Are you eager to give the world a taste of your cooking? Bring a sample of your favourite recipe for chef K Damodaran, who will be in the city on Saturday (June 29) to judge the second edition of The Hindu ’s Our State Our Taste cook-off.
Madurai is one of the 15 cities where the preliminary rounds are being held before the grand finale in Chennai on August 31 to select the Master Chef of Tamil Nadu. Chef Damu, who has just finished with the Coimbatore and Erode rounds, says he was impressed by the response and the efforts participants took to prepare and bring the dishes to the venue. “The presentation was equally good,” he says and adds that he is now looking forward to Madurai, dubbed as the food capital of the State.
“The Temple city is known for its signature traditional dishes and distinct flavours. From experience, I know the people of Madurai do wonders with the same simple ingredients. A tweak here and there and they whip up extraordinary curries, chutneys and other side dishes,” he says. So what is he expecting? “Anything from biryanis and parottas with the special meat and fish curries to the super soft idlis, chutneys, and jigarthanda,” he laughs.
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Along with two chefs from the city in the panel, he will be adjudging dishes cooked by the participants at home. Three best cooks will be selected who will then battle it out for top honours in the final round in Chennai.
Participants can enter any number of vegetarian or non-vegetarian main course, starters, snacks or desserts. “But importantly, it should represent the flavour of Tamil Nadu,” he asserts. There is no age or gender bar for the cooking contest. Anybody can register and there are lots of prizes to be won at the district level.
The contest will start at 10 am at Hotel J C Residency. So be sure to reach the venue with the dishes and be sure you display it well.
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Those who choose to prepare the dishes using products of the co-sponsors for the event — Naga food products, RKG Ghee, Savorit and Fortune products — may stand to gain extra points. “Marks will be given though for the taste, flavour, texture and presentation,” chef Damu underlines. The contest will also be held in Dindigul on June 30 (Sunday) at Parsons Court, 85 Mengles Road, from 10 am.
The regional winners will take home products worth ₹20,000 from the main sponsors Vidiem while the grand finale winners will take home gifts worth ₹Two lakh.
Those who wish to participate in the contest can register their names by visiting www.thehindu.com/osot2019 or SMS name <space> city <space> dish name or WhatsApp to or call 9710011222.