COFFEE ‘MAMI’
She is
the unsung heroine of Crowne Plaza
Chennai Adayar Park. Popularly known as "Mami".
In Tamil ‘Mami’ means
auntie. Many of the co-workers may not know even her name. She is a very low
profile person. Also, she does not interact much with other co-workers.
She is focussed on the role given to her. She is the unofficial ambassador of
28 year old Dakshin Restaurant, renowned for its authentic South Indian
delicacies. This eatery was the first to introduce the concept of the
"Iyer's trolley" in India. This restaurant is also known for its
traditional South Indian Filter Coffee.
Meet Rathnam. She is 64 years old. An induction stove is the only thing she has with her. Positioned at the south west corner of the lobby lounge of this hotel. Guests can order a coffee and a steward from Dakshin will be there to assist her in terms of F&B support. Ratnam will make the coffee and it will be served in an EPNS Dabara set. Guests can always opt for a cup and saucer as well.
Interestingly some snacks will also be served along with Mami's coffee. The snacks are also freshly made by Mami. The snacks of the day will be crafted by her masterful hands in the morning when she reports at 9.00AM. The hotel has provided her a separate place for the preparation of snacks. By 10.45 AM she will position herself in the lobby lounge with three different snacks in airtight containers. Remember, snacks are personally made by her. She will be there up to 1.00PM and then again from 4.00 to 6.00PM.
During my recent stay in this hotel I had the good fortune of tasting her coffee (in this hotel, it is called Mami's coffee) as well as her snacks. One day it was Cashew Pakoras and the next day it was a Rice Flake Mixture. I was surprised to see how tasty, light and non-greasy were the snacks.
She is very passionate about cooking, especially the snack items. Prior to Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park, she had worked as a Secretary to the Chairman of a company in Vizag. She took Voluntary Retirement after serving that company for 28 years and has been working in this hotel for the last six years now.
Reading ‘The Hindu’ newspaper is her hobby. An equally important pastime for her is watching cricket. There are many a fans for her among the guests of this hotel. If M.S Dhoni former skipper of the Indian Cricket team is very fond of her Cashew Pakoras, then Anil Kumble is a great admirer of her coffee. The lists of her fans include many a celebrities too. The guests praise her with embarrassingly superlative words.
She is a spinster. For the last four months she has a knee pain due to which she takes an auto to go back home . Otherwise, for all these years, she used to walk down to her home, which is two Kms away from the hotel.
Meet Rathnam. She is 64 years old. An induction stove is the only thing she has with her. Positioned at the south west corner of the lobby lounge of this hotel. Guests can order a coffee and a steward from Dakshin will be there to assist her in terms of F&B support. Ratnam will make the coffee and it will be served in an EPNS Dabara set. Guests can always opt for a cup and saucer as well.
Interestingly some snacks will also be served along with Mami's coffee. The snacks are also freshly made by Mami. The snacks of the day will be crafted by her masterful hands in the morning when she reports at 9.00AM. The hotel has provided her a separate place for the preparation of snacks. By 10.45 AM she will position herself in the lobby lounge with three different snacks in airtight containers. Remember, snacks are personally made by her. She will be there up to 1.00PM and then again from 4.00 to 6.00PM.
During my recent stay in this hotel I had the good fortune of tasting her coffee (in this hotel, it is called Mami's coffee) as well as her snacks. One day it was Cashew Pakoras and the next day it was a Rice Flake Mixture. I was surprised to see how tasty, light and non-greasy were the snacks.
She is very passionate about cooking, especially the snack items. Prior to Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park, she had worked as a Secretary to the Chairman of a company in Vizag. She took Voluntary Retirement after serving that company for 28 years and has been working in this hotel for the last six years now.
Reading ‘The Hindu’ newspaper is her hobby. An equally important pastime for her is watching cricket. There are many a fans for her among the guests of this hotel. If M.S Dhoni former skipper of the Indian Cricket team is very fond of her Cashew Pakoras, then Anil Kumble is a great admirer of her coffee. The lists of her fans include many a celebrities too. The guests praise her with embarrassingly superlative words.
She is a spinster. For the last four months she has a knee pain due to which she takes an auto to go back home . Otherwise, for all these years, she used to walk down to her home, which is two Kms away from the hotel.
"She
works with so much dedication", says Deva Kumar, the Executive Chef of
this hotel, "whatever she knows, she will make it so well. She is not for
experimentation, fusion or innovation. She specialises in making authentic
savouries popular in Tamil Nadu and can offer around two dozen different snacks
to her guests on a cyclical basis".
Thank you Mami, your coffee was superb!! I liked it. Very much.
Thank you Mami, your coffee was superb!! I liked it. Very much.
Text and Pictures: R Kesava Mallia in Chennai
3 comments:
Excellent write up on Mami's coffee. Thanks a lot to Mr Kesava Mallia.
Mami's coffee is legendary stuff
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