Hospitality on the Highway

Blistering summer is here to stay. If you want to cool off with some frozen dessert and also feel virtuous about staying away from chemical-laden flavours and colours in your ice cream scoop, then here is a new place to halt – the ice cream van at Thinnai!

For those hitting the Madurai-Rameswaram highway frequently are familiar with this spot of sun ‘n’ shade. It used to be called ‘Parozza Highway-49’ earlier that got a makeover as thinnai two years ago. On the busy highway, the casual and informal eatery has stood its ground selling natural, healthy, homely food items and some innovative and fusion products, gradually upping its market over the years.

The latest from their kitchen is the homely ice cream made with only natural ingredients – fresh milk, sugar and egg. No colour and flavours are added to the recipe. Barely a fortnight ago, it launched the natural vanilla ice-cream and it is already creating ripples. The highway travellers, local villagers, nearby college students and office goers and people from Madurai town, and particularly kids, are loving it. Those who have tasted it are able to tell the difference – it is yummier, richer and doesn’t melt easily like the versions available in the market do.

For a yummy treat: A view of Thinnai on Madurai-Rameswaram Road. Photo: S. James   | Photo Credit: S James

The couple behind it -- Bhavani and M D Vel -- are loving the feedback. The flex boards displayed in the compound read : “Colour your nails, not cake” and “Perfume your body not your cookies” They justify the products they sell. Their earlier Factory Fresh brand selling mostly rusks and biscuits too has changed to Akkarai (responsible snacking) and has enlarged its portfolio of items. So people can both eat and shop here.

But right now people are indulging in the ice cream because it is not the processed additive-laced variety. That they are able to differentiate the taste and texture of the natural ice cream is good news. The Thinnai is selling two varieties of ice cream -- the eggless and the fresh-plus, an egg protein rich option, particularly nourishing for children.

With or without egg, two scoops of creamy ice cream costs Rs.50 or at the same price you could take one scoop of ice cream with one piece of eggless banana cake. Or at double the price you could enjoy two scoops of ice cream with an eggless brownie topped with home-made choco-sauce or caramelised butter scotch and fresh seasonal fruit jam.

For a yummy treat: Scoops off ice cream served in eco-friendly bagasse cups. Photo: S. James   | Photo Credit: S James

The idea came from Vel’s five-year-old granddaughter who would always play with her ice cream toy van and sell only vanilla ice cream to her thaathaa even if asked for any other flavour. An enlarged photograph of the miniature toy van became the stationary ice cream van with an iron and flex frame and polycarbonate roofing. The 10X10sq feet space has generated business with a simple thought of making ice cream free of stabilisers, emulsifiers and taste enhancers. So much so that Bhavani even refrains from using the vanilla essence. “We buy special vanilla beans from Kerala that come for Rs.25,000 per kg and use it in the ice cream.”

The customers who were earlier dropping in for light snacks or meals at Thinnai are now happy to treat themselves to healthy ice cream as well. Much as they enjoy a variety of traditional millet dosais with chutney, or the healthy salads with green sprouts, chickpeas and more or the fusion of an Italian pizza and Madurai parotta called parozza, it is also about the ambience and service at the place.

“This is an experiential sit-out,” says M Dhinagar Vel, Managing Director of Indian Foods Innovation and MD Community Kitchen, “where people can and sit for as long as they want, relax and recharge themselves.”

“We changed the name to Thinnai two years ago and people began to identify it better as a place where they can even walk in for a glass of water or a cup of tea or just use the toilet and go. There is no parking fee,” he adds. Thinnai also allows people to eat their own food here or combine it with some purchase at the eatery. “Surrounded by trees, the open space with all proper hygienic care is an inviting hang-out for all,” says Vel.

Thinnai has also done away with plastic. The cutlery and small containers used are environment-friendly. They use disposable cups, bowls and plates made with bagasse, the fibrous remains after extracting sugarcane juice.

“It is our endeavour to adhere to meaning of the word, thinnai,” adds Bhavani. “Thinnai is like the verandah of your own house, where you feel the embrace and warmth of the lady of the house who serves hot, fresh and healthy food, “she says. “Thinnai is a concept and cannot be commercialised. I conceived the idea and Bhavani with her all women’s team is executing and managing it,” he says.

THINNAI for responsible snacking

MD Kitchen Community (P) Ltd River View Campus

Opposite Puliankulam Village, Off Madurai - Rameshwaram Highway,

Hits: Fresh and healthy food and pocket friendly

Miss: Can get hot and dusty during summer days

Meal for two: Rs.300

+91 99949 26946