West Godavari goodies tantalise tastebuds

The Hindu’s ‘Our State our Taste’ evokes overwhelming response in Eluru

East Godavari Dsitrict Collector Katamaneni Bhaskar checking out the dishes presented by the contestants, in Eluru on Saturday.

The different tastes of West Godavari district were brought out in the dishes presented by the participants in the cookery contest ‘Our State-Our Taste’ organised by The Hindu in association with AP Tourism here on Saturday.

The VTR Grand marriage hall was jam packed with more than 200 women from different places in West Godavari district including Tadepalligudem, Bheemavaram, Pedapadu and Eluru city, who brought with them, delicious food displaying their culinary skills.

West Godavari district Collector Katamaneni Bhaskar who was the chief guest for the event, lit the lamp and inaugurated the event. In his address, Mr. Bhaskar told the large gathering that the special cuisine from the district had to get the first place in the State. He congratulated the AP Tourism department and

The Hindu for organizing the event.

Chefs Yadagiri and Ramakrishna Raju said that taste, aroma, presentation and preparation were the main criteria with which they select the three top winners in the contest.

Wide variety

The participants in this district presented a wide range of dishes in vegetarian as well as in non-vegetarian cuisines. They garnished their dishes with flowers, fruits, etc. to impress the chefs.

The variety of dishes included Pootharekulu made with different ingredients, Uggani Bajji, Ragi Sankati, Kanda-Batchali, Muntha Pulav, Alasandala Vada, Punugula Pulusu, Gongura Pachhadi in different combinations, Payasam and Paramannam. Bommidala Pulusu, Chepala pulusu with Chintakaya, Dosakaya Chicken, Royyala Iguru, Muntha Royyala Biryani, Sora Pidupu, Fish Pulav and Sanagapindi Mutton, were some of the dishes in the non-vegetarian category.

Local sweets such as ‘Bobbatlu,’ ‘Teepi Garelu’ with ‘Cheraku Pakam’ and Palakova were also prepared by some participants.

As many as forty students from Vasavi GMR DED College, Tadepalligudem, took part in the contest.

The chefs gave away the first three prizes, six consolation prizes and a chefs’ special prize.

Winners

First prize went to Satyavani who made a variety of Pootarekulu, second prize went to S. Ratnamamma who presented Jeedipappu and Munakkaya pulusu and the third prize went to Anil Kumar who made Bommidala Pulusu. The consolation prizes went to Ambika, K Padma, Nitin, K Malleswari, Rajkumar, Vidya Dharani and Kavitha who made Muvva Vankaya, Pulasa Chepala Pulusu, Sora Pidupu, Palakova, Vankaya Pachhipulusu, Muntha Royyala Pulav, and gongura pachadi respectively. The Chefs’ special prize went to P. Visala who made Mamidikaya Pappu.

Executive Banking partner of the event is HDFC Bank, TV partner is TV5, Radio Partner RED FM 93.5, Creative and Digital partner is White-Thoughts and Branding. Gopuram products, Premier Cookware and Vaibhav Jewellers were the other sponsors.