Traditional Tamil Brahmin vegetarian cooking in Chennai

Sundari's cooking class is the best cooking class/experience I've ever had. It's an unforgettable traveling experience and opportunity to connect with an amazing person. From the food, to the cooking expertise, and hospitality it's well worth every penny. - The Food The food was phenomenal, flat out. Sundari's Dosas made me weep for the childhood I never had eating them fresh from her pan😭. She taught me how to make Veggie Biryani, pepper rasam soup, Spiced and stir fried Okra (Bendi), veggie dahl, Dosa (including a 2nd type of thick dosa topped with onion and herb), and Masala Chai. She prepared Yogurt raita and Rotis for us beforehand. - The Cooking Experience Sundari is a knowledgeable, well-prepared, and passionate cooking teacher. She has been cooking for many years and can answer all your questions on technique and ingredient usage. She loves food and enjoys talking about cuisine outside of India as well. She has family in the USA and can advise on ingredient availability there. She really cares about curating your experience and was happy to help me customize the menu. The class was a pleasant balance of observing and listening vs active participation. Sundari was happy to let me jump in and out of the cooking work as I wanted. Sundari's kitchen was beautiful and well-stocked. Super organized and professional about everything. Afterwards, she sent me the recipes. - The Hospitality It was an honor and pleasure to be a guest of Sundari and her Husband Krishna in their beautiful home. From the second I walked in, I felt comfortable and welcomed. She even created a Ragnoli welcome design on her floor with powder - beautiful. Sundari is easy to talk to and I truly enjoyed spending 6 or so hours with her. After dinner, she went out of her way to show me not only the local grocery market, but her local temple and Kulfi shop. She was happy to take me anywhere I wanted to go in the neighborhood and even helped me with local travel stuff - directions, food recs, getting a local sim card on my phone. Bottom line, this was a lovely experience I'll remember forever. Sundari sets the standard for being an incredible host and cooking teacher. I'd go back tomorrow if I could!

I cannot recommend this experience enough. Sundari was a superb host before we’d even met, getting in touch by WhatsApp to make sure we had the correct location for the class. We were welcomed with a personalised drawing on the floor of her home. We then had a great session of learning the techniques behind several dishes and chatting about South Indian culture. We enjoyed a beautiful feast, great conversation with Sundari and her husband, and left with recipes as well as tips for how to spend some time in Chennai. It was a delight from start to finish, a must do in Chennai!

Awesome experience. Really she is very helpful and try to help everyone to learn in a good way. Thanks.

Sooo yummy! Sundari is a lovely woman and a excellent teacher! It was so much fun to be at her place. She was very flexibel at her schedule. Course booking was very easily and communicaton fast. So we can highly recommend this cooking experience. -Martin & Maja

Highly recommend! A wonderful way to learn and experience Chennai. Sundari was a gracious host for our group (3 adults and 1 nine year old). We enjoyed learning some about the food and culture of this area. And the food was delicious! She is very open to personalizing the menu to your taste as well. We then enjoyed seeing a local produce market with many fruits and vegetables we’d not seen before, and to another interesting shop with all kinds of cookware (also many new things for us to see). Everything was very clean and comfortable all around. Highly recommend.

Incredible experience where Sundari walked us through various techniques of both the north and the south. She was flexible in catering the lesson to what we were interested in and going into details on techniques we were unfamiliar with. Highly recommend if you have time in Chennai!

What fun ! After a few minutes we felt like we were in a relatives home. Sundari made us feel welcome and comfortable in her home. From the wonderful conversation to the demonstration of multiple South Indian dishes to the actual participation in the cooking, everything was outstanding. Then we got to sit and eat the meal which was delicious. After dinner we were ready to go to the market to possibly purchase an Indian spice container when my wife mentioned she was a beader That’s all it took to change our direction Off to a bead shop to buy lots and lots of beautiful stuff for little money. We then said our goodbyes to Sundari and Ubered back to our hotel. Next morning we received multiple photos from Sundari that she had taken. This experience is a MUST

I give 5 stars because it was not just an unforgettable experience but I had the chance to meet such amazing human beings like Sundari and his husband. So nice, kind and warm.Before I start I just want to mention that it was so good and delicious that I went twice in 10 days. I couldn't resist and the food was the best I ate at Chennai.Sundari was so helpful, kind and has become a friend for life. She's an expert and a real cooking teacher. She let me record the class so that I could do the same at home. All the recipes were send to me. She adapted the menu as I wish (Vegan) :)Everything was explained in details and she gave me alternatives too.I had a great and unforgettable time. Next time I visit India, I'll for sure pass at Sundari. I can recommend this great and lovely experience to anyone.Namaste

Sundari exceeded my expectations of this lesson. She was helpful, talkative, open to ideas, explained each step in the cooking process perfectly and answered all questions I had. She is obviously an expert in what she does and a great teacher. I will definitely book another class with Sundari when I return to Chennai. The best cooking class I have participated in.

