EO focuses on modernisation of Annaprasadam wing

Tirumala Tirumala: Renowned chefs and culinary experts from South India suggested TTD to modernise the Annaprasadam to serve tasty and hygienic food to pilgrims. As a part of the departmental review meeting, TTD EO Shyamala Rao held a review meeting on Annaprasadam – kitchen modernisation and other issues with TTD JEO Veerabrahmam and chefs of South India Association at the conference hall of Gokulam Rest House in Tirumala. The EO invited suggestions and comments from renowned chefs, who formed a committee to improve the quality and taste of Annaprasadam served to devotees at Tirumala. All the chefs and culinary experts shared their views with the EO as they had earlier visited MTVAC and observed the cooking, serving, storage, cleaning and related activities. Appreciating the taste of food being served to devotees under Annaprasadam at Tirumala, food experts gave some suggestions, including studying gap analysis, preparing SOPs in every sphere of activity, increasing professionalism by training the serving staff, provision of in-house lab to check the quality of ingredients as hygiene process starts from the food material, implementing proper waste management system in a sustainable way, frequent cleaning and painting, mechanisation of equipment to prepare tasty food faster, food analyst to conduct testing every three months and many more. Welcoming their suggestions, the EO said the department would come up with a concrete plan on their requirements and another round of meeting would be held in this regard. Deputy EO Rajendra, Special Catering Officer S Shastri, expert committee members including GRT Group of Hotels CEO Vijay Vikram Kotah, renowned chef Dr Damodaran, President – South India Chefs Association, Chef Thirulogchander, Head, Indian Culinary Institute – Tirupati, Chef Sitalam Prasad, Corporate Executive Chef, GRT Hotels & Resorts, Chef Manohar, Deepak Kitchen Consultants and designer Ritesh Chaudhary were also present. Later, the EO also reviewed the day-wise darshan format, Srivani and others with CVSO Narasimha Kishore, GM (Transport) Shesha Reddy, temple Deputy EO Loknatham and others.