Tuscanala Thali irukku theriyumo nokku...

Well, if you are wondering what "Tuscanala Thali irukku theriyumo nokku... " means, then let me clarify that before proceeding.. "Tuscana has Thali now did you know?"

Tuscana  for us is synonymous with Italian, 

It is synonymous with thin crust pizza

it is where we tasted the 1st Gluten free pizza

It is where we tasted Tiramisu and Panna cotta first..

It is a place that has done a lot of firsts in Chennai.. 

Here is a brief glimpse into a few of the dishes served there. Pizza, Pasta, bell peppers& Mozzarella and then there was the Zucchini Mozzarella  fritters as well.  

Their extensive dessert section houses the infamous Panna cotta, lemon cheese cake, Tiramisu and a pizza with chocolate sauce, nutella and bananas as well. 

But the one thing you dont think of when I say "Tuscana" is Thali concept or Jain food. 

And that is something they have newly introduced!! 

The obvious questions that arise are 

"Really?"

"What is a Thali doing in an Italian restaurant?"

"Why are they serving Jain food?

"Will it work?"

There is just one answer to these questions!! Just go there and try it out,  you will see it actually works and makes sense. 

I walk into Tuscana and as always this guy greets me at the entrance. Walking up the winding staircase, we make our way to the table reserved upstairs in a cosy room [ideal for small groups or a private dinner]. And then we are presented with a menu that has not one but 5 Thali options in it. 2 for veg and 3 for non veg . And they offer quite a variety. 

A Thali is an Indian concept, where the entire meal is placed in one plate in small cups/bowls. You would have everything from the starter to main course to the dessert in that one plate. It is another name for a set meal :-) In some places it is bottomless thali [where you get unlimited servings of all the dishes] and in other places it is a set quantity [and in these places the portion sizes are good enough, you wont even think about going for a 2nd helping]

While I opted for the 2nd Veg Thali, another fellow vegetarian chose the 1st one and another friend opted for the Non veg Thali with chicken as the main dish .

All the Thalis have a soup, a salad, a few slices of garlic bread [w/wo cheese], a main course, and a dessert. The Thali I chose had Tomato soup, Garlic bread, a fresh crunchy salad with slices of pears and the main course was Eggless crepes filled with baby corn, mushroom  and parmesan and finally, the dessert [which was the reason I chose this thali]- Apple pie with vanilla sauce.

Priced around Rs600 = tax, these thalis make for a good sumptious lunch on a day when you are slogging away and suddenly realise you are hungry.  I must hand it to the Restaurant, they do come up with innovative concepts!!

If you still dont believe me about the Thali, check out the ad they released to announce the same..

[Image courtesy - http://chennaifoodguide.in/deal/view?id=76]

Address:

Tuscana Chamiers

No. 89, Chamiers Road, Opposite IN Gate of Park Sheraton,  Nandanam, Chennai-600065

To Book a Reservation - Contact : 044-45000008

Disclaimer:The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-) 

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Mast Kalandar, Chennai

Duma Dam Mast Kalandar

Ali Da Pehla Number

Dama Dam Mast Kalandar

Sakhi Shabaaz Kalandar

O..Laal Meri Pat Rakhiyo Bala Jhoole

Laalan

Laal Meri Pat Rakhiyo Bhala Jhoole

Laalan

Sindhdi Da, Sewar Da

Sakhi Shabaaz Kalandar

Duma Dam Mast Kalandar

Is the song that comes to my mind every time I hear the name Mast Kalandar... The Mast Kalandar am referring to here is the restaurant. Keeping in sync with the times, they have now launched a Festive menu.. I have eaten a couple of times in their outlets in Bangalore, but this was my 1st time in their Chennai outlet.. 

[Image courtesy: Mast Kalandar FB Page]

They have created a menu that works for those who are fasting and for those who are looking for a grand feast!  The menu is quite extensive and has been blended in with their regular menu. As we settled in, we were greeted with a drink- either chaas or shikanjvi. I chose the shikanjvi and then later had some chaas as well.. Both were good and refreshing! Moving on, we were treated to quite a spread of starters and main courses. Each dish looked different, was of a different texture and had a unique taste as well. 

First came the kachori, then came a small sweet of sorts [similar to our south indian Badhusha, but diff]., and there was also papdi chaat and another dish which resembled small bondas floating in teeka water. [I know I am bad, cant remember names of dishes].. All these were served with 2 kinds of chutneys- One was green apple ginger chutney, other was carrot chutney and then there was the katori with lightly roasted green chillies [which made my eyes water just at the mere sight] :-) The apple and carrot chutneys were amazing. Subsequently we also got to try what i would describe as the best bhel puri ever- it had loads of veggies- beans, peas, carrots, and so much more.. loved it..  Such a healthy snack!! 

