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Mavalli Tiffin Room - Revision history
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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}<br />
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{{Culture of Karnataka}}<br />
The '''Mavalli Tiffin Rooms''' ({{lang-kn|ಮಾವಳ್ಳಿ ಟಿಫನ್ ರೂಂ}}) (commonly known as '''MTR''') is the brand name of a food-related enterprise in India. Having its origin in the city of [[Bangalore]], it has a restaurant located on the [[Lal Bagh]] Road in Bangalore, ten other branches in the city, one in each of Udupi, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and two in Dubai. MTR created the South-Indian breakfast item, [[rava idli]].<ref>https://m.timesofindia.com/home/sunday-times/break-up-wala-butter-chicken-to-sourdough-rotis-the-pandemic-is-changing-our-most-popular-dishes/articleshow/78208927.cms</ref> MTR is a subsidiary of Norwegian conglomerate [[Orkla ASA]].<br />
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==History==<br />
MTR was founded as a restaurant by Parampalli Yagnanarayana Maiya and his brothers in the year 1924.<ref name="mtr">A very brief history of MTR is provided by {{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/us-spice-giant-may-buy-bangalores-mtr/articleshow/808749.cms|title=US spice giant may buy Bangalore's MTR|work=Online Edition of the Times of India, 2006-12-14|publisher=© 2007, Times Internet Limited|access-date=2007-04-19|date=2006-12-14}}</ref> In the mid 1970s when India was under [[The Emergency (India)|emergency]], a Food Control Act was introduced which mandated that food was to be sold at very low prices. This move made it difficult for MTR to maintain high standards in its restaurant business and forced it to diversify into the instant food business, selling ready-to-eat snacks such as [[chutney]]s and [[Rasam (dish)|rasam]]s.<ref name="Riti">A history of MTR is provided by {{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/travel/1999/aug/12mtr.htm|author=M. D. Riti|title=Vaangibaath steeped in spice and tradition ... Lunch at Mavalli Tiffin Room|work=Online webpage of Rediff.com, dated 1999-08-12|publisher=Rediff.com|access-date=2007-04-19}}</ref> Since the 1970s, MTR has expanded and diversified, with MTR Department Stores opened next to the restaurant.<ref name="diver">Opening of the MTR outlet in [[Chennai]] is mentioned by {{cite news|url=http://www.chennaionline.com/food/foodmalls/11mtr.asp|date=2003-11-14|title=MTR comes to Chennai|publisher=Chennai Online}}</ref> Currently the MTR brand represents two separate entities; the ''MTR restaurant'' business and ''MTR Foods'', the pre-packaged food business.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}<br />
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==MTR Restaurant==<br />
[[File:Idli at MTR.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Idli served with pure ghee and sambar]]<br />
[[File:MTR Coffee.jpg|thumb|left|150px|The MTR coffee served hot in silver coffee mugs]]<br />
[[File:Lady on glass.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A lady on glass etching on the staircase of Mavalli Tiffin Room in [[Bangalore]]]]<br />
MTR Restaurant is a [[vegetarian]] [[restaurant]] located in [[Bangalore]], [[India]] founded in 1924. It has been shown on television in the global travel-related series ''[[Globe Trekker]]''. The restaurant building comprises two floors.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}<br />
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MTR serves [[Karnataka]] [[Brahmin]] food.<ref name="Riti" /> The decor is outdated. For many years, customers entered the restaurant through the kitchen.<ref name="dosa">MTR's history and its success in creating a frozen [[dosa]] is mentioned by {{cite web|author=M D Riti|title=The world's first frozen dosa|url=http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2003/jul/18mtr.htm|work=Rediff.com|date=2003-07-18|access-date=2007-04-19}}</ref><br />
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During [[World War II]], MTR found it difficult to make [[idli]]s since rice was in short supply. According to MTR, they experimented with [[semolina]] instead of rice and thus invented the breakfast item of [[Rava idli]]. MTR was the first fast-food restaurant in the world to serve 21,000 customers in seven hours.<ref name="dosa" /> {{As of|2021}} MTR restaurant was headed by [[Hemamalini Maiya]], [[Vikram Maiya]] and [[Arvind Maiya]], grand children of Yajnanarayana Maiya.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}<br />
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<ref name="mtr" /> Silver tumblers are used to serve beverages. This restaurant was closed in the mid-1970s Indian emergency when the Food Control Act made it unprofitable to serve food items; It reopened in 1984.<ref name="reopen">A detailed article on MTR is provided by {{cite web|author=Ranjin Rao|title=You aren't a Bangalorean till you've done MTR |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/08/01/stories/2002080100200200.htm|work=the Hindu|date=2002-08-01|access-date=2007-04-19}}</ref> To save the jobs during the time it was closed, MTR started selling spices and roasted flour mixes. That was the beginning of its entry into the convenience and instant food business.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}<br />
