Chennai: Be it for breakfast, lunch or for dinner, unconventional combinations of steaming hot idlis with the homemade podis and kuzhambus are just a WhatsApp text or a call away.
‘Idlis’ is a home grown franchise delivering the idli in newer forms and combinations since May this year. “It was my wife’s idea to try idly in other combination than the regular clichéd options of chutney and sambhar. Initially, we had tie-ups with two food outlets in different parts of the cities, which sold our meal boxes. Because the response was tremendous, we started home delivery,” said Umesh Vaidyanathan.
Umesh, a digital media professional along with his mother and wife, started Idlis. Hot idlis with combinations of milagaipodi, ellu podi, parippu podi and kariveppulai podi and finally, wrapped in banana leaves are made by cooks who work their regular jobs and double as part-time cooks under the guidance of Umesh’s mother. Priced at nominal rates, idli lovers have a variety to choose from and also morukuzhambu and karakuzhambu as the side dishes.
“Our cooks start work at 3.30 am. We take orders at least three hours before. As our food is made sans onions and garlic, they don’t get spoilt easily and have more demand.”
“I order from Idlis daily and carry it to college for breakfast. I prefer food without onions so it’s the most convenient and favourite choice for me,” said Charmy Shah, a student of Stella Maris. There are many more regular customers of Idlis, who love the banana leaf packing and the use of oil instead of ghee.
