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Pilibhit House in Haridwar launches a special menu featuring millets for a healthier and sustainable lifestyle

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Pilibhit House
Guests can savour appetizers and small plates such as Home-made mix millets nachos with Bhangjeera or noon dip, Barnyard millets upma, and mouthwatering Paneer ghee roast on a ragi disc

Pilibhit House in Haridwar launches a special menu featuring millets for a healthier and sustainable lifestyle

Pilibhit House, located in Haridwar and a part of IHCL SeleQtions, is renowned for its Sattvic living philosophy and soul-stirring experiences. In addition to their unique offerings, the restaurant has curated a special menu featuring millets. These contemporary delicacies are rooted in Indian cuisine and made using lesser-known regional ingredients, inspired by recipes from the ancestral kitchens of the noble house. The millets menu aims to promote a healthier and sustainable lifestyle while celebrating the International Year of Millets.

Millets, known for their many proven health and agricultural benefits, lost their prominence over the years. However, the culinary team at Pilibhit House has experimented with recipes and techniques to curate an exquisite dining experience that encourages guests to make healthier choices. These dishes will be a permanent highlight on the menu, and the luxury hotel has taken the initiative to train and educate their talented team on the benefits and usage of this multi-purpose superfood for more culinary innovations to come alive in the future.

SeleQtions, a brand of The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), launched in 2019, comprises a collection of named and distinctive hotels that celebrate the legacy of time, sense of place, or differentiated theme. These hotels have a strong equity, are well-established, and bring to life experiences through their location, décor, service, and cuisine.

Commenting on the launch of the Millets menu, Executive Chef Mani Mohan Pathak said, “The new menu truly aligns with the Pilibhit House’s core ethos. We have always focused on crafting dining experiences that are perfectly balanced for one’s body and mind. With growing awareness about the nutritional values of Millets, there’s been an increase in guests’ interest to explore and savour healthy food even while travelling. Incorporating millets into classic recipes, we have also experimented with local Garhwali delicacies and ingredients to present a robust and soul-satisfying menu.”

The scrumptious menu that boasts of millets as a hero ingredient, also imbibes lost spices and the finest regional ingredients to create a perfect medley of flavours. Guests can savour appetizers and small plates such as Home-made mix millets nachos with Bhangjeera or noon dip, Barnyard millets upma, and mouthwatering Paneer ghee roast on a ragi disc. To delight the palate further are dishes using local seasonal vegetables such as Barnyard Millet & Basil Konjee with masala jawar crisp, Pahadi kafli with bhanjeer ki chutney and Raagi roti, Ligude or Kachnaar subzi (Guriyal ki subzi), well-balanced Churkani Dal that consists of diverse types of beans, a flavorful Himalayan Red Rice Idly and more.

Patrons can also look forward to refreshing ‘Buransh ki Chuski’, a local Himalayan spiced iced gola made with burransh (rhododendron) flowers or Raagi, Flax seed & Jaggery ki Ladoo to end their meal on a sweet note. Mocktails such as local Timur salt infused Sharbat & Shikhanji make for soothing companion.

Haridwar’s most luxurious address continues to echo the sentiments of promoting health and wellness through its diverse experiences. Overlooking the majestic view of Ganges and surrounded by serenity of the Shivalik hills, Pilibhit House is a perfect summer destination to unwind and take a reflective pause.

Where: Pilibhit House, Haridwar – IHCL SeleQtions

What: New Millets Menu

Price: INR 4000 + taxes for two people

For reservations and enquiries, please contact Pilibhit House at: +91 72170 25223 or +91 72170 24116

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Fries gone wild! Burger Singh delights customers with new Cheesy Fries on the Menu!

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cheesy fries
Burger Singh continues to redefine the Indian fast-food game with its unique and delicious offerings.

Burger Singh, the home of Indianised burgers, is thrilled to announce the launch of its newest product, Cheesy Fries. Having sold 250 tonnes of fries in FY 2022, Burger Singh aims to sell 70 tonnes of its thickest fries in the industry, and 30 tonnes of cheesy fries in the next 3 months. Burger Singh continues to redefine the Indian fast-food game with its unique and delicious offerings.

Burger Singh’s fries are no ordinary side dish. They come in a variety of mouth-watering flavours that will leave you craving for more. From the tangy Dilli-6 to the exotic Moroccan, the fiery Hot Shock to the ever-popular Classic Salted. Burger Singh’s fries are a true taste sensation that will take your fries game to a whole new level! So, whether you’re a fry fanatic or a burger aficionado, Burger Singh is the place to be.

