Goodbye party blues

Want to throw a party? Relax... The burgeoning breed of party caterers now offer a plethora of services. All you have to do is just dial and order. Mughlai biriyani or chocolate souffles... they will reach your doorstep, says PERVIZ BHOTE.

THE WAY to a man's heart is through his stomach, goes a popular saying. It's not just a man's heart that one ensnares with a good spread. Many a business deal is signed after wining and dining, and many good contacts and contracts are made at parties and social events. But 'entertaining' is a time-consuming affair that needs careful planning and execution to make the effort worth the while. With time becoming a priceless commodity, and working women in the family, throwing a party can be exhausting.

Subha is a working woman, and she just waits for weekends to put up her feet and relax. But her husband, Naren, likes to have friends over for a snack or a meal. She can't stave off these requests for long. Each time she has people over, it entails at least three days of preparation - shopping, getting the masalas ready, bringing out the special napery, crockery, cutlery and glassware. Then the cooking and cleaning up, and getting the house ready for the guests. Finally, when the guests do arrive, Subha is literally yawning through the evening. When the friends leave, there's the washing and cleaning up to do. After one such bout of entertaining, she wants to cry halt!

Feroz and Rukshana party a lot and hospitality must be returned. But the cook has left, and Rukshana finds working in the kitchen very cumbersome. She can barely manage the day-to-day cooking chores. Of course, there are several hotels that offer outdoor party catering, but then, the menus are stereotyped and lack the taste and flavours of home-cooked food. Moreover, with beautiful homes and exquisite tableware and napery that house-proud people tend to collect over the years, entertaining at home can be a very satisfying and pleasurable experience with some assistance in catering.

So, in steps the 'party caterer'. Fortunately, there are a few people in Chennai who supply bulk orders that makes entertaining guests at home a hassle-free, simple and especially personal experience.

'Delkhush Delicacies', an enterprise operated by Zavera and Mr. Mahiar Shroff at No. 15, Arathoon Road, Royapuram (5956841/5955853), specialises in party orders. With three years experience and personal involvement, "Zavera is an expert in shopping", says Mahiar of his wife. He is involved in booking and delivering the orders, and supervising the cooks. The masalas used by them are all homemade to avoid adulteration.

Delkhush Delicacies appeals to a variety of palates and the preparations range from Mughlai biriyanis/ mutton/ chicken (Rs. 300 to Rs. 475 per kg. of rice depending upon the quality of rice and the meat/rice proportions). The portions are large enough to serve eight persons. Other items include starters like Thayir vadas, Chicken 65, cutlets of chicken/mutton/prawn/fish, priced at Rs. 6.50 - Rs. 10/- per piece, and a good selection of meat, fish, chicken curries, pepper chicken, fried rice, as also vegetarian dishes. They also specialise in Parsi cuisine. The unique feature of this cuisine is that the dishes could be either vegetarian or non-vegetarian as per one's desire, yet the flavour is retained. Wafer thin chappatis and parathas, which could be quite a tedious task for a large party, are also supplied. Another convenience is the home delivery option at a small extra charge for orders above Rs. 500. Orders may be placed with just 24 hours notice. Office lunches, both veg and non-veg, are also supplied which are priced at Rs. 22 and Rs. 30. Of course, the minimum order should be for at least 75 lunches. Furniture and service for outdoor parties could also be arranged at extra cost.

Splendid Caterers is a food facility operated by Yasmin Osman from No. 12, Kelly's Road, Phone: 6461200/6448261. Yasmin is geared for small as well as large parties and has even catered for 1,000 guests. Her forte is Mughlai biriyani both chicken and mutton, with the price ranging from Rs. 400 to Rs. 600 per kg. She uses superior grade basmati rice and prime cuts of meat. Although biriyanis are made at every street corner these days, for the connoisseur, it is a fine art. As the lid slides off the 'degh', the aroma of Splendid Caterer's biriyani wafts into the party and the gastronomic juices start churning and what awaits you is a gourmet's delight.

While one can pick and choose from the wide variety that is offered, a set menu could also be ordered and priced at approximately Rs. 150 per head. This would include starters (kebabs, samosas, shikampurs, nergisi kebabs) a chicken dish with parathas/naans, mutton/chicken biriyani, baigan ka saatun (richly flavoured brinjal curry), dahi ki chutney and a dessert - muttanjan (a delicious kheer made with rice, milk and khoya)/gajjar ka halwa/pineapple souffle. The vegetable biriyani and paneer preparations made are delicious too. Service and furniture is also provided at extra charges.

