Savouring Sweet Success: Chef Vedangi Gawde bags India’s Callebaut Pâtissier of the Year title for 2024

Chef Yash Chhabria emerged as the first runner-up, and in a surprising twist, Chef Sandeep Sharma and Chef Nilesh Dewulkar shared the second runner-up spot.

Mumbai, 28/5/24: Callebaut, renowned for producing the Finest Belgian Chocolate, recently concluded the exhilarating finale of its flagship event, Callebaut Pâtissier of the Year 2024 (CPY '24) in Mumbai in association with Taj Lands End as Hospitality Partner. The event, now in its third edition, aims to provide a platform for India's culinary maestros to craft their signature creations and display their innovative prowess with chocolate.

The journey leading to the grand finale was nothing short of extraordinary. Talented pastry chefs and chocolatiers from across India showcased their skills and creativity, impressing judges and the Indian chef community alike with their creative use of Callebaut chocolates across bakery, pastry, and confectionery creations.

The qualifying rounds across Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru revealed remarkable talent and ingenious culinary expressions. Representing their respective regions, Chef Krishanu Dey, Chef Milan Shoran, Chef Sandeep Sharma, Chef Vedangi Gawde, Chef Anshul Grover, Chef Nilesh Dewulkar, Chef Shashi Kiran and Chef Yash Chhabria were the eight finalists, of which Chef Vedangi Gawde, Chef de Partie, Sivako bagged the title while Chef Yash Chhabria, Pastry Cook & Co-Founder - Cacaobleu emerged as the first runner-up and Chef Sandeep Sharma, Demi Chef de Partie - JW Marriott Kolkata and Chef Nilesh Dewulkar, Pastry Chef - Sofitel BKC tied for the second runner up.

“Callebaut is a preferred brand for chefs all over the world, and we are focused on enabling chefs to craft at their best. With Callebaut Pâtissier of the Year, we take a step further to provide a platform for our talented pastry chefs in India to showcase their craft to the larger community nationally and globally. This year’s theme, ‘Craft Your Signature,’ gave chefs the opportunity to showcase their authentic selves through their creations, and we’ve seen a great display of skill, talent, and passion over the course of the competition - from qualifiers to the finale! It's a moment of pride to see Indian pastry chefs craft at their best with Callebaut Chocolates."

Dhruva Jyoti Sanyal, Managing Director of Barry Callebaut Cocoa & Chocolate Ingredients India

"Overall, we had a great turnout for the competition. We saw a lot of great ideas and techniques showcased by the participants. We had the opportunity to taste some really unique flavour combinations as well. The Chefs truly pushed their boundaries through the competition and proudly crafted their signatures. The level of pastry skill has indeed evolved, which was displayed throughout the competition, be it with newer, more efficient methods of working or flavour pairings and techniques used to craft bonbons, entremets, and other creations."

Chef Pratik Deshmukh, Head of Chocolate Academy Mumbai

“This was my second time judging at the Callebaut Pâtissier of the Year event in India. After 2019, I can say India's pastry skills have evolved, and the contestants didn’t make it easy for the jury to select the winner. It was really nice to see the participants express their creativity using local ingredients to Craft their signature and tell their stories. I feel all participants did their best and wish each participant the best for their future.”

Global Callebaut Creative Lead Chef Minette Smith

Speaking about her experiences, Chef Vedangi Gawde said, “I am very happy to win the title of the Callebaut Patisserie for the year. This is a very special title for me, and this win means a lot to me.”

The grand finale saw contestants face the ultimate challenge of creating delectable signature dishes across bakery, pastry, confectionery, and showpiece categories. Leading culinary experts, including Chef Minette Smith, Chef

Romain Renard, Head of MENA Chocolate Academies, and Chef Arvind Prasad, Ambassador for Callebaut Chocolates in India, joined Chef Pratik Deshmukh on the distinguished jury panel for the finale event.

Callebaut Pâtissier of the Year 2024 was hosted in association with Taj Lands End as the Hospitality Partner, The Chocolate Academy Mumbai as the Knowledge Partner, KitchenAid as the Appliance Partner, Unox as the Equipment Partner, Elle & Vire Professional and Delta Nutrtivies as the Ingredient Partners, BW Hotelier as the Media Partner, Zee Zest as the Lifestyle Partner, and VBev as the Celebration Partner.

About Callebaut Patissier of the Year (CPY)

Callebaut Patissier of the Year is a prestigious nationwide competition that started in 2017. It was conceptualized to challenge the chocolate creativities of Indian chefs, artisans, and other chocolate professionals. The competition is hosted by House of The Finest Belgian Chocolate, Callebaut.

The competition aims to provide a platform for pastry chefs and chocolatiers from across India to showcase their passion and creativity to an esteemed jury from across the globe and claim the title of Callebaut Pâtissier of the Year!

Hosted once every two years, each edition of CPY focuses on a theme within which chefs have to ideate and create their chocolate masterpieces. The intense competition challenges chefs to showcase their skills across bakery, pastry, and confectionery creations.

CPY hosted two editions in 2017 and 2019. The initiative was put on hold in 2021 due to COVID restrictions and is making a comeback after five years with the 2024 edition, Craft Your Signature.

About Callebaut®

For more than 100 years, Callebaut® has been crafting chocolate in the heart of Belgium and is still one of the rare chocolate makers to select, roast, and grind cacao beans into its own secret and exclusive cocoa mass – the most important ingredient for chocolate couverture. Callebaut® was founded in 1850 in Wieze, Belgium, as a family brewery. Grandson Octaaf produced his first chocolate bars in 1911 and began making couverture chocolate for Belgian chocolatiers soon after.

Since 1950, Callebaut® supplies craftsmen worldwide with its Finest Belgian Chocolates, which are still made from bean to chocolate in Wieze. Callebaut® is part of the Barry Callebaut group, the world's leading high-quality chocolate and cacao manufacturer.

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