'Kootanchoru' was a unique farm-to-table gathering, fusing tradition with the allure of farm-fresh ingredients and inventive culinary techniques. <img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/a84e7090-bac9-41d7-80e2-6ef3d135a6ee.png">Getting on a 70-km road trip in the middle of the week is not a task I would normally undertake on a regular working day. The overcast Bengaluru weather and peak evening traffic didn't help either. As soon as I got past the city limits and the chaos started fading, I had no choice but to sit back and relax. Now, I believe that everyone, who misses the opportunity to take a moment to unwind during their weekly hustle, should be forcefully taken on a drive away from all the madness. But I digress. South First was recently invited for a curated pop-up dinner Kootanchoru by Madras Mandi -- a Chennai-based suppliers of fresh produce. Unlike their previous pop-ups held in Chennai, this one was unique. The set-up for this curated dinner, marking the team's three-year anniversary, was at Om Betta Farm, situated in Thirubeedi village. And that's where I was headed to.<h2>A community meal</h2> "At its heart,&nbsp;Kootanchoru&nbsp;embodies a cherished childhood memory. The simple joy of sharing a meal crafted from a medley of ingredients and good company," shares Vikram R, Co-Founder, Madras Mandi.<img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/ec238572-c93f-43d7-a867-cce3a1b3c7dd.png"> In its traditional sense of the word, Kootanchoru means a one-pot meal. But here, it meant 'community dining' -- where people from different places and backgrounds come together for a wholesome meal. And that's exactly what it was. Among the 15 selected guests, one could find bloggers, journalists, lawyers, accountants... an unlikely motley. "The idea for our event sprouted from a desire to honour our core values on our third anniversary. Community, good quality, and the simple joys of local cuisine. We saw an opportunity to bring together individuals from various walks of life. Our aim was to unite them for a meal that offered an escape from the hectic pace of our city lives," Vikram added. <h2>Away from the city</h2> We reached Chiguru Farm at around 5.30 pm. After a quick stroll spotting fig, mango and jackfruit trees and petting some friendly pooches, we quenched the weariness of the commute with some fresh black coffee and crispy nippattu.<img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/eb3f01c8-5b18-450c-a210-2058539bc204.png"> After the refreshments, we reached our venue which was 10 minutes away. Set in the backdrop of the moonlit sky, the sight of the venue itself made the journey worth it. The slight nip in the air and Tamil songs being played in the background made for a perfect setting. We walked into the Gazebo-like structure which displayed the produce from Madras Mandi. From oranges, pineapples, bananas to carrots, tomatoes and asparagus, the decor highlighted abundance and variety. Soon, we got our hands on a simple starter -- Cheese on Chakli. It was nothing but our humble chakli topped with cheese, fresh herbs and jalape&Atilde;&#131;&AElig;&#146;&Atilde;&#134;&acirc;&#128;&#153;&Atilde;&#131;&acirc;&#128;&#154;&Atilde;&#130;&Acirc;&plusmn;os. "The aim of this course was to highlight that amazing food need not depend on an exotic recipe. Even simple ingredients can elevate a dish," we were told. Accompanying the starter was a Kokum jeera cocktail. While the sweet and sour Kokum flavour is not for all, the non-alcoholic alternative was more palatable. "But the cocktail version is more fun," one of the guests joked. <h2>A wholesome dinner</h2> Every aspect of the event, from the decor to the smallest details of the meal, was carefully planned to showcase sustainability, abundance and creativity.<img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/caedd434-07ab-4226-b2eb-2d128669169b.png"> We were taken upstairs to the beautifully decorated table where fresh fruits, veggies and herbs made for stunning table decor; warm lights and throw pillows and cool breeze added to the magical ambiance. Pleased to see our name cards, we settled down on the seat allotted to us and waited for the appetizer. The first course was Narthangai Rasam with Maapilai samba bread croutons. "At times, certain ingredients fade from our memory as they disappear from the local market. Other times, they become scarce simply because we've overlooked them. It's a cycle that perpetuates itself. That's why we're reintroducing the regional citrus flavour of Narthangai (Citron), to revive the memory of its delightful, warm, citrusy flavour," the team explained. Warm, mildly spiced and tangy, the rasam was the perfect start to our meal. What followed was a Vegetarian Seasonal Galette. A visual delight in itself, the three galette varieties -- asparagus, cherry tomatoes and aubergines -- were simple yet delicious. <h2>Onto the mains</h2>It was time for a palette cleanser. A surprising infusion of lemon and mint water in frozen watermelon, it made for a refreshing pause for our forthcoming meals.<img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/6ce41743-8655-4acc-b702-8a3e5be8e3e8.png"> We warmed up for the night ahead with some dinner-table games and another cocktail -- the Chas Sour. The latter was a soothing combination of rum and buttermilk, thoughtfully curated to cleanse the palate and accentuate the flavours of these unique ingredients. The much-awaited main course arrived -- the Baked Maqluba with pepper curry. The accompaniment of pepper curry gave the Arabian specialty rice a unique touch, and enhanced the aromatic medley of vegetables. Additionally, the team requested us to add to the dish, our choice of ingredients from the display at the table. There were lime, mint, fresh herbs -- it was up to our imagination. And each ingredient we tried did elevate the taste of the dish in a surprising way. <h2>A perfect ending</h2>While waiting for our dessert, the team introduced us to an exquisite Indian fruit, the Persimmon. It is not something you come across on your regular supermarket runs, they told us. And on that note, the last course of the night was a delicious semolina persimmon cake with coconut ice cream and candied permission -- a delightful symphony of flavours. And just like that, it was time to wrap up. The night had not just witnessed a shared wholesome meal but also laughs and some friendly banter over which state's sambar is the best. By the end, our hearts and stomachs were full, strangers had become friends, and the Madras Mandi team said out loud something that we were all thinking. "Take home all that you want from the fresh produce decor," they said. And none of us could have imagined a better ending to the night.