We chatted, we nibbled, we drank, we laughed, we sang along to the songs playing in the background and before we knew it more food landed on our plates. There were 2 colour puris and 3 bowls with side dishes in them, and a boondi raita as well. 

Dum Aloo, paneer butter masala, peas curry were the gravies and the Aloo dish was the best of the lot. Am kinda saturated with paneer, and the peas dish was not so impressive. But then, if you are a paneer fan, then you should try the paneer gravy..  Following close on the heels of these dishes came the bowl of mix veg rice, which was alright. [Am not a rice fan, so just tried a spoonful of this and passed it on]..  And to finish the meal, there was the divine Gulab jamun dessert. Perfect for those with a sweet tooth.. 

[Image courtesy: Mast Kalandar FB Page]

The restaurant is quite large, can seat close to 70 covers if I am right. They also have quite a few combo options for lunch which are total value for money!! Apart from the food, they also retail some of their masalas and powders...  

Address:

1st Floor  33, Mahatma Gandhi Rd, Vannanthurai, Adyar, Chennai, TN 600020

044 4201 8382

Directions: If you are near Murugan Idli, go straight down the road, away from beach, past Karaikudi and head down about a km and you will find Mast Kalandar on your right. 

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Mom's bday and Lunch party at Annalakshmi

We were at an Uncle's 60th Birthday function and that is when we realised that mom's birthday was coming up in a week's time. After a brief discussion with grandparents, decided to do a lunch party for the family on 31st, the saturday. Granpa was hell bent on GRT, but I had other plans in mind. I did not want to host a get-together at one of the same ol cliched places, but wanted something new. 

But for some strange reason, Annalakshmi landed in my head the minute we decided to host the Lunch. Except I kept it to myself and did not squeal a word. I went and checked out the place, got the details, decided on the menu and knew this was where I wanted to host the Lunch. I also had a quick word with my sister on splitting the cost, I decided it was not fair to lean on grandparents all the time, even though they offered to foot the bill. They had already spent a lot, bought mom a piece of jewellery, dad some clothes and so on.

I announced the venue and final menu details 2 days ahead of the Lunch, and requested mom & gramma to invite all at the family function on Friday. Uncle was flying down from Delhi with family, my sis was coming down and so it was going to be a super cool fun weekend.  I thought all their arrival could be a surprise, alas, they had to go share information with gramma which soon spread like forest fire!! 

Have heard of rave reviews of Annalakshmi, but none of us had visited the new outlet in Egmore. Throwing caution to wind, I prayed and hoped it would be a great afternoon! Oh, and I forgot to mention- Saturday was also parents' anniversary and another uncle's birthday! I had asked a friend if she could bake cakes, but she said she was busy.. 30th Aug night I was out with my Delhi uncle and cousin, shopping for shirts, and then we hit Cake walk around 8 pm to order cakes. We broke our heads quite a bit, and finally settled on 2 lovely cakes. One for mom/dad and other for uncle. 

They have two options for Lunch, either 12 to 1.30pm or 1.30pm to 3pm. I chose the 2nd one cos even if it gets delayed, it should not be a problem. As for the hall, I chose the Buffet hall, it was open, bright, and seemed spacious. The hall could accomodate 100, and we were expecting about 60-70, but since I did not want outsiders encroaching in, I chose to take the entire hall. 

So the morning dawned bright and early. I left for grandparents home around 11, and we were all ready and set to leave. All were piled into cars, while I hopped in the one with driver and we went picked up the cakes and reached the venue on the dot at 1.30. I noticed most family already there, piling into the hall slowly. Mom saw me with the cake and was surprised! :D 

Pretty soon, almost everyone arrived and the hall was buzzing with excitement.  So many of them, actually all of them came upto me and said "wonderful choice of location".. I was beaming!! The buffet was all laid out, and the welcome drinks were served. 

The buffet consisted of

1. Aloo bonda

2. Paani puri- which was absolutely divine, so much so that gramma had a few ..

3. Dahi papdi chaat

4. 3 kinds of Rotis- Tandoori roti, naan and kulcha

5. Paneer butter masala

6. Daal makhani

7. Carrot Rice

8. Veg Pulao

9. plain steamed rice

10. Beans usuli

11. Potato curry

12. Boondi raita

13. Curd rice with pickles

14. papads and vadams

15. Salad- tomato & cucumber

And for dessert, I chose to do something different. I opted for Jangiri and Mothi choor laddoo as against the conventional Gulab jamun. There was also Paan which I heard was amazing! 

