Food is the dominating twin of Rakesh Raghunathan, whose interest lay in distinguishing spices and different types of Rasam, as other 9 year olds played outdoors. Long dinner table discourses to the point of being absurd, revolving around the worthiness of food crafted everyday, set the tone for his adult years. The abiding passion has remained with him, as he has spent the last decade of his life founding a chain of wraps in Chennai, hosting a food and travel show on TV (Dakshin Diaries on Living Foodz (part of Zee Entertainment Ltd)), and co-creating Puliyogare Travels. The subject of variously sarcasm, wit and glory for his level of interest in food, Rakesh wears it proudly on his sleeve, as he goes about discovering new palettes and sensory experiences. Born with a ladle, Rakesh’s mission is to bring to your desks and TVs [and if you’re married to him, your table!], a new food experience, every other day.
When he’s not stirring the pot, or invading your kitchen, Rakesh spends his time helping hotel chains and food brands with developing recipes, training chefs, branding and marketing strategies
Full-time litigating lawyer, and co-creator of Puliyogare Travels, Preeti Mohan is the perfect counterfoil to Rakesh. While Rakesh thrives on energy, creativity and the bigger picture, for Preeti, the devil is really in the detail. Years of combing through legal drafts and strategizing have equipped her to bring the skills of reasoning and precision, to conceptualizing and running Puliyogare Travels. When not trapped by a cerebral perspective, she loves unleashing her creative side through writing. She has written on the arts, culture and social issues for a range of publications, and with Puliyogare travels, marries her love for the pen with that for food and travel!
Our social networks:
Feel free to get in touch for new initiatives across food, travel and media.Mail us –rakesh@rakeshraghunathan.com
61 Comments
Swarna Rajesh
September 2, 2015 at 10:16 amIt is truly refreshing to follow your page…full of soul food of our very own south !!!keep up the good job guyz!!
Cheers!
Puliyogare Travels
September 4, 2015 at 10:02 amHey Swarna, this is of great encouragement. Thanks a lot 🙂 Cheers!
Puliyogare Travels
November 25, 2015 at 6:20 amThanks Swarna
roopa
October 5, 2015 at 3:13 amhave been following the suttralam suvaikkalam episodes on youtube… great job Rakesh and the entire team… 🙂 Looking forward to many more episodes of authentic traditional gourmet cooking.. Cheers…
Puliyogare Travels
October 5, 2015 at 11:59 amThanks a lot Roopa. Good to know you’re catching the show too. There’s tons more to explore in South India alone..so yeah, keep watching 🙂 Cheers!
sunil
January 27, 2016 at 8:41 pmGreat Job Rajesh found your website after seeing suttralam suvaikkalam on youtube. Please keep up the good work ,
Puliyogare Travels
January 28, 2016 at 4:15 amThanks a lot Sunil 🙂
Puliyogare Travels
January 29, 2016 at 2:08 pmThanks a lot sunil 🙂
Shyam Sunder
January 29, 2016 at 10:57 amHey Rakesh, We have lot in common. I used to do this several years ago with various locations across south to north India. Covering people n cooks or great places to eat. I am now in Pune, however Chennai is where my heart is. Great going and excellent cover on Achi topic across karaikudi.
Puliyogare Travels
January 30, 2016 at 3:01 amHey Shyam, great to hear from you. Have you written about your trails? Would love to read it. Cheers!
Janani Pugazharasu
February 19, 2016 at 6:02 pmFabulous job Rakesh and the entire team for bringing us the array of delicious foods, their preparation, the place where they are available right at our desk. Myself and my whole family are a great fan of ‘Sutralaam Suvaikalaam’ show and never miss to watch it. Keep-up the pace and looking forward to more interesting cusines in your show. All the very best and may the odds be ever in your favour.
Puliyogare Travels
February 22, 2016 at 3:21 amThanks a lot Janani. Thrilled to know. Cheers!
Puliyogare Travels
March 1, 2016 at 1:47 amThanks Janani, means a lot. Encouragement like this is what keeps us going. Cheers!
Divya Anthony
March 6, 2016 at 4:05 pmRakesh sir.. “Suttralam suvaikalam” is one of the best food shows and its because of you. Such a love and passion !!
And this blog is really very interesting.
All the best !!😃
Puliyogare Travels
March 9, 2016 at 4:57 amDivya! Thanks a lot. So good to know you love the show and my blog. Cheers!
Shubha Ananthakrishnan
March 22, 2016 at 10:53 pmRakesh – we are ardent fans of sutralaam suvaikkalam. Love your description of foods as you taste them! More episodes please!!
