The staff of Tharavadu, a popular Kerala restaurant in Leeds, Yorkshire, were in for a surprise the other day. They had the privilege of hosting celebrity couple Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, who visited the outlet known for serving authentic cuisine from God's Own Country.
“I really couldn't believe my eyes when I first saw them,” says Siby Jose, one of the proprietors of Tharavadu.
Popularly dubbed ‘Virushka’ by their fans, the couple tried out the combination of Kerala-style appam and egg curry. They also relished the Tharavadu special ‘Karanavar’ masala dosa.
In fact, Kohli had experienced the warmth and hospitality of Tharavadu during Indian team’s England tours in 2014 and 2018. When India played at Headingley in Leeds, the breakfast for players and supporting staff was from Tharavadu.
It was Keralite cricketer Sanju Samson, a member of the Indian ODI squad in the tour of England 2014, who created a buzz about ‘Tharavadu’ dishes among his teammates.
“Last year, Kohli and Anushka had promised me that they would come over the next time they are in London. Upon arrival, the first thing they did was reminding me of that word. It was a truly humbling experience,” Siby, who hails from Pala, says.
Tharavadu, which has caught the fancy of homesick residents and locals alike, was established five years ago. The other partners are Kottayam native Ajith Nair, Thrissur native Manoharan Gopal, Pala native Rajesh Nair, and Udupi native Prakash Mendonca.