Saudi Arabia: MASA’s Mangalorean Food Festival -VANAS 2008
By: Ravi Karkera and Victor Sequeira
Al Khobar, Apr 3: Mangalore Association Saudi Arabia – MASA celebrated its gala event of food festival “VANAS 2008” on Friday, 28th March 2008 in a grand style at Aziziyah. The event has been witnessed by an overwhelming gathering of over 350 numbers including guests and members.
An electrifying scene was set by the installation of beautifully designed 16 food stalls (eight stalls on both sides facing each other) with tarpaulin cover over the roof and by the sides. Thanks to our Joint Secretary, Santhosh Shetty, who burned the mid night oil along with his assistants starting from early morning 2 am till 10 am to witness a solid and beautiful looking stalls made up from scaffolding items.
The stall owners, who were competitors among MASA members, decorated their stalls with decorative items by a splendid display of their own created funny names of stalls, cut outs, menu charts and so on. The spirit and the effort of each and every competitor in giving a better shape to their colorful stalls were worth watching which gave an added attraction to these stalls.
Members and guests started gathering at the venue by 10.30 am and slowly and steadily the venue was fully packed with full house. Kids have enjoyed their time in the swimming pool and in the swing.
Before the food festival was inaugurated by MASA Vice President Madhav Amin, the General Secretary, Ravi Karkera introduced all the competitors to the packed gathering and read the names of their stalls, their menu for the lunch and snacks. Varities of tasty and mouth watering Indian dishes, especially the delights of Mangalorean’s special home cooked food was at the disposal.
The owners of Stalls 1, 2 and 3 with stall name “ NAMMA KUDLA CATERERS” had served for lunch: Sette Dosa, Chicken Sukka, Rice Semige, Chicken Gravy, Chicken 65 and in dessert, Boodi Laddu and Dahi Vada. In snacks they had varities of Pop Corn, Kurlu Pachodi, Idli Sambar, Chattambade, Biscuit Rotti, Bun’s, and Onion Bhaji. The stall owners were: Dayanand Shriyan, Prem Bhandary and Keshav Arikady.
The Stall No. 4 was owned by Mr. Gopal Shetty and Pradeep Kumar Salian. They were in the best of their costume by giving look of a real Chef. They had a very funny name for their stall called ‘AGOLI MANJANNA CATERING, MANGALORE’. They served Chicken Biryani, Ghee Rice, Egg Roast, Salad, Pickle, Papad, Butter Milk, Water Melon and Soft Drinks.
Stall No. 5 with their title of the Stall “VEGGIE YUMMIES” were serving Sabu Alu Bite, Firni Delight and Veg Puffs. The owners were Leslie Ferrao and Neelu Ferrao.
The owner of Stall No. 6 Shashikant Poonja offered Prawns Biryani and the title of his stall was “KUNDAPUR STALL”
“TAMMANA” was the Stall No. 7 and owners were Sumana Shetty, Praveena Shetty, Roopa Shetty and Bhagyalaxmi Rai. They provided lunch Mangalorean delights such as Neer Dosa, Kori Gasi, Bale Yele Ghatti, Meen Gasi, Kori Sukka, Pathradde, Puli Munchi Meen and in dessert Padengi Payasa. For snacks they served the Mangalore special ‘Goli Baje’
“KUDLADHA TAMMANA” was the next Stall in No. 8 owned by Stany Mathias, Ivy Mathias and Friends. The menu list included: Idli, Rice, Chicken Curry, Chana/Gherkin Bhaji, Tomato Rasam, Payasam, Fresh Lime Juice, soft Drinks, Packet Juice, Pav Bhaji, Chips(Lays), Pop Corn and Ground Nuts.
Stall No. 9 we could see “MUMBAI CHAT HOUSE” owned by Chetana Sadashiv Poojary and Mohini Chandrasekar Karkera. The Chat House served: Bhel Puri, Paani Puri, Dahi Sev Puri, Sev Puri and Steamed Corn.
