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INDUSTRY BUZZ
AMIT DASH JOINS GOA MARRIOTT RESORT AND SPA AS EXECUTIVE CHEF.
Amit Dash has been appointed as Executive Chef at Goa Marriott Resort and Spa. An accomplished chef with a high passion to create delectable recipes to please every palate, he brings his rich expertise to Goa Marriott Resort and Spa. He will be responsible for planning, supervising, and managing the entire kitchen operations including procurement and maintenance of inventory levels for smooth functioning of all operations. An International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) Kolkata graduate, Amit has over 18 years of extensive culinary experience. He has worked his way through culinary discipline holding various positions across leading brands such as Taj Hotels by IHCL, ITC Hotels, Marriott International, and Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts., Maldives. "In my new role as Executive Chef of India ’ s first Marriott property, Goa Marriott Resort and Spa, "I look forward to taking on the exciting challenge of introducing new concepts to Goa Marriott Resort and Spa Food Beverage outlets while ensuring the use of quality ingredients and procuring locally from Goa ’ s native agricultural tradition, " said Chef Amit. During his leisure time, Amit enjoys traveling to unusual places, trying local cuisine, and writing about his experiences.
DIGIYATRA APP’S BETA VERSION SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED AT BLR AIRPORT
As India celebrated its 75th Independence Day, the beta version of DigiYatra App was successfully rolled out at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR Airport). Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) has been pioneering the DigiYatra effort from its early concept days and pilot trials have been held since January 2017 at BLR Airport. DigiYatra – the contactless, seamless processing of passengers at airports, based on the use of single token face biometrics for verification of passengers is a significant project led by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Government of India. For the first phase rollout of the DigiYatra Central Ecosystem (DYCE), BLR Airport is one of the two selected airports in India and passengers experienced this new-age, contactless and seamless process that commenced on 15th August 2022. At BLR Airport, the DigiYatra Biometric boarding system at e-gates is operational and being rolled out at full scale for all domestic airlines in a phased manner, covering checkpoints for domestic travel. Passengers experienced a seamless check-in, passed through security, and boarded their respective flights using their single token face biometric for validating their identity and their boarding pass.Vistara Airlines and AirAsia are the two airlines that are currently integrated with DigiYatra. Passengers can easily enroll on the DigiYatra app from the comfort of their homes. The app is currently available on Google Playstore for Android users, and an iOS version will be made available in one month. “It is our constant endeavour at BIAL to offer innovative ways to simplify the passenger journey and make it as seamless as possible. The Digi Yatra Central Ecosystem implementation is one more step towards achieving this. We are glad to be part of the first phase rollout and value the trust reposed in us by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, DGCA, and the Government of India. As the new gateway to India, BLR Airport is keen to be at the forefront of change and innovation, ” said Hari Marar, MD & CEO at Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL). The DYCE is being built on the standards defined by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) which include Self Sovereign Identity (SSI) with Verifiable Credentials (VCs), Decentralised Identifiers (DIDs) with a trust layer of a Distributed Ledger and ensuring adoption of Privacy by Design and Privacy by Default as the fundamental tenets. This ensures privacy issues are taken care of and passengers will not have to worry about sharing their data as it is secure and will be deleted after 24 hours following their travel. DYCE is the initiative of the Digi Yatra Foundation (DYF) which was set up as a joint venture company in 2019, and BIAL is one of the key shareholders. The DigiYatra Foundation will be a pan-India entity and the custodian of the Passenger ID validation process.
HILTON GOA RESORT CELEBRATES INDIA’S 75TH INDEPENDENCE DAY!
India
’ s 75th Independence Day was indeed a glorious day of pride and joy for every Indian, and the team at Hilton Goa Resort celebrated this day by personally thanking the public service heroes in the North Goa region, as an ode to their dedicated hard work and community service. Guests and staff participated in the flag hoisting ceremony to salute the national flag and pay homage to the country ’ s brave soldiers and freedom fighters. Following the flag hoisting ceremony, the Hilton Goa Resort team personally met with officers from the Police Department, Fire Brigade and Primary
Health Centre across North Goa including Calangute, Candolim and Panjim, and expressed gratitude for their selfless service to the nation. The team handed special hamper boxes with homemade sweets to the public service personnel as a symbol of respect and admiration along with a Thank You card signed by the hotel team, appreciating and thanking them for all their hard work. On this occasion, Amandeep Grover, General Manager, Hilton Goa Resort expressed, “Each day our public service personnel strive hard to protect the people, minimise crime, mitigate accidents and offer exceptional healthcare services to the people. It is our privilege to be able to express gratitude towards them with a humble gesture, on the occasion of India ’ s 75th Independence Day. ” Harsha Vallary, HR Manager, Hilton Goa Resort said, “While nothing can match the brave sacrifices of our armed forces protecting the country on national borders, our public service personnel are equally brave, selfless and courageous in their service and contribution as they go the extra mile to create and maintain a peaceful community on an everyday basis. On behalf of Hilton Goa Resort, we extend heartfelt wishes of the 75th Independence Day of India to everyone!” India offers a plentitude of historic stories, cultures and cuisines, each magnificent in its own way. On the occasion of India ’ s 75th Independence Day, the hotel successfully celebrated the unwavering and formidable spirit of Independent India by offering a tribute to the noble public service personnel in Goa, just as it celebrates India ’ s diversity every day with its spirit for exceptional service!