Great cooking experience. Five friends travelling around India. We spent a magical evening with Sundar and her husband Krishna. A very laid back evening with a great cook, learnt so much.

Was fantastic to talk to a feminist in south India about their experiences and views about living there. Probably didn't need to do the market visit, but the food was amazing, and Jyashree was great adapting her menu to be vegan. She even gave us some rasam powder to take with us!

Sundari welcomed me into her home and kitchen and showed me all of the steps to cooking an authentic meal. She was warm, friendly, and knowledgeable and asked me just as many questions about my life in the United States as I asked her about hers in India. The food was amazing and I greatly enjoyed sharing a meal with her. I recommend this experience to anyone!

Run, don't walk to make a reservation to cook with Sundari. She is not only an excellent cook, but also a terrific and gracious woman. Everything was laid out and ready for our cooking lesson and she explained exactly what she was doing and how/why she was doing it. I can't think of a better way to spend an evening in Chennai. I was with her from 5 PM until 9 PM and had to be dragged away by my hotel driver. A great experience!!!

Anu was so warm and welcoming us in our home. We left (rolled out of her apartment) having sampled many dishes and feeling like we made a lovely new friend. We had never had an i home experience like this in all of our travels and would recommend anyone to visit Anu.

South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class with Sundari Krishna. Sundari and Krishna are such wonderful welcoming people. The activity was well organized - Sundari had asked us ahead of time (1-2 days before) about which recipes we wanted to learn. I had named several, and she kindly had made several dishes in addition to the three main ones. It was such a wonderful educational experience and the food was delicious. We had a traditional sit down lunch with so much food. She gave so many useful tips. We took our kids with us who had a wonderful time and they learned so much as well. We will definitely take lessons with Sundari next time we are in Chennai.

Sundari was an amazing host. She opened up her house to me like I was a close friend and fed me till I could not eat anymore. She taught me so much and was so helpful in answering any questions I had and she was one of the kindest people I have ever met. Next time I'm in Chennai I'm stopping by again! Thank you Sundari it was an amazing experience!

Sundari and her husband are incredibly welcoming and accommodating hosts. We really enjoyed spending time in their home getting to know them and learning to cook South Indian dishes. Sundari has an obvious passion for all kinds of cooking, and the food we/she prepared was absolutely delicious. Highly recommended for all visitors, and I would love to come back to learn to cook more dishes!

Highly recommend spending the day with Sundari and getting an introduction to South Indian cuisine. Sundari is a great host and helped me understand the nuances of south Indian cooking and was very helpful and great to talk to.The walk around the market was also very interesting, especially the grocers where there was a variety of fruit and veg you don't see in Europe.I highly recommend a class with Sundari.

Sundari makes cooking South Indian food fun and exciting. She'll share with you tips that you won't get elsewhere and the best part is that you get to eat it all! If ever I am in Chennai again, I will come back and learn more things from her!

Visited Sundari for the lunch cooking class. She is such a welcoming person and from the minute we arrived had us relaxed and laughing with her. The food was the best we have had in Southern India, tadka Dahl and vegetable Korma which we had requested to learn to cook. She also showed us how to make some of the different breads which was so interesting. It was a lot of fun and we will definitely be back. Thank you so much Sundari and thanks to Kris for taking us to the market.

Since I was traveling to Chennai on business, I did not have a lot of free time to explore the city. Having done cooking classes while on holiday in other countries, I knew this type of experience would be the best use of my limited time. If you are a person who enjoys learning about culture, eating great food, and meeting new people, Sundari does not disappoint! Both her and Krish welcomed me into their home and I felt immediately as ease in their presence. They went out of their way to ensure I was well taken care of. I encourage you to share a table with these two; best way to spend an afternoon in Chennai.

