Ancient Grains, Timeless Curries: Southern Spice, Taj Coromandel, Chennai Celebrates Forgotten Recipes of the South

India, July 6 -- The "Forgotten Recipes of the South" festival at Southern Spice, Taj Coromandel, Chennai is a beautiful culinary tribute to South India's heritage. Running from July 7-21, 2026, it revives heirloom grains, rustic curries, and traditional sweets that have quietly faded from everyday kitchens.

Ancient grains & millets:

- Thinai Paniyaram with coconut-chilli chutney

- Ragi Mudde with Uppu Saaru

Rustic curries (Gramathu Kuzhambu):

- Kalyana Veetu Paruppu Urundai Kuzhambu (sun-dried lentil dumplings in tamarind gravy)

- Kongunadu Pallipalayam Chicken (dry-roasted with shallots & red chillies)

- Chettinad Kaalan Varuval (forest mushrooms with black pepper)

- Konaseema Chepala Pulusu (murrel fish curry)

- Malabar Chemmeen Manga Curry (prawns with raw mango & coconut milk)

Ancient rice varieties:

- Kaivara Samba Biryani (woodfire-cooked)

- Navara Kanji (medicinal red rice gruel)

- Mapillai Samba Pongal (ghee & pepper enriched)

- Kuzhiyadichan Choru (claypot rice layered with vegetables & coconut)

Traditional sweets:

- Kavuni Arisi Halwa (black glutinous rice halwa)

- Ragi Simili Urundai (palm jaggery & sesame sweet).

Experience

- Served in an ambience adorned with brass vessels, handwoven mats, and cold-pressed oils.

- Traditional refreshments like Neer Mor, Panakam, and filter coffee in davara-tumbler.

- Story cards with each dish narrating its cultural origins.

This festival is more than dining - it's a culinary chronicle that reconnects guests with South India's timeless food traditions, from millets and medicinal rice to village-style curries and sweets.

: 044 6600 2827 or [phone]

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Travel Media.