Home caterers - Chennai

Sangeetha Ramamurthy, specialises in delicious home baked goodies. Photo: R. Ravindran



Shruthi Abraham ;The Hindu :15 May 2013

Organising food for a party or a get-together could get taxing.

 Home caterers save you the trouble

“So see you Friday 7p.m., my place.” And just when you thought everything was set for your small get-together, the food muse laughs in your face. Maybe you can’t risk cooking, maybe you’re tired of that greasy feeling the food from that ‘good’ restaurant leaves in your mouth or maybe you just want to try something new. Laugh back at the muse because home catering comes as a ‘tray’ of hope. Over time, Chennai has witnessed the birth and evolution of this not-so-popular profession/ hobby. These home-based caterers lend their own kitchen space to make you that melt-in-your-mouth lasagne, that brownie or even that perfectly smooth cheesecake, with that heart-warming home-like flavour. Here are a few tried and tasted home caterers in the city.

Meeting Achu Kurian is not as easy as you think. Well not because she’s difficult to meet but because there’s a gleaming red strawberry cheesecake staring at me. Or rather, I’m staring at it. Achu Kurian’s catering unit began when a co-parent asked her to bake a cake for her son’s birthday. It has now evolved into a unit that makes a variety of delicacies including cheesecakes, cupcakes, mud pies and more. She prefers to use ingredients available in the local market thus avoiding unnecessary expenses for her customers. The current hot favourites are her coconut pudding, strawberry cheesecake and brownie.

Call 98411 44072 or mail achukurian@gmail.com for details.

This list seems to get better. Ever found yourself watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S and going, “I want to eat Monica’s bake!”? That wish just came true! Only difference is that this time it’s Susan’s bake. Susan Sapru’s catering endeavour has grown steadily over the past four years. She also offers what I call the ‘whole package’. She lays out for you the whole five course meal, right from soup to dessert. Some of her main course offerings include bakes, pies and prawn biryani and dessert offerings include pineapple upside down, cheesecake, brownie, cinnamon rolls, mousse and more. Susan’s dishes are heavily influenced by “how the customer wants it”.

Call 98849 59584 or mail sibs1610@gmail.com for details.

In today’s age of overdose of fondant figures and icing cupcakes, you may be in a fix about which one tastes as good as it looks. Sangeetha’s does. Lil’ Delights, Sangeetha’s baking unit began with cakes in 2011 and fondant cakes in 2012. Sangeetha makes a variety of cakes such as Ferrero Rocher cake, Kitkat cake, kiwi cake, cheesecakes, mousse cakes and cupcakes. She also incorporates fondant figures on regular frosting cakes. Sangeetha conducts baking and cupcake icing classes, too. Lil’ Delight’s lip smackers this season are Ferrero Rocher cake, Lindt chocolate cake and fondant cakes.

For details call 98416 70347.

Surabhi Foods was conceived when Sonya Haritha was inspired to convert her free space at home into an organic farm. Surabhi Foods, founded in 2010, predominantly provides organic fruits and vegetables. The farm is open for customers to visit and pick vegetables and fruits of their choice. She also makes pickles, jams, meals and cakes from the organic produce. Apart from the organic farm, she caters selected dishes in cuisines such as Thai, Chinese and Continental and has also ventured into making masalas, fries and provisions.

Call 94444 42662 for details.

And which food list is complete without biryani? Daawat-a-Biryani owned by Nigar Sultana began in 2012. Daawat-a-Biryani caters the regular mutton, chicken and even vegetarian biryanis that are popular for their perfect flavour. It also provides the accompaniments such as salad, brinjal curry and chicken 65. And for dessert she offers the traditional bread halwa and phirni. She ensures she takes personal care of the entire biryani-making process.

For details call 98403 18668 or look up http://www.daawat-a-biryani.com/