Thursday, November 15, 2018

Depawali sweets at kalyana mandapam


Legendary wedding caterer LV Pattappa has set up his annual temporary kitchen in a wedding hall for Deepavali, drawing loyalists from across the city

Hemamalini Kalyana Mandapam in Royapettah is frantic with activity and blanketed in the scent of molten sugar. Sales counters, stacked with boxes of sweets and savouries, are busy as staff take orders from customers, ticking items off a printed list. As customers enter the hall, they are handed a list of the many sweets and savouries available in an attempt to streamline the process. Despite the business-like efficiency, the space is festive and welcoming. While customers wait to collect their boxes of neatly packaged goodies, they are served samples of everything being prepared in the kitchen. There’s also filter coffee on offer, and hot khichdi in case you’re hungry. All for free.

For the past 15 years, I have been setting up a Deepavali counter in this venue. This special counter, open for just five days a year. “The idea is to make traditional sweets the traditional way buy from here as the sweets are freshly made, unlike in other stores where it is all made few weeks ahead. “We also enjoy the delicious food served here. So it is an enjoyable outing

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