Tamil Nadu is a place where it is believed that serving food to others is a pious act, like in most places in India. Erode’s culture is similar to that and the place, like the other parts of Tamil Nadu has a rich cuisine, where traditional vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes get the main preference. Rice, different types of lentils and legumes are the most popular foods here. Foods are made tasty by using different kinds of flavorings and spicing. Coconut and rosewater are very popular in the cuisine of the region. Dosa or Dosai, Idly, Sambar, Rasam, Idiyappam etc are the most popular foods in Erode.
Traditional Tamil Dishes in Erode
On every special occasion, like religious festivals, traditional Tamil dishes are prepared in the households in the processes that are centuries old. The cooking style is elaborate as well as leisurely. The food is served in traditional style atmosphere. In Erode, like other parts of Tamil Nadu, the traditional way of eating food is to seat on the floor and the food is served on a freshly cut banana leaf. This custom is also followed by different hotels in Erode, though they serve food on the table to the guests. In the end of every traditional meal, ‘paayasam’, a special kind of dessert is served to the guests. After the completion of the meal, betel leaves and nuts are chewed, which is a traditional habit and yet continues today, mostly among the older generation.
Due to the fast lifestyle and small families, the traditional way of eating is getting obsolete from the city. Now, most of the houses use steel plates and other utensils, and even in ceremonies, buffet-style catering is taking the place of the traditional seating arrangement-style.
Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian Food in Erode
Erode is famous for both its vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Vegetarian foods like uthappam, Idly, Dosa, and different types of non-vegetarian foods, mainly prepared from chicken and mutton are very popular here. Paratha, one of the most popular foods of North India is widely popular in Erode. Some of the eateries in Erode do serve ‘jigarthanda’ and ‘muttaiparotta’, two special dishes of Madurai. Fish is also very popular here and due to the closeness to different sea-towns, the markets of Erode are always full of different types of fish. Almost every preparation is cooked with coconut oil. As Erode is one of the business hubs of Tamil Nadu, many people from all over India comes to Erode and one can find different types of Indian foods in the hotels of Erode. Now, some of the hotels have begun to serve Italian, continental and other different types of international foods.
Coffee in Erode
Coffee is the most popular beverage of Erode. The Madras Filter Coffee, popularly known as Kottu is the most served beverage in Erode and this is a unique feature of the state of Tamil Nadu. Coffee is generally made with milk and sugar, and served in a small steel glass. Apart from coffee, brewed tea is also quite common in Erode as it is one of the most preferred business spots for many North Indian traders.
Fast Food in Erode
Like the different types of dishes that can be seen in Erode, different types of fast foods, from all over India, from paanipuri to dhokla, from mithai to chaat, can be tasted in Erode. Also, there are certain fast food shops that sells Italian and continental dishes, which are also very popular among the residents.
Restaurants in Erode
Erode has a number of restaurants offering the best food in reasonable price. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, Indian and continental and south Indian food is available in these restaurants. Some of the popular restaurants in Erode include The Oasis, Athappa Hotel and Trichy Cafe.
