Where heirloom meets heart

We took a little trip to Karnataka — after all, plopping onto your neighbour's courtyard every now and then is the neighbourly thing to do, isn't it? And if they offer you a meal, you simply do not refuse.

- NITIKA KRISHNA

At Feast, Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel, Chef Spoorthi TN treated us to a deliciously homely experience featuring ancestral dishes and coastal delights in a pop-up called "The Southern Table", presented by Southern Aura.

We were welcomed with a vibrant marigold-coloured drink called Muskmelon Panaka, a soothing blend of muskmelon, cardamom, jaggery and just a whisper of lemon juice. The hints of edible camphor in the divine concoction made us momentarily wander off to Tirupati devalayam for a devotional stroll, before we were gently brought back to Karnataka as our noses picked up diverse scents from the thali before us.

We smiled in glee; a thali means you are the master of your own palate — you can mix, match, and even have dessert first if you like! And that's exactly what we did, digging right into the wobbly, inviting Ilaneer Soufflé. This tropical soufflé, made with tender coconut pulp, was light, fresh and sweet... ah, knocking on heaven's doors, are we?