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Picture this: you stroll up to your old school gates rocking your backpack, water bottle, and trusty tiffin - it’s as if you’ve stepped back in time. We’re all suckers for a little bit of ’90s nostalgia, aren’t we?

Exploring Iconic Childhood Snacks- What was in your tiffin box?

Call for a community meal - Madras Mandi

Picture this: you stroll up to your old school gates rocking your backpack, water bottle, and trusty tiffin - it’s as if you’ve stepped back in time. We’re all suckers for a little bit of ’90s nostalgia, aren’t we?

Now, as we watch our kids get ready for school, it makes us wonder: were the little treats in our tiffin box really as exciting as we remember? To jog your memory, we've put together a list of our mom's favourite no-nonsense tiffins (and we've even thrown in some nutritious alternatives for good measure.) Aloo Paratha<img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/81a433a8-907b-4301-ac21-add0c0325b9a.png"> Oooh! The ultimate parantha-&nbsp; stuffed with potatoes, sugar, or even simply salted and paired with some tomato ketchup! These were great when eaten hot.. and even better completely cold. The humble paratha takes us back to those sunny school afternoons, sitting cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by friends swapping tiffin treasures. Ultimate makeover- Try swapping out the potato for some sweet potato instead. Rich in Vitamin A, sweet potato makes for a great stuffing with a sweet-spicy kick. Frooti <img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/60a01ed2-0d54-4459-80bc-9c7bb22030af.png"> &apos;Mango Frooti, fresh and juicy&apos; Yes, we all sang it to the tune. Fun fact- Frooti was one of the first &apos;grab-and-go&apos; tetra packs of its time! This little yellow tetra-pack is still a fan favourite for most of us who have grown up in India in the1980s. Ultimate makeover- This one is definitely not as convenient as a pre-packaged juice - but swapping out this sugary drink for an Aam Ras may do the trick! Mangoes are full of important vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C &hyphen; an essential nutrient for immune health.&nbsp; Maggi<img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/01f42590-d7aa-4493-b46b-c3a95c97a77a.png"> Aah, the infamous &apos;Maggi cake&apos; that takes the shape of your little tiffin when cold. We begged and begged for this in our tiffins, only to be devastated when the cold noodles stuck together, making it impossible to eat! Ultimate makeover- Try swapping Maggi out for some kid-friendly hakka noodles. Thinly sliced carrots, onions, cabbage, and capsicum with your choice of noodles and sauce are a great way to pack in some veggies for your picky child! (Fortunately, these will not stick together to form a noodle cake!)&nbsp; Bread Jam <img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/dcfd8b7a-3961-41b9-932e-469152d22152.png"> A slice of white bread slathered with a thick layer of butter and fruit jam is still a guilty pleasure for most of us. It's a timeless classic that brings back memories of school picnics and hurried morning breakfasts. To be honest, white bread with a variety of sweet and savoury toppings is a hit among kids and adults alike! Ultimate makeover- Try swapping out store-bought fruit jam with a homemade one! Grape or mango jam is easy to prepare in advance and a great way to reduce added sugars. For a savoury alternative, a simple mint-coriander chutney sandwich with a slice of boiled potato is foolproof! Tomato Rice <img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/8c3c8c46-2868-4c40-8276-24643f220d13.png"> Depending on which part of the state you&apos;re from, this little rice dish has many versions. Whether it's the aromatic Puliyogare, the spicy Aloo Pulao, or the zesty Lemon Rice - any variant of masala rice counts here. This dish makes for an ideal choice for a refreshing and nutritious tiffin during the scorching summer season.&nbsp;Ultimate makeover- No changes here, but adding a simple fruit side to this tiffin works wonders. Some sliced apples, grapes, or pieces of pineapple gives this dish a much-needed fresh kick. Nostalgia aside, packing a nutritious tiffin for your child is no easy feat. Whether it&apos;s Aloo paratha or Masala rice- figuring out what to put on your grocery list for the week can be an absolute nightmare. But don&apos;t worry! Our &apos;Back-to-school' box is here to save the day. Packed with an assortment of fruits and vegetables, the box is sure to please even the pickiest of eaters, we promise:)

