A la carte july2013

Vol. 2 Issue 9

JULY 2013

Chennai’s complete food magazine

LEBIE CEO D FORIKANTH S

Culinary

Delights Chef Pravin Bagali shares exotic recipes

Delicious mocktails to combat the heat, parfaits and smoothies to sweeten your palate and more

Chennai’s fragrant food scene is up and going

We give you a round up!

London makes for a wonderful city to eat, shop and make merry!

JULY

CONTENTS GOURMET BUZZ 4 All you need to know about Chennai’s food scene

EXPERT ON THE BLOCK 10 Culinary Connoisseur

Chef Pravin Bagali doles out exclusive recipes from the kitchens of The Westin

IN THE KNOW 34 Ask Dharini

This nutrition expert solves all the diet and nutrion riddles which have been hogging your mind. Embrace them for a healthier living

38 Ask Sabita

This culinary wizard answers all your queries on food and cooking. Now say goodbye to kitchen angst!

CELEB FOODIE 36 Srikanth

Srikanth shares his food secrets

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À la Carte Managing Director Sujit Kumar

GOURMET SAFARI 20 London Delights At London, foodies are spoilt for choices!

28 Soothing Delicacies

Eclectic recipes of parfaits and smoothies by home chef Chithra Viswanathan

SHAKEN & STIRRED 43 On the Mocktail Trail

Yummy mocktails for a refreshing day

RESTAURANT ROUNDING 40 A Taste of Mexico

Visit Sammy Sosa for a succulent Mexican meal

47 Munching at Peaches

A treasure trove of multi-cuisine dishes for the vegetarians

Taste the goodness of Indian spices with Sabita Radhakrishna's exclusive recipe on page 29

Editor-in-Chief Bina Sujit Senior Features Writer Krupa Shah Anusha Surendran Design Team Rifah Aiysha Francis Augustine Anto M Vijay Columnists Sabita Radhakrishna Dharini Krishnan Marketing Chennai Daniel Benjamin Paneer Selvam Pitchumani Gomathi Bharath Coimbatore Nithyendran Mumbai Kiran N. Murthy

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Jalebi

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Gourmet Buzz All you need to know about Chennai’s Indulge at The Leela Palace

It’s raining mangoes and what better time than now to indulge in various forms of the yummy fruit. The Leela Cake Shop at the Leela Palace has come out with Fresh Mango Cake, mango/thyme apricot/ eisella cherry; mango cheesecake to pay tribute to this yummy season. The pastries for the season include Alphonso Mango tart; mango pistachio; mango mille-feuille among many others. There are mango-themed macaroons and chocolates too!

Happy Cakes at French Loaf

The French Loaf has introduced a new range of cakes ‘Happy Cakes’ to its menu. These pocket friendly cakes weighing one kilogram, are priced starting at Rs. 450, and are available in two flavours - vanilla and chocolate.

Speaking about the cakes, Mr. Narendra Malhotra, CEO of Oriental Cuisines said, “We believe at The French Loaf, that every occasion should be celebrated. By working with our vendors and economies of scale, we have been able to introduce 4 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

food scene

Spectra the all-day multi-cuisine restaurant at the hotel has introduced Sunday Brunch at three levels. At the first level, there would be unlimited sparkling wine and other spirits on offer. At a slightly higher rate there is a Champagne brunch and the third level would comprise a royal treat aptly named as The Leela Brunch with handcrafted culinary delights and rare vintage champagne on offer.

our new range of Happy Cakes which are easy on the pocket.” The French Loaf also offers an exclusive selection of Celebration Cakes, Wedding Cakes, Toy Cakes, and 3D Cakes.

Dessert at Wang’s Kitchen

Wang’s Kitchen’s most sought after Chinese combo- the ‘Value Meal’ has introduced an add-on dessert to its menu, ‘Choco-Choo’, a chocolate delight for an additional Rs. 20. This add-on makes the value meal a complete package, offering some of the best dishes available on the menu at affordable prices. The vegetarian and non vegetarian Value Meals include a soup or a beverage, a main course with rice or noodles, and choice of Wang’s Kitchen’s special sides. One can choose from a simple vegetarian or chicken combo, which offers fried rice or noodles, cauliflower manchurian or chilli

chicken gravy, and a soup or an aerated drink. Also available are Szechwan, Chilli garlic, and Wang’s Special combos, with options for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The Value Meal, which is available from Monday to Thursday, is priced at Rs.129 for the vegetarian combo and Rs.149 for the non-vegetarian combo.

Make your own sundae at ibaco

At ibaco, you get to make your own sundae just the way you want it to be.

Ice cream lovers in Chennai can now choose from a whopping 36 different varieties which include classic delights like Bean Vanilla, Butterscotch Bliss, Fig & Honey, Caribbean Almond Fudge, Black Currant and Belgian Chocoholic among others and give their Sundae the perfect finishing touch by choosing from a wide range of toppings and sauces.

Ibaco has 88 ice cream parlours in Chennai that are touted to be hygienic, cool and fun!

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Grand offerings from the ITC Grand Chola

Pan Asian at ITC Grand Chola introduces a unique culinary experience with the Saturday Dim Sum Lunch. Start off with an assortment of crisp salads, cold appetizers and more than twenty varieties of Dim Sums. A sumptuous main course follows and you finish on a sweet note with generous helpings of homemade ice creams and Asian inspired desserts.

The Cheroot, the malt and cigar lounge, at the hotel is hosting a whisky tasting table on all days from 11 pm to 1 am.

Taste your way through a wonderful experience guided by beverage specialist Hannah Keirl. Work your way through ‘World Whiskies’, ‘Malt trail through Scotland,’ or ‘Blends vs. Single Malts’.

Learn the history of whisky and appreciate the delightful differences between each golden liquid.

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Quiznos at Express Avenue

Quiznos, the world’s second-largest sub chain, has recently launched another outlet at Express Avenue. Actor Trisha was there as a guest and sampled the delicious fare at the outlet. This summer the Quiznos’ menu gets peppered with a dash of cool with the launch of Q-Desserts, a brand of frozen stone ice-creams partnering with premium ice-cream brand, Minus 4. The superior waffles and scoops are whipped and crafted on unique frozen stone. The Frozen Stone Ice Cream Concepts are priced anywhere between Rs 100- Rs 200 inclusive of all taxes and the regular and sugar free flavours anywhere between Rs 75 to Rs 85 for a single scoop. influenced by both war-like lifestyles of its inhabitants and the availability of limited ingredients, thanks to its arid locales. It is now known for its splendid array of colorful, spicy and unique dishes. The show-stealers were Dal Bati Churma, Laal Maas, Murg ke Suley, Gatta Curry, Ker Sangri, Paneer Launglata, etc., not to mention sweets like Ghewar, Lapsi and many more delicacies! A live puppet show – by puppet artists from the land of the Rajputs – was also held during the food festival.

Rajasthani fare at Ramada

Ramada Chennai Egmore hosted a grand food festival celebrating the essence of Rajasthani cuisine at the Symphony multi-cuisine restaurant. Rajasthani cuisine, over the ages, has been À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 7

Fruta Festival at Zara Tapas Bar

Zara Tapas Bar hosted the unique ‘Fruta Festival’ this summer at the restaurants located on Cathedral Road and at the Airport. The festival offered a wide range of refreshing cocktails made with exotic fruits like passion fruit, musk melon, passion fruit, blueberry, strawberry, green apple, pineapple, mango and blood orange. The festival also featured cocktails such as El Paso, Zara Passion, Beach Berry, Blackcurrant Mojito, Cuban Melon and more.

Brunch away at The Park!

Spend the perfect Sunday at The Park’s all new Big Fat Sunday Brunch. Enjoy a wide spread of sushi, an oyster counter, nitro cooking, divine alcohol laced jalebis and other delights from around the world.

A select few early bird bookings will be entitled to use a room and the pool facilities (from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.) to cool off! Some of the highlights of the brunch are a floating dessert buffet, Malaysian Roti Jala Counter, Kids counter with entertainment, nitro cooking, French toast counters among others. The other counters are seafood and meat grill, sushi and sashimi bar, Asian salad bad, Dim Sums, pizzeria among others.

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Country Chicken in Chennai

Country Chicken, a premier Australian fast-food chain, recently announced its first Country Chicken outlet in South India at Valluvar Kottam High Road, Nungambakkam in Chennai.

Mr Peter Austin, CEO and Chairman, Country Chicken, said, “Chennai is a fast developing city in India I believe this is a great opportunity for quick service

Mexican fare at Kailash Parbat

Kailash Parbat at Harrington Road hosted a Mexican Food Festival recently.

Authentic Mexican fare at affordable prices was the USP of the festival.

A choice of soups, three salads, four main course dishes, with coolers and desserts formed the fare at the festival.

Appetizers included Nachos Cheese, Nachos Chicos, Whacko Tacos, Mexi Skin, Quesadillas, Hummus with Pitta Bread, Godzilla Garlic, and Crispy

food sector to grow rapidly.”Country Chicken offers a variety of chicken products, burgers and subs, wraps and sandwiches as well as fish products, broad pizza menu and also an eclectic mix of vegetarian items to cater to the varied palates of food lovers in the cities.

The prices would be fixed at par with the current pricing scenario in the organized fast food restaurant chains.

Potatoes. The Mexican Caravan Bean Soup and crunchy fresh salads such as Spinach Ville, Mexican Corn Salad, and Arnold’s Snack were show-stealers.

Main course included Burrito Mania, Fajitas Aztec Style and Mexican Pizza among many other dishes. The Belgium Choc Mud Pie offered the perfect end to the meal. Kailash Parbat, that has three outlets in Chennai, is known for its authentic cuisine catering to die-hard vegetarians.

