Features / South Asian Heritage Month
Celebrating Tamil food and culture in Bristol
At the start of South Asian Heritage Month, the owner of four Tamil-inspired restaurants in Bristol is in a contemplative mood about his own cultural heritage and the responsibility he has to faithfully recreate it more than 5,000 miles away from his homeland.
Saravanan Nambirajan feels the greatest connection with his homeland in Nadu on Stokes Croft, where on a recent afternoon he speaks about his success in spearheading the Tamil food scene in Bristol while sharing steaming plates of egg hoppers and red-hot prawn devils.
The businessman’s first restaurant was Nadu, opened in partnership with Raja Munuswamy. Alongside business partners Raja and Jyoti Patra, Saravanan has now opened Nutmeg Street Kitchen in the centre, Kal Dosa on Gloucester Road and the soon-to-open Bombil.
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Against the backdrop of Indian music in Nadu, Saravanan explains that his achievements have been possible because in Bristol, we love Tamil food.
“The people here are amazing and they always want to try different things,” he explains.
The swanky interior of Nadu on Stokes Croft, which has three sister restaurants and a fourth on the way – photo: Maelo Manning
As a young chef, Saravanan worked in Tamarind restaurant in Mayfair – the first Indian restaurant to earn a Michelin star in London – before settling in Bristol.
Discussing South Asian Heritage Month, Saravanan says there is a strong link between Tamil culture and Bristol which goes beyond just food: “Tamils have made significant contributions to the social, economic, cultural and political fabric of the city.
“Bristol has been a primary spot for many Tamils to settle down. They continue to celebrate their roots/traditions while adapting to the cultural norms and values of their adopted country.”
The Indian state of Tamil Nadu, which has a population of 74m, has seen its cultural influence spread globally and Bristol has not been immune to the perks of this.
Tamil is the oldest living language in the world, with Tamil culture hailing from both Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, constituting the majority of the population in its Northern Province.
Saravanan says that Nadu celebrates connections between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu “where the two countries are a sea apart but rooted together by cuisines”.
That connection has extended to Bristol both historically and in the modern day, with Bristol traders importing spices from Tamil Nadu for centuries.
This month proves a particularly pertinent time to spotlight the significance of Tamil culture in the city as July 23 is the 41st anniversary of Black July, a tragic anniversary of a violent genocide in Sri Lanka.
Nadu brings a slice of Sri Lanka to Stokes Croft – photo: Maelo Manning
Saravanan helps to organise events centred around key holidays such as Deepavali and is a part of the Tamil Nadu Bristol Cricket Club.
He is also proud of the existence of the Nakshatra Tamil School, created to impart cultural knowledge and language to the next generation, which holds classes conducted at St Peter’s Church in Filton.
“Ultimately for me, it is about way more than just profit, it is about sharing culture,” says Saravanan.
A closing event for South Asian Heritage Month takes place at Easton Community Centre on August 17
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Main photo: Maelo Manning
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