Shubha and Ananth
Puliyogare Travels
March 26, 2016 at 11:04 amHi Shubha & Ananth, Thank you guys so much. Appreciate you guys taking time off to write and encourage me. Cheers!
malathi
June 7, 2016 at 3:58 pmhi rakesh, i appreciate you its a good job ,you are giving us regional and authentic food in sutralam suvaikalam and gathering many information .looking forward for more variety of food.
Puliyogare Travels
June 10, 2016 at 7:04 amThank you so much Malathi 🙂
the UPbeat soul
July 1, 2016 at 12:49 pmInitially, I’m thinking to myself “Wow, this is such an appealing blog!” And then, I go “Wait a minute, this guy looks familiar!” 🙂 What I love about what you do is your focus on history when you discuss food. We tend to take food for granted now, but to see how it’s evolved at different places in Tamil Nadu is phenomenal. Looking forward to learning more from you; cheers! 🙂
Puliyogare Travels
July 2, 2016 at 1:56 amHey. Thank you so much. We have a lot of history in the food we eat and that remains undocumented. I am just doing a small bit for the love of food. Thanks again 😃
Sathish Rayalu
July 11, 2016 at 5:14 amhi bro,my family like ur program,we r following your program from last October,,,,nice one,,u can include some more history detailing to ur program,,especially my wife like ur way of anchoring ,different from other media as they follow company.but your is a step ahead.keep it up bro,
Puliyogare Travels
July 16, 2016 at 10:57 amThank you Sathish. Regards to your wife.
Kanthi
July 18, 2016 at 7:32 amThanks for ur recepices .pls u plan to travel south .means andhra,i m sure ur enjoy.vareity food.i m sure ur small screen best anchor
Puliyogare Travels
July 21, 2016 at 5:18 amThank you Kanthi
Luthufia
July 27, 2016 at 10:13 amWatch your sutralam suvaikalam programme in YouTube. Made a few and got thumbs up from my hubby! The way you appreciate food and the people who cook is really enchanting! Keep up your good work!
Puliyogare Travels
July 28, 2016 at 4:35 amThank you so much for taking the time to write to me Luthufia 🙂
Venkatesh
July 30, 2016 at 1:01 pmHi Rakesh , i stay in London and I am a great fan of your Sutralam Suvikalam I don’t miss them, keep exploring new food , new places and it’s really interesting to watch.
Puliyogare Travels
July 31, 2016 at 6:16 amThank you Venkatesh. So good to know you love my show. Cheers!!
Rajesh
July 31, 2016 at 11:41 pmSir…you are excellently doing this programme.wishng you get more success.i love to see your programme thru you tube…..Rajesh madurai
Puliyogare Travels
August 24, 2016 at 1:49 amThank you so much Rajesh
Zackirunissha
August 29, 2016 at 5:25 pmHi Rakesh….nice show….I want to say one thing…u believe it or not my son has become a fan of you…I asked him the reason…he said that you are the only anchor who clarifies each n everything very patiently n NEATLY…n he liked the way you say VANAKKAM ……WATCHING ALL YOUR shows THRU YOUTUBE….all d the best for your future endeavours…..
Puliyogare Travels
August 30, 2016 at 10:35 amThank you so much Zackirunissha. Say hello to your son from me 🙂
Parithi
September 18, 2016 at 12:32 pmHi Rakesh,
One of your greatest fans here from Chennai 🙂 I’ve been following you through every way I can, your article on The Hindu, your Blog and your awesome show “Sutralam Suvaikalam” for months now on YouTube. Being a food lover and used-to-be-blogger myself, you are such an amazing inspiration for me who portrays what a person can become just by having true love for his/her passion and pursuing a career by following their hearts 🙂 Congrats all the way and I wish you the very best for the future to come. Along with my wife, we watch your show for every breakfast and dinner. And we hope to seeing you more in the years to come 🙂
All The Best,
Parithi.
Puliyogare Travels
September 24, 2016 at 4:26 pmHey Parithi, great to hear from you. So glad you love my show and follow my work closely. Really means a lot and gives me a lot of encouragement. Hello to your wife. Thanks again. Regards , Rakesh
N.Kumar
September 24, 2016 at 7:03 amDear Rakesh, have been watching your show, it’s fantastic, not only the traditional foods but also covering the special things about that place. It’s really interesting. It added flavour to your show. All the best for your future shows.
Puliyogare Travels
September 24, 2016 at 4:28 pmDear Kumar, thank you very much. We have so much to offer in our country and I take absolute pleasure in researching and showcasing it thanks again. Rakesh
Ambika vijay
October 23, 2016 at 11:00 amHello sir,awesome works by you….we love ur show” suttralaam suvaikalam” ..like anything….we never miss it…they way u taste the foodies and the words u add to appreciate and encourage the persob are really fabulous….!!! U r one of the best host I have ever seen…the interest,passion for food ,observation, patience really really super….keep going….cheers.
