In the Second part at the Chola army camp, they are seen as having Pongal and Vegetable curry.
They might have had Aappam, Idiaappam, Rice, etc.
Rice means Puliyodharai, Lemon Rice, Curd Rice, Coconut Rice all included ....... and also Pongal including our normal Rice Pongal with Milagu and Sarkarai Pongal (may not be with Sugar but with Jaggery & Milk).
[Sarkarai Pongal has been in vogue logn before Chola times : Aandal sings in her famous "Koodaarai Vellum Govinda" paasuram about Sweet Pongal : ".....Mooda Ney Peidhu Muzhangai Muzhi vaara....." ]
That was a great one Venky. I felt the same thing. I have see paniyaram (Takoyaki in Japan) and idhiyappam like stuff in thailand. Thengai based foods are there in Cambodia. so Tamil food has spread to other countries. vadai - falafel is an Israeli food.
Kalkiyoda karppanai characters and events la thaan athikam irukka mudiyum. For record, he had visited all these places many times before writing the novel. He has also done a lot of research on the equipments and tools used.
Vere engeyume avar food items pathi solvathe illai. I feel he would not have mentioned these items without confirming whether these foods existed then.
Of course, Vaniyammai annikku indha palakaaram thaan samaichaanga enbathu karpanai thaan.... Aanal intha palakaarangal annaikku irunthirukkalam enbathu karpanai alla.