Ethics in hotel business

My family has been into many types of businesses almost 10 businesses including ours. So we are aware of the ups and downs pitfalls etc. Many failed and few took off.

My Dad had a dairy farm 30 years ago. around 100 cows and buffaloes and we used to supply milk to almost all the leading hotels in Trichy. So every week we used to go a restaurant and eat. Dad and brothers used to talk to the owner, then the sweet masters etc.

My favourite was Abhirami or Vasantha Bhavan. I love their idlis and Parottas. Most of the time we used to visit them only. And they never used to take money from us after we eat. But Dad will always calculate and keep it in the Kalla and come. That is the beauty of living in small towns. You almost know everyone.

So once I had an oppurtunity to talk to the owner. He was a very good friend to my Dad.One thing I liked about that restaurant is for 2 idlis they used to give sambhar, onion chutney, coconut chutney, coriander chutney, idli podi and ellu podi. Everything will be so tasty. The aroma and flavours still dances in my mouth. Steaming soft idlis served in a banana leaf.

2 idles will not be enough to eat with all these dishes.

So I asked him once, why are you wasting money on this ellu podi, idli podi and all. no one is eating and people are wasting. He said, people should eat nice nourishing food and leave my restaurant. I don’t want them to miss anything good. And no idlis are complete without these podis. I did not understand then. Now I understand. How ethical he has been in giving tasty, nourishing food. Nowadays you should see the food that you get in restaurants. coconut chutney just a spoon, sambhar, and most of the time the onion chutney is spoilt. All that people are worried is money, both the Hotel side and the people side. No one is seeing health, nourishment taste.

My Dad;s friend when my Dad was very young, he opened a hotel. And my Dad’s another friend told him itseems, will anyone charge money for food. Is it ethical? See how people were those days. Food and shelter was free, even in my Grandfathers house. That is why my mom always cooked well and she could easily cook for a 100 people. Anyone who came was sent straight to a room where the food was served.

fast forward a 50 years and its such a disaster.

Last week we ordered food from a very popular restaurant in Sarjapur. It was so good a year ago, and now for Rs.1000 we could not imagine the taste and the quality of the fried rice, paneer and pav bhaji. first time in my life, I left a one star rating for a restaurant.

My cousin used to say that in Grand Sweets Chennai they always served free food in a Donnai on a Thursday or Friday, I don’t remember. And it used to be so tasty that even the rich used to stand in the queue to eat. it. I know because she also stood in the line. Once she had even asked them for more and she will pay, but they refused.

How many do something like this nowadays?

Ellu podi recipe

100 gems black till

a tbsp urad Dhall or Latham paruppu

1 tbsp kadalai paruppu

3 red chillies

salt to taste

wash black sesame and drain. fry on low heat

till it splutters. it will burn fast so remove as soon as you hear spluttering lighty

cool and grind coarsely.

have it for breakfast with idli or dosai or for rice and ghee for lunch.