Chef Damu | |
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Born | Damodharan Kothandaraman |
Other names | Damu |
Occupation | Chef |
Dr. Damodharan Kothandaraman, professionally known as Chef Damu,[1] is an Indian celebrity chef. He has hosted numerous cooking shows and reality cooking competitions in various Tamil language television channels, most notably serving as a judge on Cooku with Comali which was telecast on Star Vijay. In 2010, he received a Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.[2] He became the first Indian chef to receive a Ph.D in Hotel Management and Catering Technology. His doctorate was awarded by the University of Madras in 2004.[3] He has made a few appearances in Tamil films. He has played a significant role in popularizing South Indian cuisine both domestically and internationally, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the culinary world.
In December 2010, Damodharan cooked 617 dishes consisting of 190 kilograms of food in a day. He began cooking at 8 o'clock in the morning on 21 December and cooked for a period of 24 hours, 30 minutes, and 12 seconds. Chef Damu authored several cookbooks, sharing his recipes and culinary insights with a wider audience. His books became bestsellers, attracting readers who were eager to learn authentic South Indian cooking techniques from a master chef.
In addition to his television appearances and cookbooks, Chef Damu conducted numerous culinary workshops and demonstrations. These workshops provided aspiring chefs and cooking enthusiasts with hands-on experience and practical knowledge, helping them improve their culinary skills.[4][5] Damodharan was also a judge at The Hindu's Our State Our Taste competition for 15 cities in Tamil Nadu.[6]