food Citizen Matters, Chennai

COVID-19: Will eateries ever be the same again in our city?

April 25, 2020 Bhavani Prabhakar

As the lockdown continues, hotels and eateries face a major slump. With no clear directives from the government and business at an all-time low, both owners and employees stare at an uncertain future.

Immunity boosting foods to help stave off the coronavirus

April 11, 2020 Divya Satyaraj

Nutrionist Divya Satyaraj suggests some immunity boosting foods to help keep oneself healthy during this crisis and at all times

List of all Amma Unavagams in Chennai that are open during the lockdown

April 2, 2020 Bhavani Prabhakar

Chennai has 407 Amma Unavagams functioning through the day, from 6 am to 9 pm, during the lockdown. With eateries closed, these have recorded more footfall and have been equipped to cater to even more. Find the list of all operational canteens in Chennai here.

Let’s go to Spring Potato beach; sorry, we mean Besant Nagar beach

December 8, 2019 Mahesh V

Besant Nagar beach is unrecognisable to old timers, thanks to over a hundred Spring Potato shops. What do they sell? Do they get any customers? Don’t they need permission to operate in a public space? What’s it doing to the beach? Many questions, few answers..

Nagpur, Kolkata or Panruti — where do the veggies you cook everyday come from?

August 1, 2019 Sri Loganathan

Every vegetable has a fascinating journey before it reaches the Koyambedu market and from there to your kitchen. See what sellers have to say about where the different kinds and varieties are actually grown.

Soil to platter: Where do the fruits we eat in Chennai come from?

June 25, 2019 Sri Loganathan

Kiwi and Lichi for Chennaiites? Hear from the sellers at the famous Koyambedu fruit market to discover the journey of your favourite fruits.

New age jobs: How much does your food delivery guy earn?

November 19, 2018 Aruna Natarajan

When was the last time that you were out in the city and did not come across a Swiggy or a Zomato or an UberEats delivery guy? But even as hordes of youth take to these jobs, here’s a balanced look at the perks and pitfalls of working in the sector.

Colistin-resistant bacteria in your food: What does that really mean?

November 14, 2018 Aruna Natarajan

A recent study looking at food samples from Chennai were found to contain bacteria resistant to an ‘antibiotic of last resort’. But how does such bacteria enter our food? Here are a few things you should know.

Life on the go: Meet your Swiggy delivery person

November 12, 2018 Aruna Natarajan

Food delivery persons face many hardships on the job, including dealing with ‘hangry’ people on a daily basis. Yet, they soldier on in the face of a lack of enough alternatives and in hopes of a better future. A chat with a delivery person for Swiggy in Chennai.

7600 families, one PDS centre: How resettled slum dwellers buy rations in Perumbakkam

April 2, 2018 Laasya Shekhar

Carpenters, electricians, domestic workers — for many residents at the Ezhil Nagar resettlement, getting their quota under the PDS means multiple visits, and hence days of leave from work that they can ill afford. Even then, supplies are not guaranteed.

“Want organic? Grow your own food”: Chennai IT-professional-turned-farmer

January 16, 2018 Athher Ahmed

A city-bred professional who has turned to full-fledged farming feels there can be no organic food without integrated natural farming and relates his personal story to underline why.

Dinners with Dignity – the T Nagar dinner drive for the homeless

August 18, 2016 Bhuvana Rajaram

The Joy of Giving offers so much satisfaction and adds a definite meaning and purpose to our lives. The joy of sharing and giving is especially much more significant when we live in a world