He is forever embedded in our minds as the Cashew Man. We learned a lot from him. The day was a body bulging with humidity. Breathlessly still, the air grew palpably heavy waiting to deliver its burden. Our pace slowed as if in sync. We were winding our way along the narrow roads of southern …
Most of our recipes come with a story. Here’s the one behind these tasty Cashew Coconut Ginger Bars. We did not know it until our visit to Tamil Nadu but India grows a lot of the world’s cashews. And, now that we’ve been to South India a few times, we can tell you that along …
We were on our way to Karaikudi in Chettinad when we found ourselves at a vegetable market near Madurai. We stopped to take in the action. Business was brisk. Women were shopping for the next day’s main meal. Colourful blankets, spread on the ground, were de facto kiosks to display produce. Squatting vendors worked to …
If you’ve only got 24 hours in Madurai, we’ve got a lot of ideas for what to do. We’re excited for you. Madurai is a bustling beehive of a 2500-year-old city. The River Vaigai flows through the centre of the city and pulses, millet, oil seeds, cotton and sugarcane grow on the fertile plains surrounding the …
Raman is one of the sous chefs at The Bangala. He is not only in charge of the dining room, he also makes all of the desserts. I happened to mention how much we enjoyed The Bangala’s Fruit Compote and he beamed. He also took me straight to his pantry. Together, we rummaged the ample …
Karrupiah really could cook this dish of Mutton Curry – Mutton Kozhambu – with his eyes closed. To test if the meat is as tender as he would like it to be he twists a piece between his thumb and forefinger to see how easily it gives. If it’s not fall apart tender, back in …
Read more about The Bangala’s Mutton Curry – Mutton Kozhambu
Carrot Halwa is a rich and gratifying dessert. People associate spicy food with India. But, all that heat is balanced with an incredible array of sweet treats. You see it everywhere you travel in the country. This Carrot Halwa is an easy to make pudding that delivers satiety. A little bit at the end of …
The Bangala’s Chettinad Mutton Fry – Uppu Kari – is the first of a few great plates we’ll be sharing from their master chef Karrupiah. Our friend, Sumeet Nair, worked for three years with the team at The Bangala to record Karrupiah’s recipes. Spending many weekends and all his holidays at this boutique hotel in …
Karrupiah is the master chef at The Bangala in the town of Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu’s Chettinad region. From the time I first met him in 2014, until my return with Pauli-Ann two years later, I dreamed of cooking with him. Karrupiah is the expression of what is good in all cooks. He lives to cook …
Karaikudi in Chettinad, is a popular destination for food lovers, architectural buffs and antique hunters. Tucked into the southeastern corner of Tamil Nadu, this town and the 70 or so other villages in the area, make up the ancestral home of the Chettiyars. The Chettiyars are a class of wealthy merchants. They built their fortunes …