Puliyogare Travels
October 24, 2016 at 5:58 pmThank you Ambika. So good to know you guys love the show. 🙂
Yogesh
December 17, 2016 at 3:19 amHi, Do you guys cater for marriage ceremonies? If yes, then I would like to discuss about that. Please let me know you response.
Puliyogare Travels
December 18, 2016 at 5:59 amHi yogesh, we do not cater but have caterers who I work with on menus regularly. I do consult for wedding menus if that is something you’d like.
Ranjani
March 5, 2017 at 4:42 pmHi Rakesh,
Watching this show from canada… just out of curiosity, i watched 1 show and got addicted and watched them one by one.. you are so natural at mingling with local crowd..your charisma and sweet smile sure adds value to this show.. would love to meet you when i visit india and keep in touch.
Ps: only thing i didn’t like was seeing, cooking and eating meat/egg based items as I am pure vegetarian. I switch off tv when the episode is all about meat items only..
Puliyogare Travels
March 5, 2017 at 4:43 pmThank you Ranjani. Good to know you liked the show. I understand your sentiments 🙂
Vasubhai Fernswala
March 21, 2017 at 12:05 pmHi Rakesh, I am now blissfully retired, having been abroad for well over 35 years. As I have loads of free time, I started browsing the net and found your Sutralam Suvaikkalam show on YouTube. What started as a casual watch, has now become a religious duty!! My wife is still wondering as to what is so good about this that I spend so much time watching this program. I like everything, the person, the presentation, the feel and the information. All the very best Rakesh. On the border area food,it would be nice if the exact place name and an approximate distance from a main city.. It is just a suggestion. All the best and God bless.
Puliyogare Travels
March 22, 2017 at 1:47 pmDear Sir. Thank you very much. So glad that you’re able to connect with this show really well. Thanks again. Certainly means a lot.
Abu
April 15, 2017 at 9:39 amHey Rakesh,
What happened to the Sutralam Suvaikalam show…I am not seeing the latest episodes in youtube..
Puliyogare Travels
April 15, 2017 at 4:30 amHey Abu, the old ones are in repeat for the next few months
Abu
April 15, 2017 at 7:39 pmThanks buddy for the info….I never watch any of the cooking of show in my life…but I like your show and your way delivering the content….It is something different from others…When we will be planning for a vacation to India we have a plan to try few things came in your show like border parotta, srivilliputhur palkova, mint street lassi, ambur star biriyani etc..Keep rocking…We are waiting for new episodes…
Murali
May 12, 2017 at 2:46 pmHi Rakesh, After watching your Pondi special, the I visited Tanto Pizzeria last week and had the tasty pizza with a very thin dough. It was a wonderful experience. Thanks buddy.
Puliyogare Travels
May 12, 2017 at 7:15 pmAwesome. Good to know 🙂
K.Manikandan
November 28, 2017 at 10:46 amRakesh is a great host. Nice and pleasant presentation. Now I discover that he is not just an ordinary TV host for a food show. Great success story. Among the episodes of his Sutralam Suvaikkalaam, I liked two of them – making of karuppatti and potato potlam. Third was Ramassery Idly, which we went as a family. Keep up the great work Mr. Rakesh!
Puliyogare Travels
November 30, 2017 at 12:06 pmThank you very much Sir 🙂
Supraja
June 14, 2018 at 11:10 pmHi Rakesh,
Love your program. I watch it on your tube coz I dont get to watch it live from here. Very entertaining and interesting to watch you “go places” literally. My husband too watches your program with me. You go to places that normally even localites arent aware of. Wish you could make a show in US and come home and film me make something, though not a Pro, I do make good Briyani attimes 😀
Puliyogare Travels
April 26, 2019 at 10:58 pmThank you Supraja 🙂
Venkat pitchai
June 26, 2018 at 12:45 pmPlease take up a food travel show again Rakesh! Have been a big fan of sutralam suvaikalam and I honestly don’t find one that was as good as yours. Thanks.
Ven H
April 14, 2019 at 10:15 am@Rakesh, This is Venkatesh from Mumbai. Your Dakshin Diaries show in Living Foods is awesome. Content & Presentation are unbelievable. Please explore Tamil Nadu itself for another 100 episodes. We all simply love the show. Really envy your knowledge of music and cooking.
Puliyogare Travels
April 24, 2019 at 2:31 pmThank you Venkatesh.
Uma
April 3, 2020 at 8:05 pmHi Rakesh, This is Uma from NJ. I recently started watching your program on FB, loved all of them. I am a foodie and love to try all new dishes and enjoy them. Its a great pleasure to watch and hear the age old recipes which we don’t get to see or hear them due to the fusion world. Keep going and all the very BEST👍🏻
puliyogaretravels
April 4, 2020 at 1:54 pmThanks so much Uma 🙂