Kind hearted Kalai 

“Right from my childhood, I was very fond of serving coffee to my relatives and friends who visited my home”, says Kalaivanan(32) - the Restaurant Manager of ‘Daily Treats’(at The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace) -a renowned eatery known popularly for it's take aways, coffees and importantly, it's corporate lunch boxes. Remember: The city of Kumbakonam city is famous for it's filter coffee and temples aplenty. No wonder, today, Kumbakonam born Kalai is offering coffee to his guests on a daily basis. Interestingly he likes visiting temples nursing his soul's needs. 

“As many as 150 top notch corporate leaders in and around Madhapur, will order our lunchboxes on a daily basis ” says Kalai. Daily treats, located at the lobby level of Westin Hyderabad offers 15 varieties of customised coffees and eight varieties of teas. Sandwiches and Burgers are the other items which are most sought after by the discerning guests of this hotel, as well as the local foodies. Kalai handles the biggest F&B area of this hotel - Daily treats plus their cloud kitchen - MBOW (Marriott Bonvoy on Wheels)!

Listen to Neha Bose, the Hotel Manager, at Westin Hyderabad: “Flexibility and tenacity are Kalai’s main strengths. He believes in genuine care for our guests; he is very considerate to his fellow colleagues”. “We had pitched monthly promotions on ‘Single origin coffees”, and “Hot Chocolates", in the recent past. Our next food promotion will be on Iced Teas” informs Kalai, a hard core F&B service personnel.Out of his total of 11 years in this industry, he has spent 7 years in banquets and four years in restaurants. 

This Hindi speaking Tamilian, chose the Marigold hotel at Hyderabad for his first job, soon after completing his hotel management course from the Bharat College of Science and Management, at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. ITC Grand Chola, Chennai was his next stop. It is here that Kalai had first attended my workshops(Not once - but twice). Both of us fondly remembered our Chola days. 

Kalai pocketed two promotions in his five year stint with Chola. He then joined Westin Hyderabad, four years back. Today, apart from managing the Daily Treats, he also functions as the relieving manager for Seasonal Tastes - the all day dining restaurant at the hotel. Not just that - whenever required he also chips in at the Banquets. He is always there to help the cause of the hotel. 

Kalai enjoys history, particularly the lifestyle and governance of the kings of south India. Reading about the kings and their legacies fascinates him. Opines Parul Jaiswal, Asst F&B Manager : "Kalai is well liked and respected by all. He is always there to guide and support his colleagues. He is sharply focussed on generating revenue and he has always achieved his budgets”. 

Lord Shiva happens to be Kalai's 'Ishta Devata' (favourite God). Now I'm wondering if Lord Shiva has moved his headquarters from Kailaasa to Daily treats!

 Text and Pics by R Kesava Mallia in Hyderabad.