On a day when you are facing existential crisis, a dull day at work or missing home, the only respite comes from your favourite comfort food. There is nothing that fluffy idlis slathered with podi, dosas with tangy chutney or thayir sadam with pickle can’t cure! Also think of those long, adventurous train journeys during summer vacations and how you loved the idea of relishing home-food, packed neatly by mommy dearest. It was this love for home-made food that prompted former digital marketing professional, Umesh Vaidyanathan to start Idlies. The food venture offers varieties of podi idlis, podisa, sides like thakkali kozhambu, mor kozhambu and poondu kozhambu to go along with the idlis, matka thayir sadam and ven pongal with puli inji to foodies.
Thayir Sadam
Hot idlis with combinations of milagaipodi, ellu podi, parippu podi and kariveppulai podi are made under the guidance of Umesh’s mother. “The soft, hot, steaming idlis that my mother used to feed me is now for all to taste and experience. With my mother and wife at its helm, and several other mothers coming on board, Idlies embodies the soul of a nurturing, empowered, and caring matriarch. It churns by the force of women and delivered by the force of women,” says Umesh. Apart from his mother and wife, they have employed six other women and are currently operating out of Umesh’s residence in Nesapakkam.
Podi
“When grandmothers and mothers pass on techniques of cooking, you simply have to follow them. What you won’t find in your kitchens, you will not find on your plates. That is what we do. Idlies is purely driven by natural foods- no preservatives or chemicals,” puts forth Umesh. They plan to shift the kitchen to a brand new area owing to burgeoning demand.
Podisa
Most of these food items are served in the most natural manner, either by using banana leaf or in earthenware. “While it is impossible to completely avoid plastic while packaging it, we ensure minimum contact with the food by placing it on a banana leaf before putting in a plastic box. Even thayir sadam and ven pongal are served in earthenware, so that our customers can enjoy a hearty meal,” adds Umesh. Idlies will also start offering packaged vegetarian meals soon.
They had initially only tied up with retail stores, food chains and corporates to sell their products but now also home deliver their products directly through the likes of Swiggy, Zomato as well. One can also directly order from www.idlies.in or download their app.
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