Fish fry at Kongunadu
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangements
Chef Lakshmi Divya Harshini always wanted to learn pastry making, but she had to wait until she turned 23. “My grandfather wasn’t ready to allow me to travel abroad alone, even though I had a Master’s degree in International Business,” she recalls.
Once she completed her culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu in London(2009-2010), she returned to India. Over the years, as she observed and understood the culinary landscape in India, she felt a growing need to champion the cuisine of her roots — from Kongunadu.
Kongunadu cuisine originates from the Kongu region of Tamil Nadu and is renowned for its distinctive blend of flavours and use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Some of its most celebrated dishes include arisi paruppu sadam (a comforting rice and lentil dish), kola urundai (spiced meatballs), and kozhi kuzhambu (a fragrant chicken curry). The cuisine’s hallmark lies in its skillful use of regional spices, offering a rich and aromatic culinary experience that stands out in Tamil Nadu’s diverse food culture.
Chef Lakshmi Divya Harshini
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangements
“My window to Kongu cuisine was my mother. My grandmother didn’t cook, my mother introduced me to different flavours, dishes, and the art of blending spices to create unique flavours. I also noticed that, for most people outside Tamil Nadu, Tamil cuisine was synonymous with Chettinad. I wanted to shine a light on the food of my region,” says Harshini.
With a family deeply rooted in food, Harshini immersed herself in learning more about Kongunadu cuisine, drawing from family recipes and generations of extraordinary cooks. Before fully delving into the culinary world, she put her International Business degree to use by contributing to family ventures in Coimbatore, including shaping menus for restaurants like Kovai Alankar Vilas.
Even during the pandemic, she found a way to introduce people to Kongu food through farmstays at her ancestral farm in Pollachi. “It was a small farmstay, but visitors cherished the farm experience. What truly left them happiest was the food. That was when I started taking Kongunadu cuisine seriously,” she reflects.
Harshini has since expanded her farm stay experience to Udhagamandalam, where she runs Tiverten Bungalow. While her husband manages the day-to-day operations, she is dedicated to spreading awareness about Kongunadu cuisine, ensuring that its rich and unique heritage gains the recognition it deserves.
Kongunadu Fish Fry
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangements
Talking about some of the most popular dishes, Harshini shares, “Kola urundai is a beloved traditional dish made by mixing minced meat (usually mutton or chicken) with a blend of spices and herbs. The mixture is shaped into small balls or dumplings, coated with a crisp outer layer made of gram flour (besan), and deep-fried until golden brown.”
Another standout dish is Kongunadu vellai biryani, which is cooked using fragrant seeraga samba rice, a short-grain variety known for its delicate aroma and ability to absorb flavours beautifully.
Harshini’s food occasionally carries subtle influences from Kerala, particularly in dishes where coconut milk is used, such as fish curry. She attributes this to Pollachi’s rich coconut harvest. “Other than that, there is no resemblance to Kerala cuisine,” she clarifies.
Her dips have also gained popularity among those who have tasted her cooking, with standouts like amla and radish-based dips leaving a lasting impression.
Harshini is hosting the Kongunadu Food Festival at The Park. The festival runs until February 16.
Published – February 11, 2025 04:51 pm IST