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Culinary Connoisseur

Expert on the Block

I started as a trainee Commis at The Oberoi, Bangalore. The best part of my initial days was that I got an exposure to all sections of the kitchen and that ensured a strong foundation for my future culinary endeavours.

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Having traversed the globe and worked with industry heavyweights such as Oberoi, Taj, Marriott and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Chef Pravin Bagali’s culinary journey of 18 years has been nothing short of a dream run. He was instrumental in opening six different restaurant and banquet operations and has participated in three hotel pre-openings. A connoisseur of recipes and food designing, the Executive Chef at The Westin, Chennai, opens up on his childhood, career, Chennai and more.

By Rekha Shanmugham If you had to take a trip down the gastronomic memory lane?

I spent my childhood in Goa eating fresh sea food. My grandmother was a fantastic cook. I vividly remember watching her cook in the kitchen and that piqued my interest. I never used to try my hand at anything until I was formally enrolled in college but witnessing her cook was my first source of inspiration.

At what point in your life did you decide that cooking was your future?

I did three years of hotel management during which food production formed an integral part.

Right from the first year I harboured a proclivity for cooking. So much so that I would work from 6 a.m. to midnight during the two months of industrial exposure that I was allowed in the kitchens. By the end of the third year I had made up my mind. I knew that the kitchen was where I belonged. I started as a trainee Commis at The Oberoi, Bangalore. The best part of my initial days was that I got an exposure to all sections of the kitchen and that ensured a strong foundation for my future culinary endeavours.

What are the various places that your career has taken you to?

In India I had the opportunity to work in Bangalore, Goa and Mumbai. My work then took me abroad to Maldives. I later moved to Dubai and was there for a good nine years, post which I came back to Bangalore again before arriving in Chennai.

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As far as the hotel industry is considered does Chennai have a long way to go compared to other Indian cities?

I think India has got a long way to go. From my extensive travelling I can tell you that there is still a lot of scope for improvement. Procurement of right ingredients is the biggest challenge here. However, as far as conceptualization and execution is concerned we are on par with other countries.

Your take on cooking-based reality shows? If offered an opportunity to judge one of them would you take that up?

Cookery shows have added a lot of glamour to the food industry. However most of the shows need to be more pertinent and simplified. If the shows will be instrumental in enhancing the food awareness amongst public and become a valuable learning experience then there is no reason for me to decline.

How important do you think presentation is for a dish?

I believe that people always eat with their eyes first. So presentation is paramount. I would attribute 40 per cent of the success of a dish to presentation, and the remaining to the taste!

What can we look forward to at ‘The Westin’?

We have opened ‘Seasonal Tastes’ restaurant which promises to be an interactive and experimental experience. The buffet spread is cooked in mono batches and introduces the diner to the A la carte buffet concept. Not only does the concept promote healthy dining but also ensures that people get to indulge in a variety of dishes.

The buffet includes a Raita bar, sushi and sashimi counter, home-made flavored mustards and compotes, and healthy, sugar-free and Ayurvedic desserts.The place also facilitates chef interaction.

We have conceptualized it in such a way that people can witness the chef at work, probably have a word and even discuss recipes with him.

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What have you envisioned for

‘The Westin’?

The open-air Poolside Grill and Barbecue would serve a selection of western grill and Middle Eastern barbecue. The Willows lounge bar would introduce the ‘Bowl concept’ to the lounge regulars and, EEST - a Pan-Asian restaurant - plans to focus on authentic flavours and recipes from Japan, Thailand, China and other Asian countries.

Food Scene in Chennai

I was actually surprised to see that people in Chennai dine out a lot. This was not the general perception of the city earlier. I had anticipated a different scene.

They are also experimental and have a discerning palate. You cannot serve them food unworthy of their money and get away with it.

When onion starts browning, add flavored chicken stock. Simmer; add flour for thickening if required. Adjust seasoning and serve hot with emmenthal and brioche crouton.

French Onion Soup • White Onion 600 gms • Fresh thyme 30 gms • Fresh Rosemary 15 gms • Flour 50 gms • Butter 20 gms • XVOO 50 ml • Leeks & Celery (finely chopped) 50 gms • Garlic (chopped) 10 gms • Chicken stock 1.2 ml • Brioche bread 4 no • Emmenthal cheese 75 gms

Photography by Abhay Kumar

Sauté leeks, celery, garlic in oil and butter.

Add thyme and rosemary, then sauté onion at a slow flame.

When onion starts browning, add flavored chicken stock. Simmer; add flour for thickening if required. Adjust seasoning and serve hot with emmenthal and brioche crouton. À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 13

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Recipes from Pravin Bagali, Executive Chef, The Westin

Snippets Snippets Best Bestculinary culinary experience: experience: Paris Paris People Peopleatattheir their hospitable hospitablebest: best: Asia Asiaand andespecially especially Thailand Thailandand andVietnam Vietnam Favourite Favouritecuisine: cuisine: Asian Asianfood, food,especially especially Som SomTam, Tam,the the Chicken ChickenGreen Green Curry Curryand andthe theRoast Roast Pecking PeckingDuck Duck Best Bestdining dining experiences experiencesininIndia: India: Azure Azureatatthe theTaj Tajinin Bangalore Bangaloreand andthe the Persian PersianTerrace Terraceatat Sheraton SheratonininBangalore Bangalore Best BestMeal: Meal: Steaks SteaksatatRhodes Rhodes Twenty10 Twenty10ininLeLeRoyal Royal Meridian, Meridian,Dubai Dubai Favourite FavouriteSouth South Indian Indiandish: dish: Idly Idly Yummiest Yummiestthing thingthat that your yourmom mommakes: makes: Goan Goanfish fishcurry curry

Char-grilled Salmon with Spinach and Grapefruit Hollandaise • Salmon fillet 880 gms • Baby spinach 200 gms • Green marination 200 gms • Lemon 100 gms • Butter 250 gms • Whole egg 2 no • Grape fruit juice 100 ml • Salt 30 gms • Cherry tomato on vine 120 gms • Leeks 150 gms

Marinate salmon fillet with green marination (with parsley, garlic and olive oil), chargrill salmon fillet as per doneness. For the hollandaise, reduce grapefruit juice in a pan, cool it down, whisk the egg yolks and slowly emulsify the melted butter.

Adjust seasoning.

Sauté spinach in a pan, neatly place on plate, top with grilled salmon. Serve with grapefruit hollandaise, garnish with fried leeks and blistered cherry tomatoes. À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 15

Arrange the potatoes, parmesan flakes and onion rings neatly. Garnish with blistered cherry tomatoes

Pulled Chicken Salad • Chicken breast 600 gm • Potatoes 250 gm • Parmesan flakes 150 gm • Red onion 200 gm • Cajun spices 75 gm • Mix lettuce 200 gm • Cherry tomato 100 gm • Olive oil 120 ml • Salt 30 gm • Pepper corns 15 gm

Marinate chicken breast pieces with Cajun spices and olive oil. Grill the chicken breast and chill in blast chiller. Pull the chicken in flakes.

Cut and wash potatoes, season with oil, salt and crushed pepper. Roast them in oven and blast chill. Toss the greens, top with pulled chicken breast; arrange the potatoes, parmesan flakes and onion rings neatly. Garnish with blistered cherry tomatoes 16 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

Add tomato, celery, onions and spring onion and toss with seafood thoroughly till all the dressing is absorbed.

Yam Talay • Scallops 150 gms • Shrimps (16-20 pieces) 150 gms • Fish cube 150 gms • Mussels 150 gms • Squid 150 gms • Thai Celery 40 gms • White Onions 120 gms • Bird chili 20 gms • Garlic 20 gms • Spring onion 60 gms • Fish sauce 2 tbsp • Lemon juice 3 tbsp • Palm sugar 120 gms • Coriander leaves 120 gm

Cook all seafood in boiling water until it is cooked. Put in cool water, drain well and set aside. In a large bowl combine lemon juice, fish sauce, palm sugar, bird chilli and mix well.

Add tomato, celery, onions and spring onion and toss with seafood thoroughly till all the dressing is absorbed.

Place in center of the plate and garnish with coriander leaves À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 17

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Sea bass Chutneywali • Sea bass fillet 800 gms • Salt 5 gms • Turmeric 5 gms • Red chili powder 5 gms • Lemon juice 5 ml For Green Chutney • Coriander leaves 150 gms • Mint leaves 50 gms • Green chilies 10 gms • Garlic 20 gms • Onions 20 gms • Lemon juice 10 ml • Dry mango powder 10 gms • Salt 5 gms

First marinate the fish fillets with above ingredients and keep in refrigerator for 15 minutes. Make the chutney with above ingredients. Marinate fish again with green chutney and refrigerate for another 30 minutes.

Check the seasoning and then heat a thickbottomed griddle / hot plate on medium heat and grill these marinated fish fillets / whole red snapper using a little oil. Grill each side for about 3 minutes. To serve spread on a platter and garnish it with lemon wedges and onion rings À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 19

DELIGHTS

London

Gourmet Safari

By Kavita Shyam Wadhwani

London is a confluence of cultures. If you have always thought that eating out in London is an expensive affair, fret not!

Dining out in the city doesn’t have to be a wallet busting experience! With variety being the spice of a Londoner’s life, the capital is a foodie’s delight with a sea of restaurants and café’s to choose from. With plenty of cafes or restaurants being added to London’s food scene, it makes for a wonderful place to shop, gallivant and indulge your taste buds.

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One can never ever go hungry in this city; chances are with the plenty of culinary treats in the capital you’d rather be spoilt for choice!

