Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Varied cuisine of India under one roof

CHENNAI: Looking to spend an evening at an affordable place that has ample parking space, a good variety of food and games?

Then head for Island Grounds (near War Memorial).

The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation is organising an event to promote ‘cuisine tourism’ from October 1 to 12. Food stalls and entertainment stations will be open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. every day. No entrance fee will be charged on the inaugural day, October 1. From October 2, adults will be charged Rs.10 and children Rs.5.

“This is the first time that we are organising an event to promote cuisines from various States. People will be able to enjoy food from various States at a fraction of the price they pay in a regular restaurant,” said Tourism Secretary V. Irai Anbu, the brain behind the show.

Addressing presspersons here, he said that some catering colleges will participate in the fair and conduct demonstrations on preparations of various food items.

Visitors to the show can participate in these.

A few celebrity chefs will also turn up and demonstrate their signature dishes, he added.

Mr. Irai Anbu said that the event was being held to coincide with the World Tourism Day. This will become an annual feature and would expose the average Chennai resident to various Indian cuisines.

The event is being managed by Digital Entertainment Agency.

Vegetarian and non-vegetarian stalls will be housed separately. There will be 82 stalls in all, with more than 60 devoted to cuisine from various Indian states.

Tourism Commissioner and TTDC Managing Director M. Rajaram said that one focus of the event would be rural cuisine of Tamil Nadu.

Listing a dozen dishes that would be available, he said that all the items would be priced reasonably.

A few of the stalls will feature dining room furniture and utensils. “The idea is to make available anything related to cuisine under one roof,” Mr. Rajaram said.

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