Chef Amsa is a star

Krishna Kumar or KK as he is better known, general manager at Hotel Green Park, Vadapalani, must be complimented for his continued enthusiasm and support during Madras Week. Not many in Chennai have experienced the ambience at Green Park. Vadapalani, after all, is not a place you’d take the trouble of visiting unless absolutely necessary – the traffic on Arcot Road is chaotic most of the time. But Green Park is worth a visit and more.

Well, this year, Chef Amsa Raju was determined to do something special during Madras Week, and the result was a three-day food festival, ‘Cuisines of the Madras Presidency – A Journey into the Past’. I now learn from KK that the food festival attracted record crowds and that many had to wait to find seats for dinner. Chef Amsa’s sora puttu and the mini dosa were hits, and he relied on his mother’s, grandmother’s and wife’s recipes. More than anything Chef Amsa proved a point – that if you do something with passion, it stands out.

Sketches and pictures of old Madras provided just the right setting and judging by the success of the food festival I’m certain KK and Chef Amsa must be looking forward to 2009. Well done, Chef Amsa and the Hotel Green Park team!

Did I forget to mention Chitra Madhavan’s talk on ‘Temples of Chennai’ at the Vijaya Hall on August 23rd evening? It was a fascinating presentation and after her 40-minute talk, a very participative audience asked questions for about an hour. I wonder whether Chitra, who is now a sought-after speaker, has ever fielded so many questions after a presentation!

Pictures show the entrance to Tulips where the food festival was held; and Chitra Madhavan fielding questions.