For most Indians who are travelling or staying in London, it has been observed that they prefer to try out Indian or Asian restaurants as compared to European or English eat-out places. Well, surely some like to steer clear of the monotony – When in London, be a Londoner! Read on to find out which places should be on your gourmet itinerary…

From Top: Bill's Restaurant; Peach Juice; Poached Eggs with Salmon; Bill's Hamburger with Fries;

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Bill’s Do you have an appetite for an unpretentious Brit menu which serves the best solid English breakfast in town?

Well, then this one is a must visit for all you breakfast/brunch buffs. Bill’s got it right from the very first day. The restaurant with a rather quirky art decor boasts of a European flair. They have an amazing bistro with attentive service, alongside plenty of menu options to cater to all tastes. Their elaborate vegetarian breakfast comes with two poached eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, humous, guacamole, sweet chilli sauce and toast. Another rich breakfast option is the eggs royale- smoked salmon with poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and mixed seeds on toast (with the option of whole-wheat/multigrain bread).

Needless to say, it is out of the world!

Amongst other things to try from the menu card, one can vouch for their grilled chicken with lemon, rosemary and garlic - a perfectly thought-out item made with good ingredients. Their feta salad, fishcakes with tartar slaw or the fish finger sandwich, will prod you into making your meal a prolonged affair.

Try their freshly squeezed juices, like the fresh orange, raspberry, peach or mango juice which comes with a large chunk of melon on the side. All very colourful and refreshing! You finish your meal with marmalade ice cream.

On a lucky day you may even be served sparkling wine, elderflower cordial and a raspberry float. Londoners or tourists prefer to go to this place for a pretheatre meal or for a relaxed meal out. Even their wine and drinks are reasonably priced. Make sure you book in advance, lest you are kept waiting at busy times.

The Tea Rooms This place makes for a delightful venue for a homely afternoon tea. It is beautifully cozy, bedecked with buntings, vintage china ware or crockery and knitted knick knacks.

Once you enter the Tea Rooms you get instantly transported from the hustle and bustle of the capital’s life to a quaint little village of sorts.

The staff are highly charming, and their tea list is extensive. With a vast array of cakes on offer it is enough to tempt any calorie conscious person off the hook.

Alongside reasonably prices baked treats their afternoon tea is more than a bargain. Try their finger sandwiches, fruity scones with clotted cream and jam, miniature cakes, biscuits and pastries which are not only exquisitely presented but scrumptious too. Their fresh, homemade raspberry jam for the scones can safely be tagged as the finest in London. A special mention would be for their carrot cakes in heart shapes, gingerbread, chocolate and caramel-topped shortbread, their peppermint tea and pasta. This place is also ideal for a family tea party or birthday parties. The added bonus, apart from their food is that they also sell inexpensive but sweet china and glassware which is worth a browse while you wait for your food. Do not miss the old fashioned charm or eye pleasing tea place for anything in the world!

The Tea Rooms is also ideal for a family tea party or birthday parties.

From Top: The Tea Rooms; Miniature Cakes; Birthday Party at The Tea Room À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 23

Tayyabs Tayyabs is an institution of sorts in East London. This vibrant place is considered as the best Asian restaurant or Punjabi cuisine in this part of the city. Tayyabs which started out as a small café in 1972, is now a full-fledged restaurant churning out and mouth-watering dishes. The three brothers who own this place are passionate about each dish which leaves their kitchen. Lamb

Simpsons-in-the-strand If you want a fine time at an imperial looking place or a grand dining place, then this one’s just apt for you! The roasted meat, which is one of the glories of England, is served with finesse here. Londoners love this restaurant for its décor, silver cutlery and the British traditional food, accompanied by live piano for the visitors. This eatery is quite the cosmopolitan place, ideal for a formal as well as a casual sit-down meal. Coming to the food served, try their roast potatoes, Savoy cabbage, smooth duck liver pate with grape chutney, and pumpkin and carrot soup.

Brioche, and the meats or beef which are extremely melt- in-the-mouth served along with deep rich gravy, are highly recommended. Finish your meal with the pudding with vanilla custard, raspberry sorbet, coconut 24 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

chops as starters is absolutely delicious, chicken kadai or curry, grilled meat, chicken or mutton tikka, masala fish, seekh kebab with naan is good. This place has visitors from practically all parts of the world making it buzzing during peak hours. The waiters are very friendly and warm. Great food for great value! Try out this celebrated restaurant when you are in London.

panna cotta, Yorkshire pudding which is served from a giant silver bowl.

Most of the side dishes and sauces are praiseworthy. All of the desserts are creamy alongside just the right amount of wobble. Make sure you have their bottle of champagne to raise a toast in style. Go indulge, for a timeless experience!

OZ Café This café can be your most delightful finds in the city. Friendly staff, flexible menu, reasonable prices, generous proportions, no frills, simple wellcooked food besides a cozy atmosphere makes this place ultra special. This hidden little gem serves dishes such as jacket potato with cheese, beans meal, hot chocolate, bacon berry panini, Caeser salad, and burgers. Their ‘Hangover Brunch’ – with steak and Kennington Tandoori This is an ideal place for good food and wine in a cozy ambience!

Kennington Tandoori is an elegant space dressed in lemon, plum and chocolate colours. Located on Kennington Road, this south London restaurant draws a lively mix of local and international folks. Get your doses of finger- licking Indian delicacies like Goan Vindaloo, Lamb Shatkora, Chicken Tandoori, Chicken Bhuna among others. None of these meals are complete without their red wine, which makes for a fine accompaniment. Not to forget, their chicken tikka which is cooked with almonds, pistachios and coconut cream in a saffron sauce. The food is complimented well by a wine list created by Caspar Auchterlonie. The food comes in generous quantity with non-oily, finely flavoured sauces.

Interestingly, the chefs pay a lot of attention to the minutest of details, like roasting and grinding their own spices and making all their own fresh stocks in-house to add to the layout of all dishes presented. Try the gravy dishes with whole meal brown rice, which makes for a healthy option.

eggs, or their ‘Bento Box’ with steamed green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, tofu and salad and smoked fish are highly famous. All the greens are fresh and handpicked and the barbeque sauce is home made. A special kudos to their dessert- strawberry shortcake which has a heavenly topping of light cream and fresh strawberries. Simply get a taste of their healthy options and you might just want to be a return visitor.

From Top: The Kennington Tandoori; Salad; Tandoori `Pomfret

Veeraswamy From the minute you enter this wonderful fine dining restaurant, there is a feel good factor attached to it. Veeraswamy is dressed to impress, with ornate chandeliers, colourful hanging lamps and exotic Indian turbans and carpets decorating the high-ceilinged space.

Early bookings are recommended to enjoy the splendid view from the window seat overlooking the bustling Regent Street. The place, which has been around since 1926, initially served Anglo-Indian food and later moved to Indian cuisine.

Sample their chicken lollipops with an outstanding dipping sauce, crab cakes, chicken tikka, paneer labadar tikka or the appetizing lobster Malabar curry with mango and turmeric chutney. The saffron curry from Kashmir- rogan josh, tandoori red snapper, grilled oyster kebabs are sheer delights. Needless to say, all their curries make a marvelous match with lemon drenched rice.

The Meringue dessert with passion fruit is utterly delicious.

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Veeraswamy is dressed to impress, with ornate chandeliers, colourful hanging lamps and exotic Indian turbans and carpets decorating the high-ceilinged space

Dishoom Well, the name screams filmy and Bollywood! Touted as the Bombay breakfast club in the centre of London, the interior is inspired and faithful to the ‘Iranian cafés’ of late 20th century Bombay. This place dishes out the most creative or interesting and pocketfriendly breakfast options ever! Not to forget the exuberant, professional and committed staff to serve you the yummy food. Western-style breakfast dishes such as porridge and granola are appetizing, but far more interesting, is the Indian fare. The signature breakfast dish is the bacon naan roll and ones with big appetites might prefer the ‘full Bombay meal’ which is a hearty plateful of spicy scrambled eggs, char-grilled bacon and vine tomatoes, cumberland sausage and toast. The food has unusual taste complemented by a mixture of enticing dips. You can wash it down with masala tea. Even their seekh kebabs, bhel, Pav bhaji, keema pav, biryani, lamb raan bun, calamari, masala chips, burgers besides the pineapple crumble is worth the mention. Make sure you get your glass of chilly martini or their mango lassi to go with the delectable fair. If you happen to get a seat at the basement dining area, you can watch the Indian chefs at work dishing out affordably yummy food. This place is well known for its breakfast; however they are open the entire day for foodies or after-clubbing enthusiasts, to sample their quirky treats.

Touted as the Bombay breakfast club in the centre of London, the interior is inspired and faithful to the ‘Iranian cafés’ of late 20th century Bombay.

So get set and sample all that you can gather during your stay in Britain, and let your London sojourn be a complete gourmet delight! Stay London happy and happy eating!

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Soothing DELICACIES RECIPES CHITHRA VISWANATHAN, HOME CHEF

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Parfaits and smoothies are in the must-have list of every foodie. Be it a hot summer evening or a cold gloomy day, a cheery smoothie or a perfect parfait might just make your day better. Chithra Viswanathan, a versatile home chef, doles out tried and tested recipes for smoothies and parfaits from her kitchen. Chithra has contributed recipes to many food websites and has a sincere following for her own recipe app ‘AskChitVish Premium’.

Fruit & Sprout Smoothie A mini meal! (makes one serving) • 2 to 3 tbsp of crushed ice • 1 tbsp steamed sprouts • 1 tbsp violet seedless grapes • 1 tbsp pineapple pieces • 1 tbsp papaya cubes • 1 tbsp apple cubes

METHOD Blend together all the ingredients and do not strain. Use lightly steamed mixed sprouts.

Garnish with one piece of each fruit and a few pomegranate seeds.

