 |
| Jayasree, 'Swadisht' Pallikkathodu, Kottayam. |
A post graduate in history, Jayasree had historical factors to propel her as an excellent cook and subsequently a successful entrepreneur. Her mother was an accomplished cook and her mother-in-law luckily turned out to be another super cook.
At first her skills were known only in the limited family circle. But an incident occurred that propelled her into entrepreneurship.
A lady, returning to her place of work abroad, requested Jayasree if she could prepare for her some ‘chammanthy powder’ to carry along. It was then that Jayasree thought of the possibility of utilizing her talent for a larger clientele.
So she prepared some 'chammanthy powder' and requested a bakery in Changanassery to market it. It wasn’t long before the product became a super hit with the customers. Soon, the bakery started insisting on her to supply the product on a daily basis. They were even prepared to supply her coconuts from Changanassery for the purpose.
Sensing the demand, she and her husband opened a one-room outlet at their place, Pallikkathodu, Kottayam. Realising that ‘chammanthy powder’ alone cannot be the marketing proposition of the outlet, they started diversifying into pickles and preserved food.
By then, demand had become steady and so she ventured into preparing dishes for traditional luncheons. These dishes are sold by weight.
After all the cooking is over, there is a ritual of her husband Rajagopal tasting the dishes and certifying their marketability. Thus family effort is the cornerstone of her confidence and impetus for their onward forays.
Courtesy:
M.George
(text), Rocky George (photo), Karshakashree, April 2010
Contributed by: Administrator