Next was Stall No. 10 “ROYAL CHICKEN BIRIYANI HOUSE” owned by Ismail with tasty tasty Chicken Biriyani with Salad
At Stall No. 11 “GANJI DURBAR” was serving the Mangalorean traditional Beccha Beccha Ganji, Podi Ettida Chutni, yummy yummy Mango Pickle and refreshing Ganji Teli. The Thai Prawns Curry, Fish Cutlets were the added attraction at “Ganji Durbar”. In snacks they provided Kaltappa/Gendeda Adde. The stall was owned by Ravi Karkera & Group under the banner Cornich Blue Cricketers.
One more special Mangalorean item was served at Stall No. 12 “SHETRENA KITCHEN”. The item at this stall was sold like a hot cake. The item was Jenji (Crab) Masala with special offer of three free idlis to take. A good marketing technique was adopted by the stall owner Santhosh Shetty.
“NAMMA VANAS” was Stall No. 13 and the owners were Sudarshan Sanil & Bros (Sudarshan, Prakash and Uday). They served delicious Mangalorean special Kori Rotti, Jeera Rice with Salad, Shrimp Chutni and Grilled Fish.
The Stall No. 14 was “MANGALOREAN TREAT” owned by Mahima Sadanand Poojary and Roopa Suresh Shetty. They served for lunch: Pepper Chicken, Chicken Dry Masala, Kadle Sukka, Padengi Sukka, Idli, Chapati and in snacks Dokla and Cucumber Gatti.
Stall Nos. 15 & 16 were Tea Stall and Paan Stall respectively run by Santhosh Shetty. The Paan Stall was named ‘AGOLI MANJANNA PAAN STALL’. These two stalls were not part of the competition. The display of these stall were unique in its style. It attracted people to come over and again to the stall because of lots of Kannada Magazines, newspapers were in the display and the most attraction of the stall were three live Chickens flying around with lot of noise. A touch of native glimpse could be felt in that atmosphere.
Besides the Cash Counter there was a very attractive stall set up in a little far away corner which was attracting all men, women young and old, children and kids. This stall was very different from the other stalls because of opportunity to earn lot of gifts and prizes with lot of fun by throwing rings at the gifts and prizes lying on the table for a meager amount.
The scenes at the stalls were hilarious to watch from the very moment, the inauguration of the festival started. In comes the packed crowd inside the stalls and stall owners started attracting the customers towards their stalls by screaming and yelling with and without mike. This fantastic view suddenly uplifted the festival mood to a great height. On the one hand, Crab Masala owner Santhosh Shetty was screaming with his microphone voice “BALE BALE, JENJI MASALA DETONLE, JENJI DA OTTUGU MUJI IDLI FREE” and on the other side Naveen Shetty, one of the associate partners of Ganji Durbar, on his top of the voice started yelling in the mike “JENJIDA BARIT GANJI, JENJIDA BARIT GANJI”. It was full of fun and enjoyment where every one were screaming and yelling to sell their product the most. Each and every one had enjoyed the moment to the fullest extent.
There was also guessing games followed by Housie conducted by Victor Nobby Sequeira. Altogether it was a memorable event in the history of MASA. People appreciated the event a lot and now eagerly looking forward for the next event to start very soon. All were overjoyed by the way the food festival is being conducted and now wanting to have another such food festival in the near future. Those who could not make it to the event regretted a lot after hearing all the fun.
The most awaited food festival “VANAS 2008” came to an end by declaring the winners of the day. The best cook award went to Stall No. 7 “TAMMANA”. The second prize awarded to Stall No. 10 “MUMBAI CHAT HOUSE” and the third place secured by Stall No. 4 “AGOLI MANJANNA CATERING”
Having enjoyed the festival thoroughly, the members, guests and the competitors went home with lots of refreshing and unforgettable memories of “VANAS 2008”. Well done MASA. Bravo! Keep it up. Three Cheers.