Traditional Tamil Brahmin Vegetarian Culinary Experience - Day Trip

Traveling Spoon

Sundari is a cheerful, wonderful host whose easy laugh will instantly make any traveler feel at home. Sundari lives together with her husband Krishna in her in-laws' converted home, surrounded by fruit trees and filled with traditional art and decor. Sundari has been cooking since she was eight – she even cooked on her own coal stove as her mother prepared meals for her family. Her true passion is sharing her South Indian culinary and cultural traditions with guests. Guests will enjoy a traditional South Indian vegetarian meal eaten with their hands on fresh banana leaves (when in season) or stainless steel thalis. Flavors center around mustard, chilies, coconut, sour tamarind extract and native fruits and vegetables. The meal concludes with Sundari's delicious sweet South Indian filter coffee, a specialty coffee drink made by mixing frothed and boiled milk with coffee brewed in a Indian filter. If you book a cooking experience, travelers will learn to cook 4-5 South Indian vegetarian dishes. The menu might include typical Tamilian vegetarian main dishes such as rasam (a tangy peppery broth), sambar (lentil and tamarind based vegetable stew), and a variety of vegetable curries, rice, raita, condiments and snacks. Alternatively, travelers may request to learn to make a South Indian brunch of dosas, idlis and vadas with a variety of chutneys. Sundari also offers an optional market tour of the local Sastri Nagar neighborhood market, where travelers can see where Sundari gets her local wheat milled, see how coffee is ground and even visit the local temple. Guests will then walk back to Sundari’s kitchen and learn to prepare and share a South Indian vegetarian meal. Please note that the neighborhood market in Chennai where Sundari does her shopping is a busy street with roadside stores and vendors. This is unlike an open bazaar/wet market with bags of fruits and spices you might typically expect.

Vacation Inclusions

• Meal
• Cooking Class (optional)
• Market Tour (optional)
• Lunch (12pm-2pm Meal, 11am-2pm Cooking Lesson, 9am-2pm Market Tour) OR Dinner (6-8pm Meal, 5-8pm Cooking Lesson, or 4-9pm Market Tour)
• Vegetarian options available

Featured Destinations

Chennai Chennai Chennai (formerly known as Madras) is the capital of the great state Tamil Nadu and is one of four metropolitan cities in India. Compared to the other major metros of India, it is far less congested and polluted. Chennai, is a journey into timeless India, rich in historical treasures, from temples and shrines to forts and palaces. Chennai is also host to some cultural theatres that showcase various India traditional dances and plays on a regular basis. Chennai is also the center of the film industry in South India.

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