Shivani Illakiya
Food, travel, and culture stories from Chennai.
Journalist and Food Correspondent at Indulge, The New Indian Express.
40+ new restaurants found for coverage
Keeps a two-page food section running
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Food · Oct 2026
Under watchful eyes, a Chennai dining room serves up the South's many stories
Food at this new restaurant is lingered over and protected, much like the moments shared around the table
Culture · Sep 2026
With 'Valli Kanavan', Maalavika Sundar finds a sound for freedom
We chat with Maalavika Sundar on 'Valli Kanavan', breaking musical boundaries, staying curious, and living fearlessly
Travel · Sep 2025
Of Gods, Gears and Ghee Roast
This week, we travelled down South to Coimbatore, to walk through where Greeks and Romans once traded, hear the iora’s haunting call, eat biriyani worth switching sides for, and so much more.
About
Oscar Wilde's "If you want to be a grocer, or a general, or a politician, or a judge, you will invariably become it; that is your punishment," landed her in lifestyle journalism, and she has no complaints. She covers travel stories because she has never quite believed that one life, lived in one place, is ever going to be enough. Bourdainism, she suspects, will continue to guide the rest of her life. As a food correspondent, she is always on a hunt for history-soaked menus, but also detours into theatres, galleries, and comedy clubs, and has sat across enough celebrities and stand-up comedians to know that passion towards a craft, in any room, sounds the same.
More about meExperience
Indulge, The New Indian Express
Reporter & Sub-Editor | Food Correspondent · Oct 2024 – Present
Daily Thanthi
Sub-Editor · Oct 2023 – Oct 2024
The Hindu
Intern · Jun 2022 – Jul 2022