Phew!! the food was quite good and piping hot. The volunteers at the restaurant were serving the items and it was such a pleasant morning. We must have all had quite a few pani puris and aloo bondas. They were delicious. Similarly, the daal makhani was divine, I lost count how many refills I went for. I think I gulped it down as it is, with no roti or rice. 

Finally, before people left, we got together for the cake cutting combined with a lovely surprise. My aunt who had come down from Delhi took the mike and invited all to come to the table with the cakes on it and announced that the lunch was hosted by Me & my sis.. :-)) It was later that I realised that gramma was the one who had asked her to say this... I was so touched, overwhelmed infact~!! 

The entire afternoon went off far better than I had hoped for. *touch wood* 

The meal was priced at Rs430 per pax [incl tax].  It is a place I would definitely recommend, especially for pure vegetarians! 

While talking to Mr Kumar, the man in charge, I learnt that only a few were employees and rest were all volunteers. They also had a few from the catering college, who were paid a nominal salary that helped them get off their feet. Apparently there were quite a few housewives who came over to serve during lunch and dinner! How awesome is that!

Location:

8/3 Rukmani Lakshmipathy Road (Marshalls Road)

adjacent to Raja Meyammal Hall,

Egmore, Sigapi Achi Building, Ist Floor,

Chennai

Tel : 044-28525109, 044-42141210

email : annalakshmi_chennai@yahoo.co.in

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Beyond Indus, Taj Club House

There was plans of lunch being made, and we were all quite excited- why? it was at a restaurant that not many of us had visited before. It was going to be at Beyond Indus, Taj Club House. Located on the road across from Spencers Plaza, this hotel is quite good. I enjoy the Weekend brunch at "Club house" restaurant and have also dined at Kefi on the rooftop. 

Beyond Indus is tucked away around the corner from Blend, the pub and oozes with luxury from the minute you walk in. We chose the table at the far end of the hall which had a sun roof and a majestic burgundy coloured chandelier. We were served a welcome drink called "Laughing Buddha", it was cranberry and apple fizz. It was delicious, so good that quite a few of us had more than just a few glasses of it. And we did manage to crack up, have a whale of a time through the lunch. Since it was a weekend, the atmosphere was quite relaxed and everyone was chilled out, no hurry.

The meal was a set menu, which began with a soup going on to dessert. The soup was fairly good, tomato based and light as well. Once we were done slurping the soup, along came the starter. The vegetarians got a platter that had Tandoor broccoli and coloured capsicums along with a slice of poached pear [or it was soaked in vinegar]. I quite enjoyed the peach as it had a bite to it and the vinegar's flavour was quite strong as well. I was glad to have got a vegetable and not the same 'ol paneer [quite fed up of seeing it as the substitute for meat for veggies]. Through the lunch, we kept asking for refills of Laughing Buddha till they had no more. This is when there came a twist to the meal. 3 of us went ahead and ordered a drink each- tropical sunrise, sparkling white wine and one more that was tequila based . They were all good and the Sunday just got better.......  :-)

For the mains, first came the plates, one oval shaped plate and another with a bowl of pulao and 3 cups in them with 3 different gravies-daal makhani, paneer butter masala and a kadai vegetable of sorts. The Daal makhani was just amazing. We were then offered different kinds of rotis, and I being the risk taker chose the methi laccha parantha which was quite good. Since we were quite a few in number, there was a lot of walking around and chatting as well. It was lovely as there were very few other guests in the restaurant that particular morning. 

Finally came the desserts- Kulfi, which I dint like too much. It had a weird sort of taste and texture, but I did enjoy the other platter they brought. It had a few dried apricots and prunes. I could have had a bowl of these and been happy! 

Overall, the meal was good, but nothing WOW about it. Priced at Rs600, it is a place you can go with family or friends and be assured of good quality North Indian food. I am however curious to check out their menu to see what else they offer.

Ambiance- 5/5

Food - 3/5

Price- 3/5

Service- 5/5

Address: # 2, Club House Road, Chennai, TN 600002

Phone:044 6631 3503 

Disclaimer:

The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-) 

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[Recipe] Tawa pulao

Last evening while out walking, suddenly it hit me.. I knew what I was going to make for lunch today [monday]. I quickly walked across towards More supermarket and bought what I needed. I had seen and tasted this dish at Spoonbill when Kamalika made it, so there was no confusion on the process. What was I making? Tawa Pulao ofcourse :D

Here is what you need:-
1 cup Rice 1 tbsp – Oil 1/2 tsp – Cumin seeds 1/4 Onion chopped 1 Garlic pod 1 cup Mixed vegetables - Yellow capsicum, red capsicum, baby corn - all chopped into chunks 2 tsp – Pav bhaji masala 1/2tsp - curry powder Salt- to taste Mint leaves/coriander leaves Water to cook the rice and boil baby corn
Other Options for vegetables: Peas, cauliflower, paneer, and just about anything you can think of.