HILTON GOA RESORT TO CELEBRATE PODER CULTURE WITH THE PODER CHRONICLES
Hilton Goa Resort in Candolim had hosted its third edition of ‘The Poder Chronicles ’ at the hotel, in collaboration with food writer and culinary enthusiast, Nolan Mascarenhas. The Poder Chronicles event is all about celebrating the essence of Goan breads which are freshly baked country bread sourced and produced locally in Goa. Hilton Goa Resort invited its guests to celebrate and revive this humble, authentic yet diverse Goan breads, that took place from 5th to 7th of August. delicious contemporary cuisine served curated by expert chefs at the resort. Bread is an important element of the Goan food culture, but over the years the traditional art of bread making in Goa was taking a backseat thanks to more modern adaptations. This shift was not only affecting the culinary heritage of everyday Goan cuisine but was also impacting the livelihoods of local bread makers, bakeries and also bread carriers, known as ‘Poders ’ , a word derived from
padeiro, meaning baker in Portuguese. The community of bread makers found it further challenging to survive due to business shutdowns during the pandemic. The Poder Chronicles, an initiative pioneered by Mr. Mascarenhas, aims to support and revive the Poder community and the Poder culture, which is at the heart of the Goan culinary tapestry. The team at Hilton Goa Resort has curated an exceptional menu with delicious regional cuisine that beautifully features the soulful Goan bread. Some of the delectable signature dishes in the menu include The Maka Kullyo Zai, The Maas-ka-Pao or The Buff Tart, and Pork-a-que were served with traditional Goan poie bread and its delicious variants known as Pao, Kankon, Katre Pao, Undo, Mangalore Bun, and others. These soft, airy breads are a perfect accompaniment for almost every Goan delicacy from curries, omelets to sausages or chorizo. On this occasion, General Manager, Amandeep Singh Grover said “We are delighted to host another year of The Poder Chronicles with Nolan, and believe that this project will achieve great success in the coming years, while accomplishing its vision of supporting the Poders and offering a boost to the ancient bread making business in Goa. ” “When made authentically, Goan bread is second to none in its taste, flavor, tradition and cooking techniques. Our chefs are proud to have the opportunity to showcase this flavorful bread made with a distinct local touch, to create delicious culinary creations while bringing back the traditional art of Goan bread making. ” Mr. Grover added. “It is an honor to showcase the quintessential bread of Goa with a local twist while pairing it with infused Goan cocktails. The vision of this project is to bring back the authenticity of Goan cuisine at Hilton Goa Resort and we believe this will become the tradition in the coming years ” Nolan added. The Poder Chronicles is an ode to the Goan Poder and the traditional bread making techniques of Goa. The Poder, who carries freshly baked bread on his cycle every morning is synonymous to the start of a new day in Goa, as every morning the locals wake up to the distinctive sound of his cycle horn. The aroma of soft, freshly baked poie bread in the air, brought to their doorstep by the Poder evokes fond memories for every Goan, and Hilton Goa Resort was instrumental in reviving this warm nostalgia by hosting The Poder Chronicles from 5th to 7th of August 2022 for their esteemed guests and patrons. While overlooking the breath-taking landscape views of Saipem Hills, guests savored the culture of Goa with delicacies served with delicious Goan bread paired with fine cocktails at the Hilton Goa Resort.
