Tag: south indian cuisine

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Journey through Deccan

Journey through Deccan

By Anubhav Sapra

Onam, a festival of Kerala is celebrated with a lavish vegetarian feast (Sadya) served on a banana leaf. In Delhi, at Kerala House, every year, foodies queue up despite the humid weather to relish the rich feast. I also had my fill on the last day of the food festival. Such lavish feast it was that I already started missing it the very next day. The moment I tried to convince myself to wait for the next year, I received this invitation from Eros Hotel, Nehru Place.

This invitation was to savour the South Indian delicacies in the ‘Journey through Deccan’ food festival. And I couldn’t have been more happier. The festival coincided with the end of Onam Sadya. The journey through Deccan is celebrating the diversity of food available in the 5 states of South India- Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana and Karnataka. The menu is rotational covering the popular dishes of the South Indian states. The buffet is priced at INR 1750 plus taxes for the Lunch and INR 1850 plus taxes for the dinner.

IMG_20150903_184850My journey of Deccan started with cream based piping hot Rasam and starters like Parippu vada, Shikampuri Kebab, Prawn Pepper fry and Lukhmi (a local variation of patty, stuffed with chicken kheema).  Shikhampuri Kebab of Hyderabad was excellent in taste- soft and not too oily.

In the main course, I had Appam (rice pancake), Malabar parantha and Chicken stew. In fact, Appam and Chicken stew (simmered in coconut milk) is a popular breakfast dish in Kerala as it is easy to make and mild in spices.
The other dishes on offer are Thengai sadam (coconut rice), Ambur Chicken Biryani (Tamil special), Mutton Sukha (Andhra Style Lamb preparation), Pumpkin pulissary (white pumpkin simmered in yoghurt gravy), Bendakkai (Pulikozhambu (Okra simmered in tamarind curry)

My journey through Deccan ended with sweet Mysore Pak and Elanir Payasam and a strong flavorful filter coffee served in traditional Madras style Dabarah.

The Journey through Deccan festival ends on 5thSeptember. Grab it before it’s too late!

 

Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra is an avid foodie! He is a Founder but proudly calls himself a Foodie-in-chief at Delhi Food Walks. He is also a street-food and Indian regional cuisine connoisseur and loves to write about street-food.
http://www.delhifoodwalks.com
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Chennai Hot Cafe

May 3, 2014

Chennai Hot Café- Drink More!

By Anubhav Sapra

Address: E-143, Shop no.4, Kamla Nagar

Contact: 9212407758

Last Sunday, my dear friend Hillary who hails from Manipur, invited us for Easter Celebrations followed by a food fest at Emanuel Baptist Church, Civil Lines. More than being a part of the celebrations, I was excited about tasting the flavors at the North East Food Festival and so I readily accepted the invitation!

After participating in the Church service (songs and sermon) with my sister, we headed to the Lawns to savor the delightful food. We tried Singju (Manipuri salad), sandwiches, and a nicely made Cranberry juice mixed with soda and lime.

20140420_190114A lover of South Indian Cuisine, my sister accompanied me to the Easter Celebrations only on the condition that we visit Chennai Hot Café in Kamla Nagar soon after.  The café is managed by Vipul and Kamal, residents of Kamla Nagar. The duo started the café three years back to serve affordable South Indian food to the student community of Kamla Nagar.

It is deliberate move on the part of the restaurant to have a limited number of dishes so as to maintain the quality of their food. The absence of desserts in their menu was the only downside as I was expecting to savor some South Indian sweet dishes like Payasam and Kesari bath.

20140420_184311

My sister and I had Rawa Dosa, Masala Dosa and Uthapam all of which were excellent in taste and are a ‘must try’.

They have an interesting drink, the Neer More (spiced buttermilk), which is a summer drink quite popular in Tamil Nadu and the rest of South India. A bit different from the regular Chaash available in Delhi, it has coriander leaves, curry leaves, chilli and asafoetida as its ingredients. It was quite refreshing and undoubtedly, it is going to be my favorite drink this summer. Amazing dosas and a refreshing Neer More, need I say more?

 

 

 

Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra is an avid foodie! He is a Founder but proudly calls himself a Foodie-in-chief at Delhi Food Walks. He is also a street-food and Indian regional cuisine connoisseur and loves to write about street-food.
http://www.delhifoodwalks.com
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Chidambaram’s New Madras Hotel

Chidambaram’s New Madras Hotel

By Anubhav Sapra

The other day, I was invited for a meeting at India Habitat Centre to plan an event to be held sometime next week. The meeting got delayed by an hour because no one including the person who called the meeting was on time.Taking the opportunity, I decided to explore the good eateries and food of Khanna Market. I asked auto rickshaw driver to drop me at any place where I can have my brunch. He had a great foodie instinct and straightaway dropped me at Chidambaram’s New Madras Hotel, famous for South Indian Food.

