Latest news with #Koca
Hindustan Times
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Step inside Yuvraj Singh's 1st ever restaurant: It is grand, charming and right in the heart of Gurugram
Yuvraj Singh gave a glimpse inside his new restaurant, Koca (Kitchen Of Celebratory Arts), in an April 20 video shared on Curly Tales' YouTube channel. Located on Gurugram's Golf Course Road, Koca is Yuvraj Singh's first-ever restaurant and opened on April 12. The former cricketer has shared that the menu of his newly-opened restaurant was thoughtfully curated to reflect his personal taste. Also read | Step inside Yuvraj Singh's Goa bungalow perched up on a picturesque hill with the most stunning view, serene vibe: Pics Inside videos shared on Koca's Instagram page give a peek into the restaurant's intimate and inviting atmosphere. Nestled in a vibrant locale, the restaurant exudes charm and sophistication, blending modern elegance with a warm, inviting ambience. Yuvraj's restaurant offers a perfect blend of nature, luxury, and comfort. Take a look: A post shared by K O C A (@kocaofficial) As you step inside, elegant lighting sets the tone — soft, ambient chandeliers and sleek pendant lights cast a golden glow, creating an intimate yet refined atmosphere. The lighting is carefully curated, with dimmable fixtures that adapt to the time of day, ensuring a cosy vibe for evening dinners and a bright, airy feel during lunch. The massive skylight windows are a standout feature, flooding the space with natural light during the day. These expansive glass panels offer panoramic views of the sky, allowing diners to bask in the warmth of sunlight or gaze at twinkling stars during evening meals. The sunroofs create an open, breezy environment, seamlessly blending indoor comfort with an outdoor essence. The lit-up indoor bar is another focal point. It is adorned with sleek and backlit shelves and countertops showcasing an array of premium spirits. Soft LED strips illuminate the bar, creating a warm glow. Lush greenery creates a calming vibe throughout the restaurant, with hanging plants and potted plants of all sizes tucked into corners, creating a serene, garden-like oasis that feels both refreshing and tranquil. A post shared by K O C A (@kocaofficial) The cosy seating features plush, upholstered chairs and cushioned booths in earthy tones like sage green, terracotta, and cream. Tables are spaced thoughtfully to ensure privacy, with some nestled near the plants for a secluded feel and others positioned under the sunroofs for a brighter experience. The outdoor seating area is just as enchanting and perfect for for those who prefer outdoor dining. Set on a spacious patio, it features cushioned sofas and small table lamps for evening drinks under the stars.
NDTV
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
"KOCA Is A Celebration Of Food, Friends And Flavour" - Yuvraj Singh Talks About His Restaurant Debut Debut
Quick Take Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Yuvraj Singh has launched Koca, his first restaurant in Gurgaon, serving nostalgic North Indian comfort food with a premium touch. He calls it a celebration of food, friends and flavour-his most personal innings yet. From smashing sixes to serving kadhi chawal with flair, Yuvraj Singh has just launched his most personal innings yet - KOCA, a 500-seater food-and-drinks destination in the heart of Gurgaon. Built on nostalgia, North Indian comfort food, and a sharp eye for hospitality, KOCA blends homestyle favourites with premium presentation. In this candid chat, Singh opens up about everything - from menu inspirations and moody interiors to the real reason rajma chawal made the cut. And yes, he answers the one question every fan wants to know: what is tougher - the pitch or the picky diners? Shubham: Let's start with the name - KOCA. It sounds playful, personal and punchy. What does it mean Yuvraj: The idea was to find something that has a bit of me in it, but not all of me. It might sound Punjabi at first, but actually, KOCA stands for Kitchen of Celebratory Arts. It's all about celebrating food. Whether it's friends, family or co-workers - it's about making every meeting feel like a celebration. Shubham: And of course, drinks. Yuvraj: Exactly. It is not just about the food; it's the service too. When we started thinking about opening a restaurant, I knew that the food had to be excellent, and so did the service. Ambience is important too, but if the food and service are not right, people won't return. Shubham: The launch is finally here - congratulations! It's opening in the heart of Gurgaon. What do you want your guests to feel when they walk into KOCA? Yuvraj: For me, the whole idea was to create a place that felt like home. I wanted people to experience ghar ka khana. There are days when you do not want anything fancy - you just want food that makes you feel good. That's where our 'desi' menu comes in. One of our six cuisines is built by me personally, with dishes like kadhi chawal and rajma chawal, but with a little flair. These are dishes we all grew up loving, and I wanted to bring those nostalgic flavours back in a premium setting. Shubham: And yet the vibe is elevated - people are not just here to eat, right? Yuvraj: Absolutely. You need great food, but you also need a great space. Our capacity is about 350, with brunches, lunches, and long evening hangs. The top floor alone is 10,000 sq ft - it's a massive bar space. There's indoor and outdoor seating, and we're lucky to have found such a great location. Deepak ji, one of my partners, has been a visionary in helping create this space. Shubham: You mentioned consistency, and I think that's something many celebrity restaurants struggle with. Yuvraj: 100 per cent. I tell my team - the taste needs to be consistent every single time. It is easy to start strong when a celebrity is involved, but unless