<img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/header.jpg"> 
Summers can be tough! It&apos;s hot and dry in most places. If you&apos;ve got little kids or children then it's double trouble for all the parents out there due to all the coughs, sneezes and runny noses due to the change in the climate. So how do you make sure that your children remain healthy and hearty? After all... &quot;Happy and healthy parents make happy and healthy children&quot; So if you&apos;re like a majority of millennial parents who want to ensure that their kids are living their best healthy lives, you need to think about what they&apos;re eating this summer. Sure, that bottled juice you bought at the supermarket might help cool your kids down. But there&apos;s ample sugar, preservatives that are added into them to make them last longer on shelves, making them unhealthy as they are.&nbsp; So, we&apos;ve got the ultimate list of healthy vegetables and fruits you can give your kids to beat the heat this summer! Top 5 fruits to give your child Apple <img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/9742e1cb-2b6e-4a11-817e-f0020d39e8f8.png"> We&apos;re sure you&apos;ve heard the popular saying - &quot;An apple a day keeps the doctor away&quot;Whoever said this absolutely got it spot on! Apples are rich in Vitamin C and have a mineral called boron which boosts bone strength among children. Without a doubt, this fruit is an absolute must for parents that want their kids to grow up strong and healthy. In fact, just one apple can contribute to 25% of your child&apos;s daily Vitamin C needs. It&apos;s pretty clear that apples aren&apos;t just a delicious fruit to consume, but they also help protect your kids from heart attacks, cancers, vision-related ailments, diabetes, amongst others.&nbsp; Berries <img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/2fbf6e58-d05c-45e7-b975-ec673e2ca33b.png"> These include Blueberries, Strawberries, cherries, etc. Berries are rich in antioxidants and Vitamin C which helps in reducing the risk of getting cancer in the long run. Berries are good for the brain and tend to help kids develop their memory functions and receptors better than kids that don&apos;t eat berries. Seeds that are present in berries also contain a rich source of Omega-3 fats. Mango <img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/fb2f352f-2f28-4e15-ad85-79a75cfd1572.png"> Mangoes, also known as the king of fruits, are rich in beta carotene and carbohydrates, which are excellent sources of energy. It also contains vitamin C and protein which help build a stronger immune system. It also helps absorb iron, which promotes growth and boosts cell repair. More than anything else though, children love the taste of mangoes as they&apos;re very juicy and delicious to consume - whether that&apos;s as it is, as a juice, in a fruit salad, etc. Banana <img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/a5212802-eed2-47bc-aa36-9e4511af212e.png"> Bananas are an excellent source of potassium and are very inexpensive to purchase for your child&apos;s daily nutritional needs. Bananas can be fed to babies (upon a doctor&apos;s consultation) and kids as well. They are easy to digest and infants love them due to their taste. Moreover, bananas are easy to carry and do not require any refrigeration either. Bananas are available in abundance and are rich in fibre and calcium as well. They help in regulating blood in the body and help prevent anaemia as they are rich in iron. Orange<img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/4180fb91-d91e-4bbf-a8a6-195b8fe47991.png"> Regardless of whether the fruit or colour came first, it&apos;s safe to say oranges are a great source of Vitamins A, C and E. They are abundantly available in India and are relatively inexpensive to purchase. It&apos;s tangy and sweet taste due to the citrus present in it makes it a fun and healthy snack for your children. Oranges are a remedy for rickets, alleviates mumps and even helps with constipation among children and adults. But that&apos;s not all this fruit offers as benefits! It helps reduce cough and cold troubles, boosts immunity and even cures dyspepsia. Grapes <img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/fcbf5378-dc68-48a0-b0e5-dc5425d745c3.png"> With a mind-boggling 8000 types and over 60 varieties of grapes available in the world today, this fruit is a hit with kids. They are