IRA by The Orchid Hotel, Noida Welcomes Chef Rakesh Kumar Sharma as Executive Chef

Bringing over 19 years of culinary mastery and innovation, Chef Rakesh Kumar Sharma has been appointed as the Executive Chef at IRA by Orchid, Noida. A chef with diverse experience across leading hotel brands, Chef Rakesh is recognized for his passion, precision, and ability to create extraordinary dining experiences. 

Having sharpened his skills at some of the country’s most prestigious five-star hotel brands, including Radisson Hotels, Park Plaza, The Fern Hotels & Resorts, and Evolve Back, he has developed a versatile command over diverse cuisines. His leadership in the kitchen is marked by a commitment to excellence, attention to detail, and a deep respect for sustainability. 

At IRA by Orchid, Noida, Chef Rakesh leads the culinary team with a focus on freshness, authenticity, and guest satisfaction. His approach to food combines traditional flavors with modern techniques, crafting menus that are as memorable as they are meaningful. Whether it’s an elaborate buffet or an intimate à la carte experience, his creations consistently reflect his culinary philosophy—where every dish tells a story. 

Speaking about his passion, Chef Rakesh shares, “For me, food is about more than flavor, it’s about creating moments people remember long after the meal is over.” 

Chef Rakesh Kumar Sharma is not just a chef; he’s a curator of flavors, a mentor in the kitchen, and a trusted name in luxury hospitality dining.  

Hilton Garden Inn Mumbai International Airport Appoints Savio Coutinho as New Executive Chef

Hilton Garden Inn Mumbai International Airport, developed by Fariyas Hotels & Resorts, is delighted to announce the appointment of Savio Coutinho as its new Executive Chef. A culinary leader with over 22 years of experience, Savio brings a unique blend of creativity, passion, and precision to the hotel’s dynamic food and beverage landscape.

Having helmed kitchens at hospitality giants like Marriott, Radisson, Renaissance, and The Orchids, Savio’s repertoire spans across fine dining, banquets, and menu innovation—delivering not just meals, but meaningful gastronomic experiences. His ability to fuse global techniques with local sensibilities makes him a perfect fit for Hilton Garden Inn’s signature all-day diner, Together & Co, and its diverse culinary offerings.

“Cooking is more than a profession—it’s about creating memories on a plate. I look forward to bringing bold flavors and creative dishes to Hilton Garden Inn Mumbai International Airport,” says Savio.

Expressing his excitement for this new chapter, Savio adds, “It’s an incredible opportunity to curate memorable dining moments that reflect the warmth and energy of this city. My vision is to build a food culture that is rooted in authenticity, but isn’t afraid to experiment and evolve.”

A true adventurer at heart, Savio’s love for superbikes and strumming the guitar are just another reflection of the passion and spontaneity he brings to his kitchen. His personal motto—‘Cook with soul, serve with flair’—perfectly aligns with the spirit of Hilton Garden Inn.

With Savio Coutinho at the helm, the hotel looks forward to elevating its culinary experiences and welcoming guests to a world where every dish tells a story.

The Westin Sohna Resort and Spa welcomes Chef Pradeep Rawat as Executive Chef

The Westin Sohna Resort and Spa has announced the appointment of Chef Pradeep Rawat as its new Executive Chef. Bringing with him nearly two decades of diverse culinary expertise, Chef Rawat has worked across some of India’s most celebrated hospitality destinations

Chef Rawat most recently served as Executive Chef at Hyatt Regency Dharamshala, and has held key leadership roles at Courtyard by Marriott Mahabaleshwar and JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability, guest-centric innovation, and high culinary standards.

Known for his creative flair and attention to detail, Chef Rawat excels in curating diverse menus, managing large-scale banquets, and introducing novel dining concepts that reflect both regional authenticity and global trends.

Welcoming the new appointment, Utsa Majumder, General Manager of The Westin Sohna Resort and Spa, stated: “We are delighted to welcome Chef Pradeep Rawat to The Westin Sohna family. His passion for wellness, sustainability, and authentic hospitality aligns seamlessly with our resort’s ethos. With his innovation and deep understanding of local and international cuisines, we are confident he will create enriching dining journeys for our guests.”

A graduate of GIHM Almora with a diploma in Hotel Management, Chef Rawat has combined academic knowledge with hands-on experience to craft exceptional culinary experiences. In his new role, he will oversee all culinary operations at the resort—guiding concept development, menu innovation, and sustainability initiatives across its multiple dining venues.

