Tasting local dishes while traveling is a great way to deeply experience a destination's culture, support the community, and enjoy fresher, healthier food. During my trip to southern India, I was trying all possible way to mix up with local people and know mkre about their local cuisine. One of the most important aspect of southern Indian is that they use Banana leaf for serving their food. I assumed it to be a authentic way to taste. I thought it was only a household things but upon my visit I learned that it is common in market areas to. There are many restaurant and local cafes who serves food on banana leaf. So I went on to try my meal one of such hotel, that serves food on banana leaf.
I saw it in movies and various documentaries, but never thought I will ever get a chance to try it in real. South Indians traditionally use banana leaves for eating because they are abundantly available, eco-friendly, and naturally hygienic. Traditional practices view the leaf as a natural coolant that helps soothe the digestive system. I was more fascinated to try out the traditional way of eating local cuisine. I went on to a local restaurant to try out the local meal option. Here when you ask for meal, they will serve you with complete dishes. I straight away asked for a meal and they come up with a steel plate, and a banana leaf on top of that and 5 different small steel bowls with different curries.
It was interesting to see the new set up of serving the food and I felt tempting. In many restaurants they directly serve you on banana leaf. They do so because it will reduces the work. Serving directly on banana leaf means, you do not need to wash heavy dishes afterward. You simply rinse the leaf with a little water before use, and fold it up to discard when finished. This 5 steel bowls have (right to left) Raita, Sambhar curry, dry potato, indian vegetable, and cauliflower. Soon an attendant serve me with rice on the banana leaf.
The best things about trying a meal option in any south indian restaurant is that they feed you unlimited. There is no limit, and you can jave rice as much as possible. They serve all the 4 curries as well till you are done. After rice, they pour some lentils and pure ghee over the rice.
And finally papdam, the crispy fried indian apad to add variety to the meal plate. Though it was only limited to one papadam one plate. Ypu can get another on special request. This is the complete meal menu one could have in any restaurant.
Serving food on banana leaf is a old cultural practice and tasting the local makes the trip more memorable. Serving food on a banana leaf symbolizes purity, prosperity, and respect for guests during festivals and weddings. The large, waterproof surface easily holds complex multi course South Indian meals containing various gravies, rice, and side dishes without leaking. I simply enjoyed gettijmh the taste of authentic South Indian dishes.
In good faith - Peace!!