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The aroma of spices and freshly-ground masalas fills the banquet hallway of GRT Grand, arsenic cooks from the Saurashtra assemblage contiguous their accepted recipes astatine Suvai of Saurashtra, a 10-day nutrient festival. From elemental room favourites to festive delicacies, the juncture is simply a solemnisation of heritage, flavour, and memory.
An array of authentic saurastra dishes are connected show astatine the 'Suvai of Saurastra' lawsuit successful GRT Grand, Madurai. | Photo Credit: G. MOORTHY
We whitethorn person tasted tamarind rice, citrus rice, appam and keerai vada astatine street-side eateries crossed Madurai — dishes made implicit generations by the city’s Saurashtra community. At Suvai of Saurashtra, these acquainted flavours find a expansive showcase, alongside forgotten recipes. Some dishes are adjacent served blistery disconnected the stove.
Regarding the thought down the event, Elango Rajendran, elder clump wide manager, GRT Grand, says, “We started this arsenic a tribute to the Saurashtra community, who migrated from Gujarat years agone and made Madurai their home. They were known for their weaving skills and adjacent stayed successful the courtyards of king Tirumalai Nayak. Through this event, we wanted to honour their publication and observe their culinary heritage.”
The cook is making keerai vadai, a celebrated steadfast snack successful GRT Grand, Madurai. | Photo Credit: G. MOORTHY
On Saurashtra cuisine, cook Vijaya Raghavan says, “Our go-to packed nutrient for household trips is usually tamarind atom with thuvayal. But the Saurashtrians bask their tamarind atom with mutton gravy — a operation that reflects their balanced taste. Many of their dishes besides person medicinal value. For instance, they usage state eggs successful dried food gravy — an antithetic pairing.”
He adds, “Among the dishes displayed here, I peculiarly emotion the flavour of ghee atom with rasa podi chicken. My favourite is roti halwa, their signature dessert.” About what makes the Saurashtra-style tamarind atom unique, helium says, “Generally, we adhd tamarind h2o towards the end, but the Saurashtrians statesman with it — heating it archetypal successful lipid with dried reddish chillies earlier adding the different ingredients. They besides usage earthy turmeric powder, which, on with the tamarind, gives the crockery its heavy colour and tanginess.”
Authentic assortment atom of Saurashtra specified arsenic tamarind rice, ghee atom and citrus atom connected show astatine the ‘Suvai of Saurashtra’ nutrient festival astatine GRT Grand successful Madurai. | Photo Credit: G. MOORTHY
Chef Aruna Ramesh has prepared karupatti aapam, made with a batter of adjacent quantities of earthy atom and idli rice, on with a tiny magnitude of fenugreek seeds and achromatic gram. “The batter is near to ferment overnight, and the adjacent morning, karupatti (palm jaggery) syrup and a pinch of baking soda are added.”
A feast for all
Many members of the Saurashtra assemblage took portion successful the lawsuit and relished the dishes connected display. Poornima Venkatesh, analogous of Seethalakshmi School, Madurai, who was contiguous astatine the event, says, “It’s specified a joyousness to beryllium present and spot our forgotten recipes brought unneurotic successful 1 place. I particularly loved the mutton gravy, which has a chiseled flavour and is made without coconut — rather antithetic from what we usually make. I besides enjoyed serki bhat, a saccharine prepared with cottonseed beverage (paruti paal). I’d emotion to effort these dishes astatine home.”
GRT Grand is located astatine 79/1A1, Madurai - Thoothukudi Highway, Velammal Village, Anuppanadi, Chinthamani. On till November 16, 7pm to 11pm. The buffet is priced astatine ₹1,700 positive taxes
