VS Mani & Co.

The story of VS Mani & Co. starts in a quiet, idyllic corner of Madras, where I lived with my parents, and my doting grandparents, VS Thatha and Rajam Paati.

Life at #20, 1st Main Road was simple, unhurried, yet purposeful. From Thatha and Paati, I learnt to appreciate the gentle joys of living - Thatha’s supreme enjoyment of coffee, Paati’s melodious humming as she went about her work, their amicable banter when they occasionally joined forces in the kitchen.

Life lessons were aplenty and I imbibed them unconsciously. Orderliness and discipline extended to everything, from the way Thatha carefully thumbed through his newspaper to how he heaped molaga podi on his plate. Thatha and Paati were broadminded souls and they encouraged open conversations about everything under the sun. I learnt my first lessons in finance, time-management, career planning, even philosophy, over lively discussions at the dining table.

Above all, a lot of love went around at home, and one of the chief ways it found expression was through delicious food and snacks. It wasn’t restricted to family - every guest to our home was welcomed with the choicest dishes, regardless of the time of day or night.

VS Mani & Co. is my attempt to recapture the familial warmth and love that enveloped us. When you sample the wholesome delicacies that brought us together, I hope you are reminded of your home and family too.