The process:
1. Take a pressure cooker and cook the rice [1cup rice =3 cups water- 4 whistles]- turn off stove and set aside I placed the baby corn in a plate along with the rice and cooked it. 2. In a pan, add oil, jeera, garlic and onion. Once sauted, add remaining vegetables and the masala powder & curry powder. Let it cook till the raw smell of masala goes away. Add required amount of salt and let it cook. 3. Add the cooked baby corn to this and saute for a minute. Now add the rice and spread it amidst the veg mix and cook for 2-3 minutes till it evenly mixes.
Voila.. Serve with curd, pappad or onion raita. I had it with boiled beetroot and curd.

PS: Am using pictures taken at Spoonbill because today I forgot to take pictures as hunger had taken over my brain.. :-)

Preparation Time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 25 mins
Serves: 2

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ECO kitchen... the place- I

The saturday that went by was a day that was with a purpose. I planned the day so I can get out of the house around 12noon. I was done with emails and work, calls and cooking. Met up with Nishanth, Chinna & Karunakaran at CCD, Indra Nagar and we were off towards ECR by 1pm. 

Where were we headed? 

To the ECO Kitchen. 

What is this?

ECO kitchen is a non-profit social entrepreneurship program that facilitates training and job opportunities in food retail. The Kitchen strives to serve the immediate nutritional needs of its community, as well as alleviate greater issues of illness, stigma, and poverty.  

Started by Dr Sunidhi, part of YRG care, ECO kitchen moved to this facility about 3yrs ago and have been doing wonderful service to the community. [Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRG CARE) is a non-profit organisation based in Chennai, India. The activities of YRG CARE are organized around four core areas - Education, Care & Support, Research and Training.

They feed many hungry mouths

They help women stand on their feet and earn a living

They act as a go between for people who wish to do something for the needy

They also supply food to corporate and others

Where is the place?
Eco Kitchen, Unit of YRGCARE Foundation 
8/2, Harischandra III Cross St
Injambakkam, Chennai 600041
Tel: 044 3040 2222
Mob: +91 98400 79001 (Ganesh), +91 98843 07150 (Sethu)
Email: info@ecokitchen.org
Facebook: ECO Kitchen
Twitter: ECO Kitchen

Directions: Just after Cholamandalam Artists village, you will see a Reebox store on the left. Take the road right next to it, go down the road till you hit a T junction. Turn left, and take the 3rd right. It is the 2nd property, a huge white building on that road. 

Btw, the next visit is scheduled for 23rd March.. You can contact Nishanth Radhakrishnan to know more/coordinate - Ph: +91 98403 40490

What was our visit about?

Well, to be honest, I knew of these guys for years, because they used to operate from the apartment which is right next door to my parents' place and because of the Gaitonde connection [ our families have known each other for generations]. But this was my 1st visit to the facility. 

We wanted to know what we [the Foodies, Bloggers and others from Chennai] can do to help promote the place and to give them better reach and visibility. It was not just about food, it was going beyond. 

Greeted by Sethu Lakshmi and her team, we were given insight into what they did, how they did it and what more they wanted to do. We were introduced to Asha, who is in charge of catering orders. She is the one you need to contact if you want ECO kitchen to cater for your family function, event or dinner. They offer quite a variety of food, only catch being it is pure vegetarian.. We were told that the South Indian meals are priced at Rs30 [Rice, sambar, rasam koottu, curry, curd/buttermilk, pickle, papad.. additional- 1 roti takes it to Rs40, and 2 to Rs45]; similarly North Indian meal was priced at Rs60 [4 rotis, daal, veg subzi, curd/buttermilk, 1 cup pulao]

Our afternoon began with a lunch they had organised for us. Priced at Rs100, it was one value for money meal. We had hot vada, chappathi, dosa, veg korma, a daal[my favorite], sambar rice, curd rice, potato curry, pickle, papad and semiya payasam. It was set in the top floor, near the open terrace. With a view of the ocean,  and the occasional breeze, it was one hellova start to the evening. 