Sharing his philosophy on food, Chef Rawat said: “In today’s world, food isn’t just about filling plates; it’s about telling stories, stirring memories, and building connections. At The Westin Sohna Resort and Spa, we’re taking our guests on a journey where each dish carries the essence of tradition while embracing contemporary flair. It’s about crafting experiences that linger in the heart and on the palate, long after guests have departed.”

Navi Mumbai Marriott Hotel Announces the Appointment of Rohan Malwankar as Executive Chef

Mumbai, India – Marriott International is pleased to announce the appointment of Rohan

Malwankar as the Executive Chef of the newly launched Navi Mumbai Marriott Hotel. With

over 17 years of experience in the culinary arts, Chef Rohan will oversee all culinary

operations at the hotel's two distinctive dining destinations: 7 Isles, an all-day dining

restaurant celebrating the city's heritage with seven live kitchens, and Nazaara, a rooftop

restaurant specializing in Awadhi cuisine with stunning views. He will also manage the

Greatroom, a brand signature offering a sophisticated space for guests to unwind and

socialize.

Chef Rohan is renowned for his expertise in managing speciality restaurants and staying at

the forefront of culinary trends. His creative flair, strong work ethic, and ability to lead and

inspire teams make him an exceptional addition to the Navi Mumbai Marriott Hotel. He is

well-versed in Western and Oriental cuisines and has a proven track record in team

management and cost control.

Throughout his career, Chef Rohan has earned numerous accolades for his culinary

excellence. He was awarded "Culinary Operations of the Year 2022" APEC Marriott and

nominated for the APEC Culinary Advisory Board 2023-2024. He was also recognized as a

top contender in the "Chef of the Year (Economy to Budget)" category at The 13th Hotelier

India Awards in 2022.

Speaking about his new role, Chef Rohan Malwankar said, “I am excited to join Navi Mumbai

Marriott Hotel and bring my culinary vision to life. Our goal is to create memorable dining

experiences that celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the region while also introducing

innovative flavors and techniques. I look forward to working with the talented team here to

deliver exceptional cuisine and service to our guests.”

Chef Rohan holds a degree in Hotel Management from Anjuman-i-Islam, Mumbai. He is

passionate about culinary arts and dedicated to delivering innovative and memorable dining

experiences.

Gopi Nandakumar Appointed as the Executive Chef, Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences

Pune, India – Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences is proud to announce the appointment of Chef Gopi as its new Executive Chef. With over 20 years of experience in the culinary industry, Chef Gopi brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role.

Prior to joining Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences, Chef Gopi has worked with several reputable establishments, including Indian Hotels Company Limited, Colonial Gourmet Foods, Heritage Park Australia, and Hyatt Hotels Corporation. Chef Gopi's passion for culinary has honed his skills in Asian, Western, Mediterranean, and Indian cuisine.

In his new role, Chef Gopi will be responsible for overseeing the hotel's food and beverage operations, including its restaurants and banquet facilities. He will work closely with the hotel's culinary team to create innovative menus and dining experiences that reflect the hotel's commitment to quality and excellence.

"We are thrilled to have Chef Gopi join our team at Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences," said Mr. Ramandeep Marwah, General Manager of Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences. "With his extensive experience and passion for culinary, we are confident that Chef Gopi will take our food and beverage offerings to new heights."

Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences is committed to providing its guests with exceptional dining experiences that showcase the best of local and international cuisine. With Chef Gopi at the helm, the hotel looks forward to delighting its guests with an array of culinary delights.

Chef Sankha Dasmahapatra appointed as the Executive Chef at Courtyard by Marriott Shillong.

With over a decade of culinary experience, Chef Sankha Dasmahapatra is an experienced Executive Sous Chef with a demonstrated history of working in the Hospitality Industry and has been appointed as the Executive Chef at Courtyard by Marriott Shillong.

With a passion for cooking, Chef Sankha Dasmahapatra has earned his bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management from Annamalai University. He has an incredible line of work with leading hospitality chains like JW Marriott Kolkata, JW Marriott Chandigarh, JW Marriott Mussoorie, Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa, Goa, Hyatt Regency Delhi and Hyatt Regency Kolkata to name a few. His last assignment was with Raffles Udaipur as an Executive Sous Chef.

Chef Sankha’s extensive knowledge of all facets of hotel operations, remarkable leadership capabilities, strong record in refining banquet operations and restaurant management while maintaining the highest quality standards have all contributed to his exponential success

During his career, he has added several honors to his merit, “Legend of the month”- Month of April -2019 (JW Marriott Kolkata), 2019- Times Food Guide Awards (JW Kitchen), Awarded with the prestigious award Best “Hyatt Culinary Employee” in India, Month of November – 2013 by The Executive Chef Marin Leuthard (Hyatt Regency Delhi). Chef Sankha’s culinary expertise ranges from Thai, Indian to Italian cuisines.

