Coimbatore woman wins cooking contest

A complete meal compising chicken ice stick, butter milk, 'kuzhambu' and chicken gravy made by 31-year-old from Coimbatore trumped ten participants to bag top prize and became the cooking queen at 'Mallika-E-Kitchen' season grand finale here today.
K N Nitya a homemaker, mother and a wife, who hails from Coimbatore had been won several awards on Tamil television cookery shows, but says this is the first time at the national level.
"I don't know how to express my happiness.Cooking has always been my passion. This title has given me an opportunity to commerce my journey in the culinary world. Iam hoping to make India proud at the International level", says Nitay who has been crowned cooking queen of "Mallika-E-Kitchen" season-5 TV show.

The amateur cooking show contest selected 11 winners from different zones from the country for the grand finale. The show, sponsored by LG electronics which began on September 18 saw participation of 3000 aspirants from across 60 cities.
"It's a good platform where the women get appreciation and they grow emotionally stronger and more independent. The reality shows and other cookery shows are stretching out a big platform for the amateur cooks. This help them attain more confidence and come up with innovative, little-known tasty dishes," says Nita Mehta, a celebrated cook and author who was on the jury.
The runner up Sonia Bhattacharjee, 21, who hails from Kolkata says she finds time for cooking even though she is busy with her final year dental surgery classes.

"I find ample time for my passion and studies. I enjoy each and every moment when I cook. I feel honoured and different avenues are opened. These type of platforms inspire housewives to turn meals into something else. And also it expose the amateurs to national and international dishes which are unheard of," says Sonia.
Nitya, is set to represent the coutnry at the finale of 'Grand Master Home Chef' show at Cape Town in South Africa first week of next month.