Monday, February 11, 2013

Sabha Canteens - Chennai’s Classical Music Extravaganza


If ever there was a win-win-win situation in the world it is this marriage of the sabhas and those who run the sabha canteens during the music season. December, in the Hindu tradition, is not an auspicious time for weddings. Thus, the caterers who handle the cooking for weddings are normally bereft of orders in this period. It is these caterers – and the crème de la crème of them – who take on the job of providing food during the music season.
Most major sabhas have an all day schedule. It is, thus, inevitable that they need the services of the caterers to keep their audiences happy with food and beverages. The caterers, in their turn, not only find a market but also use this period for a practical advertisement of their capabilities thereby paving the way for future orders.
And the audience? The audience gets sumptuous food at very affordable prices, gets to relish dishes not normally served in hotels and also, maybe, finds the right caterer for future weddings. To my knowledge, this is the only advertisement that provides value to the customer as much as to the producer.
There is a huge section of Chennai dwellers whose only knowledge of the Music season is where to go for food. In fact, quite a few people come to the sabhas only to eat or pack up food and totally ignore the rest of what happens at that time. All that they are concerned about is whether ‘Mountbatten’ Mani Iyer’s meals were better than ‘Padmanabha’ or whether Narada Gana Sabha had Gnanambika for this season or not.
Do you smell a bit of envy there? If you did I must laud your nostrils! Thanks to a fractured right hand, I could hardly try out these delicacies in this season – eating with my left hand off plantain leaves not being my forte – so, you can hardly blame me for the vituperation against those who were fortunate enough to be able to relish the food.
For the out-of-towner December can be a great culinary experience in addition to being a great cultural experience. And, believe me, Chennai in December may not be truly as hot as you fear it will be.

22 comments:

  1. Interesting. Somehow south Indian traditional food lost its appeal as far as I am concerned thanks to a spate of weddings last February.

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    1. Those disinterests come and go TF! For me at least :)

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  2. Are the delicacies vegetarian?
    I am a foodie :)

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    1. They are exclusively vegetarian, DS! And u get dishes that u would not get elsewhere in hotels.

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    2. They are vegetarian . That is great .

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  3. eating off a plantain leaf is something i love....! it would be nice to be lost in something wonderful like music and food forgetting other mundane things!! and they actually have such names? mountbatten...? wow!

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  4. Since when did Chennai start behaving like Delhi?

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    1. That's cryptic, Purba :) Behave like Delhi in being more food-oriented than culture-oriented? :) If so, a major deviation, however - it is purely vegetarian and South Indian vegetarian at that :)

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  5. Well Well Well, Mr. CS.


    I see you have been smitten by the Music Season Bug!

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  6. Now that is an interesting angle to catering, music and December gatherings! Hope your right hand soon scours all the plantain leaves of Chennai!

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    1. That will have to await next December, Uma! :)

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  7. Sorry for you but I would have enjoyed this awesome combination. Will try to visit Chennai in December. :)

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    1. You should, Saru! Try to be there between Dec 15-20. I'll be there in all probability and can do some escorting if you feel the need for any help.

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  8. I have heard of the legendary Sabha canteens in Chennai, but after reading yours I am tempted to be there this December to sample the wares and may be attend a concert or two.

    The closest that I can think of relating is the snack counter at the Tata Theatre of NCPA Mumbai whose cold coffee and cheese sandwiches are legendary and the people rushing out to during the interval is quite comical ;-)

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    1. The Season will surely repay the visit, Sudha, and not only because of the food :)

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  9. Why do I suddenly have this penchant for music and their sabhas?

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  10. My dad used to keep telling us about which Sabha would serve better food ha ha and 'Padmanabhan' is the person who took up the contract for my wedding.........Its a 'bringing back memories' post Suresh :)

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    1. Ah! So! Then u should not eat at the Music Academy - since you have already tasted him - unless for the memories :)

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