sweet when ripe and are available in various colours such as green, yellow, white purple, black and red. They serve as a great source for hydration and help regularise bowel movement. Beyond this, grapes are full of calcium, potassium and vitamins. Additionally, as they are anti-inflammatory, grapes even help alleviate the symptoms of allergy like watery eyes and a runny nose. Top 5 Vegetables to give your child Sweet Potato <img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/dc2ff27c-b47f-4de7-b74d-908894af1e80.png"> Most kids don&apos;t eat potatoes unless they are in the form of french fries! But we&apos;ll help you take this one step further by adding a bit of sweet to it. Jokes aside, this root vegetable is packed with nutrients and vitamins. Sweet potatoes, as the name suggests are naturally sweet and can be consumed by simple steaming, boiling and roasting the veggie. There is also some evidence that suggests that it helps reduce colds by 13% among children! Carrot <img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/ea74da7c-8018-4019-9fac-b3c85cc2e0d6.png"> Packed with Vitamin A, this vegetable is certified delicious and nutritious by Bugs Bunny! Carrots are super rich in vitamin A which keep your kid&apos;s eyes healthy and sharp. Moreover, it contains beta-carotene which plays a crucial role in helping fight against harmful radicals that may be present in your child&apos;s body. If carrots aren&apos;t sweet enough, you can go ahead with baby carrots which are relatively sweeter than carrots. Broccoli <img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/24c745b0-e221-4506-a981-cdafd4ccc3d7.png"> Broccoli are rich in a sulphur-containing plant compound that helps fight cancerous cells that may potentially develop in the future. Beyond this, Broccoli also helps reduce inflammation in both children and adults as well. They also contain iron, vitamin K, C, potassium and manganese which help boost your child&apos;s immune system. Broccoli has also been linked to reduction in risks associated with other types of chronic diseases as well. Beetroot <img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/d8ead586-3d09-4431-90c8-3503562315ec.png"> This veggie root is just &apos;unbeetable&apos; when it comes to nitrates which helps in lowering blood pressure and helps dilate blood vessels in the body. This vibrantly crimson-red root veggie is known for being packed with loads of fibre, folate and manganese. Beetroot is commonly made into a juice and served to children to help them consume it without any fuss. Garlic <img src="https://admin.madrasmandi.in/storage/blog-images/3bf0d31a-3708-42ab-8c50-75f7570bebe0.png"> Garlic, without a doubt, is one of the healthiest veggies or cloves you can let your kids consume. It mainly contains a compound called allicin, which helps with blood sugar and keeps your heart healthy. Usage of garlic powder also has tendencies that help in preventing type-2 diabetes. Additionally, they help in reducing unhealthy fats, decreasing blood pressure and prevent cholesterol-related nuances when your child grows up. To top it all off, garlic has even shown to fight cancer cells. Finally, how do you get your child to eat fruits and vegetables?Kids aren&apos;t reasonable human beings, given their age. However, forcing your child to eat fruits and vegetables might have a negative effect instead of a positive one. Instead, you can make them consume vegetables as a healthy snack or fruits as dessert. Additionally, you can also mix fruits and a blender or a juicer for an easier way for your kids to take them. Infusing these healthy fruits and veggies in the dishes you prepare at home is another way you can ensure your children get their daily nutrients and vitamins for a healthy body and mind.

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Exploring Iconic Childhood Snacks- What was in your tiffin box?

The Best Fruits and Vegetables to give your Children

Call for a community meal - Madras Mandi

Exploring Iconic Childhood Snacks- What was in your tiffin box?

The Best Fruits and Vegetables to give your Children

Call for a community meal - Madras Mandi

Exploring Iconic Childhood Snacks- What was in your tiffin box?

The Best Fruits and Vegetables to give your Children

Call for a community meal - Madras Mandi

Exploring Iconic Childhood Snacks- What was in your tiffin box?

The Best Fruits and Vegetables to give your Children