The address is Chidambaram’s New Madras Hotel, Shop No.7,Khanna Market,Lodhi Road and phone numbers are 24611726,24617702,9312220478,9811301534.The restaurant is owned by C.Kumar and C.Raju. Chidambaram who started the restaurant is no more. It was opened up in 1930 to provide food to officers in British Government who were from South India.In 1950 they had moved to this new place in Khanna market.

We ordered 3 in 1 rava dosa(Rs.90) and a plate of dahi vada. It was served on a plate covered with banana leaves.The three portions of the dosa had three different fillings-paneer masala,potatoe masala and crushed coconut. The 3 in 1 rava dosa was crispy and well stuffed.Sambhar and coconut chutney was awesome.It was truly delectable.They first serve hot spicy rasam which one can sip to wait for the ordered food.We also ordered for dahi vada which was equally good.

The nice ambience, wide range of food and friendly staff make Chidambaram’s New Madras Hotel Restaurant a place worth visiting!

 

 

 

Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra is an avid foodie! He is a Founder but proudly calls himself a Foodie-in-chief at Delhi Food Walks. He is also a street-food and Indian regional cuisine connoisseur and loves to write about street-food.
http://www.delhifoodwalks.com
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Ranganathan

Delhi’s very own MADRAS CAFE

Five years ago a man named Ranganathan, arrived at New Delhi Railway station from Chennai holding his ten year old son’s hand and with dreams in his eyes. He wanted to start a small food joint in the capital to earn his livelihood.

With whatever savings he had and his culinary art of making delicious South Indian delicacies-dosa, idli and vadas he started his venture near GTB metro station as his main aim was to attract the college students who throng in and around North Campus. Assisted by little son, Ranga as he is fondly called he would get up early in the morning and start his preparation work. Around 12.30 pm, he would reach his venue with his paraphernalia and after the initial preparation like setting up of things like the dosa tava utensils, he would start doling out delicious dosas.

The aroma of fresh dosas being prepared, attracted a few passersby in the beginning and gradually through word of mouth Ranga’s business picked up. Today the small food joint is famous as “PURE MADRASI DOSA” stall. If anyone’s read “The Martyr’s Corner” Ranga’s story will remind you of the same. The must haves of this famous joint are the “Masala Dosas topped with cottage cheese”, the soft succulent vadas served with sambhar, coconut and gun-powder chutney. People from all walks of life throng the food joint and go back satisfied having tasted authentic South Indian delicacies at reasonable prices which suits every pocket.

This is the story of a man who has made big in a city like Delhi.His magical smile adds to the final touch to the whole experience and you come back again and again asking for more and more and more……

Foodie Correspondent-Surabhi Baksi

The location of the stall-near GTB METRO STATION
CONTACT NO-9044017319

Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra is an avid foodie! He is a Founder but proudly calls himself a Foodie-in-chief at Delhi Food Walks. He is also a street-food and Indian regional cuisine connoisseur and loves to write about street-food.
http://www.delhifoodwalks.com
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Anna Cafe

Anna Cafe

Anna’s Cafe

Who knew that a tiny stall called Anna’s Cafe has been parked outside NIFT for 16 years? For 16 years Anna has been selling lip-smacking South India food at the most affordable prices ever. He has been saving us one hunger pang at a time.

For all the vegetarians this is a must try place and for all the ‘Tuesday’ believers like me this can be your ‘go to place’.

My personal favourite is The Vadas. No other place can balance the exterior crispiness and the inner softness of a Vada like Anna. I know it’s hard to believe considering it’s a small time ‘thela’ but that is the exciting aspect as well.

Unlike other dhabas or thelas, Anna doesn’t serve in recyclable plates (well you can ask for one if you want). Instead he serves the Vadas and the idlis in a bowl with a ‘topping’ of sambar and coconut chutney. The dosas are made right in front of you and served hot so that you can dive right in.

Although there isn’t much variety at Anna’s Cafe, there will always be one dish which shall become your personal favourite. To top it all you get to experience this for just Rs.30. Like I said he is a superhero.

If you want to be a part of this 16 year old legacy, head on over to NIFT near Hauz Khas market and Green Park Metro Station. Hope to see you folks soon!

Pramiti Sapru

Foodie Correspondent

P.S- You can always ask for extra coconut chutney. Anna never says no 😀

 

Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra is an avid foodie! He is a Founder but proudly calls himself a Foodie-in-chief at Delhi Food Walks. He is also a street-food and Indian regional cuisine connoisseur and loves to write about street-food.
http://www.delhifoodwalks.com