After a yummy meal which included conversation with Sethu and the team, we were taken to their conference hall for a mini presentation. [the air conditioner was turned on exclusively for us.. we were also served hot delicious chai]

I learnt that ECO kitchen was actually made up of 3 segments:-- 

1. Kathir - where they cook and serve food to needy, help women by training them, providing them with  the kiosks and food so they can earn some money.

2. Out of the box- This is the section that caters to corporates[british Council, US Consulate,Verizon at OTP and so on] and others who require meals on a regular basis. This segment funds the others

3. Kathir Dhan[Dhan as in dhanam-charity]- For ex, if you wish to feed children from a school, or the old age home, you give a certain sum of money to this division at ECO kitchen. They cook, and offer the food to the chosen sect [there is no margin, no profit made here]. You are invited to be a part of the event and if you are unable to attend, you will be send a report on the same.

Apart from this, Sethu mentioned they offered training in schools to children on hygeine, sex education, habits and other important aspects of life. What began as a venture to help those with HIV/AIDS has today spread its wings, reaching out to the community in an attempt to make a difference. They also have a tie up with sodexo as part of Sodexo's CSR (Community social responsibility) and this has helped them over the years..  

She showed us the book made from elephant poop that they used [eco friendly] and the jute bags made by women as part of the ECO kitchen [priced between Rs15 and Rs30, these would be ideal to give away things, or use for thamboolam at weddings]

She mentioned they were now serving about 6000 meals a day, but had the capacity to serve upto 9000 meals a day. Which would help them immensely [money wise and reach wise] 

So, if any of are hosting a party and wondering who to call for catering, I request you to reach out to ECO kitchen!! 

The tour follows............ 

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Dario's, the new veggie resto in town

A casual chat on Whatsapp brought forth an idea and eventually turned to reality. Yes, this is how we ended up at Dario's last night for dinner. I asked a friend who lived in the neighborhood if he had heard of Darios, thinking it was an ice cream place, only to discover it is a pure Vegetarian Italian restaurant. 

Another friend chimed in saying she has been wanting to take her mom there, but was not sure. By evening, i had booked a table and we were there for dinner.. :-)

A family outing after long, that too for a meal- why am i making a special mention? Well, it is a rare thing for us as a family to go out to eat. Eating out is reserved for when someone is visiting [one of my uncles ;)], but then last new year we made an exception and went out to lunch at Rajdhani. Gramma wanted to repeat the same, minus a few members, but that dint happen. And finally, I announced "let us go out for dinner" and the rest is the evening..

I googled, found Dario's website, checked out their menu online and was glad it had items the troops enjoy.. A small nag was that dad prefers roti, subzi kinds, but then put that thought aside and thought what the hell, let us try.. Made a reservation for 7.30pm, and good thing i made the booking. The place was packed and i overheard the Maitre'd tell someone on the phone the earliest they can give them a table was 9.30pm. I can imagine the thandav my family would have thrown had we not got a table and made to wait for 2hrs... jeez...

Tucked away near Ashwini Hospital on Kasturi Rangan road [the road next to Chola], Dario's is a fairly small place. But only when you enter the building do you realise how not so small it is. A house that has been transformed, it is quite cozy and quaint. The walls are all white, with nothing but different funky Mona Lisas staring at you. There is Mona Lisa with Steve Jobs face, Dhoni, Charlie Chaplin, and just about everyone else you can think of. Infact, throguh the decor, Mona lisa with variations adorn the walls. The main hall has a huge mosaic of Mona Lisa, quite colorful and vibrant. 

As we waited for our table, i was surprised to see a familiar face. He mentioned he was the CEO here and that the place was barely a week old but doing fairly well.. Another guy who took us to our table was also familiar, i had seen him at another restaurant earlier. [guess the restaurant world is also a small one, you are working here or there] 

Our table was tucked away almost at the end of the house, but was a nice nook. Granpa loved the private space, and started making plans to bring in more family for a meal there.  We started the evening with a complimentary plate of Focaccia bread with a tomato+capsicum dip. The meal officially began with an order of 2 starters and 4 soups 

Soups- 

POMODORO-   A thick creamy tomato soup with onions and basil- Dad enjoyed this and so it must have been good and pure tomato soup. :)

FUNGHI - Cream of mushroom soup - looked almost black and tasted like mushroom, order only if you LOVE mushrooms
PAESANA -  A peasant style mixed vegetable soup with chickpeas- quite a light soup, it had a whif of basil

BROCCOLI -Cream of broccoli soup with onions and roasted almonds- this was the most amazing of the soups... Absolutely delicious...