I can't think of a better way to learn about the culture and cuisine of Chennai than with a home cooking class, and my Traveling Spoon host, Sundari, was an amazing teacher. From the moment I stepped into her home she was so warm and welcoming, she even did a small ceremony for me. She was able to customize my lesson based on my previous exposure to Indian cooking, which I appreciated. Perhaps most helpful for Western tourists, she has experience living abroad, so she is able to explain things in a way that is very clear to non-Indians, and she's aware of what types of spices and products we have access to abroad, and what substitutes can be used. She also took me on a lovely tour of her neighborhood, where I got to meet her local shopkeepers and visit her temple. Unlike some tours, where this type of experience can seem uncomfortable or even a tad exploitative, since this is Sundari's local neighborhood and everyone knows her, it was quite comfortable wandering around with her and meeting people. I felt like I saw more of/ learned more about India in the 5 hours I spent with Sundari than I did in DAYS of other types of sightseeing I have done. Highly recommended!

Sundari was amazing! This was a fantastic way to learn about and get in touch with local culture. It's so difficult as a traveler to meet with and interact with real people who live in the cities we visit, but this was a great way to bridge that. I've recommended it to all my friends who might visit South India soon. Sundari was such a gracious and friendly host and her joy of sharing her own cuisine and culture was readily apparent. I felt so comfortable around her immediately -- she was a great teacher and host.

Cooking with Sundari is the best thing to do in Sundari. Over the course of a warm and welcoming day, you will discover how spices in South Indian cooking inspire love and joy.Learning how to make dosas, beetroot curries and chose masala rounded off what was an excellent trip to Chennai. I learnt how Sundari is inspired by food and what makes her and her husband, Krishna, passionate about sharing dishes and culture.Right from the first first moment I was made to feel right at home an I would encourage anyone to take the time to slow down and connect with these great hosts. This was a truly exceptional experience!10/10.

I had an excellent day with Sundari and her husband Krishna. They were loving, warm and welcoming. They shared with me their passion for their city and how that can be expressed in food. What a treat! The food was delicious and Sundari's warm and welcoming approach made for a calm and pleasurable day. It was a beautiful day with beautiful people

Sundari, is warm and welcoming host that makes you feel like part of her Family. The house is filled with happiness as she is this happy soul that touches your heart. I love her open nature, spirit that made it really far more than a cooking class. She is passionate and loves what she is doing. Beforehand Sundari asked me what I would like to cook, but i trusted her choice and the 3 recipies she showed me were excellent and I can't wait to cook them. In a cozy atmosphere I learned a lot about traditions, beliefs, culture, food while enjoying a delicious home cooked dinner together. We also went together to some local shops where i could buy some of the ingredients to cook some dishes back home.The experience touched my heart and i will remember always.

Sundari was wonderful, sharing her South Indian culture with us before we even stepped inside. We felt so welcomed, it was as if visiting family! Her home is lovely, and we were allowed to take part in some wonderful traditions, in addition to the meal. Sundari was very well organized and clear with the instructions. I loved how many of the ingredients were from her own garden! This was the best experience my friend and I had since coming to India, and the most authentic. I look forward to trying out these recipes at home and hopefully come back to visit! - M. Deonarian

Sundari's expertise in guiding us through the preparation of the cuisine of South India was beautifully balanced by her gift of storytelling. Her grace and charm had us at ease instantly and she made what we thought was complex in the preparation of the meal easily understood and it was absolutely delicious. We left with a greater knowledge of the culture through the welcome blessing, and the additional tour of her local area. Her attention to detail is exceptional. Plus we had the chance to meet her husband Krishna -such interesting conversation, we felt we left with two new friends. For each dish we were encouraged to taste and make suggestions if it was ready, this made us feel we were truly making the dishes ourselves. Sundari has a gift for cooking and for making people feel at ease. - Christopher and Julie, Adelaide Australia

Sundari was one of the best people we met during our month in India. She not only showing us how to make delicious traditional South Indian cuisine, but gave a wonderful glimpse into her family and culture. It was more like visiting a friend than a cooking class by the end of the evening!

Sundari greeted us on the ground floor and invited us into her home. Little did we know this was the home of her deceased mother-in-law. The whole floor was a museum of early generation with antique household items. I was especially impressed with the kitchen. There was an entire room set aside for worship with an elaborate alter. We were graciously welcomed into the second floor home of Sundari and her husband, Krishna. Immediately, we received tea in the living room as she described the evening's menu and Indian spices commonly used in kitchen. In the kitchen Sundari invited to help with measuring, slicing, and mixing the many dishes we would enjoy for dinner. I especially enjoyed helping with the cooking of the "little doughnut" items. This was an excellent introduction into Indian culture and food. I would highly recommend a cooking lesson and meal with Sundari! It totally transformed my Chennai experience.