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==MTR Foods==<br />
[[MTR Foods]] was headed by [[Sadanand Maiya]] (son of Yajnanarayana Maiya) until it was sold to [[Orkla Group|Orkla]], a Norwegian company for [[US$]]80 Million in March 2007.<ref name="sale">Sale of MTR Foods to Orkla is mentioned by {{cite web|title=Norway's Orkla acquires MTR Foods in $80-m deal |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/02/14/stories/2007021403530500.htm|author=Bureau|work=Online Edition of The Hindu Business Line, dated 2007-02-14|publisher=2007, The Hindu|access-date=2007-04-19}}</ref> It produces packaged foods in different ranges - [https://shop.mtrfoods.com/categories/spices-and-masalas.html spices], [https://shop.mtrfoods.com/categories/mixes.html instant mixes], [https://shop.mtrfoods.com/categories/ready-to-eat.html ready-to-eat foods], vermicelli, [https://shop.mtrfoods.com/categories/beverages.html Beverages], ready-to-cook gravies, range of frozen products, papads, pickles, chips, snacks and ice creams.<ref name="range">An article on the changes in the MTR Foods division is provided by {{cite web|title=Has MTR got its recipe right? |url=http://www.blonnet.com/catalyst/2003/06/26/stories/2003062600040100.htm|author=Boby Kurian|work=Online Edition of The Hindu Business Line, dated 2003-06-36|publisher=2003, The Hindu|access-date=2007-04-19}}</ref> After the [[Kargil War]], a lot of changes happened in the packaged ready to eat food segment due to [[Defence Food Research Laboratory]] (DFRL).<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian defence scientists develop hi-tech foods |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/food/indian-defence-scientists-develop-hi-tech-foods/articleshow/7939397.cms |website=economictimes.indiatimes.com |access-date=22 June 2020 |date=11 April 2011}}</ref> It bought the packaging technology from the same DFRL in [[Mysore]] and there are no preservatives added to the food while packaging.<ref name="dosa" /> MTR is the first Indian processed foods company to be [[Hazard analysis and critical control points]] (HACCP)-certified, a standard of food safety and hygiene.<ref name="range" /> It has also sponsored magic shows and theatre performances and given free samples to the audience, as a means of demonstrating their products.<ref name="demo">Marketing strategy of MTR Foods is mentioned by {{cite web|title=MTR Foods works the magic |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-brandline/MTR-Foods-works-the-magic/article20234270.ece|author=Swetha Kannan, V. K. Varadarajan |work=Online Edition of The Hindu Business Line, dated 2006-10-05|publisher=2007, The Hindu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323183341/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-brandline/MTR-Foods-works-the-magic/article20234270.ece|access-date=2007-04-19|archive-date=23 March 2021}}</ref> MTR Foods created a frozen [[dosa]], which can be heated and eaten right away.<ref name="dosa" /> MTR Food products are sold online and exported to the countries in the Persian Gulf, United States and United Kingdom<ref name="dosa" /><br />
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== See also ==<br />
* [[Cuisine of Karnataka]]<br />
* [[Udupi cuisine]]<br />
* [[Tiffin]]<br />
* [[Rava idli]]<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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== Further reading ==<br />
* {{cite news|date=February 2002|title=Bangalore: Temples of Food|author=Achal Prabhala|work=Outlook Traveller magazine|url=http://www.outlooktraveller.com/aspscripts/mag_art.asp?magid=23&page=2}}<br />
* {{cite news|date=2006-10-05|title=MTR Foods works the magic|author=Swetha Kannan and V. K. Varadarajan|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/catalyst/2006/10/05/stories/2006100500190300.htm|work=[[The Hindu]] BusinessLine}}<br />
* {{cite news|date=2014-03-11|title=Now in Singapore|author=Shilpa Pai Mizar|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Food/now-in-singapore/article5774054.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]}}<br />
* [http://www.bangalorecaterers.com/mtr-opens-dubai-singapore/ MTR Opens in Dubai After Singapore]<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{Commons}}<br />
* [http://mavallitiffinrooms.com Webpage of MTR Restaurants]<br />
* [http://www.mtrfoods.com Webpage of MTR Foods Ltd.]<br />
* [http://www.asklaila.com/search/Bangalore/-/Mavalli%20Tiffin%20Rooms/?searchNearby=false MTR restaurants in Bangalore]<br />
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{{coord missing|Karnataka}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Restaurants in Bangalore]]<br />
[[Category:South Indian cuisine]]<br />
[[Category:Restaurants established in 1924]]<br />
[[Category:Catering and food service companies of India]]<br />
[[Category:Orkla ASA]]<br />
[[Category:Restaurant chains in India]]<br />
[[Category:Indian companies established in 1924]]</div>
imported>Mitch Ames