. In its pursuit for excellence, the hotel has also been awarded the Silver certification from Earth Check; the world’s leading and largest environmental management system in use by the travel and tourism industry.

Rajat Sethi, General Manager, Radisson Blu MBD Noida, said, “Winning the award for the third time in a row has been a big achievement. The award has been the result of the sincere efforts of the team.”

 

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Pizza Hut Wins Loyalty Awards
Pizza Hut Wins Loyalty Awards
 

Pizza Hut, world’s largest pizza chain with over 12,500 restaurants across 91 countries has won the 2013 Marketing Excellence Awards and Loyalty and Engagement Awards with several recognitions of the brand’s strategy to adopt innovative, effective and contemporary marketing practices that increase customer engagement, conversation and return on investment (ROI).

Nominated across seven Marketing Excellence categories, the brand was honoured with top awards for excellence in loyalty marketing, excellence in consumer insights and market research and excellence in data-driven marketing at the Marketing Excellence Awards held at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Singapore recently.

Juliana Lim, Senior MD, Pizza Hut said, “Brands must be sincere and continuously offer value to their customers. Loyalty should not be assumed. We need to be top-of-mind with consumers whenever they are making purchases and every demonstration of support for our brand should be valued and rewarded.”

She added, “We are thrilled to be receiving these amazing recognitions of our intelligent customer engagement strategy, which we started two years ago with Capillary Technologies.” Through its partnership with Capillary, Pizza Hut now understands customers better and is able to personalise offers based on consumption frequencies, tastes, day parts and location preferences.

Anant Choubey, Regional Head, Capillary Technologies Asia-Pacific, said “We congratulate Pizza Hut on these multiple recognitions. Pizza Hut has engaged its customer base with focussed campaigns that target the right customers with the products and offers at the right times to drive incremental sales across its restaurants and delivery business.”

“With our world-class solutions and expertise accumulated by working with numerous global retail brands, Capillary is helping clients to understand and respect their customers’ preferences and choices and win loyalty by tuning their marketing communications with such behavioral indicators in mind. We are also humbled to have received the best engagement agency recognition at the recent LEA event,” Choubey added. 

 

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Raj Hospitality Wins World Luxury Hotel Award
Raj Hospitality Wins World Luxury Hotel Award
 

Raj Hospitality Management has won the World Luxury Hotel Award 2013 for the Best Hotel Management Company in Asia organised at Phuket, Thailand. Raja Gopaal Iyer, CEO, Raj Hospitality Management, received the Award among the august gathering.

Raja Gopaal Iyer, said "We comprehended fully the expectations and requirements of the investors in eradicating the element of risks in their venture. Raj Hospitality manages four properties in India, namely La Classic Hotel in Bangalore; Spice Grove by Mandharaa at Thekkady, Kerala ; Peppermints at Tamil Nadu and Rain Forest at Athirapally, Kerala.”

 

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Imperial Bags World Luxury Hotel Award
Imperial Bags World Luxury Hotel Award
 

The Imperial has been awarded ‘World Luxury Hotel Award’ and has been chosen as the 'Best Luxury Hotel in India for 2013' amongst top hotels in the country. The recognition was conferred at the 2013 World Luxury Hotel Awards (WLHA) Gala Ceremony held in Indigo Pearl Resort Phuket in Thailand on 1st November 2013.

Vijay Wanchoo, Senior Executive Vice President and General Manager, The Imperial New Delhi said “The Imperial enjoys its own reckoning in the market as an iconic heritage hotel. This prestigious World Luxury Hotel Award honoring us with the title of The Best Luxury Hotel in India now for four consecutive years reflects not only the sheer opulence and the grand Imperial experience but assures our commitment to maintain impeccable standards with our product, people and procedures.”

He further added, “It’s not just a moment of immense pride for The Imperial, it’s also hugely motivating for the associates who have been and will collectively continue to work towards maintaining high standards of service at all times."

The WLHA encourages sustainable competitiveness which bolsters staff moral and creates heightened awareness of certain non-negotiable criteria within the luxury hotel industry. 