I highly recommend the dinner and cooking class with Sundari at her home. I was in India for a month to study yoga and stayed at a hotel the entire month. I learned so much about India from visiting a home a speaking to a Madras native. Sundari's English skills are excellent and we talked about much more than cooking. We talked about the Hindu faith and the Indian culture. Sundari shared many stories about her family. I felt that we parted as friends.

Highly recommended. I entered the house thinking that I'd learn some basics of how to cook Tamil Brahmin cuisine. The experience turned out to be much beyond that. Sundari and Krishna greeted me with genuine smile when I first met them, and gave me a tour of their beautiful home before we started getting things started (they even made a personalized welcome-sign on the chalk board in their kitchen). Cooking with them almost made me feel like I was cooking with my own family members in my home kitchen, rather than attending a cooking class. Sundari is a very patient and fun chef, who can share the background of the ingredients and the dish itself. We also went to explore the local marketplace and bonded over homemade filter coffee (traditional coffee of Southern India). If you want a complete immersion to the local culture, great Tamil Brahmin vegetarian food, & great company, I strongly encourage you to visit Sundari's kitchen. You step in their home as a guest, and you step out as a part of their family. Thanks Sundari & Krishna!

Sundari and Krishna were amazing hosts! They really went above and beyond our expectations. We learned a lot about local culture that we wouldn't have otherwise (wedding customs, clothing, and of course, the ingredients themselves), and her food was the best we had during our week spent in India. If I lived in Chennai, I'd want them to adopt me. I've already recommended them to friends who had a great experience as well. Thanks Sundari and Krishna!

While in Southern India for my son's wedding, I was so excited to learn about Traveling Spoon and the incomparable opportunity to indulge in an authentic Southern Indian cooking lesson and home cooked meal. Upon arrival at her home, Sundari greeted us with sincere warmth and hospitality. What a treat to learn how to cook genuine Indian dishes in the kitchen of a local citizen. Sundari speaks perfect English which allowed us to relax and truly enjoy the experience. I fell in love with dosas and had a blast trying to learn to fry them just right. Eating gluten free was much easier than I expected. To have a local professional teach us how to cook and then invite us to dine at her table as we relish the favors and smells, is a totally unique and once in a life time experience. To top it off, Sundari prepared us for the upcoming wedding by showing and describing what we could expect at a Hindu wedding ceremony. It was great to hear her personal experiences of the wedding ceremonies multiple day celebration. Sundari's home is conveniently located near hotels which made it so easy to get there and back. I wholehearted encourage anyone visiting Chennai to schedule time to visit, learn and eat an exquisite meal from the gracious Sundari!

Sundari is a super hospitable host. She welcomed me and my friends at the entrance of her house with her husband and treated us like daughters. They showed us the traditional Indian custom and let us experience them. Surprisingly, she had prepared so many kinds of recipes for the lesson other than those we had ordered beforehand. She showed us how to cook those dishes efficiently and skillfully with humor. And after that, she took us to a local market and showed us unique vegetable and fruits, good coffee and spices. And eventually, we really enjoyed talking and having those many dishes that we cook together. Everything looked great and was amazingly delicious! I think everyone not only vegetarian but also non-vegetarian can get satisfaction from her cooking lesson and hospitality.

This was a wonderful experience. Sundari was a fantastic host and teacher, and all aspects of the day exceeded my expectations. The food was delicious and I left feeling confident that I can cook these dishes at home. In addition to the food and cooking, Sundari shared aspects of her culture, and took me to local places of interest that helped to shape the overall experience. If you are considering this experience, take the chance! I can't recommend it highly enough!

I have done many cooking classes in India and in other countries, but this is by far, the best class I have ever done. Not only I learned new ways and recipes to cook, but I also learned invaluable insights into the culture and customs of India from Sundari. Her sincerity and hospitality made the experience unforgettable. Her husband was also a great host - very friendly and open. They truly welcomed me into their home and their hearts. Thank you very much.