Kabir Jeet Singh, CEO, Burger Singh, said, “Burger Singh provides not just ordinary fries, but an extensive range of eight distinctive flavour profiles. In addition to four types of fries, they offer four more flavour combinations, each seasoning delivering a unique taste, with the Cheesy fries having an added punch of its own through the inclusion of a cheesy sauce.”

Burger Singh, a made in India brand, has emerged as a formidable competitor to international giants in the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) category. Since its inception in Gurugram in 2014, it has rapidly expanded across India with nearly 100 outlets and plans to open many more. It has also made its mark in the international market with 3 outlets and a food truck in London, making it the first Indian burger chain to establish an international presence.

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What makes India snack? New report from Godrej Yummiez highlights top occasions and trends

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friends restaurant
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In India, snacking has emerged as an important aspect of every occasion. The festivals, celebrations, parties, gatherings are based around eating as it is a way to show hospitality and make connections. ‘STTEM – Safety, Technology, Taste, Ease & Mood Uplifter’ – The India Snacking Report (Volume I) by Godrej Yummiez, a leading brand of frozen ready-to-cook products, took a deep dive to understand the occasions people prefer for snacking. Two main occasions for snacking that jointly took the top spot are Weekends and Party/guest visits/celebrations. These two occasions individually resonate across an average of 45% of Indians.

When compared across regions, the Godrej Yummiez report highlights that 47% of Northern and Eastern India snacks during parties or guest visits. At the same time, South and West India showed almost similar levels of snacking, 44% and 43% respectively. Furthermore, the report reveals that 46% of South India and 45% each from North, West and East India prefer weekend snacking.

Speaking on the insights and the report, Abhay Parnerkar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Godrej Tyson Foods Limited (GTFL), said, “As a category thought leader, Godrej Yummiez understands consumers well and shaped trends redefining the frozen ready-to-cook segment. The India Snacking Report is one such initiative by Godrej Yummiez to analyze and predict snacking trends. Snacking remains an integral part of various occasions for people and this is evident from the insight we received from the report. Going forward, the dynamics that will shape India’s snacking habits will be based on the acronym STTEM- Safety, Technology, Taste, Ease & Mood Uplifter- the five pillars.”

Amongst cities that prefer snacking more during parties and guest visits – Lucknow tops the list with 54%, followed by Jaipur at the second place with 50% and Kolkata with 47% secures third place. Whereas 46% and 45% of people in Pune and Chennai enjoy snacking during parties. Followed by 43% from Mumbai, 41% from Ahmedabad and 44% each from Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru prefer snacking during parties and occasions.

For the second occasion which is snacking during weekends, Chennai loves to snack the most on weekends with 49% score, Pune comes in second rank with 47% score while Delhi & Lucknow ranks third with 46% score. The other cities that follow are Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata with 45% common score. 44% from Ahmedabad & Jaipur, and 43% people from Hyderabad tend to snack on weekends.

Commissioned by Godrej Yummiez, ‘STTEM – Safety, Technology, Taste, Ease & Mood Uplifter’ – The India Snacking Report (Volume I) was conducted by InQognito Insights. The study was conducted across North, South, West, and East regions and covered 10 cities like Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore.

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NAO Spirits continues to disrupt India’s craft gin market with their third limited release – The Broken Bat Gin

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naospirit
The limited release product, The Broken Bat Gin, is now available for purchase in three Indian states - Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

NAO Spirits, the innovative brand that has been disrupting the craft gin market in India with their popular London Dry Gin – Greater Than and the country’s first-ever Himalayan Dry Gin – Hapusa, has now introduced a limited release product – The Broken Bat Gin.

This marks the third limited release from the brand, following the successful launch of two other gins – Juniper Bomb and No Sleep – over the past two years.

Nao Spirits has put a unique spin on classic gin by creating a barrel-aged version that has a taste resembling whisky. The brand developed this gin with the intention of attracting India’s vast population of brown-spirit drinkers. Since there is no traditional history of barrel-aging in India, the team at NAO drew inspiration from a cherished aspect of Indian culture – cricket bats – to create their own version of an aged gin.

