Friday evening in Safdarjung Enclave was gearing up for something rather special. Behind the gates of a private Delhi residence, Sanya and Varun Jain, co-founders of Smoke Lab, opened their home to a select group of guests for an intimate evening as part of RR Table by Robb Report India, centred around good food, conversation and thoughtful details.
This was the third edition of RR Table by Robb Report India and its first in Delhi, presented in collaboration with Dorchester Collection and VistaJet. For those unfamiliar with the format, RR Table is Robb Report India’s invite-only culinary experience, centred on three elements: dining, conversation and cultural context. Intimate by design and large on intention, it brings together a select group of guests for an evening where food and conversation take centre stage.
For hosts Sanya and Varun Jain, the evening was especially meaningful. Members of the Robb Report India RR Circle and co-founders of Smoke Lab, which they launched in 2019 as a homegrown premium vodka brand, the couple opened their residence to a gathering that brought together familiar faces from across the luxury world, with conversations spanning travel, hospitality, design, fashion, sport and spirits.
Among the guests were Avarna Jain, Chairperson of RPSG Lifestyle Media, Vice Chairperson of Saregama India Limited, and Chair of RR Circle; Parris Fotias, Regional Sales Director at Dorchester Collection; Laura Craine, Senior Vice President of VistaJet Global; designer Raghavendra Rathore; former cricketer Suresh Raina; and Paul Ross, COO of The Macallan.
The residence was lit low and warm, candlelight doing most of the work, with white floral arrangements offering a note of understated elegance throughout. Guests were welcomed with a grazing table of artisanal bites, easing everyone into the evening before it had properly begun. Music played softly in the background all night, with a live harpist lending the room another sensory layer.
Proceedings opened with a series of toasts, including those by Aindrila Mitra, Editor, Robb Report India; Avarna Jain, Chairperson, RPSG Lifestyle Media, Vice Chairperson, Saregama India Limited and RR Chair; Laura Craine, Senior Vice President, VistaJet Global and Parris Fotias, Regional Sales Director at Dorchester Collection setting a celebratory tone. “This is a very special one, as it is being hosted at a Robb Report Circle member’s home,” said Avarna Jain, Chairperson, RPSG Lifestyle Media. “We are glad to be a part of Robb Report and look forward to many more events ahead,” added Varun Jain.
Hereone guests moved into a Macallan tasting, the evening’s experience partner, led by Heena Riat, luxury spirits and wine professional and The Macallan brand ambassador. Drinks in hand, conversation carried guests toward the dining table, where the evening's culinary narrative took over.
The food came courtesy of Indian Accent, whose kitchen brought a contemporary sensibility to authentic Indian dishes without losing sight of their roots. Floating starters circulated through the room, with daulat ki chaat bringing the meal to a sweet close, a nod to Delhi’s culinary heritage. Smoke Lab was also part of the evening, with a dedicated station where guests could explore the spirits alongside the food. The selection was served as part of the dining experience, with pairings designed to complement the flavours of the dishes.
As the evening progressed, guests lingered over after-hours toasts and conversation, bringing the gathering to a relaxed close. For Robb Report India, the Delhi edition marked another chapter for a format built around the more nuanced side of luxury, one that finds its expression in good food, thoughtful company and the pleasure of lingering a little longer.