the food holds up, people will stop coming. So for me, the team is everything. That mindset comes from cricket too - if the team is good and the vibe is right, the results will follow. Shubham: Speaking of food, why rajma and kadhi specifically? North Indian food is vast. Yuvraj: True, there's chole bhature, dal makhani - but rajma chawal and kadhi chawal are the heart of most North Indian homes. You walk into any house on a Sunday afternoon, and it is either of those two. I wanted to bring those classics back in a premium restaurant setting, something no one really expected. Shubham: Let's talk about your diet for a second. A few years ago, you made headlines for going vegan. Was it a health call? And how hard was it to give up butter chicken? Yuvraj: (Laughs) I do not want to keep anyone in the dark. I was vegan for six months and vegetarian for a year. It was mainly a health decision - I have some dietary issues and felt better eating clean at home. But it was hard to sustain with my training and sports schedule. So now, I eat vegetarian or vegan when I can, especially at home. But when needed, I eat everything. Shubham: The interiors are stunning - plush, moody, and still inviting. I especially loved the central area with all the sunlight. Were you involved in the design? Yuvraj: Yes, I approved all the design elements. The skylight - or pagoda, as we jokingly called it - was something I really liked. You get natural sunlight upstairs, and the sunset views are amazing. After sundown, you can always come downstairs. The idea was to make it feel open, warm and safe. Shubham: You mentioned safety - I heard you are also offering party drivers? That is a first. Yuvraj: Yes, safety is a big concern, especially in Delhi-NCR. If someone drinks too much, we will arrange a driver for them. The idea is that people should come here stress-free, have fun, and get home safe. Shubham: Now for a fun one. My mom wanted me to ask - you've faced the world's fiercest bowlers. Now you're serving some of the pickiest diners. What is more intimidating: the pitch or the plate? Yuvraj: (Laughs) The wife! Wife's bouncers are the hardest to face, because when she bowls at you, you cannot leave the ball. Shubham: Any plans to expand? Mumbai? Chandigarh? Yuvraj: We want to first make KOCA Gurgaon sustainable and successful. The restaurant business is tough. If this does well, then yes - I would love to take it west or south. But first, the base has to be strong. You cannot build without a solid foundation. Shubham: How does KOCA fit into your life right now? Will you be around more? Yuvraj: I'm in Gurgaon often, so yes. I want my friends - cricketers I've played with, friends from my life - to come and enjoy it. After IPL, I plan to throw a party here for them. That is the best feeling - when people you love enjoy what you've built. Shubham: If you had to eat one dish from KOCA for the rest of the year, what would it be? Yuvraj: Kadhi chawal. No question. That dish is home. It's soothing, tangy, warm - it's everything. Shubham: That's such a sweet answer. And honestly, I think a lot of people would agree. Food really is memory. Yuvraj: Exactly. Food should make you feel something. That's the whole point. Whether it's reminding you of home, surprising you, or just making your day better - that's the kind of food I want to serve.
Indian Express
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Yuvraj Singh says he doesn't want relationship with son Orion like the one he has with father Yograj Singh: ‘He was harsh at times…'
Cricketer Yuvraj Singh is part of the upper echelons of Indian cricket after a storied career which did not come without its own difficulties, both personal and game-wise. Since retirement, a different side of Yuvraj has been exposed to the media: a fun-loving Punjabi who wants to give back to Indian cricket by mentoring the new generation and also wants to live his life to the fullest. He recently opened up his own restaurant, Koca, and participated in an interview with his mother, Shabnam Singh, to talk about his career, life and everything in between. In an episode of Curly Tales on YouTube, Shabnam talked extensively about her son's childhood and his cricket journey and revealed that Yuvraj was quite the menace as a kid. 'He has been extremely mischievous since his childhood, and it has only grown with his age. Everyone is petrified of him because they never know when he'll make a fool out of them. Once I got a fake call from a police station, and they said, 'Your son has misbehaved with some girls; please come and bail him out.' The first person he makes a fool out of is me, and every time I get taken in,' added Shabnam. She also said that Yuvraj never complained about tough practice schedules or the way his father Yograj Singh wanted him to lead his life, to which Yuvraj added that 'whoever has briefed my mom about what to say has done a good job.' The cricketer shed some more light on growing up with a tough father and said, 'He was harsh at times, but it was also his dream that I live his dream, which I understood. There were times when I didn't like it, but I think sometimes you have to do things which you don't like to understand what you want to achieve. I was pushed a lot, but that is why I started playing for India when I was just 18.' Talking about his relationship with son orion as opposed to his bond with father Yograj, he said, 'With my father, it was always about cricket. I don't want to be a coach to my kids, I want to be a dad. The things I could not do with my dad, I do it with my son.' When asked about his favourite moment from his career, he talked about playing against Australia as a newcomer and scoring 84 and that when he returned to India, both his parents had to come to receive him at the airport even though they were separated; he called it 'one of the most amazing moments of my life.'