In the creation of their distinct barrel-aged gin, Greater Than’s distillers carefully prepared Kashmir Willow cricket bats by shaving and cleaning them, before immersing them in a vat of high-proof Greater Than Gin for a six-week period. The resulting gin has a flavor profile that is reminiscent of whisky. While the cricket bats were obtained from a crowdsourcing effort, with many people contributing broken or chipped bats lying around their homes, the team also collaborated with a bat-maker in Kashmir to acquire wood that would have been discarded due to cracks or chips.

The limited release product, The Broken Bat Gin, is now available for purchase in three Indian states – Goa (priced at INR 1450), Maharashtra (priced at INR 2400), and Karnataka (priced at INR 2450).

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Chef Harpal Sokhi’s popular restaurant chain Karigari set to expand across India with INR 30 Crore investment

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karigari
Karigari

Chef Harpal Sokhi’s restaurant chain, Karigari, renowned for its unique fusion of traditional Indian cuisine with a contemporary touch, has declared its plans to expand its presence both in India and overseas over the next few years.

Karigari has become a popular choice among food enthusiasts throughout India, thanks to its exceptional menu and delightful ambience.

This year, Karigari has earmarked INR 30 crore rupees to open new branches in important cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, and others across India. With its exceptional menu and inviting ambience, Karigari has already become a favorite destination for foodies throughout the country, and this expansion is expected to further increase its popularity.

Karigari is dedicated to sourcing the freshest ingredients and hiring highly skilled chefs to craft dishes that are not only delectable but also visually appealing.

By 2024, Karigari has set its sights on expanding its reach to include Dubai and London as well.

“We are excited to broaden our reach and bring our culinary expertise to new markets. We are confident that our customers will appreciate the quality of food and service we provide at our new locations, which will highlight the best of Indian cuisine and hospitality,” said Yogesh Sharma, Founder of Karigari who is planning to open 10 outlets by year end.

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Bisleri collaborates with top Indian athletes for #CarryYourGame campaign focused on hydration and performance

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bislericamp
Bisleri's latest campaign centers around the Bisleri 500 ml pack as the perfect hydration companion, as depicted in their film.

Bisleri, one of India’s leading packaged drinking water brands has launched a new digital campaign, Bisleri #CarryYourGame, which showcases the talents of award-winning athletes Lovlina Borgohain, Manpreet Singh, Ashwini Ponappa, and Nishad Kumar.

Bisleri’s latest campaign centers around the Bisleri 500 ml pack as the perfect hydration companion, as depicted in their film. The campaign features top athletes from India, displaying their athletic prowess both on and off the field in an exciting and dynamic video. The film encourages viewers to prioritize hydration in all situations, much like the showcased athletes do in their real lives and during match days.

Commenting on the latest campaign, Tushar Malhotra, Head Of Marketing, Bisleri International Pvt Ltd, said, “Our new campaign Bisleri #CarryYourGame is one of the largest integrated marketing campaign with the aim of creating a strong connect between hydration and sport, underscoring the importance of water in peak human performance. Our association with India’s leading award-winning athletes aims to inspire the youth to stay hydrated and carry their best game forward in all aspects of life.”

Commenting on the new campaign, Anuraag Khandelwal, Chief Creative Officer – India, 82.5 Communications, said, “This campaign is the perfect occasion for a need and a product to come together. Hydration during every sporting event and life in general is necessary. That’s where Bisleri comes in as a hydration partner in a sport that we play every day, every moment – the sport called life. This was an opportunity for us to explore hydration, collaborating with athletes who are at the top of their games. This is how the campaign idea for #CarryYourGame was born. True champions always carry their game, on and off the field and there’s no better partner than Bisleri 500 to hydrate with. Bisleri communicates this in its own edgy, no-gyaan way.”

Neerav Tomar, MD, IOS Sports And Entertainment commented on the association of the Indian athletes, “We are happy to be associated with a legendary brand like Bisleri that is taking a fresh approach through Olympic sports. I am confident this will help them to have a higher brand recall in an uncluttered space.”

To enhance the reach of the #CarryYourGame campaign, it will be linked with prominent marathons, athletic organizations, cricket collaborations, and other noteworthy sports events.

Additionally, Bisleri has introduced exclusive bottles for the #CarryYourGame campaign featuring popular cricketers from Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals, printed on each Bisleri bottle.