The starters were - 

CREMA DI SPINACI-  Spinach and fresh cheese dip with parmesan, served with warm pita bread- This was quite simple. I actually requested for another cup of the dip they gave with the Focaccia.

ARANCINELLE- Sicilian rice balls stuffed with peas and cheese served with pink sauce and red chilli- The rice inside was not your normal rice, it had an interesting taste and we quite liked it.

As the conversation flowed, so did the food. We all tasted the other dishes and tried to identify the ingredients. Was fun.. For the main dishes, we decided to order different dishes so we can try different flavours. 

Gramma was the 1st to decide, she pointed to the RISOTTO GENOVESE [Creamy rice with potatoes, basil, garlic, pinenuts and parmesan cheese] and said that is what she wanted. and it was good, the basil flavour stood out, maybe a tad strong, but was delicious... 

Dad wanted something light and so opted for the PENNE POMODORO [With classic tomato sauce, basil and cheese along with yellow zucchini & capsicum slices ] which was basic pasta. 

 Granpa wanted pasta, and we ordered PENNE ARRABBIATA [With spicy tomato sauce, red chilli and onion] which he loved, it was spicy and yet not over the top.

I wanted to try something diffferent and chose GNOCCHI DO MASSA GNAZIU [Home-made gnocchi with rucola, served with a spicy tomato and cream sauce with fresh rucola and cheese], well it was different from what i had envisioned the gnocchi to taste like but was simple subtle and the sauce was heavenly. I literally licked the plate clean. 

and mom had her eyes set on CRESPELLE AI FUNGHI [Baked pancakes with mushrooms, garlic, cheese, tomatoes and peas], we actually asked for the one with Asparagus but werent sure since we were told Asparagus soup wasnt available. Thin crepes with filling topped with white sauce, and i am guessing it had been baked wee bit as well.

Dessert anyone? Couple  of heads wagged a NO, and then others wagged a MAYBE. So, we decided to order 2 desserts and just split them. After going to and fro, i ordered a Panna cotta and a Lemon Cheese cake. They were both good, one tad sweet while the other had strong lemon flavours. The plates were polished within minutes and therefore no photos... :)

Phew... That was one awesome meal.. The soups and starters came within 10mins, but the main dishes took over 20mins to arrive on the table. The dishes were all good, portions quite large and flavours distinct in each of the dishes we had ordered. 

If you are fed up on Eden or Cream center, or for that matter dont mind a good Italian meal, hop into Dario's.. 

Ambiance: 8/10 [they also have an outdoor seating area]

Price: 7/10 - the meal for 5 of us came to Rs3100 [roughly 500bucks per person]

Service: 8/10

Overall : 8/10

Address:

#11, Kasturi Rangan Road,
2nd Street,
Teynampet,
Chennai- 600018
Ph: 044-4919 3333
Landmark: Next to Ashwini Hospital [1st right after the Russian Cultural Centre]

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Recipe- Makki Di Roti & Palak Subzi

No, you read it right. We had Makki Di Roti & Palak Suzbi. I know the traditional combo is Makki di roti and Sarson ka saag, well, we don't get Sarson ka saag [the Mustard greens] in Chennai and so this alternative :)

When we had visited Delhi earlier this month, when i mentioned i like this combo, my aunt asked her maid to make it. Mom & I walked it down to this cool organic store called The Roots and bought Maize flour.We devoured the rotis and the Sarson ka saag, and mom decided she wanted to make them once we were back in Chennai. Since there was a packet of flour leftover, we brought it with us and yesterday mom made it for lunch.

She had asked the maid how to make [in her broken hindi] and managed to make a few small rotis, invited me over for lunch excitedly :)

What you need:
Maize Flour - 2 cups   

Salt -to taste
Ghee - as required to knead the dough

How to make:
1. Add salt and ghee to the flour and mix well till becomes a nice soft dough.
2. Make balls or divide the dough into portions
3. Take a plastic sheet and pat the dough on it, making it into a roti [dont make it too thin, it will stick to the sheet]... Alternatively you can roll out each ball between the folds of a greased plastic sheets.
4. Heat a tawa and cook the roti on it till both sides are done.
5. apply a dollop of butter or ghee and serve hot.

Palak Subzi that mom made was the usual subzi you make for rotis and it did go well with Makki di roti...

What you need:
Palak/spinach leaves - a bowl of chopped leaves
Onion- 1
Tomato- 1
Green chilli- 1[optional]
oil- as required
Salt- as required
Garam masala- 1 tsp
Cream/milk/curd- 1 tsp

How to make:
1. Boil the palak leaves with a dash of salt and make a puree
2. In a pan, add some oil and saute the onions & green chilli, once they turn golden brown, add the tomatoes and saute for a few more minutes.  [you can blend these if you wish]
3. To this add the spinach puree, salt, garam masala and allow it to cook
4. Add some cream/milk/curd just before you serve...