QMIN IS NOW AT GINGER GOA, PANAJI
There is a new address at Ginger Goa, Panaji for all those looking to connect with friends, family and even office colleagues over a meal of delectable delights. Qmin – IHCL’ s culinary platform – is now at Ginger Panaji, opening up a world of glocal flavours for all. An extension of the re-imagined Ginger brand’ s lean luxe design and service philosophy of offering a vibrant, contemporary, and a seamless hospitality experience to its guests, the all new Qmin will blend the best of comfort, convenience and chill – offering guests multiple dining opportunities. With its eclectic vibe and vibrant interiors, Qmin is the perfect place to hang out with friends be it for a quick bite or for an evening over beer, chips and dips. Choose from the special beer and binge baskets – a new addition on the menu – or a variety of global and local favourites ranging from chilly cheese toast, spaghetti and the Goan favourite –prawn balchao with poi among others. With its high energy music, quirky décor including a swing bench and outdoor patio, and a large screen to enjoy match nights with friends, Qmin makes for the perfect hangout and party spot.
For those looking for a quick grab-and-go meal, Qmin ’ s new ‘On the Run ’ counter is the ideal culinary pick-me-up. From popular snacks such as kathi rolls and dahi bhalle, to quick meals such as pizza, chole kulchey and dum biryani, to munchies like cookies and energy bars, a range of beverages, desserts and even beer, you can just grab a wholesome meal on-the-go. Guests will also have a choice of comfort foods such as Goan fish curry with rice, Dhaba paneer and butter chicken with naan, dal tadka and more on the menu for sit down meals. Be it quality time spent with family or a business meeting, Qmin has something for everyone. With ample charging points and seamless Wi-Fi connectivity, this space can also double up as a personal workstation for the contemporary traveller. So turn up the vibe and come grab a bite of Qmin at Ginger Goa, Panaji now!
Kerala and Ahmedabad have been named by TIME among the 50 top destinations to explore in its list, of World’ s Greatest Places of 2022. Kerala as we all are aware is one of India ’ s most beautiful states and is often referred to as
‘God’ s Own Country ’ . It is known for its temples, palaces, breath-taking beaches and enchanting backwaters. Kerala boasts of its first caravan park which is fast gaining popularity amongst the tourists. W Hotels announces the appointment of Chef Aabhas Mehrotra as the new Culinary Director at W Goa, overseeing five vibrant dining venues at the hotel. With over 12 years of strong culinary experience in kitchens across India, Chef Aabhas joins W Goa from Sorrentina by Foodhall, Mumbai. Over the years, he has worked across reputed hotel chains such as Taj Group of Hotels and The Oberoi Group of Hotels and has also had the pleasure to get trained with some of the most renowned Michelin chefs like Chef Adriano Baldassarre, Chef Francesco Apreda, Chef Cristian Borci, Chef Jitin Joshi, to name a few. Speaking of his new role, Chef Aabhas says, “I am thrilled to join such a young and passionate team at W Goa. Known for its lifestyle and the Whatever, Whenever® culture, my aim as the Culinary Director will be to work around with newer dining styles and trends across the globe and add to the infectious vibe and energy at W Goa. I’ m looking forward to curating more nouvelle and customer-led experiences for this flamboyant brand. ” At W Goa, Chef Aabhas will spearhead all culinary operations, introduce newer concepts, lead menu designs, and manage costs &
efficiencies, all aimed at elevating the overall luxe guest experience. “We are ecstatic to have Chef Aabhas join us at W Goa and lead our very talented B&F Team. He is an immensely talented chef and a creative force in the industry who continues to set the bar high for himself and the team as a mentor and leader. I am really looking forward to working with him in this new role as we grow and continue to deliver authentic and exciting B&F experiences with unmatched local relevance on an unparalleled global scale, ” shares Tanveer Kwatra, General Manager, W Goa. Born in New Delhi, Chef Aabhas finished his culinary training at the reputed Oberoi School of Learning and Development. Starting his professional journey with The Oberoi Group of Hotels in Nariman Point, Mumbai, he then moved to Taj Dubai, which took him to great heights in his culinary journey. In September 2018, he joined Sorrentina wherein he not only created fine menus inspired by meticulously handpicked ingredients but also spearheaded the launch of the brand’ s retail arm, Sorrentina – Honestly Italian conceptualizing a range of pantry essentials designed to help patrons with Italian food easily in the comfort of their homes. Chef Aabhas has won numerous awards & accolades, most notably: Chef Of The Year Asian Food Congress 2019, Gold Medalist The Great Indian Culinary Challenge - Western Indian Culinary Association for three consecutive years - 2014, 2015 & 2016. Interestingly enough, growing up Chef Aabhas never really thought of becoming a chef. He always wanted to be a restaurateur but once he stepped into the kitchen, his mind was intrigued and he delved deeper into