Cool Red Lady An attractive and filling smoothie (serves 2) • ¾ cup heaped boiled ,peeled and grated beetroot • 1 sliced frozen banana • 2 tsp wheat bran or oat bran • 3-4 tbsp ice cubes, crushed • Honey or sugar

sweetener to taste • `Slivered almonds and a sprig of any greens to garnish

METHOD Blend together all the above ingredients in a liquidizer and serve without straining. À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 29

Kiwi Beauty An elegant smoothie (serves two) • 3 to 4 tbsp of crushed ice • 3 chopped Kiwi fruits (reserving 2 slices for garnishing) • ½ cup of green grapes (seedless and sweet) • ½ cup of chopped green apple • Sugar or sweetenerto taste (optional) • Peeled apple, cut into 1” sized matchsticks to garnish

METHOD Liquidise together all the ingredients. The mixture need not be strained.

30 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

Nutella Breakfast Parfait An absolutely yummy filler (makes one serving) • 1 cup of low fat hung curds • 1 tbsp honey • 1 tbsp of Nutella • 3 to 4 tbsp mixed breakfast cereals • 3 to 4 tbsp of mixed fruits of choice

METHOD Divide the hung curds into two parts. To one part, add honey; to the other part, nutella.

Arrange as shown, repeating layers, the way you prefer. Dry fruits like dates and figs can also be included.

Healing Smoothie A soothing and refreshing drink (makes one serving)

Grapears Smoothie A perfect cooler! (serves TWO) • 3 to 4 tbsp crushed ice • 1 cup of seedless, violet grapes, chopped • 1 pear chopped • A tiny pinch of salt • ½ tsp of roasted jeera powder

METHOD Liquidise all the above ingredients together and do not strain. Use one slice of tomato, one slit grape, a sprig of mint for garnishing.

• 2 tbsp strawberry pulp • 1 ½ tbsp grenadine syrup • 3 tbsp sugar syrup • 1 cup hung curds • 3 tbsp crushed ice

METHOD Drain fresh thick curds in a thin cloth or curd strainer. Blend together all the ingredients.

Garnish with a few pomegranate seeds and a sprig of greens of your choice. À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 31

Placid Sea Margarita You will love this!! (serves two) • • • • • • • •

3 to 4 tbsp of crushed ice 4 tsp lime juice Sugar or sweetener- to taste (optional) 1 cup chopped apple 1 scoop vanilla ice cream (optional) 4 tsp curacao syrup 200 ml soda water

METHOD Blend together all the ingredients and do not strain. Garnish with chopped apples.

Serve in sugar rimmed glasses.

32 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

Oats and Fruit Parfait A chilled delight (serves one) • 4 tsp oats cooked in mIlk and chilled • 3 tbsp dry fruits like dates, figs and prunes • ½ cup of fresh fruits such as papaya, apple, kiwi, banana (chopped)

METHOD Soak the dry fruits in just enough water overnight and blend in the morning.

Arrange in layers alternately as shown.

Tips to make that perfect smoothie

Tomato Smoothie An interesting and different concoction! (serves two) • • • • •

3 to 4 tsp thin poha 1 ripe tomato ½ cup of curds ¼ cup of cold milk 2 tsp of honey or brown sugar • Tiny pinch of salt

METHOD Soak poha in just sufficient water to completely soften it. Finely chop the tomatoes. Liquidise all ingredients together.

Serve without straining.

• As smoothies are made pulpy and thick, it is pertinent to maintain the texture.

• Ripe bananas can be sliced, frozen in small packs in the freezer. These can be used in any smoothie to give a creamy texture.

• Protein powder, flax seed powder or oil, complain etc., can be used for nutritive value.

• Brown sugar gives good colour and taste to the smoothie.

Do not sieve the sugar.

• Cream biscuit, cream crackers, if added, just one in number, give a good, rich, and creamy taste.

• All the ingredients must blend well to give a homogenous mixture.

• Lastly, with smoothies and parfaits sky is the limit for your imagination! À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 33

In the Know

Ask Dharini

Dr. Dharini Krishnan, a renowned Consultant Dietician answers your questions on basic nutrition and how it can make a difference to our body and health.

Q

How important is weight? Is it the only parameter to go by for health?

Weight is only one of the many parameters to maintain health. There are ideal weights prescribed as per different races, gender, and ages. If a person weighs five per cent more or less than the prescribed limits, then there may not be many problems.

However a steady trend of getting thinner or fatter should be monitored.

It is much easier to knock off 5 to 10 kilos of weight rather than pack up the extra 40 plus kilos and then work towards shedding the same. Getting onto the weighing machine once a week is good enough. Getting on the machine on a daily basis can be harassing. Weight should be taken in the early mornings and if possible on an empty stomach. The weight after a meal will be heavier as even water weighs one

34 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

gram per ml. The calories intake should be calculated based on the individual’s eating habits and patterns. Muscle weighs heavier than fat and those who do a lot of exercises involving muscles will have a lot of muscle. We are not worried about weight from muscle as it is good. It is the excess fat in the body and the fat around the abdomen that needs to be tackled first.Given below are the normal levels of waist measurements as per gender.

NORMAL • Men: Less than or equal to 90 cms • Women: Less than or equal to 80 cms INCREASED RISK • Men: more than 94 cms • Women: more than 80 cms GREATLY INCREASED RISK • Men: more than 102 cms • Women: more than 88 cms

How long can I go on a fruit and vegetable diet? How safe is it?

Fruit and vegetables alone as everyday food can be taken only for a day or two. People need to start increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables as the amounts consumed these days is very less. However on the other hand, it is also not right to consume only fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Fruits are rich in dietary fibre, vitamin C, and potassium. Vegetables are rich in dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals. They are enhanced by the spices added as nutrients and the phytochemicals and flavonoids add to the nutrition level.

Any person needs five basic food groups to achieve the Recommended Daily Allowance of our nutrients levels: • Grains which give carbohydrates such as wheat, red rice, bajra, jowar, ragi, varagu, white rice.

• Pulses such as dhal, whole pulses, and non vegetarian foods such as fish or chicken or egg for the proteins.

• Vegetables • Fruits • Dairy or milk products

Every food group is important and has to be part of the regular diet.

Q

I work in the IT sector and have been putting on weight ever since I took up this job.

What should I do to reduce?

The IT sector calls for long hours of work on the computer. Many youngsters these days sit in front of the computer for even 12 to 14 hours straight. Here are some of the mistakes people make that lead to putting on weight: Skipping breakfast, snacking in between with junk food, eating lunch at food courts rather than carrying food from home, not exercising except using the key pad, going through high stress as the assignments have un-realistic deadlines. Some of these problems can be tackled with a few changes to day-to-day lifestyle.

Some solutions are: • Never skip any meal. At least grab a fruit and take milk before you leave for work • Have fresh fruits, roasted pulses, puffed grains to snack on • Carry at least vegetable and dhal for work. Usually vegetables and dhal are cooked using lots of oil at Food Courts. So it’s better to bank on homemade food!

• The free-working environment allows for an hour break to relax and stretch at any time of the day.

Take it before lunch and head for a walk or go to the gym • Spend five minutes every morning on breathing exercises to de-stress before you start your day.

Prevention is always better than cure. So start taking lots of proteins, vegetables and fruits in sumptuous quantities. Eating out should be avoided as much as possible. À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 35

Celeb Foodie

I am addicted to chaat. I am capable of gobbling 20 pani puris straight! I also love spicy food and binge on Andhra cuisine once a month

SRIKANTH

Winning the hearts of Tamil audiences with ace performances in Poo, Parthiban Kanavu and Nanban, Srikanth is one of the most sought after actors in South Indian film industry. The charming actor talks about his favourite food moment, fitness regime and food cravings.

A cuisine I love

Anything Italian! I am addicted to pastas and risottos. I simply love penne with cream sauce and mushrooms.

A travel and food experience

My friends and I went on an all boys trip to Macau, Hong Kong and Japan... something on the lines of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. I have never tasted sea food, although I am a non-vegetarian by choice. I always had a mind block when it comes to sea food. So my friends coaxed me to try and bingo! I fell in love with sea food. I then started enjoying having salmon, tuna and even eel.

Addicted to

Chaat! Right now, I am keeping myself away from it due to fitness issues.

Otherwise, I am capable of gobbling 20 pani puris straight! Being an Andhraite, I also prefer spicy food to sweets. I binge on authentic Andhra food once a month.

Favorite restaurants in Chennai

I love many food joints in Chennai! To name a few, 601 at The Park, Flying Elephant at the Park Hyatt and Latitude 13 for desserts. I also like the buffet spread at the Leela Palace. For authentic Andhra cuisine, I go to Sankaranti.

Srikanth the chef

A ‘not-so-nice’ moment

During a shoot, my stunt master gave me a plate of squids. Thinking it was soya, I gobbled it up only to find out it wasn’t. I threw up and fell sick immediately. I had a stomach upset following this incident.

36 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

I am a big foodie, but I just can’t cook! My wife Vandana who is a hotel management student is a wonderful cook. She makes the best biriyani, oil-free chicken, pumpkin pudding and halwa.

À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 37

In the Know

Ask Sabita

Sabita Radhakrishna is a well known food columnist and cookbook author. Our readers can find answers to all their cooking related queries here.

Can you give me a recipe for a quick dessert which has good flavours and is also easy to make within short notice?

This recipe is unbeatable! All you need is sponge cakes, and if you don’t have one at home just get one from a cake shop, and buy a can of mixed fruit as well. Place the fruit in an ovenware dish and layer thin slices of plain sponge cake over it.

Pour whatever juice is left in the tin just to moisten the cake. Separate the yolks from two eggs. Warm one cup of milk with 6 tablespoons of sugar, add to egg yolks and stir over gentle heat till the custard thickens.

Pour this over the sponge cake slices. Beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt till frothy. Add two tablespoons of sugar, and 1 teaspoon cornflour and whip till stiff. Pile this on top of the custard and bake in a moderate oven (180 degrees C) till crisp and lightly brown.

