Sitara Cariappa, a proud member of the Kodava community, writes a blog titled The Drunken Pig, documents many nostalgic, yet lesser-known stories from the hilly region of Kodagu or Coorg.
“The Drunken Pig was a name that I coined in connection with my alcohol-based meat recipes,” the epicure remembers. Initially, she posted photos of her meals on Instagram.
“During the pandemic, I would sit with my grandmother, Lakshmi Ganapathy, for hours as she told us stories about foraging in the olden times and cooking in large quantities for her joint family.”
“All Kodava, no matter where they live, have the urge to connect with other fellow Kodavas in and around your city,” quips Cariappa, who has a degree in Psychology.
Kodavas were traditionally agro-pastoral in nature, they relied solely on mixed farming techniques as a means of livelihood, that is in agriculture and raising livestock, she details.
Cariappa doesn’t forget to mention the Kodava meals she and her siblings grew up eating. Along with stellar photos, she even posts detailed recipes of these mouth-watering meals.
“If I don’t practice it, I don’t think I can convince someone to try it. If I need to get someone to crave it, I better learn to cook it like my mother does.” she adds.