Chef Sankha is an avid traveller who also enjoys music in his spare time.

Sayaji Pune appoints Chef Yashwant Sopne as their new Executive Chef

Pune, March 2023: Sayaji Pune is pleased to announce the appointment of Chef Yashwant Sopne as the new Executive Chef. Having started his journey as a Commi 3 chef in restaurants, he got his first entry into star properties with Ginger Hotel as a Commi 1 chef. He has come a long way since then. With his vast experience, Chef Yashwant has developed a strong repertoire to deliver a memorable experience to his diners.

With a penchant for cooking, Chef Yashwant uses the kitchen as his blank canvas to paint it wild with his unstoppable passion and innovative flavors that will linger on in your memory.

With almost 23 years of experience, Chef Yashwant has gained great exposure in the culinary field. Prior to joining Sayaji Pune, Chef Yashwant has been associated with several renowned hospitality brands such as Intercontinental hotel group, (IHG) Hilton Worldwide, Accor Hotels, Marriott International, The Orchid Hotel (Asia's first five-star Ecotel Hotel), Citrus Hotels & Resorts, Taj Group of Hotels to name a few. His last stint was with Ramani Hospitality as their Corporate Executive Chef.

Chef Yashwant has hands-on experience in Indian Cuisine Speciality, Italian, French, and Fusion food. Along with the kitchen, his responsibilities include taking care of guests’ special requests, monitoring hygiene and safety at work, curating special occasion menus, supervising the entire operation of restaurant & banquet events, and overlooking overall culinary operations. Chef Yashwant will also be accountable for maintaining high standards of discipline among his associates and mentoring them.

Commenting on his appointment, Chef Yashwant said, “I am delighted to join the team at Sayaji Pune & I look forward to elevating the dining experience for guests and developing a great rapport with my team”.

An accomplished culinary professional, Chef Yashwant Sopne looks forward to creating magic through innovation and experimentation with dishes to deliver a memorable dining experience for guests. The Sayaji Pune team is stoked to have him on board.

Jitendra Nakhwa has been appointed as the Executive Chef at InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort

With over 20 years of culinary expertise Jitendra has played an instrumental role in innovating new culinary dishes, spearheading the culinary teams and related operations

Jitendra started his culinary journey with Grand Hyatt Mumbai as Commis Chef and then soon moved to London with Hilton London Gatwick as Commis Chef. Thereafter, he also worked in USA with Master Chef Jose Gutierrez and learn nuances of French fine dining.

In 2007 he decided to come back to India, working with brands like Hyatt in Pune and Hyderabad as Executive Chef. Jitendra is not new to IHG as he was also the Executive Chef at Holiday Inn Cochin in 2017.

His last assignment was with Radisson Blu Dharamshala Resort as the Pre-opening charge of overall Food & Beverage Service & Production.

His forte includes food styling, restaurant food concept creation and menu engineering with a strong focus on improving service while preserving the highest levels of quality.

Siddarth Noronha joins Sheraton Grand Pune as Executive Chef

With over 16 years of culinary expertise, Chef Siddarth has been spearheading myriad kitchens across leading brands

Blending the fine line between tradition, innovation, and authenticity, Chef Siddarth has a flair for inventive cooking, retaining simplicity at the core of every recipe he curates. With over 16 years of culinary expertise, Chef Siddarth has been spearheading myriad kitchens across leading brands.

In his role as the Executive Chef at Sheraton Grand Pune, Chef Siddarth will be overseeing the entire functioning of F&B offerings across banqueting, in-room dining, and outlets.

In pursuit of his passion for cooking, Chef Siddarth completed his Diploma in Hotel Management Catering Technology from Rizvi College. He started his career as a trainee with the Taj Mahal Hotel and moved on to work with international hospitality brands including Hyatt Regency Mumbai, Grand Hyatt Goa, Grand Hyatt Mumbai, and Sofitel BKC. During his tenure at Novotel Hotels and Resorts Goa, he conceptualized the utilization of unused spaces at the property to create three new restaurants, including the signature restaurant ‘Vero Cibo’.

In his leisure time, he enjoys keeping up with the constantly evolving culinary world and exploring new ways to imbibe innovation. An adventure seeker, he vouches for bike rides as a sure remedy to restore energy.