INDUSTRY BUZZ

THE ANNUAL CAKE MIXING CEREMONY HELD AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD BEACH LAWNS

Planet Hollywood beach resorts Goa also known as Goa ’ s major wedding destination and prominent five-star property situated in south Goa hosted an annual cake-mixing ceremony at the beach lawns of the Resort on October 26, 2022. The event was followed by the sundowner, canapés and cocktails with house guests, media and food bloggers in attendance. The cake mixing ceremony is celebrated every year before Christmas where several kilograms of dry fruits, nuts, grains and spices are paired together to prepare the mixture which is later on soaked into the Alcohol and kept for blending for a few days to let them soak all the flavours and aroma. Lastly, it is divided intoparts which go into the cake batter, from which further Christmas Fruit Cakes are baked. The invited guests were provided with aprons, gloves and chef capes before joining the celebration of cake mixing. The ceremony saw an array of influential guests, employees and chefs partake in the event with full enthusiasm and zeal while maintaining the highest levels of hygiene and safety. Tidings of love, joy and cheer mixed with all the quintessential ingredients make a heart-warming and delicious Cake. With a delectable mix of the choicest nuts and fruits and spiritous liqueurs, the mixture will be left to mature until around Christmas, followed by blending this well with the cake batter to bake the most delectable Christmas fruit cake. The celebration at Planet Hollywood Goa was hosted to create everlasting special memories for all its guests. We shall wait patiently for the fruits or should we say cake of our efforts.

GOA MARRIOTT RESORT AND SPA RINGS IN THE FESTIVE SEASON WITH THEIR ANNUAL CAKE-MIXING CEREMONY

Goa Marriott Resort and Spa, one of the city

' s most sought-after 5-star destinations, hosted a spectacular Cake Mixing Soiree on October 15, 2022. This was followed by High Tea spreads, a variety of house wines, and a lot more. The grand event saw residence guests, prominent socialites in Goa, and hotel associates thoroughly enjoying this elegant event. Guests celebrated the season by donning aprons, gloves, and chef hats. Raisins, glazed red cherries, mixed fruits, black currants, dried apricots, walnuts, and cashews were soaked in a variety of delectable beverages. Executive Chef Amit Dash and his team showcased high-end cuisine, decadent appetizers, and intoxicating drinks that kept the spirits high throughout the evening. The desserts served were petite and in keeping with the exciting occasion, thanks to the talented team of culinary experts. On this occasion, Gaurav Apte, General Manager, Goa Marriott Resort and Spa expressed “The resort is known for creating an ideal atmosphere for an uplifting evening of up-scale hospitality with delicious food and drinks; it gives us immense pleasure to have our guests participate in the annual ritual and create unforgettable memories ” . Our Executive Chef Amit Dash further added and explained ‘The proportion of dry fruits and the alcohol used into the sumptuous mix. The alcohol preserves the dry fruit mixture which is eventually used to make Xmas cakes a month later, ” With an elaborate setup, the breathtaking ambiance of the hotel, festive décor, and cuisines to match the festivities, it was a perfect blend of an evening filled with panache, excitement, and cheer.

IHCL, GOA CELEBRATES DIWALI IN A STYLE

This Diwali is very special since it' s the first Diwali that we will be celebrating without Covid on the menu and hence it becomes very important as to how and where we celebrate it. IHCL Goa has a specially curated menu for you to celebrate this festival of light in a style. According to reports from IHCL management, all the Hotels of the Taj (IHCL) including Taj Resort & Convention Centre, Dona Paula; Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Benaulim; Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa, Sinquerim; Taj Holiday Village Resort & Spa, Candolim; Cidade de Goa – IHCL SeleQtions; Vivanta Goa, Panaji and Vivanta Goa, Miramar will be curating the festivities at breath-taking destinations spread across the paradisiacal state. The IHCL hotels in Goa will also be offering a special collection of exquisite hampers, thoughtfully designed to convey the warmest thoughts and greetings. “ each hamper features an array of artisanal mithai and goodies coupled with the finest luxury

accessories to brighten the festive celebrations. Choose from an assortment of exclusive and customised gifting options and personalise it as per preference, ” says the press note. You can also enjoy the timeless rituals and reminisce sweet memories with loved ones over a spread of gourmet dining specials at award-winning restaurants of IHCL across the state of Goa. You can relish a plethora of epicurean delights with authentic flavours to a tryst between classic and contemporary. One can also opt to enhance celebrations in the comforts of home with Qmin, the food delivery app from IHCL. Add the perfect cheer to your festive revelry with various delectable preparations delivered to your doorstep. Be it celebrating over a meal together or surprising your loved ones with a bespoke hamper, brighten up this Diwali with the signature hospitality of IHCL, Goa.