 

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Metro Chef Awards to Honour Students
Metro Chef Awards to Honour Students
 

The Annual Metro Chef Awards known for recognising excellence in the kitchen has launched a Student Chef of the Year Award to honour pupils from various hospitality institutes.

Mr. Virender S. Datta, Chairman, International Institute of Culinary Arts said "We have introduced special category for students this year. All these years, only professionals were put to test. We gave open invitation to institutes all over the country.”

Organised by Indian Culinary Forum (ICF), this year marks the 10th edition of Annual Metro Chef Awards 2013. The four-day competition, which started Wednesday, saw chefs from hotels like Le Meridien and Ashok cooking their best dishes in categories like Master Chef International Cuisine Award, Master Chef Oriental Cuisine Award and Kitchen Artist Award.

Chef Vivek Saggar, secretary-PR and Media, ICF said "The dishes are judged on various factors like food presentation, taste, innovation, hygiene and educational qualification of the chef, among other things. The dishes should be practical to serve. Everything should be edible.”

The award ceremony is on 23rd November. A Rs.35,000 cash prize will be given to winners in three sections - Lady Chef of the Year, Golden Hat and Silver Hat.

 

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Marriott to held IFBA Awards
Marriott to held IFBA Awards
 

The Food Bloggers Association India will host the first edition of India Food Bloggers Award 2013 (IFBA) for the bloggers community in India at the JW Marriott Mumbai. The IFBA 2013 will honour winners and finalists in various categories like restaurant review, recipe and culinary travel. The jury includes Chef. Sanjeev Kapoor, Kunal Vijayakar, Zarovar Kalra, Rushina Ghidiyal, Chef. Ritu Dalmia, Rashmi Uday Singh, Sona Bahadur Hari Nayak, Aneesha Baig, Vikram Doctor, Kajal Tejsingani and Aditya Balat.

Mr. Pavithran Nambiar, General Manger, JW Marriott Mumbai, said “We are thrilled to be associated with the Food Bloggers Association India and host this prestigious award ceremony at our hotel, that will felicitate the food curators and bloggers who have added their expertise to the food and beverage industry in India.”
The awards ceremony will bring together food bloggers, jury members, partners and food enthusiasts from the industry to promote food blogging, and share thoughts, opinions and ideas. 

The objective of Food Bloggers Association of India (FBAI), a community of more than 7500 food bloggers, photographers, critics, reviewers, stylists, foodies and entrepreneurs is to help and promote blogging and food bloggers across India. 

 

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Park Hyatt Awarded by AP Govt.
Park Hyatt Awarded by AP Govt.
 

Park Hyatt Hyderabad has been awarded for excellence under the category of Classified Hotels 5 Star Deluxe for the year 2012-13 by Department of Tourism, Government of Andhra Pradesh consecutively for the second time.

Ms. Chandana Khan, I.A.S, Special Chief Secretary of Government Tourism, Chairman  & MD, Andhra Pradesh Tourism of Development Corporation Ltd along with Minister of Tourism, AP, Mr. Vatti Vasant Kumar graced the event and presented the award to Sven Hoffmeyer, General Manager, Park Hyatt Hyderabad.
 
Mr. Sven Hoffmeyer said “We are proud to win this award consecutively for the second time within a span of 18 months of our opening and are grateful to guests who like our work and have appreciated us for what we do. I share this award with them.” 

 

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Sneh Mehtani Crowned
Sneh Mehtani Crowned
 

The New Jersey Restaurant Association (NJRA) has named Sneh Mehtani ‘Restaurateur of the Year’ in recognition of 30 years of innovation and service.  Sneh, the first Asian to receive the award, will be honoured for her achievement at the NJRA gala on December 2 at Mayfair Farms in West Orange.    

Mr. Shaun Mehtani, MD, Mehtani Restaurant Group said “When my mother opened the original Moghul restaurant in New York City, she was a trailblazer. There were few, if any, Indian women running restaurants, and this cuisine was nowhere near as popular as it is today. Since this is our 30th year in business and my mom is retiring, the NJRA recognition is sort of a lifetime achievement award.”

