Post-pandemic, it seems a trend has emerged in the city where every neighborhood has a Kulambu Kadai, selling homemade gravies and side dishes at competitive prices. They cater to young couples working from home, bachelors and seniors who prefer to do minimal cooking. Customers prefer these gravies prepared in home-style kitchens rather than ordering from hotels. We try some of these push carts and stalls that make meal planning easy.
Kulambu Mama Kadai, West Mambalam
N. Kalyanasundaram was known as ‘Sundal Mama’ in Bakthavatsalam Street near Ayodhya Mandapam in West Mambalam. Now, he is known as Kulambu Mama, and his work starts as early as 7.30 am to pick up the food for customers and pack it in school and office lunch boxes.
N. Kalyanasundaram operates daily from 8 am to 11 am. Photo Credits: Akhila Easwaran
After gaining experience from the catering business he ran for over two decades, he started selling kulambu (gravy), rasam, kootu (stew) and poriyal (stir fry) on a push cart. “Mess culture may be thriving, but with changing lifestyles, many young couples with children and senior citizens at home prefer to take out gravies and side dishes so that they can cook less at home,” says Kalyanasundaram.
He keeps his stainless pushcart attractively clean, and has a kitchen nearby where the food is prepared. Kalyanasundaram is popular because of the range offered daily; Two types of sambar, a puli kulambu, two types of rasam, two types of kootu, and usually three or four vegetables (fry and roast).
Patrons are encouraged to bring their own containers for takeout meals. Photo Credits: Akhila Easwaran
“My menu enables my customers to choose what they like to eat. During weekends and holidays, I prepare avial, potato or colocasia roast, and milagu (black pepper) kulambu. All gravies are priced at ₹30 for 200 ml and vegetables are priced at ₹40 for 200 gm,” he says.
“During the pandemic, most families were dependent on neighborhood hotels. Gradually, home kitchens became popular and this trend of gravy shops became popular among people who want to avoid commercially prepared food,” says Srinivasan. S, a SAP consultant and a graduate, brings gravy twice a week and keeps rasam and puli kulambu in his fridge. Like all other customers, he serves them with home-cooked rice.
Contact 93447 32640. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own containers.
Sri’s Kulambu Embroidery, RA Puram
R. Murugan reaches RA Puram Second Main Road at 10.30 am on his two-wheeler, followed by an auto carrying home-cooked food in large stainless steel containers. He quickly sets up shop at his takeaway kiosk, and sells a variety of dishes made by his wife Indrani, who is assisted by two assistants. “We prepare lunch and bring it here, and by 6 pm, restock the utensils for dinner. It’s a tough job but we love the joy of serving good quality food to our customers,” says Murugesan. His shop sells vegetarian gravies (Kulambu, Rasam, Kootu and Poriyal) as well as non-vegetarian gravies by weight.
Murugesan and his wife Indirani at their kiosk. Photo Credits: Akhila Easwaran
The price of 500 ml Sambar is Rs 50, the price of Kara Kulambu is Rs 70, the price of Rasam is Rs 40, the price of 200 gm Kootu is Rs 70 and the price of 200 gm Poriyal is Rs 80. Customers can also buy coconut rice, lemon rice and sambar rice for Rs 60 per 500 grams. Chapati (₹10), Ragi Idli (₹15) and Idiyappam (₹10) are most in demand.
“On weekends we stock kadugu (mustard) kulambu and karuvepilai (curry leaf) kulambu. We also sell mutton (chukka and gravy), chicken items, prawn thokku and fish kulambu. Items like crab roast and biryani are available on pre-order.
The kiosk is open from 11 am to 9 pm. Contact 94444084150. Pre-orders for the small party have been taken.
Kulambu Box, Shenoy Nagar
Manish Kumar Jain was always fed good food at home by his mother Meena Jain, a talented and passionate cook. She says, “I started cooking at the age of 10 and learned South Indian and North Indian cuisine. When my son came up with the idea of a kiosk to sell only gravies after the pandemic, I got excited.” Every day, they prepare and sell vegetarian gravies (sambar, rasam, puli kulambu, more kulambu, rasam and many Gujarati dishes) and keep adding new dishes to the menu,” says Meena.
Manish says, “During the lockdown days, we helped many of my wife’s colleagues, most of whom were living alone, by sending gravy to them. Gradually the demand grew and I finally decided to set up a kiosk in Shenoy Nagar and launch The Kulambu Box in 2022.”
Kulambu Boaz only takes pre-orders. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Customers can place their order a day in advance and they can collect it from the kiosk between 5pm and 9pm. “We customize as per the requirements, and provide no onion, no garlic, low spice level and vegetables as requested,” says Manish. We were surprised to see that many customers are sending our Kulambu and Thogyalas as gift boxes to friends.
Although the menu is extensive, the Puli Kulambu, Capsicum Cashew Chutney, Karuvelipai and Kothamalli Thogayal are selling fast. Meena’s authentic Thecha (a Gujarati chutney), and Bhangarupet Pani Puri (originating from the Kolar region of Karnataka) have also won the hearts of many of their customers.
Thogayal, chutneys and dips and Puli Kulambu are popular items in the Kulambu box. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Kulambu Box, Shenoy Nagar is open from 5 to 10 pm. Contact on 9043400507.
Kittu Mama Veetu Tiffin, Mylapore
In Mylapore, Kittu Mama Veetu Tiffin has become increasingly popular for its variety of rice sold in buckets.
The different types of rice are available on pre-order only. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Veena Krishnamurthy says that her focus is on affordability. “Whether it’s an office get-together or small functions at home, we serve puliyodhare, coconut rice, lemon rice, sambar rice, brinjal rice, coriander rice and curd rice in portions that are cost-effective. Rice is priced at ₹350 per kg. We also offer gravy, kootu and poriyal,” says Veena. In the style of non-vegetarian Balti Biryani, you can order from half kg to 4 kg packs from this vegetarian tiffin room.
Kittu Mama Veetu Tiffin is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Contact 9840276377