38 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

How do you make

PERFECT CREAMY SCRAMBLED EGGS? Mine always separate and there is liquid underneath.

The secret as in all cooking lies in controlling the heat, and using the right pan, and the length of time you keep the pan on the stove. Here’s how I make my scrambled eggs: • 2 eggs • ½ cup of milk • 1 tbsp grated cheese • 1 green chilli • 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves • Salt and pepper to taste Beat the eggs with milk and add all other ingredients and beat again. Add 1 heaped tablespoon of butter, and mix well. (I use olive oil). Place on moderate heat in a non stick pan and stir continuously. As soon as the mixture thickens, remove from heat and transfer into a glass bowl and the eggs will continue to remain creamy.

If just left in the pan even with the heat off, it will continue to cook and separate, leaving liquid underneath. This is not a typical British recipe but my own, to suit the Indian palate!

WHAT IS

SALGAMUNDI?

We have heard that frequent additions of turmeric in one’s daily diet lead to jaundice. Is this true?

I cannot even say this is an old wives tale, because in this case the “old wives” would have a different story to tell. Turmeric for one thing is so auspicious in India and used for various reasons apart from cooking. The list of diseases that turmeric can help prevent and treat is mind boggling, like certain skin allergies, Alzheimer’s disease, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and cancer. So go ahead use turmeric in all your Indian dishes and reap the benefits. One word of caution, buy pure turmeric powder where you know the source; packaged ones are often polluted.

What is jigerthanda?

Jigerthanda, also known as jil jil jigerthanda, is a sweet cool drink which originated in Madurai.

Some cool drink stores make jigarthanda with milk, kadalpaasi and nannari (sarsaparilla) sharbat.

I had my taste of it at Murugan Idli Store, where the recipe substitutes nannari sharbat with sugar syrup and is topped with vanilla ice cream. For special drinks they add basundhi and charged extra. The drink at Murugan Idli Store was too sweet for my liking and paasi was chewy! But all the usual jigerthandas have orange colour.

It is just a decorative, elaborate salad, presented in a large round flattish dish.

The base could have any green leafy vegetable of your choice like lettuce, watercress, rocket leaves, chives etc. You could arrange leftover cold cooked meats, vegetables, sea food, pickles, and just about anything. The colours have to be chosen for contrast and it is a good way to serve leftovers for a meal.

Q

We keep reading about the value of our Indian spices for good health, and lately I have been reading about cinnamon.

We use it enough in curries and other Indian dishes, but can it be used otherwise?

You could keep a small bottle of powdered cinnamon handy, but don’t let it get stale; instead use it. My health conscious son has his oats porridge every morning sprinkled with powdered cinnamon and flax seeds.

Cinnamon powder can be added to any pudding or dessert, but just a sprinkling. A pinch of cinnamon powder gives soups a good flavour.

Try the following recipe for breakfast or tea if you don’t mind something sweet: • 4 slices of bread (lightly toasted) • 1 tablespoon of brown granulated sugar • 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder • Unsalted butter While the toast is still hot, butter it. Mix the sugar and cinnamon and spread over each slice. Place the toast under the grill just enough to melt the sugar and serve hot. À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 39

Restaurant Rounding

A Taste of Mexico Sammy Sosa provides guests a delicious experience with its unique tastes of Mexican cuisine.

The fresh dishes with its authentic accompaniments will only make you wanting more!

What: Sammy Sosa Where: The Forum Vijaya Mall, Arcot

Road, Vadapalani, Chennai - 26

The Place

Enervating flavours greet us at the warmly-decorated food court, Via South, at the Forum Vijaya Mall. We are seated at one of colourful tables that give us a bird’s view of the whole food court. The one thing that everyone seems to agree upon as far as the food court is concerned

40 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

is that the arrangement of the chairs and tables was well planned. We never had to weave our way through fellow diners to get to chairs and that gave us a sigh of relief. All was well!

The Food

Touted as a dependable Mexican cuisine outlet, Sammy Sosa has a lot to offer to both vegetarians and meat eaters. We start off with yummy Mexi Skin: potato jackets with fillings topped with cheese.

The filling was of vegetables cooked perfectly well and the potato jackets kept us reaching out for more! The dish was served with a tomato salsa that is signature to Mexican cuisine. The sour cream accompaniment, like the name suggests had that hint of sourness to the cream whose texture was superb. The salsa and the sour cream were finger-

licking delicious. But the cherry on the cake was the potato jackets themselves.

The jackets were beautifully baked with just the right amount of crispness.

The Mexican cuisine which has beans and rice as a major food item in the menu is spiced well and also uses a lot of fresh veggies and well-cooked meat to suit the palate of the meat eaters. Next came the famous Tacos with a filling of baked beans topped with cheese. The shell of the taco is made of cornflour and the crunch of the shell with the soft filling complemented with one another.

The texture of the tacos makes them all the more yummy!

For the non-vegetarians there is the Ranchado Chicken presented beautifully in an appetising manner. The dish contains grilled pieces of boneless chicken with an accompaniment of the famed Mexican rice and mashed potatoes.

To add to the spices is the garlic pepper sauce that only enhanced the flavours.

The subtle flavour of the mashed potatoes when combined with the stark tastes of the garlic pepper sauce gave out a lovely spicy aroma. We are also given a healthy serving of just the Mexican rice served along with the ubiquitous salsa and sour cream. The Texi Mexi Lamb was spiced well and well cooked.

The menu is vibrant with the usual

For the non-vegetarians there is the Ranchado Chicken presented beautifully in an appetising manner.

The dish contains grilled pieces of boneless chicken with an accompaniment of the famed Mexican rice and mashed potatoes.

À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 41

suspects of any Mexican fare: Fajitas and Burritos. The combo meals deserve a mention for its winning dishes. And of course what is a Mexican feast without the good old Mojitos and Margaritas.

The fare at Sammy Sosa offers visitors a perfect meal with affordable prices befitting a foreign cuisine. Apart from enjoying a different cuisine you can also get the experience of trying out food which is made to suit the Indian palates too.

The Verdict

For a wholesome meal of good Mexican cuisine head off to Sammy Sosa that offers appetizing dishes with fresh ingredients. The outlet is perfect for a lazy lunch with friends and of course the tastes appeal to the gourmand from the word go!

42 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

Combo Offers ww Veg Starter Combo Nachos cheese + 3 tacos (any one veg filling) + crispy potatoes + one beverage = `199 ww Non veg started combo Nachos cheese + 3 tacos (chicken) + jalapeno chicken + one beverage = `219 ww Veg main course combo Nachos cheese/ Spicy beans rice + 1 veg main course + mudpie/ beverage = ` 249 ww Non-veg main course combo Nachos cheese/ spicy bean rice + 1 non-veg main course + mudpie/ beverage = ` 279

Shaken & Stirred

Tra

On the Mocktail

With the worst of summer behind us, check out these delicious mocktails for a quick refreshing drink to combat those last few bouts of heat

Mocktails are for those who want to enjoy the perfect high without the consequence of a hangover.

Packed with fresh fruits and flavours, mocktails can be healthy, refreshing and the perfect way to enjoy a holiday.

They can also serve as much-needed day-perkers replenishing energy in the humdrum of daily life. From parties to night-ins, lazy Sundays and hot afternoons there’s a recipe in here for every one!

Gooseberry Honey Shot Sour indian gooseberry and honey is definitely a match made in heaven.

Savour the bittersweet flavours of a healthy drink with a hale and hearty ‘Bottoms up’!

• 4 whole amla, deseeded and chopped roughly • 1 tsp amla crush • ½ tsp powdered star anise • 1 tbsp honey • 4 tbsp crushed ice For The Garnish • 4 star anise

METHOD Combine the Indian gooseberry, Indian gooseberry crush, star anise powder and 1½ cups of water in a mixer and blend till smooth. Strain the liquid and keep aside. Combine the strained liquid and honey and mix well in a mixing glass. In each shot glass, place 1 tbsp of crushed ice and pour equal quantity of the juice over it. Serve immediately garnished with a star anise on the rim of each glass.

44 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

Citrus Khus Cooler This little potion is a perfect option to serve in a party especially alongside a counter of spicy food!

This combination of khus, kewra and falooda seeds makes a delicious drink with cooling properties • • • • • • •

4 tsp garden cress seeds 4 tbsp khus syrup 4 tsp kewra water 4 tsp lemon juice 4 tbsp crushed ice 4 bottles (300 ml) chilled carbonated Lemon drink (7 up , sprite or lemonade)

METHOD In a bowl, combine the garden cress seeds and ½ cup water and soak for ½ hour. Drain and keep aside.Combine the khus syrup, kewra water, lemon juice and crushed ice in a cocktail shaker and shake well.Transfer this mixture in a pitcher, add the chilled carbonated drink and stir using a stirrer. Pour the drink into 4 individual tall glasses and serve garnished with soaked garden cress seeds.

Golden Glass

Fruit Punch

Fill up on your reserves of fibre, calcium and potassium with wholesome intake of apples and bananas piped up with the zing of freshly ground pepper

Every fruit has a distinct colour, flavour, nutritional benefit. Pack the best of many in one powerful glass of fruit punch and let the myriad flavours wreak magic in your palate.

• • • • • •

½ cup chopped apple ½ cup banana cubes ¾ cup orange juice 2 tsp lemon juice ½ tbsp sugar substitute Salt and freshly ground black pepper powder to taste • 1 cup crushed ice For The Garnish • Freshly ground pepper

• • • • • • • • •

METHOD

METHOD

Combine the apple and banana along with ½ cup of water and blend in a mixer till smooth. Strain the juice using a strainer. Add the orange juice, lemon juice, sugar substitute, salt and pepper and mix well. In each shot glass, place ¼ cup of crushed ice and pour equal quantity of the juice over it. Serve immediately garnished with pepper.

