New restaurant to bring Tamil flavours from across globe to Glasgow
"I want everyone to have the experience I had with my mum."
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(Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) Tharany says while her family are Sri Lankan Tamils, her mum lived in Singapore when she was younger while Tharany spent time in Malaysia, meaning they got to know more about Tamil cuisine from those areas.
She says focusing on Tamil dishes from Sri Lanka, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Africa will make their restaurant "completely different" from other Asian eateries in the city.
The 26-year-old said: "I learnt all those recipes and I came home, and my mum had that experience in Singapore and when we were growing up she always incorporated Tamil food from Sri Lanka, India and Singapore.
"Tamils are everywhere, and we have such a huge love for food, vibrant colours, dance and culture.
"However, when we open up restaurants its always Indian or Sri Lankan and we kind of fizzle off as a small minority.
"There's never really been a restaurant that says 'we are Tamil and we're serving Tamil food that's from everywhere'."
(Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) The Jolly Tamil will be Tharany and Vadani's first venture into the hospitality industry, but Tharany says opening a restaurant with her mum is an idea that was always at the back of her mind due to her mums' cooking skills.
They will be serving dishes including Sri Lankan mutton rolls, Puli rice and a signature biryani based on Vadani's recipe.
There will also be some less traditional items with a twist, such as a carrot halwa cheesecake.
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(Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) Tharany commented: "I grew up watching my mum cook since I was a child and she never used a recipe book – it was always just intuition and taste.
"All these dishes have my mother's touch which is completely authentic with a touch of modernity that I've found.
She continued: "My mum makes all of the spices herself.
"She won't just go and get packet masala. She'll go get the peppercorn, roast them herself, grind them add them into a blender, sieve it and then she'll get her own spices.
"Everything we do is very homemade. She takes a lot of pride in her food."
(Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) Tharany grew up in Essex before moving to Edinburgh to study chemical engineering at Herriot Watt University.
She moved to Glasgow two years ago, and says she loves the city's appreciation of food, making it the perfect spot to open a restaurant.
She said: "Everyone's a big foodie over here.
"There's always something different, so imaginative, so creative and that's what I love.
"I want a place that can really appreciate my innovation when I make cool specials."
She added: "I know it's a gamble but it's a risk I'm willing to take because I know our food is good.
"I'm excited for everyone to try something I've always wanted them to try.
"Having that happen is kind of like a dream come true."
The Jolly Tamil is located at 95 Kilmarnock Road, Glasgow.
It will be open Wednesday to Monday.
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