Slice of life: ‘Keeping culinary culture alive is important for me’

During my childhood, I used to come home during the rain and my mother would have a plate of kara kuzhipanyaram ready for me. It was an integral part of my childhood and many others. There are many traditional food items like this all over the country. Each State has a traditional food that is integral to their culture and tradition. With the influx of fast food, these traditional foods are slowly being lost or are decreasing in popularity. That is why I opened Kuzhip last year to bring back traditional food. By bringing in traditional food in their authentic form, as well as introducing innovations to the recipe, we are keeping them fresh in people’s minds. We are also hiring people from disadvantaged backgrounds. These are people who have not studied and do not have a means for regular income. By giving them this space, their lives are also being benefited, and that it is my goal through all this. Social service has been something I am passionate about, but it’s more of being able to do what I can in the capacity I have to help people.  Keeping culinary culture alive is the reason why I do this. I have always been passionate about the food and beverage industry, and so this was the next logical step in my career.