The Mehtani Restaurant Group has grown to become one of the Northeast’s largest family-owned South Asian restaurant groups. Their property include three venues located within the Hyatt Morristown — Mehndi, which has authentic Punjabi and Mughlai fare; SM23 Bar & Lounge, with a cocktail culture vibe; and Ming II, serving pan-Asian food.

The group’s Edison properties include Moghul, with Northern Indian cuisine, and Ming, specializing in Far Eastern and Asian fusion dining, both located at Oak Tree Center.

 

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Copper Chimney bags Award
Copper Chimney bags Award
 

Copper Chimney, a contemporary restaurant with presence in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Raipur won the award for ‘Best Indian Cuisine Restaurant Chain – National’ at the Indian Restaurants Awards 2013.

Mr. K S Narayanan, C.E.O, Blue Foods, said “Copper Chimney is widely loved, praised and has a legacy of four decades. We are excited to bag this prestigious award. It’s due to consistent efforts put together by our team to ensure consistency in Food & Service at the highest level. We would further strive to excel similar and even better service for all our endeavours ahead.”

A venture of Pan Indian Food Solutions, Copper Chimney has been around for four decades and continues to set new industry standards and benchmarks in Indian cuisine and hospitality. Copper Chimney restaurant serves delicacies from the interiors of Punjab and North-West Frontier. The restaurant also features a show kitchen, allowing diners to enjoy a view of their meals being prepared in front of them.

 

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Taj Krishna wins CII National Award
Taj Krishna wins CII National Award
 

Taj Krishna, Hyderabad has been named the 14th National Award winner for Excellence in Energy Efficiency 2013 by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), under the building category.

The hotel has been recognised for its achievement in energy conservation and stood among five top excellent energy-efficient units in India. Award was bestowed upon Taj Krishna, Hyderabad after stringent processes for selection within the category.

Mahesh Agnihotri, Chief Engineer, Taj Krishna, Hyderabad, and Arnab Mondal, Deputy Chief Engineer, Taj Krishna, Hyderabad, received the Award on behalf of the property.

Mr. Sarabjeet Singh, Director Operations, TAJGVK Hotels & Resorts Ltd and General Manager, Taj Krishna, Hyderabad, said, “Taj Krishna has always been proactive in adopting green initiatives and the prestigious award is just an affirmation that we care for our environment and the world we inhabit. In the past one year we have implemented various energy-conservation initiatives like adopting energy-efficient greener technologies, LED induction lights, wave generator and ionizer for cooling towers, boiler scrubber, environment-friendly chemicals for various usages, solar hot water generation, complete usage of ETP water and cooling towers, etc. Moreover, initiatives adopted across all areas, i.e. water conservation, fossil fuel conservation and others have been shared and adopted by peer hotels.”
 

 

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Banjaar Tola Wins Best Hotel Award
Banjaar Tola Wins Best Hotel Award
 

Banjaar Tola, a Taj Safari lodge in Kanha, Madhya Pradesh won the Best of the Best Hotel Award in the most innovative guest experience category. The award was organised by Virtuoso, a luxury travel agency network held during the recent 25th Annual Virtuoso Travel Week at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Ms. Deepa Misra Harris, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces, said, “The Most Innovative Guest Experience Award is a true honour because it has resonated with some of the most valued professionals in the industry, Virtuoso’s travel advisors which shows that we are clearly on the right path to serve and delight our guests. It’s an acknowledgement we hold high. With this award, Taj Safaris has reaffirmed its reputation for excellence in providing its guests with innovative and memorable experiences.”

 

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Global Luxury Award for Lebua
Global Luxury Award for Lebua
 

Lebua Hotels & Resorts received four 2013 Seven Star Global Luxury Awards. The Signum Virtutis (The Seal of Excellence) was given to properties operated by the company, namely lebua at State Tower, Bangkok in Thailand; Devi Garh by lebua, Udaipur in India; and Lake Okareka Lodge by lebua and Mezzaluna Restaurant, both in New Zealand.