You can add palak to make it Palak paneer or potatoes if you desire. 

Bon Apettit!!

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Brunch with friends at Madras Gymkhana Club

What can be better than spending a few hours in the company of good friends , food and fantastic conversations!! That is exactly what we did on Sunday.... The venue was decided as the Madras Gymkhana Club and we had decided to land there by 1pm... And for the 1st time, there are no photographs, that is how busy we were catching up and yapping away, in between mouthfuls of food.

The spread was quite good-Mulgitwany soup
Different kinds of bread
Salads- russian, pasta, mix vegetable
Onion raita
Thayir vada
Papads

Freshly made hot crisp dosa with chutney & sambar

Veg buffet-

Veg biryanu
Dal makhani
Panneer butter masala
Bhindi sabzi
Salan Bhaingan
Aloo fry

Continental dishes- 

Mash potato baked
Mix veg augratin
 

OthersPlain white rice
Garlic rasam
Curd rice+ pickles

In nonveg-
Chicken biryani
2 side dishes
A chicken dry item
And 2more (will ask friend what they were and update)

Desserts:
Strawberry mouse
Vanilla ice cream
Vanilla-mango cake
Gulab jamun

Total value for money
Food- 8/10
Service- self service
Ambiance-its huge hall, open space, plenty of natural lighting..

Address:

Anna Salai Mount Road, Chintadripet  Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Ph: 044 25368160

Only catch, find a friend who's a member!!

The Veg buffet is Rs250 while Non veg is Rs350.. I guess this is between 12noon to 3pm, we were there beyond 3 and the staff had begun cleaning the space..

During weekdays, the buffet is upstairs in Buttery ball (kids below 16yrs not allowed as they serve alcohol)

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Chao, T Nagar

"Chao".. well, it means hello in Vietnamese and to think Ciao means Bye in Italian.. One word, so many meanings. Similarly, Chao, the restaurant has many faces, many avatars so to speak. It offers an eclectic blend of interiors, a menu that takes us on a journey from Vietnam to Singapore, China to Thailand....

Spending a few minutes exploring the venue, I discovered it was on two levels, the basement bigger than the ground floor. it also included a Lounge-a private dining area... The walls are adorned with various figurines and pieces made of wood, a tree stump leading to a light fitting under which sits a majestic Buddha. A narrow winding staircase tucked away in a corner. The ground floor offers a few cabin like settings, two small and one large. Glass, wood and light is what catches your eye as you step into this swanky restaurant that is just a few weeks old. 

Situated on north Boag road, almost opp the Singapore Consulate, adj to Coffee Central, the restaurant belongs to Ramesh & his partner Jagadish. Ramesh, being an architect has spent quite a bit of effort in decorating the place and it is quite visible.

Greeted with a cup of hot Lemongrass tea, I chatted with Shalini Muthukumar [Ramesh's sis in law] who also owns the label "spice dip". Pretty soon, the table was full, and Chef Dhiraj started bringing out plates of food... not only did they look good, but tasted delicious as well. He was kind enough to remember the vegetarians from the non veg clan and patiently answered my 1001 questions.

Starters:

Green Mango Salad

 

Corn Tartlets - Tartlets filled with crispy corn kernels

Devil's potato - Crispy fried and sauteed potato wedges

Veg Dim Sums served with garlic sauce

Mushroom Pepper Salt - Crispy & juicy mushrooms tossed in pepper, chili flakes and garlic and served on a bed of fried noodles'

Rice wrap rolls served alongside Lemongrass dip - Rice wrap sheets stuffed with raw vegetables and tofu rolled up.

 

Devil's chicken

Chao Thai Grilled Fish - Boneless fish fillets marinated, grilled and served on skewers

Wasabi Prawns - Crispy fried Prawns tossed in smooth Wasabi mayo.

 Satay Prawns - Juicy prawns marinated, grilled and served on skewers

I spent quite some time sampling the dishes, trying to figure out the spices, method of cooking, sorting through my curiousity and i noticed another array of dishes coming towards our table. They were the main dishes announced Shalini.