Combine the peaches, pineapple, apples, strawberries, watermelon and grapes along with 1½ cups of water and blend in a mixer till smooth.

Strain the juice if desired. Transfer to a pitcher, add the cranberry juice and orange juice and mix well using a ladle.

Serve immediately.

¼ cup chopped peaches ¼ cup chopped pineapple ¼ cup chopped apples ¼ cup chopped strawberries ¼ cup chopped watermelon (tarbuj) ¼ cup chopped grapes ½ cup cranberry juice ½ cup orange juice 1 cup crushed ice

À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 45

Coconut Pineapple Cooler Green Goddess Let your taste buds go off on a rollercoaster ride with this fantastic combination of lemon, grape and ginger. With the touch of vanilla ice cream, this liquid delight is a treat for any sweet tooth • 2 tbsp juice of fresh green seedless grapes • 1 tsp lemon juice • ½ tsp fresh ginger juice • 1 tsp Vanilla Ice cream • ½ bottle lemonade • A drop of green colour

METHOD Chill the lemonade. Mix the grape juice, green colouring, lemon juice and ginger juice. Add the vanilla ice-cream and pour the chilled lemonade on top.

Serve immediately.

46 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

Select a pineapple that is ripe and sweet and since coconut water is also sweet, there is barely any need to add a sugar substitute. With this drink leave your high-calorie worries behind and enjoy a glass of pure bliss • • • • •

2 tender coconuts 1 tbsp sugar substitute 2 pinches salt ½ cup finely chopped pineapple 1 cup crushed ice

METHOD Make a hole in the tender coconut and remove the water. Keep aside. Cut a larger hole using a knife and scrape out the coconut meat (malai). Combine the coconut meat, sugar substitute and salt and blend in a mixer so that the mixture froths. Pour into 4 individual glasses, add ¼ cup of crushed ice in each glass and top with 2 tbsp of pineapple. Serve immediately.

Restaurant Rounding

Munching at Peaches

Tucked away amid rows of rickety buildings, Peaches is a cosy haven that can give the slip to many an eye. But to the initiated, it has much to offer in an area of the city that is fast becoming a corporate hub What: Peaches Where: 81, Rajalakshmi Nagar,

100 Ft Bypass Road, Velachery, Chennai - 600 042 Located on the first floor, Peaches is lit with orbs of glowing light and has an ambience for casual crowds and informal meetings. The arrangement of tables and chairs shows that this is a place for groups and families rather than for duos or trios. Restaurateur Venkatesan, an engineer by profession, found his love for food while studying in the US. “The idea was to cater to families and corporate crowds and to make this a cosy place to dine in,� he says.

Without major bling and shine, Peaches has muted interiors with cream cushioned chairs and cocoa coloured backrests. The dining space is well ventilated and amply lit and cordoned off with string shutters to separate the billing and the seating areas. While the restaurant itself is small, the innovative decor distracts the customer from feeling congested. Rows of white fitted pipes run across uneven ceilings in abstract shapes; instead of the regular steel water jar, coloured bottles with stringed caps along with sparkling studded glasses are laid out on the table. The crowd that comes in ranges from groups of college students to corporate employees. Amid the laughing and chattering crowd one can find an occasional singer crooning to loud applause from a group of friends while corporate table discussions included food preferences and recipes.

The appetizers comprised of an aromatic light green Cream and Peas soup followed by Phuket Paneer, an exclusive Peaches dish. “As this is a vegetarian restaurant, we tried to also please non-vegetarians by recreating Phuket Fish as Phuket Paneer,” adds Venkatesh. While the soup was creamy and flavourful, the Phuket Paneer was a plate to relish. Phuket paneer was made up of chunk of grilled paneer sautéed in onion with green chilli, capsicum, coriander and a dash of tomato. Soft to cut and crisp in the mouth, Phuket Paneer came with Indian chop gravy blended with balsamic vinegar and soya sauce. All in all, this dish is to be tried if not for the taste at least for the ingenious idea behind it.

The Atish Aloo, which is the stuffed potato, consisted of slices of baked potato filled at the centre with khoya and dry fruit and faintly sprinkled with the mouth-watering masala of a roadside chat. Served with salad garnish 48 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

Without major bling and shine, Peaches has muted interiors with cream cushioned chairs and cocoa coloured backrests. The dining space is well ventilated and amply lit and cordoned off with string shutters to separate the billing and the seating areas.

and coriander chutney, this delicious appetizer instantly made its way into the must-try list.

Peaches is open seven days a week from 11 to 3 in the mornings and 7 to 11 in the evenings. On Sundays it is open from 12 to 4. While the restaurant packs in varied cuisines from Indian, Oriental and Mexican, desserts are currently in short supply and are in the pipeline, says Venkatesh. There are two separate menus for ‘world cuisine’ and ‘Indian food’ and they have emerged through the work of consultant Kaushik while the chefs at Peaches come from all over the country.

The main courses consisted of the Indian kadhai sabji, dhabe wali dal and roti. The roti was crisp and both the Kadhai sabji and dhabe wali dal had a smoked taste to it with homely flavours and spices. The dal is highly recommended while the Kadhai sabji with mixed vegetables was moderately spicy and could have been a little less oily. The Mexican main course that emerged as a delectable winner was the Godzilla Quesadilla which was a made of a sumptuous filling of capsicum, zucchini, broccoli and cheese smattered with pepper and chilli.

Last but not the least, the dessert was a small samosa with a stuffing of carrot halwa and kaju and topped with rabdi sauce. This little delicacy

was an innovative recipe and is sure to pleasantly surprise experimental foodies as well as the traditional eaters.

The current offer includes a Thali at Rs 199 aimed at the corporate employee looking to finish a quick lunch. The Thali includes dal, kadhi, 2 gravies, rice, 2 starters all of which are unlimited.

The Verdict

This cosy hangout place can be a little noisy at times so this is not for those wanting private meals. Yet, the quantity for the price is very good and although the service can be slow, the food is worth the wait. Must trys include Phuket paneer and the carrot halwa samosa. À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 49

Listings

Info at your fingertips

54

Mango Graham Cake

57

Zafrani Chicken

Desserts & Icecream

North West Frontier

61

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Mexican

Planning a birthday bash? Choose from a comprehensive list of bakers across the city Desserts, Bakers & Ice Cream P54 50 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

Bars & Restobars Bars & Restobars Zara Tapas 74 Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram.

28111462 Anna International Airport, Meenambakkam.

22560779 Geoffreys 171 J N Salai, AnnaiSathya Nagar, Arumbakkam.

66778899 Opium Bar Hotel Royal Plaza 3E Road, Koyambedu.

23790066 10 Downing Street Kences Inn Boutique Hotel 50 North Boag Road, T Nagar.

28152152 Bike & Barrel The Residency Towers 115 Sir Thyagaraya Road, T Nagar.

28156363 Black & White The Residency 49 GN Chetty Road, T Nagar.

28253434 Regal Resto Bar Raj Park 180 TTK Road, Alwarpet.

42257777 The Leather Bar The Park 601, Nungambakkam Main Road, Nungambakkam.

42676000 Blend Taj Mount Road 2 Club House Road, Mount Road.

66313131

Chipstead Taj Coromandel 37 MG Road, Nungambakkam.

66002827

Le Pub Liberty Park Hotel United India Colony, 1st Main Road,Kodambakkam.

24725950

Crystal Bar Ranjith Hotel 15 Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam.

28270521

Pasha The Park 601 Nungambakkam Main Road, Nungambakkam.

42676000

Distil Taj Connemara 2 Binny Road, Anna Salai.

66000000

Bay 146 Savera Hotel 146 Dr Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore.

28144700

Dublin The Welcome pub Park Sheraton 132 TTK Road, Alwarpet.

24994101 Gallop Radisson GRT Hotel St Thomas Mount, 531 GST Road, Anna Salai.

22310101 H20 Harrisons Hotel 315 Valluvar Kottam High Road, Nungambakkam.

42222777 Havana The RainTree Hotel 120 St Mary’s Road, Alwarpet.

42252525 High Time GRT Grand 120 Sir Thyagaraya Road, T Nagar.

28150500 Poker Bar Hotel Shelter 19 20 21 Venkatesa Agraharam Street, Mylapore.

24951919

Transque Bar Hotel Abu Palace 926 Poonamalle High Road, Egmore.

26412222 Library Blu The Leela Palace Chennai 175 Sathya Dev Avenue Extn. MRC Nagar 3366 1234 The Cheroot Malt & Cigar Lounge ITC Grand Chola 63, Mount Road, Guindy 22200000 Trantor Bar Breeze Hotel 850 Poonamallee High Road, Poonamallee.

26413334 Degree Pub Quality Inn Sabari IT Tech Park, 33 Omar Road, Navalur.

27435030 Zodiac The Accord Metropolitan 35 GN Chetty Road, T Nagar.

28161000

Want your restaurant to be listed? Give us a call. À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 51

Bars & Restobars Rhapsody Courtyard by Mariott 564 Anna Salai, Teynampet.

66764000 The Society Bar The Ambassador Pallava, 30 Montieth Road, Egmore.

28554476 The Pirate’s Esthell Continental Hotels & Resorts Royal Enclave, 1 Besant Avenue, Adyar.

24466240 Anchor Bar Taj Fisherman’s Cove Covelong Beach, Kancheepuram.

67413333 Q Bar Hilton 124/1 J.N. Salai, Ekkaduthangal.

22255555

Tequila Sunrise Tropicana Bar New Victoria Hotel 3 Kennet Lane, Egmore.

