Kudumbashree Food Fest on at Vellar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kudumbashree is wooing foodies to its Christmas-New Year fiesta which has begun at the Kovalam Tourist Village, Vellar. A delectable spread of ethnic preparations is what awaits visitors at the food festival, which would continue till New Year. Delicacies from North Malabar, preparations made of rabbit meat, sea/lake fish, chicken and duck are some of the highlights of the festival. Fish lovers can relish ‘karimeen’ and ‘kallummekkaya’ preparations, ‘meen vattichathu’, Alleppey fish curry and fish Malabari. Steamed tapioca ‘kappa’ is also available, a press statement here said.The festival displays several rice preparations like the steamed rice cake - ‘puttu’, ‘ari pathiri’ and as many as 10 varieties of the native gruel, ‘kanji’. Small-sized ‘thattu dosas’ are another attraction. Many juices too are on offer.Kudumbashree’s sub-brand Cafe Kudumbashree has put up a menu of gravies and rare fish preparations during the nine-day festival.An exhibition-cum-sale of products made by Kudumbashree units across the State is yet another highlight.Handicrafts, items made of the herb ‘Ramacham’, Ayurvedic products, powdered pulses, pickles and organically cultivated vegetables are available. The Tourist Village also comes alive with cultural programmes staged by the members of Kudumbashree’s Balasabhas. The festival timing is from 12 noon to 10 pm.