Suvai 2025: A Three-Day Immersive Culinary Retreat in the Heart of Chettinad at THE Park Hotels

Experience Chettinad like never before with Suvai’s Immersive Culinary Retreat, a three-day journey from July 18 to 20, 2025, that takes you deep into the cultural and gastronomic heart of Tamil Nadu. Curated by THE Lotus Palace Chettinad in collaboration with Chettinad’s most iconic heritage properties - The Bangala, Visalam, Chidambara Vilas, and Chettinadu Mansion - this retreat blends heritage, travel, and taste into a richly layered experience.

Across three thoughtfully curated days, the retreat unfolds through progressive Chettinad dining experiences, elaborate wedding-style banana leaf feasts, immersive culinary trails, and intimate high teas at historic mansions. Guests will engage in spice tastings, visit bustling antique and cookware markets, and enjoy sherbets, snacks, and traditional tiffin-style dinners, all while being serenaded by live music. Curated menus by acclaimed chefs — Chef Niyati Rao (Ekaa Mumbai) and Chef Ashutosh Nerlekar (THE Park Chennai), reflect layered spice profiles and global influences shaped by centuries of Chettiar trade. Adding depth to the experience are cooking demonstrations, a culinary heritage walk, and conversations with historians and authors such as V. Sriram and Meyyammai, offering insights into the region’s living legacy.

At the core of Suvai lies the legacy of the Nagarathar (Nattukottai Chettiar) community, whose contributions to commerce, architecture, and cuisine have left an indelible mark across South and Southeast Asia. Through this retreat, guests are invited to rediscover Chettinad cuisine far beyond the familiar link exploring heirloom recipes, traditional cookware, and culinary rituals passed down through generations. All in all, the Suvai Food Festival promises a rare and indulgent immersion into one of India’s most vibrant culinary cultures.