A host of home cooks, professionals, entrepreneurs, students, including a few men, demonstrated their culinary skills by prettying up the desk and presenting the dishes prepared by them here on Sunday.
The first preliminary round of the district-wise cookery contest hosted by The Hindu in association with the AP Tourism Department at The Gateway Hotel evoked overwhelming response from contestants who could barely contain their excitement when the judges made their way to taste their preparation.
Based on the voting, close to 210 contestants zeroed in on one particular item among the 50 short-listed on the website www.ourstateourtaste.com and whipped up the dish for the contest.
Aimed at discovering the signature dish of Andhra Pradesh, the contest mirrored the rich cultural cuisine of the State where men and women showcased their culinary skills. The theme of the cookery show was ‘our State our taste’. Different versions of gutti vankaya, gongura, panasa pottu kura, pottikkalu wrapped neatly in jackfruit leaf, kodi guddu pulusu, pullattu, ulava charu and avakai dotted the tables. “It’s a great opportunity to be a part of such a big event. I started my day a little early as I have to make ‘egg pult’ (boiled egg mixed with assorted vegetables) and reach the venue from Anakapalle,” said a visibly excited K. Aruna Rani, one of the contestants.
Lauding the efforts made by The Hindu for embarking on a thoughtful journey, District Collector Pravin Kumar said that every region has its own signature dish. “This event not only aims at identifying signature dish of Andhra Pradesh but also enhancing the brand image of Visakhapatnam and putting the State on the global map. Many are now keen on pursuing cooking as a serious hobby and avenues such as these aid in showcasing the talent of participants,” he said indicating that the State government would extend its support to The Hindu in this endeavour.
