Dr Leela Manjooran, the hostess who hails from a Syrian Christian family with an ancient lineage, is a retired Professor of Politics from a reputed city college. Hospitality runs in her blood and she is well versed in the art of entertaining guests. Passionate about cooking and meeting people, she specializes in traditional Syrian Christian cuisine tried and tested in the family for generations. For a decade now, she has opened her home to tourists from different corners of the globe. To quote her, " Their testimony is our strength. We enjoy each other's company. Many still stay in touch "
Sadya at Thanal - a Home-hosted ' Meal with a Family ' program is run by the Trio, Dr Leela, her husband, Mr. Anto David, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Customs and son Tharun Anto with a masters in Hospitality Management from Switzerland.
Dr. Leela is also part of a twin movement -one against the use of plastic and the other for women empowerment. WIFE, Women Initiative For Earth, is an activity in that direction. By training and employing members of Kudumbasree (a statewide organisation for economically backward women) to stitch cloth bags as an alternative to plastic, provides them a means of living. By popularizing cloth bags, the Initiative hopes to minimize the use of plastic and thereby save the earth.
Kerala is the home of an array of tastes, the result of the myriad influences in History. The delicious and aromatic appetizers and traditional dishes tantalise the taste buds with a variety of flavours. Come to THANAL, our home, nestled in the heart of the city amidst greenery to embark on a journey that will introduce you to some of the representative food items of the time tested Kerala cuisine. All these dishes are prepared according to the time bound traditions of Kerala with original spices. Dr Leela and her family serve authentic traditional Syrian Christian meals to their guests. The tasty dishes,the beautiful ambience and the warmth of the hosts make your visit to THANAL a unique experience. You leave with an urge to come back sometime.
You not only enjoy the food, you also get to see how it is made. You can even try your hand at cooking at our home. This hands on experience will be a memorable and unforgettable memory of your trip. It could be like 'you cook and eat in our home'.
Most guests look forward to a Kerala experience. Other than food and food related activities, We have lively and interesting discussions on many a topic covering socio- political and economic areas. With their long term career experience, the hosts are able to provide meaningful discussions that will offer an insight into the melting pot of Kerala customs.
A visit to the local market is arranged for the guests on request. It gives them a feel of a real Kerala market and an idea about the variety of our vegetables and spices. Join us if you wish to have an interesting journey to the local market for a market experience