The campaign will be promoted through various mediums such as digital content, Out-of-Home advertising, delivery truck branding, radio contests, OTT platforms, in-stadium vending, and branding, among other touchpoints, providing consumers with an immersive and thrilling experience.

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McDonald’s franchisees in Kentucky fined for illegal employment of 300 minors, including 10-year-olds

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McDonald's
McDonald's (Representative Image)

The Department of Labor has fined three McDonald’s franchisees in Kentucky for violating labor laws. The franchisees were found to have employed more than 300 children who worked longer hours than legally permitted, among other violations. One franchisee even had two 10-year-olds working without pay as late as 2 a.m at its locations. Shockingly, one of these children was tasked with operating a deep fryer, a responsibility that is explicitly prohibited for individuals under the age of 16 according to the Labor Department’s regulations.

The Department of Labor has imposed a fine of almost $40,000 on Bauer Food, which runs 10 locations in Louisville, for various violations. One such violation was the employment of 10-year-old children who were involved in tasks like preparing and distributing food orders, cleaning the store, working at the drive-thru window, and operating a register, as per the Labor Department’s findings.

“Under no circumstances should there ever be a 10-year-old child working in a fast-food kitchen around hot grills, ovens and deep fryers,” said wage and hour division district director Karen Garnett-Civils in a news release.

The crackdown happened after the government investigated fast-food employment practices in the southeast with an eye on teenage — and younger — workers. “We are seeing an increase in federal child labor violations, including allowing minors to operate equipment or handle types of work that endangers them or employs them for more hours or later in the day than federal law allows,” Garnett-Civils said.

In addition to the fine imposed on Bauer Food, the Department of Labor has also penalized Archways Richwood, which operates 27 McDonald’s locations in Walton, with a fine of $143,566. The reason for this fine was allowing 242 minors, aged between 14 and 15, to work beyond the legal limits. Bell Restaurant Group I, which operates four locations in Louisville, has also been fined $29,267 for similar violations. The company allowed 39 minors, aged 14 and 15, to work longer than permitted, and even permitted two of them to work during school hours.

Attempts to contact the three franchisees for their comments were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

According to a press release, the wage division revealed that it found 688 minors working illegally in hazardous jobs, which is the highest number since 2011. The release cited an example of a 15-year-old employee who sustained hot-oil burns while operating a deep fryer at a McDonald’s location in Morristown, Tennessee.

The government’s actions are particularly notable as some conservative groups and multiple states have been advocating to roll back child-labor laws. For instance, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law in March that eliminated regulations necessitating work permits for 14- and 15-year-olds prior to engaging in paid employment. In Ohio, a bill is being proposed that would allow minors aged 14 and 15 to work until 9 p.m. during the school year, which is later than what federal laws permit. Furthermore, in Minnesota and Iowa, bills that seek to ease child-labor laws are making progress.

In February, the Biden administration launched an initiative aimed at addressing child labor in industries that predominantly employ low-wage and migrant workers, who are at higher risk of exploitation. Experts suggest that a tight labor market and an increased number of unaccompanied children arriving from Latin America have contributed to the rise in child-labor-law violations.

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KFC India achieves 25% sales growth in March quarter, outpaces Pizza Hut

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KFC restaurants
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Quick-service restaurant chain KFC India achieved a sales growth of 25% in the first quarter that ended on March 31, while Pizza Hut in the same period saw a 16% growth in sales within the country.

Yum! Brands Inc, the owner of KFC and Pizza Hut brands, disclosed its first quarter earnings on Wednesday.

Moksh Chopra, General Manager, KFC India BMU (Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives), said, “The quarter ending March recorded a 25 percent system sales growth for India and area countries. Continuing the momentum from last year, we focused on expanding our footprint across the country to over 800 restaurants.”

“We strengthened our commitment towards increasing consumer accessibility with the launch of our first Smart Restaurant in West Bengal, and added our 17th Sustainable Restaurant in the country, in Punjab. This quarter saw us bring back one of our most iconic and loved products, Chizza, and occasion-based offers such as Big Treat Week and Chicken Feast Week gave fans a chance to enjoy their favourite KFC products at great value,” he added.

The Indian segment of KFC’s business is estimated to make up roughly 2% of the company’s total sales. Similarly, Pizza Hut India contributed around 2% to the brand’s global sales.

