Kerala Cuisine Introduced on Vande Bharat Express; New Menu Replaces North Indian Fare
Thiruvananthapuram: Passengers have expressed high satisfaction with the quality of food now being served by new contractors on the Mangaluru-Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express. The revised catering, which commenced yesterday, marks a significant shift from the previously offered North Indian menu, now featuring an entirely Kerala-centric culinary selection.
The new menu for vegetarians includes Matta rice, a staple in Kerala, replacing Basmati. Complementing this are traditional dishes such as chapati, cherupayar thoran (mung bean stir-fry), kalan, an authentic Alappuzha-style vegetable curry, curd, and the popular dessert, palada payasam. For non-vegetarian passengers, chicken curry is now served. Direct feedback collected by IRCTC supervisors from travelers consistently indicated an improvement in food quality.
Passengers have also put forward requests for the railway authorities to maintain the improved quality consistently and to introduce periodic variations in the dishes offered. Furthermore, suggestions were made to intensify inspections at food preparation facilities to ensure hygiene and standards. Currently, A.S. Sale Corporation is responsible for food distribution on the Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod Vande Bharat service, while Sankalp Creations manages catering for the Mangaluru-Thiruvananthapuram route.