KEBAB LAJAWAB – KEBAB FESTIVAL ORGANISED BY THE PARK CALANGUTE GOA TO KICKSTART THE FESTIVE SEASON

The tourism season is just around the corner and the festive season has already begun as the Dusshera just got over and Diwali is on the horizon. The Park, a luxury boutique hotel situated at Calangute, Goa has decided to host the Kebab Festival under the tagline “Kebab Lajawab” with a sumptuous menu of Kebab platters. The Kebab festival is scheduled to remain open for tourists and locals alike from 15th October

through 31st October 2022 at their sea-facing outlets ’ LOVE & PEACE. This food festival will bring delightful and rich flavours from a mix of traditional and eclectic recipes. Chef Sandeep Bisht of The Park Calangute Goa and his team have put together an array of sumptuous dishes from traditional to modern. Some of the specials include Chatpattey Coconut kebab, Beetroot & Tofu kebab, Gilafi Seekh kebab, Mackerel cutlet etc. Speaking on the occasion Chef Sandeep Bisht said, “We have tried to present the rich and flavourful kebabs in our contemporary way and we hope the guests will savour our Anything But Ordinary™ culinary expertise. ” So come and experience the essence of the Kebabi flavours and gastronomical delights during the “Kebab Lajawab” festival from the 15th to the 31st of October.

COME, EXPERIENCE THE “EDGE”, A TROPICAL BAR & KITCHEN AT ALILA DIWA GOA

Escape into the enriching

‘Susegaad’ luxury as the recently upgraded Edge - Tropical Bar & Kitchen at the lifestyle Hyatt resort, Alila Diwa Goa, opens its doors to a new look, new vibe, and an all-new experience. A family-friendly tropical paradise, Edge features a lively bar and a show kitchen with unforgettable views of the Infinity Pool and the natural Goan landscape of swaying palms and paddy fields. Tropical Design Conceptualised by the well-known design studio, The Busride and led by none other than Ayaz Basrai, Edge takes a departure from the earlier dark tones to create a bright, daywashed tropical space to synergize with the stunning location overlooking the cool tones of the gorgeous Infinity Pool and the sweeping paddy fields that is a unique offering at Alila

Diwa Goa. Inspired by the intimacy of verandahs and patios at the resort, guests are nestled within tiny cocoons of plants that open to the stunning Goan landscape surrounding Edge. The tropical bar is designed to be an all-day space, a hop-off from the pool and its deck, seamlessly transitioning into a lovely sundowner spot to enjoy a drink or two with some groovy edgy music for company. Edge exudes a relaxed vibe with warm, natural materials, cement, and terrazzo that blends aesthetically with the ongoing material and design philosophy of the Alila Diwa Goa. Tropical Bar Curated by well-known Bar Consultants, Arijit Bose & Pankaj Balachandran from Countertop, Edge offers a familiar yet fascinating journey of fantastic libations. While some are curated exclusively for Edge like the Queen ’ s Park Swizzle, Northlander, Edgy Negroni, and Corpse Reviver Number Blue, others are inspired by the breathtaking beaches from the world' s edges that have withstood the test of time. One such example is our take on Miami Vice which swishes out of a slush machine and makes for the best drink to cool with by the pool. You can go tropical with drinks like Gin Michalda and Caribbean Flair among others or have fun with popsicles and slush cups with varied flavours. Some are tropical and some enchanting, while some are reminiscent of the buccaneers, pirates, and explorers, their travels and discoveries make your time here adventurous, and fun yet relaxing. Tropical Kitchen Food at Edge is a celebration of senses with a unique blend of flavours, aromas, and design that offers an array of experiences in a one-

of-a-kind destination. The menu at Edge is designed for comfort, shared dining, and a fun experience, making it an ideal venue for lunches by the pool. The ingredients are thoughtfully sourced locally and carefully served in custom-made crockery from a Goabased potter. Get started with healthy and fresh salads or small plates like a ‘Stay Fit’ Salad with quinoa and beans, Som Tam Salad, Varuval Tart, Button Idli Chaat, Edge Egg Florentine, and Rawa Fried Fish among others. Move on to a variety of stuffed and wrapped delicacies like Dimsums, wraps, and Poee Sliders giving you the taste of Goan flavours in the bread sourced from a local Poder. Be sure to pick on the charcoal grilled sticks and skewers or fresh-from-the-oven flatbreads. Call for your wholesome ‘ meal in a bowl with our creative take dishes like Malaysian Laksa, Thai Green Curry, Ramen Bowl, Punjabi Chhole, and Goan Fish Curry, and indulge in some sweet endings like a Mango Panacotta, Classic Tiramisu, or a Feni Crème Brulee. With a welcoming, exciting, innovative, and passionate personality, Edge-Tropical Bar & Kitchen is all set to become the most soughtafter venue for lunch and sundowners in Goa. “While at Edge, we want you to forget that you are in a five-star hotel and lose yourself in the sheer beauty of Goa ’ s gorgeous tropical landscape overlooking the paddy fields. We have consciously positioned and priced Edge like a stand-alone restaurant with its own unique identity where guests can unwind with great drinks, food and music ” ~Suveer Sodhi, General Manager, Alila Diwa Goa Edge Timings: 11 am to 8 pm For Reservation, call on +91 8322746800 | diwagoa@alilahotels.com