Tag: south indian food

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South Indian with a Twist

Zambar, Gurgaon

When sushi burritos, ramen burgers and cronuts made an appearance on the food scene over the last few years, the sceptics and purists were appalled. But these eccentric dishes soon found their groove, primarily among Instagram hungry millennials. Food mashups are here to stay. And luckily, they’re tasty!

Zambar has swooped into a very traditional market to deliver a modern interpretation to south Indian food. It is upbeat and fun. There’s a colourful wheeled cart with alcohol and coconuts balanced on it at one end. Next to it, on the wall, a volley of pictures and videos depicting the backwaters of Kerala, traditional dances and markets are projected. The opposite wall is a window into Char Minar and other famous sites (paintings of course. If only Char Minar was actually visible from the 3rd floor of Ambience Mall). A little further is a well-stocked and pretty looking bar with a black board menu in the new Instagram font. The restaurant staff wore flowers in their hair and traditional sarees which was endearing.

Kaffir Lime Rasam was served first as a palate cleanser. The kaffir lime elevated the humble rasam dish, giving it a fresh and light citrus kick. I lapped up every bit of that hot concoction. I always want my rasam with kaffir lime in it now. The next dish, Zambar Net Dosai was stuffed with chicken and layered with delicious spices. The Goan Prawn Curry lived up to its name and heritage but the lamb in Achamma’s Lamb Curry was a bit chewy. Egg lovers will have a field day with Zambar’s rendition of utthapam and appam with a sunny side up perched on each of them. By the time we reached the dessert segment, I found myself loosening my belt, in a desperate bid to make more room. I tried the Coconut Jaggery Pudding which was their take on a mishti doi. It had a comfortable level of sweetness, with the coconut shavings adding a crunchy texture to the dish.

Zambar’s menu has cute drawings of lungi clad men playing tennis, women balancing pots on their heads and Super-Hot Man giving poses (his super power seems to be cooking hot food) along with historical excerpts and blurbs about southern Indian states – because education is important, wherever you may be! So go visit, for a tasty, playful and educational meal all packed in one.

 

Location: 3rd Floor, Ambience Mall, Gurgaon
Meal for two: Rs. 1400 (without alcohol)

Anjora Sarangi
Anjora cannot resist a good prawn preparation, finds home in Chinese food anywhere in the world but will eat almost anything if it looks appealing. She is a Potter head and has recently discovered pottery as a hobby (excuse the pun).
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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.

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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