𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘧𝘴 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘚𝘐𝘊𝘈) 𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴 𝘗𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘢 𝘚𝘩𝘳𝘪 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘦 𝘋𝘳.𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘧 𝘒.𝘋𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯

Chennai, April 29, 2025: South India Chefs Association (SICA) hosted a grand felicitation ceremony in honour of Padma Shri Dr. Chef K. Damodaran — affectionately known as Chef Damu — following his distinguished recognition by the Government of India with the Padma Shri award, one of the nation’s highest civilian honours, for his exemplary contribution to the culinary arts and South Indian gastronomy at Radisson Blu Hotel & Suites, GRT, Chennai.

South India Chefs Association (SICA) Honours Padma Shri Awardee Dr.Chef K.Damodaran

The Felicitation Ceremony was graced by eminent personalities, including Chef Manjit Singh Gill, President, Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA), Chef Sheetharam Prasaath, General Secretary of SICA and Vice President of IFCA, Board Members of SICA and IFCA and Distinguished Executive Chefs, General Managers, Deans, and Directors of leading hospitality institutions and also Esteemed representatives from the Government of Tamil Nadu, TTDC, ITDC, and the wider hospitality fraternity.

Youtube Video link 👇 

Together, they paid tribute to a luminary whose life and work have become synonymous with excellence, generosity, and inspiration. Chef Damu’s family, whose steadfast support has been integral to his journey, graced the occasion, adding an emotional resonance to the morning proceedings.

Jointly hosted by SICA and IFCA, the event served not only as a formal felicitation but also as a poignant celebration of a legacy that continues to inspire generations. Finally, SICA 7th Edition of Culinary Olympiad Logo  & Rule book Launched and the event tobe held in the month of September 2025.

Padma Shri Dr. Chef K. Damodaran:

A Life Devoted to Culinary Excellence

  • Dr. Chef Damodaran’s illustrious journey is a testament to unwavering passion, perseverance, and an enduring commitment to the art of hospitality. 

Academic and Professional Journey:

  • Graduated in Commerce from Madurai Kamaraj University.
  • Diploma in Hotel Management, Institute of Hotel Management, Chennai.
  • MBA from Madras University.
  • First Indian to earn a Ph.D. in Hotel Management.

Culinary Career:

  • Over 50 years of experience in the hospitality industry.
  • Specializes in Chettinad and South Indian cuisine.
  • Worked with renowned hotel brands, gaining expertise and recognition.

Educational Contributions:

  • Mentored over 6,000 students at institutions including Dr. M.G.R. University, EMPEE Institutions, and ASAN Memorial College.
  • Authored four textbooks for hotel management students.

Global Recognition:

  • Guinness World Record (December 2010) for the longest individual cooking marathon, preparing 617 dishes.

Media and Publications:

  • Prominent TV appearances on Raj TV, Pothigai, Jaya TV, and Vijay TV.
  • Popular figure on the show "Cook with Comali."
  • Authored 17 cookbooks with over 2,700 recipes.

Social Initiatives:

  • Collaborated with Tamil Nadu Government (2008-2011) to enhance the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
  • Trained 1,40,000 Noon Meal Workers across 32 districts.
  • Actively engaged in charitable activities through SICA to promote culinary standards and welfare.

****

Popular posts from this blog

மக்கள் படை கட்சியின் 2026 சட்டமன்ற வேட்பாளர் பட்டியல் வெளியீடு – பொதுச் செயலாளர் ராம்பிரகாஷ் அறிவிப்பு

THANC Hospital Opens 'Chennai Breast Centre' | Focuses on Women's Health & Breast Cancer Awareness

𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘪 𝘏𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 64𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘎𝘔 & 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢 (𝘍𝘗𝘛𝘈)

𝘒𝘢𝘶𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘝𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘪 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘤 – “𝘒𝘢𝘶𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬” 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘪 & 𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴

𝘗𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 & 𝘍𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘷𝘵. 𝘓𝘵𝘥. 𝘜𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘰 – 𝘈 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘝𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘋𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