Apr 03, Puducherry — Born in Puducherry and raised in Paris, Anita De Canaga has brought a piece of her heritage to life with Chez Pushpa, an intimate home dining experience inspired by her mother. “At Chez Pushpa, I wanted to create a space where guests could truly taste our heritage and family traditions,” she says.
The cuisine is a rich tapestry of French, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Creole, and Tamil influences, shaped by the history of French colonization in Puducherry.
Anita’s grandparents lived in Cambodia and Vietnam, where her grandfather worked with the French administration.
“It was there that my grandmother learned to prepare both French and Vietnamese dishes, which later became central to our family’s culinary identity,” she explains.
Entrepreneur Cavitha Dassaradane, who has experienced dining at Chez Pushpa, notes, “The dishes don’t just taste amazing—they carry the stories of generations and the journey of a family across continents.”
Guests are drawn not just to the flavors, but to the history behind them. “This cuisine is rare in restaurants today,” Anita says, “and that’s what makes our home dining experience special.”
Businessman Gunasekara adds, “It’s not just food—it’s a cultural experience, every bite tells a story.”
Anita hopes that one day there will be a dedicated space celebrating authentic Puducherry cuisine in its truest form, ensuring this unique heritage continues to delight and inspire.