Indian Accent Opens in Mumbai; Manam Chocolate in Hyderabad; & Satori Supper Club in Bengaluru

Joanna Lobo rounds up all the biggest news in F&B this month.

New York City recently got a piece of a Konark Sun Temple, courtesy artisans from Odisha and chef Vikas Khanna. The stone recipe of the temple’s wheel will become part of his upcoming flagship restaurant in NYC in 2024.

In other global news, Prince William served burgers in a food truck in London. The burger was special because it was made using vegetables grown by Hyderabad-based company Kheyti, whose Greenhouse-in-a-box has potatoes, bell peppers, onions, and cauliflower spiced garlic and chillies to make a patty.

Nigerian chef named Hilda Baci has broken the Guinness World Record for cooking non-stop for four days – she cooked more than 100 different dishes. Interestingly, the previous record was set by Indian chef, Lata Tandon, in 2019 with a time of 87 hours and 45 minutes.

Closer home, food price inflation rose to 11.5%, its highest in more than three years, causing the government to step up sales of subsidised vegetables, releasing stocks of wheat and sugar, and levy a 20% export tax on parboiled rice. Additionally, there are rumours of a ban on sugar exports. Elsewhere, a report released by the World Health Organisation and Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations says there has been a rapid rise in the sales of ultra-processed foods in India in the last ten years, with chocolate and sugar confectionaries dominating sales.

Here is other news from the food and hospitality sector.

Hot off the press: Bar Wars, OATEY & the Satori Supper Club

Gurugram now has a Food & Beverage Innovation Centre by Food Service India Pvt Ltd (FSIPL) — a collaborative space for food tech, conversations, and consumer insights.

OATEY, the renowned plant-based dairy alternatives brand announced a partnership with cricketer Ajinkya Rahane (who is brand ambassador and investor).

NAO Spirits began the third edition of their Bar Wars, a competition that tests servers and bartenders’ skills. The regionals happened with 80 bartender-server duos across Bengaluru, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune and the finals will be held in Goa in September.

In Bengaluru, two friends — chef Sreya Vittaldev and Shagun Ohri — launched The Satori Supper Club. Once a month, they will curate intimate community tables dedicated to a specific culinary theme.

In Mumbai, restaurateur Gauri Devidayal has launched an audio and video podcast, Speak Greasy, where she will talk about the business of running a restaurant with chefs and other restaurateurs.

Pop ups and collabs: Marco Pierre White, Daniel Humm & a Farmers’ Feast

The season of pop-ups continues, this time featuring many international chefs testing Indian waters.

Chef Rahul Rana of Michelin-starred Avatara in Dubai, curated a 12 course meal (without onion and garlic) at Conrad Pune. Chef Marco Pierre White did a two day event, including a dinner and a masterclass, at JW Marriott Bengaluru as part of World on a Plate. Masters of Marriott Bonvoy bought together three of Asia’s finest restaurants and chefs — Chef Thitid ‘Ton’ Tassanakajohn from Le Du Bangkok, chef Varun Totlani from Masque Mumbai, and Chef ‘PAM’ Pichaya Soontornyanakij from Potong — for a three-city pop up. Chef Johanne Siy, crowned Asia’s Best Female Chef 2023 and the Philippines-born head chef of Singapore restaurant Lolla cooked a meal at The Leela Palace New Delhi. September was off to an exciting start at Masque, with sold-out seatings of a pop-up collab with chef Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park.

Berlin’s Wax On also did a pop-up in Bengaluru and Mumbai, showcasing their creative cocktails.

Coming in September, chef Ken Sakamoto of Michelin starred restaurant Cenci makes its debuts in India with a three-day pop-up at Noon. Chef Rahul ‘Picu’ Gomes Pereira of Passcode Hospitality is heading to Hong Kong to curate a gala dinner at the Indian festival in October. His menu will feature dishes from Bengal, Goa, Kashmir, Kerala, and Rajasthan.