In an earnings statement, David Gibbs, Global CEO, Yum! Brands, Inc, said “Our first-quarter results continue to illustrate the power of our global portfolio and the advantages of our business model. The demand for our iconic brands is evident as our incredible teams and franchise partners delivered another strong quarter with system sales growth of 13 percent, excluding Russia, driven by 8 percent same-store sales growth and continued development momentum.”

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Consumer demand for groceries and essentials hits two-year peak, report finds

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veg
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During the March quarter, the demand for daily groceries and essential goods experienced a significant boost of 3.9%, which is the highest it has been in two years. This increase in demand was primarily driven by urban markets, although there was also a noticeable improvement in sales in rural areas.

According to Kantar Worldpanel, a global consumer research firm owned by WPP, the volume of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) purchased increased by 2.1% in rural markets and 5.9% in cities compared to the previous year. This data is a stark contrast to a year ago when the overall market experienced a decline of 1.3% during the quarter, with the decline solely driven by a 3.7% drop in urban demand.

“Impact of inflation and monetary tightening on economic growth and demand seems to be slowing down. We are seeing demand slowly starting to come back, especially in India, in places where there is stress,” Sunil D’Souza, Managing Director at Tata Consumer Products, told analysts.

Kantar tracks household consumption and also monitors items from the unorganized sector of the market, especially in large and voluminous categories like staples. The growth during the quarter was led by food and beverages, with wheat flour performing exceptionally well in March.

K Ramakrishnan, South Asia Managing Director of Kantar, said, “This came on the back of households returning to the category after the government stopped the free grains distribution. The growth we witness, therefore at the moment, is not yet holistic.”

To increase volume growth amid easing inflationary pressures, companies have been reversing grammage cuts in the past few months. Furthermore, many companies anticipate a consistent rise in volume-led growth and recovery in rural areas as they consider reducing product prices.

According to Sanjiv Mehta, the Managing Director of HUL, the most significant factor that can boost consumption is a decrease in commodity prices. He emphasized that inflation has a detrimental impact, particularly on individuals from lower economic backgrounds, and a reduction in commodity prices can stimulate consumption. Additionally, Mehta stated that a significant portion of HUL’s growth will be driven by volume.

“In the December quarter, we had 11% price growth, now it is 7%, and in the next quarter, it will go down even more. That’s the whole cycle until it reaches a state of equilibrium, where it will again be about 70% volume growth and 30% price growth”, said Sanjiv Mehta.

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MHA announces millet-based meals for CAPFs and NDRF personnel

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millet
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In an announcement made on Wednesday, the Union Home Ministry informed that meals served to the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will now include dishes prepared with millets.

According to an official statement, the decision to incorporate 30% millets in the meals served to the forces was made after thorough discussions with all the forces, as per the directive of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

It has been stated that the Ministry of Home Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has made a significant decision to incorporate millets in the meals provided to personnel of the CAPFs and NDRF, during the International Year of Millets-2023.

The United Nations has designated 2023 as the International Year of Millets, recognizing the importance of millets and their potential to create both domestic and global demand, as well as their ability to provide nutritious food to people.

Millets are a healthy food option that not only benefit individuals, but also offer advantages to farmers and the environment. These grains are rich in energy, resilient to drought, require less water, and can be cultivated effortlessly in arid soils and hilly areas. Additionally, they are less vulnerable to pests.

Millets offer several significant advantages, including being a valuable source of protein, gluten-free, low in Glycemic Index (GI), and rich in dietary fiber, micronutrients such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, and phytochemicals. These nutritional benefits make millets an excellent addition to a soldier’s diet, enhancing its overall nutritional profile.

The Home Ministry issued a directive for all military forces to incorporate millet-based meals into their menus.

The military forces have responded positively and expressed enthusiasm for regularly incorporating millets into their meals. Additionally, millets will be extensively utilized in various functions and events of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

To make millets readily accessible, specific counters/corners will be established in Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandar, grocery shops located on the campuses, and ration stores.

The military forces will arrange for the training of cooks in the preparation of millet-based dishes through reputable institutes specializing in this field.

Expert agencies and dieticians will be employed to raise awareness among troops and their families about the benefits of millets and their usage.

In addition to this, a variety of events such as exhibitions, seminars, webinars, workshops, and symposiums will be organized to promote the awareness of “Know Your Millets.”

According to the statement, the International Year of Millets 2023 will offer an opportunity to enhance global production, efficient processing, and better utilization of crop rotation, while also promoting millets as a significant component of the food basket.

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