Chennai is the hot-bed for a number of South Indian caterers. The unique feature of these "catering mamas" as they are affectionately referred to, is that they can also undertake decoration of the mandapam, provide furniture if required and the service. Whether it is for small parties or large weddings, they are geared for catering on the basis of labour only, or per head charges for a pre-set menu.

Viswanathan or Kunjambi Mama of 11, T.P. Koil Street, Triplicane near Raghavendra Temple (Phone: 8442033), is a specialist in the Kerala Palakkad style of cuisine, which lacks spice but has a subtle taste and is much sought after by the Iyers.

A normal meal would include paal payasam (for which he is renowned), some curries, kuttu, mor kozhumbu, sambar rice, rasam and thayir sadam, with banana chips providing the crunchie- munches. The paal addai that Kunjambi Mama prepares is out of this world. At the end of the meal, one feels a total sense of satiation and it's difficult to attend to any strenuous work later.

Seetharaman is yet another well-known caterer who has been in this business for the last 52 years, first as caterer for a corporate house, and later branching out on his own. He can take charge of wedding guests, as well as a small number of guests at a dinner party.

Seetaramaiyyar's laddus and Mysore Pak are mouth-watering, and his food carries with it the flavour of his genial personality. He operates from 308, TNSEB Quarters, Taramani (Phone: 2541565) and caters for a variety of South Indian palates. His prices are extremely reasonable and depend on the type of menu required.

While there are several options to pamper the Indian palate in Chennai, it is rather difficult to find people who can turn out continental dishes. Khushnoor Ahuja (53/16, Sri Rangam Avenue, 1st Floor, Pantheon Road, Phone: 8553140) specialises in Continental cuisine. Her specialities are Chicken Creole, which is a Mexican dish, chicken fricasse, baked chicken, Greek fish and a number of salads that could be only vegetables/fruits or even mixed with chicken/tuna fish. Each portion could serve 4-6 persons. Khushnoor excels at desserts. Her mango/chocolate souffles, and date and walnut tarts are delectable.

Highly recommended are the brownies. The prices are about Rs. 175 to 180 per chicken and the desserts Rs. 200 per dish approximately. Since this is a one-woman show, as Khushnoor does not allow any kitchen help, she needs at least two days notice and her orders are limited to a maximum of 40 persons. Her home made mayonnaise, priced at Rs. 40 for 200 gms., makes an excellent base for sandwiches and salads. It's not only the taste of the food that Khushnoor is fastidious about, but the presentation as well.

Two months ago, Amrita Bhalla arrived on the scene of party catering when she realised the lacunae in this field. Amrita is an excellent cook and insists on authenticity. When Amrita caters for the Punjabi palate, it must be authentic -- sarson ka sag, makki ki roti, khalsa dal, paneer/chicken butter masala, kaali dal and the various tandooris. The ingredients for seasoning are all specially bought in Delhi. She can also cater for the Bengali taste with sarsobata macch and chochuri.

Amrita delights in Continental cuisine and her quiches are hot favourites with her clients. Italian food also interests her and the pastas for the lasagne are homemade, while the herbs too are Italiano. There are no artificial additives in her recipes. "We offer our clients the option of a set menu which would include starters like mushroom panadas, bread rolls/garlic bread, salads with sun dried tomatoes and olives or baby corn, broccoli and brussel sprouts, roast chicken/quiche/vegetable au gratin/pastas. All food can be heated in the microwave. There is a large variety of desserts to choose from - peach/ strawberry flans (Rs. 250- 300, with 10-12 helpings), gateaux, cakes/ sponges, tarts with fresh cream, puddings, brownies etc.

"Our set menu would work out to about Rs. 200-250 per head. We also offer door delivery within a nine kms. radius at extra charge." Amrita operates from her home in Thiruvanmiyur (Phone: 4414905) and needs at least 2-3 days notice to get her act together.

Now then, with so many conveniences offered, the next time you wish to invite people over, just go right ahead and throw hassle- free parties and you can feel fresh and relaxed when the guests arrive. Bon appetite, and have a good time!

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