Unique Village of Kalayur: Where Cooking Takes a Twist!
Food has been an integral part of a human’s life since times immemorial. Every place on this planet has its own special palette. And every corner is filled with a unique fragrance. A foodie can hardly miss out on the smells and sights of a delicious meal.
While every country can boast of its exquisite cuisine, India clearly has the upper hand here.
The Village of Kalayur in the district of Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu is unusual in its own right.
The moment one steps onto the soil of the village, the amalgamated aroma of sumptuous spices fills the air. Kalayur is a heaven for food lovers, but the angels of heaven are not women, but men!
Every man in this village of 356 houses is a cook! Not an ordinary cook though, Kalayur houses more than 200 best male cooks in the country.
The profession of cooking originated 500 years ago when the Reddiar community hired the Vaniyars (fishermen) to cook meals.
It was evident that the Vaniyars are efficient with their pots and ladles. And soon, a tradition of turning secret recipes into irresistible cuisine was established. What is surprising is that it continues in its full glory till date.
Being a cook in the village of Kalayur is not a piece of cake. The training of an aspiring cook starts at the tender age of 12.
It begins with the easy task of chopping vegetables. Moreover, to guarantee the freshness of the ingredients, the cooks collect these fruits, vegetables, and spices from the fields.
Over time, these cooks learn more and more recipes and methods of turning a mesh of ingredients on the stove into a gustatory delight. And it takes an average of 10 years for an amateur cook to turn into a professional one!
The cooks of Kalayur create a seasoned combination of flavors.
For that, the demand for their food is highly popular around the country. So much so that the bookings for birthdays, weddings, and other events have to be done 6 months in advance!
Fun Fact: These culinary connoisseurs do not cook in their own houses at all!
All the cooking inside the four walls of a domestic set-up is done by the women.
Hey, no one can deny the fact that the masters of cooked food need to relish food made by their loved ones every day as well!
What do you think about this Unique Village of Kalayur? Let us know in the comments below.