Spicy South Food Festival begins tomorrow

Chandigarh, Oct 17 (UNI) People desirous of south Indian food will be getting special treat at Spicy South Food Festival begining here tomorrow.

The three-day festival, being organised by the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO), would coincide with the ongoing cultural extravaganza of Tamil Nadu Government 'Poompoohar-2008'.

The CITCO has for the first time planned to introduce ''non-vegetarian'' South Indian delicacies during the food festival.

It has tabled special ''non-vegetarian'' menu which would have two chicken dishes and one each with mutton and fish. This would be in addition to ''vegetarian'' dishes like Dosas, Idli etc.

The three-course menu would start with soup which include Rasam with papad or butter milk for non-vegetarian as well as vegetarian food. In the non-vegetarian segment, the main course would have two varieties like ''Chicken Chattinad'' and ''Koly Kuzhambu''.

The dish with mutton has been named as ''Mutton Vindaloo'' and one with fish as ''Meen Kuzhambu''. This would be apart from usual egg dosa.

The vegetarians, too, would savour with wider choice. The specially- planned vegetarian dishes would have choices among ''Porrial'', 'Avail'' (seasonal vegetarian with coconut), ''Alookora'', ''Kanji Idli'' and plain ''idli'' with ''samber''.

The ''Thaijir Sadan'' (rice) together with options like curd, lemon or coconut. The desserts would have ''pal payasam'', ''sweet pongal'' and ice cream while the closing gesture would have ''veeda'' (plain and sweet paan).

The Chefs of Tamil Nadu will be associated with the food festival to make sure that authentic South Indian food with their own spices and ingredients are prepared to pamper the taste buds of residents of Chandigarh. The package rate will be Rs 399 per person.

There will be a cultural milieu of South India and artist would perform during the food festival to be held at Hotel Mountview. The service staff will be in South Indian uniform.

UNI VKJ VN PD GC2008