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What does go into pulling off an extensive awards night? Is it just months of coordination, phone calls, back and forth round table conversations, discussions, arguments and so on, or is it much more than that?
The Zee Zest Unlimit Awards aren’t just about dishing out recognition and trophies to those who are always ‘trending’; its core agenda is to acknowledge the fact that the food and lifestyle segment in India is constantly evolving, and in the forefront are people who are leading the change. It’s not always apparent, some of these changemakers barely even want to be talked about, but they are noticed. We notice them. And to make that possible, the behind-the-scenes are far more complex than just finding the cool chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers, influencers etc.
The 2024-edition of the Zee Zest Unlimit Awards, which concluded its second edition in Mumbai on March 5 at Taj Santacruz, was quite an incredible example of how team work really unfolds — from start to finish when the awards were handed over to the rightful owners and we could all breathe, tired feet and all, and say, “We did it”.
At that precise moment, all conflicts, last minute cancellations, baseless criticism are disappear into the background.
From The Bagh Gourmet Garden And Bar in Amritsar which won for its stunning design to Chintan Pandya, who flew down to collect his award for ‘Best Chef Working Internationally’ — the list of winners this year is an eclectic one. This also happens to be chef Prateek Sadhu's first award for 2024; he was awarded for NAAR under the best destination dining category. Sadhu also presented the award to Chintan Pandya who went on stage with his mother to collect the trophy, making it a truly Kodak moment.
Bengaluru did us proud, with Nidhi Nahata winning for JustBe (Best Vegan Restaurant) and Chetan Rampal who collected the award for Lupa Bengaluru which won the Best New Restaurant Award, not to mention Copitas that won in the ‘Best Cocktail Bar’ category.
Bawmra Jap, who won the award for the ‘Best Expat Chef’, couldn't be present but Cavatina's chef Avinash Martins accepted the award on his behalf. Regi Mathew of Kappa Chakka Kandhari (Bengaluru and Chennai) who won the ‘Chef of the Year’ Award didn't forget to tell us that the next stop has to be at his restaurant.
We also made sure that those who are no longer with us, and yet have left an incomparable legacy behind, were not forgotten. One can't quite celebrate the present or the future without acknowledging the past. This year, we took a moment to remember two of India's F&B icons, Jiggs Kalra — Zorawar Kalra's speech on his father really did give some of us goosebumps — and Floyd Cardoz, a man without whom Mumbai would not have some of the finest restaurants.
And as we wind down after much celebrations, settling in for another regular day at work, here’s the list of winners from this year.
Best Japanese Restaurant: Mizu Izakaya, Mumbai
Best Progressive Indian Restaurant: Masque, Mumbai
Destination Dining: NAAR, Kasauli
Best Café: Cou Cou By Oberoi, Mumbai
Best Concept Restaurant: Ekaa, Mumbai
Best Restaurant in a 5 Star: Wasabi By Morimoto, Taj, Mumbai
Best New Restaurant: Lupa, Bengaluru
Best Asian Restaurant: Yi Jing, ITC Kohenur, Hyderabad
Best Regional Indian Restaurant: O Pedro, Mumbai
Legacy Restaurant (Luxe): Bukhara, ITC Maurya Delhi
Legacy Restaurant (Popular Choice): Chaitanya Assal Malvani Bhojangruh
Best Vegan Restaurant: Justbe By Nidhi Nahata, Bengaluru
Best Designed Restaurant: The Bagh Gourmet Garden and Bar, Amritsar
Best Indian Craft Beer: People's Lager, Goa Brewing Co.
Best Indian Wine: The Source Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, 2023
Best Nightclub: antiSOCIAL, Mumbai
Best Cocktail Bar: Copitas, Bengaluru
Best Indian Craft Gin: Hapusa Himalayan Dry Gin
Best Indian Whisky: Amrut Fusion
Best Boutique Hotel: The Khyber Himalayan Resort and Spa
Best Sustainable Resort: Brij Lakshman Sagar, Pali
Best Wellness Resort: Raffles Udaipur
Best Wildlife Resort: Tipai by Wildlife Luxuries India, Tipeshwar
Hotel Brand of the Year: ITC Hotels
The Unlimit Icon: Jiggs Kalra
The Unlimit Icon: Floyd Cardoz
Best Mixologist: Varun Sharma
Best Expat Chef In India: Bawmra Jap
Best Indian Chef Working Internationally: Chintan Kiran Pandya
Chef Of The Year: Regi Mathew
Iconic Artist: Manoj Bajpayee
Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Babil Khan
UnLimit Performance of the year: Bobby Deol
We are grateful you could make it. And we are honoured to have you as part of the industry.
Co-Presented by L'Oreal Paris Hyaluron Moisture
Co-Powered by Cadbury Dairy Milk
Beauty Partner: Dazller Cosmetics
Energy Drink Partner: Hell Energy
Technology Facilitator: Thriwe
Hospitality Partner: Taj Santacruz Mumbai
Gifting Partners: Plum, Tidy Up, Ashnam and Australian Macadamia Nuts
Jury Meet Partner: Novotel Mumbai International Airport