Host offerings
Srividya worked for many years in the luxury hotel industry and relishes the opportunity to introduce her guests to South India's cultural and culinary traditions. She lives in a cozy, immaculately clean apartment with her husband, mother and two children, all of whom are self-described foodies who love to cook together as a family. She delights in preparing fresh, healthy meals using locally grown vegetables and ingredients. She enjoys the balance of a complete meal that has variety in terms of flavors, nutrition, pace, texture, and digestion. You will sense her pride as she shares interesting anecdotes and stories that highlight the traditions and science behind the foods you will enjoy at her table. Srividya is a vegetarian but she occasionally prepares meat for her family members. <br><br> “Food is my way of connecting with people and hosting with Traveling Spoon makes my world happier.”
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
In-home meal (1 - 5 guests) A meal in Srividya’s home presents a taste of Tamil Nadu served on a vibrant banana leaf (when seasonably available). You can expect to taste seasonal dishes such as vegetable curries, fish curry, dosas (South Indian-style crispy crepes), pillowy idlis (fluffy, savory cakes), kozhukattai (South Indian dumplings) made from a variety of flour, tamarind rice or curd rice, and her homemade mango pickle. South India has an immense culinary heritage and the range of dishes you taste at Srividya's table reflect this bounty. Your meal will showcase the diversity and unique dishes from a range of cuisines, like Mudaliar and Tamilian Brahmin cooking.
Cooking experience (1 - 5 guests) Join Srividya in the kitchen to learn to make two to three South Indian Tamilian dishes from scratch. You will learn to use spices such as mustard seeds, coconut and black pepper in Srividya's kitchen as you cook traditional curries and rice. After cooking, enjoy the dishes you helped prepare with Srividya at her dining table along with a few other dishes that Srividya will have prepared in advance.
Market visit (1 - 5 guests) Meet Srividya at Rasi Silks (popular saree store) in Mylapore and Srividya will give you a tour of the local Mylapore market, a lively and bustling street market. The market houses the Kapaleeshwara temple and dozens of shops that sell everything from flowers, fruits, vegetables, spices, utensils to jewelry, garments and toys. Shopping at Mylapore is a quintessential Chennai shopping experience! Walk around this market with your host Srividya and soak in all the sights, smells and tastes. Sip on South Indian coffee from a local vendor. If you also booked a cooking class, you might purchase ghee or vegetables for your cooking class before Srividya drives you back to her home.
Languages spoken: #<HostLanguage::ActiveRecord_Associations_CollectionProxy:0x00007f9c6f9a1b00>
This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.
I loved everything I ate, but I was particularly fond of the tamarind rice, the vegetable curry, and her homemade mango chutney/pickle and curd. Everything was extremely fresh and flavorful, and everything had an interesting story behind it.
Amelia, Traveling Spoon Ambassador
Pricing (per person)*
| 1 person | 4 people | 5+ people | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-Home Meal | $1,500 | $1,200 | $1,000 |
| Cooking Experience + Meal | $1,600 | $1,400 | $1,200 |
| *Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout. | |||
| Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|
| In-Home Meal | 12:00pm - 02:00pm | 7:00pm - 09:00pm |
| Cooking Experience + Meal | 11:00am - 02:00pm | 6:00pm - 09:00pm |
Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.
