In the bustling corridors of Novotel Hyderabad Airport, a stunning 25-foot buttercream strawberry and raisin cake, themed ‘A Wave of Happiness,’ stole the show on 21 September. The epic display kicked off the city’s first-ever hotel Cake Mixing & Grape Stomping Ceremony 2025, spreading festive cheer way ahead of Christmas.
The afternoon unfolded with traditions both nostalgic and playful. Guests joined the culinary team outdoors for the cake mixing, blending 150 kgs of nuts, fruits, and aromatic spices—the age-old base for Christmas cakes. Soon after, the grape stomping drew laughter and cheers, evoking the charm of old-world winemaking.
I had the joy of stepping into this experience myself – stirring the cake mix, watching the stomping in action, and interacting with General Manager Sukhbir Singh and Executive Chef Amanna Raju. Their passion for creating memorable experiences was clear.
Sukhbir Singh shared, “This tradition brings immense joy to both our guests and our team. Celebrating our 17th anniversary this month, the 25-foot-long cake was our way of making the event even more special. It’s a joy mixing the nuts and fruits, spending quality time with each other, and spreading good cheer. Even though we are one year behind turning 18, the city of Hyderabad, patrons, and partners have been extremely kind. We have crossed our 100-crore threshold this year and are seeing tremendous growth coming through the next year. We planned to usher in the good times with the festivities in the corner for the next three months of the year.”
The dessert counters stole the spotlight, radiating pure joy and kicking off Christmas vibes in September itself! Classic Indulge Brownies, Mango Roulade, Raspberry Tart, Battenberg Cake, Fond of Citrus, Mint Chocolate Christmas Trees, Milk Silk Chocolate, and many more treats transformed the Food Exchange into a festive wonderland. With Sula Brut White Wine in hand and live music filling the air, guests captured endless photos and unforgettable memories. Pastry Chef Divya Goppanagari summed it up beautifully: “This mix will mature slowly, giving our Christmas cakes their signature richness and flavor. For us, this marks the start of the festive season in our kitchen.”
Executive Chef Amanna Raju said, “We wanted to create a truly sweet Christmas vibe, one that spreads cheerful joy and brings out those rich, chocolatey, savory moments for everyone.”
Coming to the bread servings, croissants, gingerbread loaf, stollen, panettone, and many other treats, accompanied by a cute little snowman standing guard, gave the baking display a festive, handcrafted charm that perfectly complemented the joyous Christmas vibes.
A Global & Local Culinary Extravaganza
Executive Chef Amanna Raju highlighted the specially curated Sunday Brunch. He said, “We wanted to complement the festivities by blending the essence of local cuisine with global favorites. This year, the Mexican counter with fish and shrimp grills, along with a lively chaat corner, became an instant hit. Guests savoured varieties of pani puri and chaat masalas like Banarasi kulhad chaat, Bhel puri, Sev puri, Kachori chaat, Palak patta chaat, as well as a live counter of tacos, momos, and Nasi Goreng, which added extra flavor to the afternoon.”
By the end of the celebration, it was clear that Novotel Hyderabad Airport had once again turned tradition into a shared memory of joy, flavor, and festive spirit – kicking off the upcoming three months of the holiday season in style.
Savouring Every Bite: A Festive Brunch to Remember
I truly savoured the scrumptious brunch, enjoying the Mexican Fish and Shrimp with cranberry juice in every bite. I tried almost everything from the non-veg spread, even the cheese pepperoni pizza. And the desserts were simply delightful – each treat radiated pure, sweet Christmas vibes. It was a festive experience that I thoroughly enjoyed, leaving me with memories of flavor, joy, and celebration.
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