Thai Veg Green Curry- It was very different from what i've had, was surprised to find Brussel sprouts in the gravy

Jasmine Rice- A rice cooked with jasmine infusion though with no jasmine flavour[thank god]

Singaporean Bee Hoon - Fine Rice noodles with bean sprouts[ this was the best of the lot]

Cashew Garlic Garden greens - Stir fried vegetables mildly cooked with Garlic sauce and cashews

 Sambal fried rice- Non veg

Basil Chicken - Fine Minced tender chicken served in hot basil sauce

And finally, as i flipped through their extensive menu card [which has been beautifully separated into 2 sections- Veg & Non veg], i spotted quite a few familiar desserts. The ones we got to taste were

 


Tub Tim Grob - Water chestnuts in coconut milk served with crushed ice

Pumpkin custard with Coconut ice-cream- This was an afterthought of sorts. I noticed it on the menu and requested Shalini to serve us a plate or so. and no sooner there were more than one plate of this dessert served up, but they kept disappearing...








It was one fun evening... As always.... If you are driving down the road, and feel hunger pangs kick in, then pull over and do try the restaurant. 

Price- A meal for 2 will roughly cost around Rs1500 - 2000 

Address:
#49, North Boag Road,T. Nagar address 044 65555553, 044 65555554
[Opp Singapore Consulate and Adj to Coffee Central] Drive down from Residency towers/10D towards GN Chetty road, and you will spot this restaurant on your left.


This was part of a CFG Showcase that I attended and was conducted by Chennai Food Guide.

Disclaimer:
The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-)

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5 senses, Chennai - Encore!

Ar: Hey, am in town. want to catch up for lunch on Mon or Tue?

Me: Sure, lets meet on tuesday, what say?

Ar: sounds good. where?? somewhere preferably in Nungambakam.. Suggest something new and exciting

Me: hmmm.. there are loads of new places on KNK road, have you been to any- 5 senses? 3 kingdoms? Fresca?

Ar: 5 senses please... i like the sound of it... Around 1pm? 

Me: Done deal.. See you soon!! 

And that is how the lunch plan was made.. that fateful day, i got a bit delayed and reached a few minutes late. Ar was already there, seated inside with Hollywood stars looking down on us from the walls. After a few minutes of catching up, we decided to check out the Buffet menu before deciding on which to opt for- Buffet or a la carte. the Buffet had 85% vegetarian dishes, actually 90% veg and just 2 side dishes that were non veg. Priced at Rs500+tax, it seemed to be a good deal.  I had been here once earlier with a different group of friends and we had a whale of a time.... My earlier review is here

The lobby from where you take the elevator

We sat down in our table and started catching up on our lives.. It had been quite a while since i had seen Ar [we meet every time she comes to town :)]  We ordered a drink [i've happily forgotten the name- it was Vodka+cranberry combination] and was delicious. We also nibbled on the pita bread & hummus[Boiled chickpeas+olive oil+garlic+lemon juice] that was placed on the table. It was divine.. There was also Tzatziki [cucumber+yoghurt+garlic] to dive into.

 The Starters

The Drink

The meal began with a bowl of Wild Mushroom Cappucino [soup] that was quite rich and filled with flavour

We got to talking about tattoos, both of us have err... umm,,, enough, and were eager to get more.. She shared her experience of visiting a tattoo artist's shop and not getting good vibes. we were talking about the others in town when the waiter brought forth the starters. 

There was an assortment of dishes- a small pizza with baby onions and cheese; Falafel and Mini baked samosas filled with vegetables- Spanakopita [ a typical Greek/Arabic dish]. They were quite filling... 

Forcing ourselves to go have something from the assortment of main course, we started discussing work, how her handmade jewellery business was shaping up and the plans she had for future. 

I took some spaghetti in white sauce cooked with simple vegetables, a spoonful of stir fried vegetables, and some salad [cherry tomatos, lettuce, colour capsicum that i had with a vinaigrette dressing] .. The food was quite good, very simple flavours, and light as well. 

The dessert options werent too exciting- there was an Orange sorbet, Rose & vanilla ice cream, and 2 puddings- one strawberry and one vanilla. We gave dessert a miss and made our way out.The food was much better than the last time i had been here and i also noticed the prices had been reduced[but it is on the higher end]

Meal for 2 costed around Rs1400odd [incl Tax]

Food: 8/10 - Simple flavours, good portions.

Ambiance: 8/10- fairly quiet, no loud blarring music, they do have 2 TV screens playing either a sports channel or a movie

Service: 8/10 - prompt and polite

Price: 7/10

Location:

9, Khader Nawaz Khan Rd, 

Nungambakkam

Chennai - 24

Directions: 

Drive down Khader nawaz khan road, and right next to Bang & Olufsen, New Crimson chakra there is a complex- park and head over to the elevator to the top floor to get to 5 Senses. 

You can see their Lunch & Dinner menu here.

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