Famous Chettinad cuisine to be popularised
Monday, 09 February 2004, 20:30 IST
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Chennai, The unique architecture and cuisine of Tamil Nadu's Chettinad region may soon be used to lure tourists to the southern Indian state. The Tamil Nadu tourism department has begun promoting tours focusing on certain circuits or regions. One of this is the Chettinad circuit that encompasses the districts of Sivaganga and Pudukottai bordering a narrow strip of sea called the Palk Strait dividing Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka. The term Chettinad is usually associated by most Indians with the region's cuisine, and Chettinad chicken is a favourite with many. A typical Chettinad menu, served on a banana leaf, will also include many mouth-watering dishes. In Chennai, there are several specialty restaurants that exclusively serve Chettinad cuisine. But the cuisine traces its roots to a small village called Nedungudi, which has traditionally provided Chettinad cooks. Nedungudi, about 600 km south of Chennai, is a village of chefs and their assistants. Today, it supplies at least 800 cooks and 'samayal maistris', or head cooks. These chefs measure out the spices, provide that last deft touch and brandish their skills to provide what is inimitably Chettinad. The neighbouring villages of Rayapuram, Melapatti, Kandanur and Azhagapuri too are in the same business -- providing cooks to cities and towns. Today, however, the exquisite cuisine has also been corrupted in hotels across Tamil Nadu, alleges "America" Natesan, 75, of Nedungudi. In his time, this master chef claims to have fed prime ministers and presidents, including political leaders like the late Rajiv Gandhi and G.K. Moopanar. "Only if you get a cook from Nedungudi can you get authentic Chettinad cooking," he claimed.
Source: IANS
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