Margazhi season music and dance programmes are incomplete without various sabha canteen food. It is something every Chennaiite looks forward to during the December month. This year, most of the city sabhas are hosting virtual concerts and people are missing the fervour of sabha and canteen hopping.
Sastha Catering Services staff packing dishes for delivery.
Chennai: To make sure that people are not missing the sabha canteen food, Sastha Catering Services decided to home deliver the food. "We were receiving inquiries from people about canteen food this time. Since music concerts are streamed online, people are not stepping out. Our workers suggested the idea of home delivering the food. We have partnered with a food delivery service and have been functioning from December 16 onwards. Customers can either order via the food delivery partner or call us and order food. Though we have started only a few days ago, the response has been overwhelming. On Friday, we had close to 200 orders for breakfast and lunch. We don't want people to miss the sabha canteen food because of the pandemic," says Venkatesan of Sastha Catering Services. The catering service that was started in 2016 was functioning at Brahma Gana Sabha that is located inside the MCTM school campus in Alwarpet.
The Federation of City Sabhas, the oldest of city sabhas, and a consortium of 13 leading sabhas in Chennai is presenting Yours Truly Margazhi, an online re-creation of Chennai’s music and dance season. “We approached the organisers and asked if they can retain one sabha canteen this time. Though they were apprehensive at first, later, they agreed on one canteen. Now, the canteen is functioning at The Mylapore Fine Arts Club. Our breakfast starts at 7.30 and goes on until 10.30 am. Lunch timing is from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm. We serve snacks from 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Dinner is from 7 to 9.30 pm. It’s been only three days since we opened the sabha canteen and I was surprised to see the number of people coming in to have our food. We have the dine-in option and take away counter as well,” he adds.
This year, Sastha Catering Services has included some new dishes to their menu. "Apart from our regular dishes, we have added new items like gulkand Kasi halwa, mor kali, arisi upma with puli inji and vethala bajji. We will be including some more dishes in the coming days. On Sundays, we are planning to add snacks like murukku, mixture and so on."
Venkatesan stresses that the team is strictly following all the safety protocols. "We are practising social distancing and sanitising the premise every night. Daily, we do check the body temperature of the guests and our staff as well," he sums up.
The Federation of City Sabhas, the oldest of city sabhas, and a consortium of 13 leading sabhas in Chennai is presenting Yours Truly Margazhi, an online re-creation of Chennai’s music and dance season. “We approached the organisers and asked if they can retain one sabha canteen this time. Though they were apprehensive at first, later, they agreed on one canteen. Now, the canteen is functioning at The Mylapore Fine Arts Club. Our breakfast starts at 7.30 and goes on until 10.30 am. Lunch timing is from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm. We serve snacks from 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Dinner is from 7 to 9.30 pm. It’s been only three days since we opened the sabha canteen and I was surprised to see the number of people coming in to have our food. We have the dine-in option and take away counter as well,” he adds.
This year, Sastha Catering Services has included some new dishes to their menu. "Apart from our regular dishes, we have added new items like gulkand Kasi halwa, mor kali, arisi upma with puli inji and vethala bajji. We will be including some more dishes in the coming days. On Sundays, we are planning to add snacks like murukku, mixture and so on."
Venkatesan stresses that the team is strictly following all the safety protocols. "We are practising social distancing and sanitising the premise every night. Daily, we do check the body temperature of the guests and our staff as well," he sums up.
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