28193638 Mustang Bar Green Park Hotel NSK Salai, Arcot Road, Vadapalani.

66515151

365 A.S. Hyatt Regency 365 Anna Salai, Mount Road.

61001234 Flame, Le Club Le Royal Meridien 1 GST Road, St Thomas Mount. 22314343

Upperdeck Comfort Inn Marina Towers, 2A Pooniamman Koil St, Egmore 28585454

Arcot Bar The Trident Hilton 1/24 GST Road, Meenambakkam.

22344747

Xzubarence Bar Raj Park 180 TTK Road, Alwarpet.

42257777

Madera The RainTree Anna Salai 636 Anna Salai, Teynampet.

28309999

52 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

Vintage Bank Hilton 124/1 J.N.Salai, Ekkaduthangal 22255555 The B Bar Somerset Greenways MRC Nagar, Santhome, 044 49001010 Winchester Bar Radisson Blue Hotel 2, Ethiraj Salai, C-in-C Road, Egmore 30404444 Minus 1 Hotel Park View 125 Valluvarkottam High Road, Nungambakkam 9025110838

Food Chains Food chains South Indian Adyar Ananda Bhavan 70/241 Ramakrishna Mutt Road, Mylapore 23453031 Nungambakkam 23453037 Anna Nagar 23453048 Koyambedu 23790403 Mogappair 42845074 Pondy Bazaar 23453041 Vadapalani 42013008 Parrys 23453044 Tambaram 42034949 Sangeetha Restaurant 24/2 South Mada Street, Mylapore 24643898 Nungambakkam 42137300 Greams Road 28294081 Choolaimedu 23744041 T Nagar 42121170 Parrys 25341745 Adyar 24426554 Hotel Saravana Bhavan Spencer Plaza, 769 Mount Road, Anna Salai 28495577 Egmore 28192055 R.K Salai 28115977 Mylapore 24611177 Purasawalkam 26616699 Anna Nagar 26269721 Ashok Nagar 24892466 KK Nagar 24745577 T Nagar 24345577 Vadapalani 24817866

KFC Spencer Plaza, 769 Mount Road, Anna Salai 45514447 T. Nagar 43042222 Taramani 42666061 Nungambakkam 43562222 Anna Nagar 42612222 Marrybrown 133 Pondy Bazaar, T Nagar 42023704 Anna Salai 42116777 Mylapore 45535362 Nungambakkam 42032923 Anna Nagar 46218777 Koyambedu 421790372 Kodambakkam 42135553 Shenoy Nagar 43532721 Subway For delivery call 45600600 Located at Nungambakkam, Egmore, RMZ Millenia Tech Park, Express Avenue, Spencer Plaza, Citi Center, Besant Nagar Pizza Corner 64 CP Ramaswamy Road, Abhiramapuram 43009502 Nandanam 42131333 Nungambakkam 42139566 Anna Nagar 42172300 Meenambakkam 42064151

Tambaram 22390647 Adyar 42187666 Velachery 22552172 Domino’s pizza Spencer Plaza, 769 Mount Road, Anna Salai 28494444 Mylapore 28474444 Purasawalkam 25322333 Teynampet 24355890 Anna Nagar 42014444 Ashok Nagar 24714555 Mogappair 26536455 Perambur 25518888 Adyar 24424444 Tidel Park 22540221 Velachery 22431777 PitStop 1, Jay Nagar, Panayur Kumaran Nagar Indian Oil Petrol Bunk,OMR Chemmancherry 24501499 /1699 Kancheepuram 27470399 US Pizza 152 Abirami Mega Mall, Purusaiwalkam 42371111 Pizza Hut Spencer Plaza, 769 Mount Road, 39883988

Vasant Bhavan 10 Gandhi Irwin Road, Egmore 4281 Mount Road 28418693 Mylapore 24936666 Nungambakkam 28222233 Tambaram 22264441 PIZZAs, BURGERS, SUBS...

Mc Donald’s 106 2nd Avenue, Anna Nagar 9566022866 Taramani 45556008

Garden Fresh Veggie Pizza

Want your restaurant to be listed? Give us a call. À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 53

Desserts, Bakers and Ice Cream Baker’s Basket Savera 146 Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore.

28114700 Fresco For queries call 456000600 Located at Nungambakkam, Egmore, Express Avenue, Citi Center, Besant Nagar Delicatessen @ Chamiers 45000008 Tuscana Delicatessen Located in Tuscana on Chamiers 89 Chamiers Road, Alwarpet, Diagonally opp.

Park Sheraton IN GATE 45000008 Muffin Tree Courtyard Marriott 564 Anna Salai, Teynampet.

66764000

Blueberry Muffins Desserts, Bakers and Ice Cream Ambrosia 11, Cenotaph Road 45002099

Amadora Gourmet Ice Cream 23, Wallace Garden, 3rd Street 42323482 Hot Breads 74 Cathedral Road Gopalapuram 28110345 Mylapore 28112760 Kilpauk 26444212 T Nagar 28153998 Thiruvanmiyur 24485080 Saidapet 22200850 The Leela Cake Shop The Leela Palace Chennai 175 Sathya Dev Avenue Extn. MRC Nagar 3366 1234 Nutmeg The 54 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

Gourmet Shop ITC Grand Chola 63, Mount Road, Guindy 22200000 Sandy’s Chocolate Laboratory 14 1st Cross Road, Off Greenways Road, R.A Puram.42303852 Nungambakkam 42134000 Emilios Gelateria 22/1 2nd Main Road, 5th Cross Cit Colony, Mylapore 43535544 Neelankarai 24495010 Anna Nagar 43016680 Besant Nagar 45511226 Snow Field Dessert Pub 1 Cathedral Road, Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram.

28116416

Milkyway 24 G7 Wellington Estate, Ethiraj Road, Egmore.

28251194 La Boulangerie 21 Arundale Beach Road, Kalakshetra, Besant Nagar 9566099917 Valluvar Kottam 42222777 French Loaf T46 A 7th Avenue, Anna Colony, Besant Nagar 32216628 Chetpet 32216618 Mahalingapuram 32216627 R.A Puram 32216625 Spencer Plaza, Anna Salai 32210936 Parfait 3 16 Manikeshwari Road, Kilpauk 25321601 Velachery 22432022 Valmiki Nagar 24405588 Anna Nagar 26288822

Desserts, Bakers and Ice Cream Ecstasy 8, Sathyam Cinemas, Thiru-Vi-Ka Road, Royapettah.

43920444 Cake Walk 10, Montieth Road Egmore 28553811 Besant Nagar 24917022 MC Renett A9 2nd Avenue, Anna Nagar 64551011 Kodambakkam 64551012 Mandaveli 64551022 Teynampet 64551027 Nungambakkam 64551028 Parrys 64551036 Purasawalkam 64551014 T.Nagar 64551019 Creamy Inn W396 School Road, Anna Nagar West Extn.

26150080 Anna Nagar 26220080 Chetpet 28362255 K.K Nagar 23663939

Strawberry Smoothie Freeze Zone 33 TTK Road, Alwarpet.

24661839 Jelly Belly E37 2nd Avenue, Besant Nagar.

24460777

La Patisserie Taj Coromandel 37 MG Road, Nungambakkam.

66002827 Cakes N Bakes 70/32 Nungambakkam High Road, 28277075, 28205554 Thoraipakkam 24580809 Velachery 65610502 Baker’s Cottage 6th Avenue, Anna Nagar.

9884532326 Maple Leaf Chocolate Lounge 9 Harrington Road, Chetpet.

43561666, 43561333 Brio - The Cafe Shoppers Stop Chetpet 42664471 T. Nagar 42024415

Banana Split Sundae

The Baker’s Code Kebab Court Complex, Velachery.

22591275 Want your restaurant to be listed? Give us a call. À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 55

Desserts, Bakers and Ice Cream · Indian · South Indian Fruit Shop on Greams Road Greams Rd, Thousand Lights 23450871 Besant Nagar 23450876 Anna Nagar 23450872 Kilpauk 23450877 Spencer Plaza 28490083 Cathedral Road 23460986

INDIAN CUISINE

Jamavar The Leela Palace 175 Sathya Dev Avenue Extn. MRC Nagar 33661234 Royal Vega ITC Grand Chola 63, Mount Road, Guindy 22200000 Once Upon A Time Green Park Hotel, 183, NSK Salai, Arcot Road,Vadapalani 66515151

Vrindavan Restaurant New Woodlands Hotel 72-75 Dr Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore.

28113111 The Raintree Taj Connemara 2 Binny Road, Anna Salai.

66000000 Jakob’s kitchen 28/18, Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam 42032808 Chennai Woodlands 20 2nd Lane Beach, Parrys.

25214343

Meenam Harrisons 315 Valluvar Kottam High Road, Nungambakkam.

42222777 ID (Idly & Dosa) Sathyam cinemas, 1s floor, 8, Thiru-vi-ka Road, Royapettah 23920346 Maya 32 Platinum Building, Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam.

42137774

Annalakshmi Restaurant 804 Mount Road, Anna Salai. 28525109

Southern Aromas The Residency Towers 115 Sir Thyagaraya Road, T Nagar. 28156363

Malgudi Savera Hotel 146 Dr Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore.

28114700

Dakshin Park Sheraton 132 TTK Road, Alwarpet.

24994101

South Indian Southern Spices Taj Coromandel 37 MG Road, Nungambakkam.

66002827 Amaravathi Restaurant No.1, Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram 28116416 Madras The RainTree Anna Salai 636 Anna Salai, Teynampet.

28309999 Ponnuswamy 24 Ethiraj Salai Egmore 28270784 Curry Leaf The Chariot 4 Tirumalai Road, T Nagar.

28341212 56 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

Idiyappam with Madras Fish Curry

South Indian · Kerala · North West Frontier Nungambakkam.