The winners of awards were chosen through a voting process by the public as well as those who work in the trade. The awards acknowledge and emphasise the high level of luxury and exclusivity offered at Lebua’s properties, ensuring the best experience and an unforgettable memory.

 

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2 Indian chefs win Gold Medal
2 Indian chefs win Gold Medal
 

Two Indian chefs won the gold medal at an International Chef Competition held in Singapore recently for cooking on a charcoal mud stove with two mud pots

N. Sheetharaman Prasaad and his team-mate U. Ganesh won in preparing a three-course meal with ingredients bought from the local market with 150 Singapore dollars and cooking with at least three out of five given ingredients with charcoal stove and mud pots. "We were stumped when asked to cook in the charcoal mud stove. All these years we were cooking on gas and electric stoves and ovens. But it ended well. The dishes should be of a certain weight. The judges also looked at the wastage while giving the marks," said an excited Prasaad, Corporate Executive Chef, GRT Hotels & Resorts.

The competition, Tradition and Innovations, was organised under the auspices of Singapore Tourism Board, Indian Restaurant Association of Singapore and Indian Chef's Culinary Association as part of a 10-day food festival held at Little India, Singapore.

The jury comprised experts of World Association of Chefs Societies like Chef Rick Stephen (Asia and Pacific Continental Director of WACS), Chef Edmund Toh (Assistant Vice President, Resorts World Sentosa Hotels and Casino) and Chef Mahendran (Chef d'Cuisine, Indian Kitchen SATS, Singapore).

Six teams from five Asian countries - India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia - participated in the contest.

 

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Woodland Hills Eateries among Top 10
Woodland Hills Eateries among Top 10
 

The restaurant which made the list were Anarbagh Indian Cuisine, coming in at number seven, Shalimar Cuisine of India, at number six, and Taste of India, placing ninth. 

There appears to be some rivalry between fans of the first two, located just down the street from one another on Ventura Boulevard, and the blog addresses that.

An entry in a Blog quotes like this: Before anyone gets upset, we're aware that half of the west SFV residents are on Team Anarbagh and the rest are on Team Shalimar, which is down the street. We're not going to take sides — we think both restaurants are nice places to go for an evening out or a special lunch.
 

 

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21 years of Shalimar India
21 years of Shalimar India
 

Since 1992 restaurant owner Chef Singh has shared his passion for cooking Punjabi Indian dishes with his customers. On Sunday, July 21, Singh and his family will be celebrating 21 years in the Portsmouth restaurant business at Shalimar India, 80 Hanover St.

In appreciation to his loyal customers the restaurant is hosting a special 15 course buffet for $11.95 per person plus tax, and for children under 12 years old the buffet is free.

Singh said, “The restaurant has recently undertaken many changes, including a new logo which better reflects the Punjabi cuisine and culture, as well as a new user-friendly web site created by Devotion Design Studio of Portsmouth. The restaurant's staffs are most excited for customers to see their new interior decor, which will transport customers to India.”

 

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Silver Covers Mezzaluna and My Place
Silver Covers Mezzaluna and My Place
 

Mezzaluna, the gourmet Italian restaurant, and My Place, the all-day dining restaurant serving world cuisine, at Movenpick Hotel & Spa Bangalore have been awarded the bespoke Silver Covers for their performance. This accolade honours restaurant excellence and is given to establishments that achieve outstanding appreciation from guests for commendable performance.
 

The awards were presented by Mr. Kripal Amanna, Editor, Food Lovers, Bangalore. Mezzaluna has been conferred with Three Silver Covers, while My Place was conferred One Silver Cover.
 

Mr. Biswajit Chakraborty, GM, Movenpick Hotel & Spa Bangalore, said, "The hotel has marked the tradition of being one of the leaders in food and beverage services and we are extremely elated to receive the Food Lovers’ Silver Covers for both Mezzaluna and My Place”. 

 

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