Sundari's expertise in guiding us through the preparation of the cuisine of South India was beautifully balanced by her gift of storytelling. Her grace and charm had us at ease instantly and she made what we thought was complex in the preparation of the meal easily understood and it was absolutely delicious. We left with a greater knowledge of the culture through the welcome blessing, and the additional tour of her local area. Her attention to detail is exceptional. Plus we had the chance to meet her husband Krishna -such interesting conversation, we felt we left with two new friends.

Sundari not only let us experience cooking in her wonderful kitchen, she gave us so much information about her city, her customs, traditional home life, and family. We were there during Diwali so she included us in some of the wonderful celebrations for that festival. We also got to walk around her neighborhood meeting her market friends, like her tailor, etc. and visited her temple. It was exactly what we had hoped for and more. She was gracious, kind, has a great sense of humor and made us feel like friends, not just "clients". The food was amazing, and the time spent was well worth it! What a memorable evening!

The experience was beyond my imagination! I entered the house thinking that I'll learn some basics of how to cook Tamil Brahmin cuisine. The experience turned out to be much beyond that. Sundari and Krishna greeted me with genuine smile when I first met them, and gave me a tour of their beautiful home before we started getting things started (they even made a personalized welcome-sign on the chalk board in their kitchen). Cooking with them almost made me feel like I was cooking with my own family members in my home kitchen, rather than attending a cooking class. Sundari is a very patient and fun chef, who can share the background of the ingredients and the dish itself. We also went to explore the local marketplace and bonded over homemade filter coffee (traditional coffee of Southern India). If you want a complete immersion to the local culture, great Tamil Brahmin vegetarian food, & great company, I strongly encourage you to visit Sundari's kitchen. You step in their home as a guest through traveling spoon, but you step out as a part of their family. Thanks Sundari & Krishna!

Sundari was wonderful, sharing her South Indian culture with us before we even stepped inside. We felt so welcomed, it was as if visiting family! Her home is lovely, and we were allowed to take part in some wonderful traditions, in addition. To the meal. Shndari was very well organized and clear with the instructions. I loved how many of the ingredients were from her own garden! This was the best experience my friend and I had since coming to India, and the most authentic. I look forward to trying out these recipes at home and hopefully come back to visit!

Sundari and Krishna were amazing hosts! They really went above and beyond our expectations. We learned a lot about local culture that we wouldn't have otherwise (wedding customs, clothing, and of course, the ingredients themselves), and her food was the best we had during our week spent in India. If I lived in Chennai, I'd want them to adopt me. I've already recommended them to friends who had a great experience as well. Thanks Sundari and Krishna!

There is no way I am going to be able to describe a day like today and give it the justice it deserves. The start began with a long overdue jog on the gym treadmill. It was refreshing to know that after a couple of days hiatus, it did not take long to get the kinks out. Downstairs for a lite fruit breakfast and then around the corner to stock up on bottled water. That left little time to prepare for the day, shower and pick up of a cake to supplement the day’s lunch. Uber at the ready and I was off to class. Was pleasantly surprised to find my hostess waiting for my arrival. It was magical the way we instantaneously hit it off. An exchange of smiles, a nod and whatever cultural barriers might have existed, evaporated. Sundari Krisha is a well-known awarded chef who specializes in vegetarian cuisine. Her classes are very well received for their flavor preparation and her willingness to accommodate the gamut of foreign palates. Her time spent in Dubai, Thailand, the U.S., Europe and India provide her with an open mindedness that serves her students and is shown in her attitude towards cooking. The day’s menu was specially formulated by my replies to her previous days’ texts. This class might have been postponed, but because of the day, I was to be her only student. There was even an invitational colored flour mandala on the marble tile, which, no pun intended ‘floored me.’ The menu began with a starter of Masala (spice mixture) Dosa (thin crisp rice flour tortilla) filled with a rich intense flavored filling (Burrito-like, if the outside was crunchy). Option to cook or watch, I opted for a lazy combination of the two. Between sets, Sundari confided about her love of cooking, her classes and how that all fit into her family life. The tidbits learned will be eagerly duplicated back at home. Who knew that premium rice is aged three years? The second course was a Shai cauliflower korma (stew) complemented by homemade roti (bread). And to finish it off, Aubergine (small eggplant) lentil mixture joined by vegetable rice. The meal was delicious and conversation flowed effortlessly. To top it off, the selected cake, a chocolate ganache, ended up being the perfect choice. Hours passed before my body told me I had spent most of it happily sitting, eating and conversing.