Ottawa chef Joe Thottungal’s cookbook wins gold | Ottawa Citizen

Article content continued

“It was really a good news, especially when my mum and dad is here with us,” Thottungal said Tuesday of his cookbook’s win. He said he dedicated his victory to the staff at Coconut Lagoon, his family and DesBrisay.

This year has delivered ups and downs for Thottungal. Like all of Ottawa’s restaurants, Thottungal’s restaurants Coconut Lagoon and Thali were hobbled by the rise of the novel coronavirus. And then in May, Coconut Lagoon was damaged by a fire. It remains closed.

But Thottungal has also helped lead Food for Thought, a volunteer-based initiative that has provided tens of thousands of hot meals to those in need in Ottawa during COVID-19. Initially those meals were made at Thali in downtown Ottawa, but the project has just moved to the Fairmont Château Laurier’s kitchen, where it will be for the next six months, Thottungal said.

This month, Thottungal was recognized for his achievements and community work with an induction into the Order of Ottawa.