TANA Food Disaster: An Insider Look!

The prestigious 3-day TANA cultural event has concluded, leaving a mixed bag of experiences for attendees who traveled with their families from different states to Philadelphia.

The food disaster became a hot topic at the event. Amid various speculations on social networks, here’s an accurate account of what transpired inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

On Day 1, the caterer Deccan Spice provided a relatively large and interesting menu, featuring traditional Telugu items such as Mango pickle, Ulava charu and several sweets etc. Overall, it was a decent selection.

As reported in the news, Day 2 turned into a true food disaster. Insufficient food and rude behavior from organizers were the highlights. Attendees were embarrassed as a white person at the door yelled, stating that lunch was finished and there was no more food.

Day 2 clearly suffered from significant mismanagement. Despite the educated audience, no one caused a scene or yelled at any TANA members. It’s commendable that people patiently waited for the rain to subside, took their kids outside for lunch, and refrained from troubling TANA members despite being yelled at.

Fortunately, Day 3 showed improvement as TANA management ensured adequate food for everyone. However, the variety of items served by Deccan Spice decreased by over 50% compared to Day 1, and the selection was unexciting. Despite their clear dissatisfaction, attendees refrained from causing a scene but expressed their frustration through sarcastic comments among friends and family.

It is surprising to witness a lack of warmth in an event organized by TANA, which promotes cultural values. Telugu culture typically emphasizes treating guests with care during dinner or lunch invitations. Here, the opposite was true, with little effort made in that regard.

Breakfast felt like a mere formality, serving only a single item, ‘Upma,’ which, once again, didn’t last long enough.

Many families from different states attended, accompanied by their American-born children who may not be familiar with movie stars or politicians. The absence of snacks or candies left them bored and disappointed, regardless of whether they were offered for free or purchase.

The organizers should be appreciated for ensuring ample availability of water bottles in every corner. This is one aspect that they handled exceptionally well.

Strangely enough, there was only one coffee place, even for adults who typically look for tea or coffee every few hours. It was a nightmare to buy coffee from this single place.

Many simple things that are part of our Telugu culture were missing from this “cultural” event. The attendees deserve a huge appreciation for not creating a scene, despite the majority being upset with the quality and availability of the food.