Onam Sadhya with MealTango
When it’s not a meal, it’s THE meal.
Ona–sham-sakal (Happy Onam)! That’s what a bunch of foodies in Pune were wishing each other last Saturday as they headed for a heavenly, home-made Onam feast. Something about the meal made every foodie conclude – it was not a meal, it was THE meal.
An Onam Carnival in Pune, really!
You heard it right. Not in Kerela, in Pune; and not in August-September, in February! With MealTango, the Onam carnival came alive in its true spirit. From a lavish feast to the melodious Onam music, from festive aromas to radiant rangolis and other Onam intricacies rolling on a projector, it was complete merriment.
Not at a restaurant, neither at a function or a public gathering – it all happened at a Kerelan home! A time-tested MealTango host cooked a wholesome Onam meal and perfectly recreated the festive charm with every element reflecting the true Kerelan carnival spirit.
And who is this amazing host?
It’s Alice, an established MealTango host who by now is quite famous in the MealTango foodies circle for her appetizing appams, delicious dosas and mouth-melting idlis (a round of filter coffee invariably follows). Those who have known Alice for long have seen the specialist she is at Kerelan meals.
At MealTango’s Onam Sadhya, here’s how the fun began.
Tone for the day was set just right as enthusiastic MealTango guests were greeted with skilfully lined up rangoli (read Pookkalam) at the entrance. On stepping in, flavours of soon-to-follow-feast meshing up with cadence of the Kerelan culture, were casting a spell. It was hard to distinguish if we were really in Pune or in God’s own country, Kerela!
From authentic coconut-base vegetables and curries, Aviyal, Kalan, Olan, Injipuli, Erissery and Thoran, to the delightful ensemble of Vadas, Rice, Sambhar followed by Payasam (sweet dish), just name it and Alice’s lavish Onam feast had it. A suite of pickles, Kerala papads, Sweet chips, Salted banana chips and Butter milk added zing to the wholesome meal. The way Alice artistically served each dish on a Banyan leaf in some scientific order made it even more special. Surely a tenet only a true Kerelan would know or memorise. The banyan leaf soon resembled a colour palate of delectable home-made Kerelan dishes as portions of Achar (pickle), Mangacurry (curry made of mango) or Narangacurry (lime curry), Uppu (Salt), Puliyinchi (curry made of ginger, tamarind, green-chilly and jaggery) took their respective places. First course began with rice but not without a traditional norm. We were only served rice after all the guests had seated. A generous pouring of “parippu” (lentil), ghee, Sambhar, Kalan (strictly in that order) followed.
After the mouthful meal, every MealTango guest resonated – our stomach’s full, but heart secretly hankering for more!
MealTango guests were all smiles.
“An experience of a kind.. For an IT techie with a lobe for food there was no better way to meet new people over a lovely home cooked meal Kerala style.. Alice Aunty’s cooking n Saket n Neeta’s hospitality in their beautiful home was one of a kind experience.” – Viveck
“I liked your concept of having get togethers like the Onam Meal Tango deal organised by you. The ambience was very homely, easy and the food was very authentic. GREAT.” – Kishan
“Great Authentic Food cooked with warmth and love served traditionally, fantastic hosts, lots of history, new people, great house, lungi dance, munda and set munda, lotsa photos and videos,
laughter, and stories of precise directions and the scooter which never rode because it was still on the stand!!! Thank you Neeta and Saket for initiating this wonderful initiative… Wishing you loadsa love and luck for all your future endevours!!” –Amruta
Feeling bad that you missed it!
For those who missed out on this awesome Onam fiesta there’s more lined up with MealTango’s special Kayasta Holi meal in the offing coming Saturday!
PS: You can also exclusively dine with Alice by looking up her meal listings under Pune. By the way, Alice’s ‘Steaming Hot South Indian Breakfast’ and ‘Splendid South Indian Fare’ fill up real fast! Grab the appams this week before they vanish.
