Pamper your taste buds here

Variety

As far as foodies are concerned, this is the best Dasara Mysore has ever seen. The Dasara Food Mela- 2010 organised at CADA premises in Mysore city has crowds that are milling around with people at its premises every evening. For visitors to the Ambavilas palace, this place has become some sort of ‘must visit’ spot among others. For locals, this is an opportunity to taste different cuisine. And, they are in a hurry too since October 16  will be the last day for this mela. People of all ages, with majority being women, children, students are thronging this fest.

As many as 60 stalls are put up by Dasara Food Sub-Committee in CADA premises this year. This committee has also made food stall arrangements at Raitha Dasara celebrations at J K grounds, Manaranjana Dasara  at Maharaja Grounds that concluded on Oct 14. This year some stalls have also been set-up at Torchlight Parade grounds in Bannimantap to treat taste buds. The speciality of this year’s food festival is varieties of food available from other states such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Kerala. This has provided great opportunity for the local people to taste the food of other states. Infact, majority of the visitors expressed their happiness over being provided an opportunity to taste the food of other states. Mangalore-Dakshina Kannada style food, north-Karnataka style food, desi style food from different areas have met here to provide a wonderful treat.

Varieties of snacks such as  mirchi, mandakki, north Karnataka’s famous Joladarotti with Ennegai, ice-creams, different  types of non-vegetarian food such as chicken palav, mutton palav, kalmi kabab, varieties of fish items, pork, naati koli sambar and other kinds of  non- veg foods have seen huge response from the public. The organisers have put up nine stalls catering to those who seek non-veggie food.

Besides,Hubli special such as shankar poli, navanakki,jolada rotti, antina unde, basin ladu, chatnipudi, bisibele bath, chakkuli, obbattu, nippattu, kodubale and other varieties of food available in few stalls. Foodies have also an opportunity to taste varieties of idli such as akki idli, tarakari idli, palak idli, masale idli, rave idli and other items. Among added attraction is chats by Bangarupet  Panipuri stall which attracting huge number of visitors. The owner of the shop Ramakrishna is very happy about his business. From last three years, he has been putting up his stall at Dasara food festival. The secret of this Bangarupet Panipuri is varieties of pani (spicy water) prepared using varieties of flavours. People swarm this shop to taste different kinds of pani prepared from lemon, pudina, ginger, pineapple, jaggery, tomato and other fruits and vegetables. The other crowd puller items of this shop dry fruit Gulkand. 

A surprise at the food festival is traditional and locally prepared Ragi ambli.( a type porridge prepared from Ragi a crop which old Mysore region is famous for).The ragi ambli shop owner is raking huge moolah by catering this  traditional food.

Talking to City Herald, the chairman of Dasara Food Sub-Committee  Rajendra who is also President of Mysore Hotel Owners Association told that he received huge response from the public for the success of this mela. He said that everyday around 8,000 persons are visiting CADA premises to taste varieties of food.

Steps  have been taken for maintenance of hygienic atmosphere too . Besides, Cultural programmes, quiz contest and other competitions are organised every evening to attract the crowd.

Rajendra wanted the district administration to organise such food festivals in important locations of city such as in northern, southern, western and eastern region of the city and other public joints which would be helpful for the public. He was able to accommodate only 60 stalls in CADA  premises due to lack of space.

 He had received 400 applications to put the stall this year which tells the wide demand by the suppliers and also the penchant of public to taste different kinds of food. Perhaps, Dasara Food Sub-Committee must ponder over this next year.   

Homemade wine

The other star attraction of this year’s Dasara Food Festival is Homemade Wine from Kodagu. This type of  wine is  very much vogue in Kodagu region. Veena Sudhir, of Kaggadu village of Madikeri taluk is successful in capturing a huge response for this home made wine by putting a stall at CADA premises. Varieties of wines prepared from grape, apple, gooseberry, ginger, rice, ragi, water melon, papaya, litchi, tea and coffee leaves, chikku, pomegranate, dates and other stuff are on sale. She claims wine is good for health as it sans  alcohol content. “Initially, the response wasn’t much encouraging. Eventually local people, and those from Bangalore, Mumbai and other places tasted wine and have placed orders. I have already opened  13 shops in Kodagu and Hunsur and have found there is a lot of scope for the business.”  This wine is prepared in the most organic way, using select products in Kodagu”, she said. Varieties of wines which can cure cold, fever,  pain  among other illnesses.

Opinions

Unlike previous years, we  had a privelege to taste food items of other states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and traditional ‘ragi ambli’, thanks to the organisers. 

Aradhya, JK Tyres

I have been a regular for food mela from last three years. This year is a different  as Arabian rain proof tents are put up and people can relish without any hiccup during  rains.

Anusha, JSS Degree College

There is enough space for foodies to eat in CAVA premises this year.

Pavithra, NIE