The ‘Snack and Ladle’ version had the same element of unpredictability witnessed in the snake and ladder game, with the participants’ chances of making it to the final soaring and sinking.
Finally, A. Suguna won the first prize for ‘Natukodi Pulusu with Ragi Sangati’, M. Pallavi bagged the second prize for ‘Nethi Kudumulu’, while S. Anuradha got the third prize for ‘Nune Vankaya’, in the non-vegetarian, sweet and vegetarian categories respectively.
The temple city of Tirupati hosted the last leg of the cookery contest ‘My State – My Taste’ conducted by The Hindu in association with AP Tourism to identify a signature dish for Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. The cellar hall in Hotel Bliss burst at the seams as contestants, including a surprisingly large number of executive chefs, steadily poured into the venue.
Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) Commissioner Ch. Hari Kiran, who formally inaugurated the event by lighting a lamp, appreciated The Hindu ’s endeavour in developing the brand image of the new State. He explained how the State was building its resources brick-by-brick, having lost a chunk of its Hyderabad infrastructure to Telangana. “Every participant today needs applause for contributing towards identifying a signature dish for the State,” Mr. Kiran said.
Authenticity of the delicacies
District Tourism Officer D.V. Chandramouli Reddy explained the steps taken by the government to promote tourism in all the districts. Expert chef K. Damodaran, who has a Guinness record for a 24-hour cooking marathon, appreciated the authenticity of the delicacies, while State Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition (SIHM Tirupati) Principal V. Giribabu explained that a delicacy’s texture, colour, flavour, aroma and eye appeal would be considered for awarding marks. Indian Culinary Institute (Tirupati) master trainer M. Tirulogachander saw a promising career in hospitality industry and urged the participants to give it a serious thought.
Premier cookware and appliances, Gopuram food products, HDFC Bank, TV5, Red FM and White Thoughts and Branding partnered with The Hindu in conducting the event, while Subhamastu shopping mall was the regional sponsor.
