The Restaurant Roundup: Indian Chefs Win big, & the Return of Campa Cola

Joanna Lobo looks at the industry’s biggest news and newsmakers over the last month.

As summer brings clear indications of climate change, the impact is being felt in the food and agricultural sector. A new report by published by the Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW) revealed that India will face a reduction of over 16 % in food supply due to water and heat stress in 2050, increasing the food insecure population by over 50%. Another report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said India's food production could see a massive fall if things continue unchecked — rice production can decrease from 10 to 30 per cent, and maize production can decrease from 25 per cent to 70 per cent. Food wastage continues to be a major issue with a study says that India lost 5–13% of its fruits and vegetables and 3–7% of other between harvesting and consumption, in 2022.

Here is the other news from the food and hospitality sector.

Making Waves

Indian restaurants did well at the recent Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, 2023. Three restaurants made it to the top 50 — Masque at #16, Indian Accent at #19, and new entrant Avartana at ITC Grand Chola at #30. The extended 51-100 ranking features four Indian names: Bukhara (52), Americano (66), The Table (78), and Ekaa (93).

White Plate by Chef Jason, a new fine-dining restaurant in Goa, won the country’s ‘Best Newcomer – Restaurant’ at the Western India edition, and the Ultimate Luxury Dining Experience at Food Connoisseurs India Awards 2023. Goan restaurants were a hit at the recent Zee Zest Unlimit awards, Goa was a hit with Izumi winning Best Japanese Restaurant, Padaria Prazeres — Best Bakery, Raeeth — Best Nightclub, Cavatina — Best Regional Restaurant and its chef, Avinash Martins — Chef of the Year. In Capetown, Mythrayie S Iyer, Head Chef, Farmlore in Bengaluru won Best Young Chef for Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, and will now compete at the grand finale of the San Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition in October in Milan.

Diageo India earned the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) certification for its Alwar distillery in Rajasthan, becoming the first such spirit distillery in Asia. Lover’s Rum picked up a silver and bronze medal at the IWSC (International Wine and Spirit Competition) 2023.

Spirit Talk

Diageo India announced the launch of a regenerative agricultural initiative in Punjab and Haryana in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy India, which will revolutionise agricultural methods, provide best practises, information, and tools to approximately 5000 small-holder farmers.

Bira 91 forayed into the Hard Seltzers category with the launch of Grizly Hard Seltzer Ale — available in Pineapple and Okinawa, Peach and Black Tea, and Blueberry and Rosemary flavours. And, Hoegaarden launched three new gin variants in India, Parisian Romance (mixed berry flavour), Mediterranean summer (citrus & rosemary) and Belgian Original.

Reliance Consumer Products (RCP) will relaunch the 50-year-old beverage brand Campa — the portfolio will initially include Campa Cola, Campa Lemon, and Campa Orange.

New Eats

Internationally, Farzi Café makes its US debut at Bellevue; and Wendy’s Co. has partnered with cloud kitchen operator Rebel Foods Pvt for the fast-food chain’s presence in India.

Nationally, the major metros continue to see the launch of new places. In Bengaluru is Roxie, a craft house and restaurant housed in a 3-storey mansion; the launch of the first outpost of Mumbai-based Asian tapas restaurant Foo; The Kind Roastery and Brewroom; and the Indian restaurant Qafila by Kava at Courtyard & Fairfield by Marriott.

In Bhubaneswar is Revenir-Atelier De Pâtisserie, offering gourmet desserts and baked goods. In Kanpur’s Green Park stadium is Parkside, a new space that includes a restaurant, theatre and museum.

In Mumbai, Woodside Inn did a throwback to gymkhana food with their Gymkhana 2.0 menu, featuring dishes created by Kunal Vijaykar; and the Goan taproom Half Pint did a pop-up at O Pedro. At Taj Land’s End’s Masala Bay, chef Sadaf Hussain has created a special Iftar menu with dishes like gooler kebab, aahuna, do goshta biryani and more. The Bombay Canteen is organising a bar-takeover and brunch with Smoke & Bitters, the cocktail bar and smoke-house from Sri Lanka on April 2. New launches include the modern European The Burrow, TwentySeven Bakehouse morphs from a delivery and takeaway kitchen to a retail store and café in Bandra; the modern Shy; the regional Indian Folk; and the tequila bar and bistro Mezcalita.

Wow! Momo Foods launches its First Wow! Eats QSR Store in New Delhi. Delhi also the rooftop bar and lounge Sunset Story at The Westin, the Thai restaurant Erawaan at The Claridges, Chef Vineet Bhatia’s Dhilli at The Oberoi, and the brewhouse Fort City Brewing; UnCafé promoting mindful eating; Asian delivery kitchen Pop Chi; the fine dine Café Dali; and INJA, a fine dining restaurant offering a harmonic representation of Indian and Japanese flavours.

Goa’s newest restaurants include the multi-cuisine restaurant Sabado; the café Hello Sunshine, the global multi-cuisine Rico on the Beach; the beachside Occo; Mayan Beach Club; Coastal Crave; the tapas bar Suha; Japanese Korean Filipino-inspired street food Taste-The Shed; and the Keralite Ruchi.

In the News

The second edition of World Food India-2023 will be organised by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries in November and will focus on millets, innovation and sustainability ‘Green Food’, and the White Revolution 2.0. Britannia Industries is morphing into a foods player expanding to other categories including croissants, dairy, and salty snacks.

A Chennai-based startup built an unmanned takeaway ordering experience centre. Bai Veetu Kalyanam or The BVK Biryani has screens where customers can browse their menu, place orders and make payments, within minutes. Meanwhile, in Delhi, Cargill opened the Cargill Innovation Center, which includes a sensory lab and demonstration kitchen to serve dairy, beverage, bakery, convenience food industries, and other specialized culinary applications.

Over in the USA, Priyanka Chopra Jonas teamed up Rob’s Backstage Popcorn to launch Priyanka’s Mumbai Nights, flavoured with turmeric, red pepper, onion and garlic powder, red bell pepper and carrot.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that more that more than 85% of Australian exports to India (including fresh lobster and lamb) and 96% of imports from India would become duty free.

Joanna Lobo is an independent journalist from Goa who enjoys writing about food, her Goan heritage, the freelance life, and other things that make her happy. Follow her on @thatdoggonelady.

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