The Hindu : Kerala News : Cashing in on culinary skills

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Monday, Oct 16, 2006
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Kerala

Kerala

Cashing in on culinary skills

What began as a small initiative a month ago is now a women's business enterprise in its own right.

Entrepreneurial talents and cookery skills have combined to provide a sound foundation to the 25-member women's enterprise Vanitha Bakes in Kozhikode, under the Vanitha Vedi of the Citizens' Intellectual, Educational, Social and Cultural Organisation (CIESCO).

The women, all homemakers, resolved to cash in on their culinary expertise and launched the venture.

Vanitha Bakes, at Kuttichira in the city, the marketing outlet of the business initiative, was inaugurated on September 17, and the women have not looked back since.

The traditional dishes prepared and showcased at the outlet have many takers.

"We had good orders from the beginning itself. But with the onset of the Ramzan month of fasting, the orders increased to such an extent that we are not in a position to meet the demands of all our customers," says a member.

A wide variety of the traditional delicacies of the Malabar Muslim cuisine, such as biriyanis, patthiri, mutta sirka and muttamala, associated with breaking the fast during Ramzan, are on offer.

The sales were good on the first day itself, as if to encourage the fresh entrepreneurs.

With the increasing number of Iftar get-togethers and dinners being thrown up in the city, the women have their hands full, says C.E.V. Abdul Gafoor of the Vedi.

Each of the women invested funds for setting up the collective enterprise. They are between the ages 30 and 50.

What prompted them to start the venture were the difficulties they faced, as shopkeepers were not too willing to stock the items they prepared, despite the quality.Maleeha Raghaviah

Maleeha Raghaviah

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