Goya is hosting a Farmers’ Feast in Mumbai, spotlighting the voice of farmers from Kerehaklu, Krishi Cress & Vrindavan Farm, in collaboration with chef Niyati from Ekaa, Mumbai. They will be taking the Farmers’ Feast to Gurgaon, Hyderabad and Jaipur soon. Tickets for their Mumbai edit are available here.

New products & spirits: Manam, Staples, Tequila & More

Manam Chocolate is the newest Indian craft chocolate in the market offering 45 categories and 250+ products. They have a flagship experiential space — the Manam Chocolate Karkhana, at Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. Delhi also has a new Läderach store, making it the first Indian outpost of the Swiss chocolaterie.

Mumbai-based podcast producer Calvin Titus launched Staples by Comida & Co, offering homegrown, artisanal condiments — out now are infused butters and mustards. Elsewhere is Utopian Smoothies, a clean-label packaged smoothie with no refined sugar, preservatives, no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners.

Tequila continues to enjoy its moment under the sun. Liquor distributors, Craft Liquors, have launched three high-end tequilas by Padre Azul in the Indian market. In Goa, Maya Pistola Agavepura launched a new variant Extra Añejo, aged in virgin American white oak and ex-Bourbon casks and matured for more than 3 years.

Independence Brewing Company (IBC) launched a new Golden Ale. Great State Aleworks launched its brews in cans, in Goa. Tea estate Makaibari launched a special collector's item to commemorate India's 77th year of independence, called the Verleni 1947. And, DJ Mahua, the mahua drink distilled and sold by Agave India, is now available in Maharashtra.

New restaurants & bars: Indian Accent, Cirqa, Burma Burma, Aku’s

The big launch of the month was Indian Accent opening its second India outpost, in Mumbai. Helmed by Head Chef Rijul Gulati, on the menu are signatures like Daulat ki Chaat and Blue Cheese Kulcha along with Mumbai specials. Elsewhere, there is craft cocktail bar Cirqa; 3 Stories bar in Juhu; the coffee shop and gelataria Affogato; new party spot HOP-House of Pandora; the Mediterranean rooftop bar Nomi; the bohemian themed Bohoba; and cloud delivery kitchen, Baking Bad.

JW Marriott Goa’s Heliconia, celebrating Nikkei Cuisine

JW Marriott Goa launched Heliconia, celebrating Nikkei Cuisine. Goa also has Nosto; the new bar SoGo; the agave focussed bar Barfly Goa; the ‘hidden’ bar in Vagator, The Other Side; the contemporary cocktail bar, Room One; and the restaurant and visual art space, The Second House.

Burma Burma opened its ninth restaurant in Ahmedabad.

In Jaipur is the rooftop bar and lounge Diona with its Greek-inspired design, global and local flavours and its own brewery. Bengaluru has the multi-cuisine The Scene, and lounge and bar Pangeo. In Delhi is the modern Indian Melt Cocktail & Bar; Mediterranean mezze restaurant Mezze Mambo, and Silly, all the way from Mumbai; the global cuisine Celona; AKU’s - The Burger Co; and the modern Asian Taido at Le Meridien Gurugram.

Coming soon in September is cocktail bar Juju in Pune; Mumbai’s Tote on the Turf will relaunch as The Bombay Club; Jaipur will see the launch of rooftop lounge, called Asia’s largest, Ohana; and Goa’s Uddo beach will become a party spot with Mea.

New Cookbooks & recipes

Mrs K M Mathew’s Finest Recipes is a collection of the best recipes of the late author and pioneer of 27 cookbooks, Mrs KM Mathew. The book has recipes that pay tribute to Keralite food (which she championed) and other regional India food.

The Ayurvedic Wellness Cookbook is a cookbook that focuses on eating to detoxify and rejuvenate. Ayurvedic practitioner Gita Ramesh has curated recipes that are vegetarian, nutritious and with therapeutic values.

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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