42664222 Moti Mahal 7 Jaganathan Road Nungambakkam 42137539 Kabul 1/200 Dr Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore 24996761 Palki 1, Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram.

28111794

Chemmen Roast Anjappar 7/2 JP Tower, NH Road, Nungambakkam.

28256662

Ente Keralam Kasturi Estate, Poes Garden, 1st Street, Alwarpet. 42328585

La Shaakahari 20 Pycrofts Garden Road, Nungambakkam.

28265000

Rasam 25 Raja Annamalai Road, Purasawalkam.

9789062857

Kottaram 9/2 Taramani-Perungudi Link Road, Perungudi.

24540660

Kerala

NORTH INDIAN

Barbecue Nation Shri Devi Park Hotel 1 Hanumantha Road, North Usman Road,T.Nagar 60600000, 64530160,

Thalassery W77 4th Street, AnnaNagar 26207853

Sigree Hotel Aruna Annexe 144-145 Sterling Road,

North West Frontier

Minar Savera 146 Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore.

28114700

Kumarakom 27/28 Vijayanagar Ext, Velachery Main Road, Velachery 42022277 Nungambakkam 42605677 Anna Nagar 42172217 Adyar 42034203 Ramapuram 22496109 Coconut Lagoon 1 Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram.

42020428 Tharavad 6 Bay View Drive, Kottivakkam, ECR. 9840075355

Hyderabadi Pulao Want your restaurant to be listed? Give us a call. À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 57

North West Frontier · Chinese Copper Chimney 74 Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram.

24980819 Mouthful 12/20 Raghaviah Road, T.Nagar. 42124260 Mast Kalandar 17 2nd Sashtri Nagar, MG Road, Adyar.

42018382

INTERNATIONAL Chinese Barbecue Chicken Navaratna Le Royal Meridien 1 GST Road, St Thomas Mount.

22314343 Olives Hotel Deccan Plaza 36 Royapettah High Road, Royapettah.

66773333 Mughals Zaika Restaurant 8 Rajarathinam Street, Kilpauk.

42858901

Peshawri ITC Grand Chola 63, Mount Road, Guindy 22200000 The Great Kebab Radisson Blue Hotel 2 Ethiraj Salai, C-in-C Road, Egmore, 30404444 Tandoor Aruna Hotel Annexe 144-145 Sterling Road, Nungambakkam.

28262626

The Cascade 32 Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam.

28333836, 42137767 Besant Nagar 42019372, 24461625 3 Kingdoms 3rd Floor, 20B Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam 28333388, 28333390 Equinox 9-B 1st Floor, Kakani Towers, 34(15), Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam 43084708, 9566167736

Beyond Indus Taj Mount Road 2 Club House Road, Mount Road.

66313131 Up North The Raintree Hotel 636, Anna Salai Teynampet 28309999 Rajdhani Shop No.5, Express Avenue Mall, 49 Whites Road, Royapettah.

28464422 58 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

Grilled Mutton Kebab Skewers

Chinese · Continental 37 MG Road, Nungambakam 66002827

Stix Hyatt Regency 365 Anna Salai, Mount Road 61001234 Rangis Continental Chambers 142 Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam.

42144933 Wonton 39 4th Street, Alwarpet 32513335, 43009700 Nungambakkam 28332002 Anna Nagar 26264633 Adyar 42116364 China Town 74 Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram.

28112246 Flower Drum Prince Plaza, 46 Pantheon Road, Egmore.

30228822 Mainland China Hotel Aruna Annexe 144-145 Sterling Road, Nungambakkam 28238345 Teynampet 45000236

Dynasty Restaurant Firm Tower, W121 3rd Avenue, Anna Nagar.

26212699, 42026609 Oriental Blossom Radha Regent 171 Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, Arumbakkam.

24757788 China XO The Leela Palace Chennai 175 Sathya Dev Avenue Extn. MRC Nagar 3366 1234 Mandarin 19 Thiruvedian Street, Gopalapuram.

28117431

Continental Eden E37, 2nd Avenue, Besant Nagar, 24460777 04424463777 Anna Nagar 26221010 Nungambakkam 42222777

Ox and Tomato 145 St.Mary’s Road, Alwarpet 43060009 Above Sea Level The RainTree Hotel 120 St Mary’s Road, Alwarpet.

422525252 Yoko Sizzlers 20B 2nd Floor, Khader Nawaz Khan Road Nungambakkam 42180888 9043043090 Giorgio T29 7th Avenue, Besant Nagar.

24461828 Tangerine 5 Murrays Gate Road, Alwarpet 42110888 Kobe sizzlers 10 Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam 28332711

Chin Chin The Residency 49 GN Chetty Road, T Nagar.

28253434 Lemon Grass The Rain Tree 120 St Mary’s Road, Alwarpet 42252525 The Canton Kaveri Complex, 96 Nungambakkam High Road,Nungambakkam 28272197, 28214445 Golden Dragon Taj Coromandel

Crispy Sesame Chicken with Gingered Beans Want your restaurant to be listed? Give us a call. À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 59

Continental · Italian · Japanese · Korean · Malaysian Kipling Cafe 14 L. Jey Avenue, Akkarai, Sholinganallur, ECR. 24530040 Ashvita Bistro 11 Bawa Road Alwarpet 42109990, 42031982

Italian Sam’s pizzeria 7 Jaganathan Road, Nungambakkam 33703370 The Pasta Bar Veneto Old No.59, New No.32, Burkitt Road T.Nagar 42126680 Egmore 42145534 Fresca Pizza by Sandys 32 Platinum Building, Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam 42068484 Rhapsody Courtyard by Marriott 564 Anna Salai,Teynampet 66764000, 66764488 Focaccia Hyatt Regency 365 Anna Salai, Mount Road. 61001234 Smoking Joe’s 31, Burkit Road, T.Nagar 24350505

Prego Taj Coromandel 37 MG Road, Nungambakkam 66002827

Korean

Little Italy Eldorado Building, 1/2 Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam.

42601234, 66246178

Kyung Bok Gong 10 Chamiers Road, Nandanam. 42113346/7

Tuscana Pizzeria No.19 3rd Street, Wallace Garden, Nungambakkam 45038008

60 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

Malaysian Pelita Nasi Kandar 16 17 18 Appaswamy Towers, Sir Thyagaraya Road, T Nagar.

24335759

Ottimo Cucina Italiana ITC Grand Chola 63, Mount Road, Guindy 22200000

Bee’s Kopitiam Express Avenue Mall 49 Whites Road, Thousand Lights.

28464088

Japanese

Mexican

Teppan at Benjarong 146 TTK Road, Alwarpet.

24322640, 43009161

Don Pepe 73, Cathedral Road Gopalapuram, Chennai 04428110413

Dahlia Kauvery Complex, 93 Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam.

28265240

Texas Fiesta 17/2, Shaffee Mohammed Road, Off Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam 43087882

Akasaka 128, Grd Floor Lattice Bridge Road, Thiruvanmiyur.

24453424

Papa John’s Pizzeria 29 Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam 42075656 Bello Ciao 140 Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam 24511130 ECR 24511130

In Seoul 530 TTK Road, RA Puram 42081998

Hummus with Pita Bread

Pan Asian Hip Asia Taj Connemara 2 Binny Road, Anna Salai. 66000000

Mexican · Pan Asian · Thai · Mediterranean Azzuri Bay 13 First Crescent Road, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar.

42115253 Kefi Taj Mount Road 2 Club House Road, Mount Road.

66313131 5 Senses Oyster, 9, Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam 30062010 The Upper Deck Taj Fisherman’s Cove Covelong Beach, Kancheepuram.

67413333 The Crown The Residency Towers Sir Thyagaraja Road, T Nagar.

28156363

Rava Khoya Laddoo Pan Asian ITC Grand Chola 63, Mount Road, Guindy 22200000

Thai

Lotus The Park 601 Anna Salai Nungambakkam.

42676000

Kryptos by Willi 24 Yafa Tower Khadar Nawaz Khan Road Nungambakkam 45038001

Silk Asiana Hotel 1/238 Old Mahabalipuram Road, Semmencherry 67411000

Mediterranean Aqua The Park 601 Nungambakkam Main Road, Nungambakkam.

42676000

Sweets

Baan Thai 10 Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam.

28332611, 28332612

Azulia GRT Grand 120 Sir Thyagaraja Road, T Nagar.

28150500

Shree Mithai 18 Dr TV Road, Chetpet 42809999 Spencer Plaza 42134455

Benjarong 146 TTK Road, Alwarpet.

24322640, 43009161

Estia Aloft Hotel 102 Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Sholinganallur, OMR 45925500

The Grand Sweets 2nd Main Road, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar 42054466 Besant Nagar 45006464 Anna Nagar 42634422

Gangotree 42 Cathedral Road, Gopalapuram 28111664 Adyar 24452422

Want your restaurant to be listed? Give us a call. À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 61

Sweets · Coffee Pubs · 24 Hour Dining T.Nagar 42124466 Sri Krishna Sweets Soundarajan Street, CIT Nagar, Theyagaraya Nagar 42616161 Adyar 24413805 Anna Nagar 26191222 Ashok Nagar 24850808 Mylapore 28112827 Nanganallur 9789062861 Purusawalkam 26616667 West Mambalam 9789062860 Mishtee 112 Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam.

43084984 Adyar Anandha Bhavan 9 Lattice Bridge Road, Adyar 23453045 Anna Nagar 23453043 Nungambakkam 23453037

Coffee Pubs Amethyst Whites Rd, Royapettah Entrance next to Corporation Bank 4599 1630 Robustaa 24/67 Halls Road, Kilpauk.

42858412 Anokhi 106 Chamiers Road, Opposite Oryza 24311495 Cafe Chokolade 10/1A3 Montieth road Egmore 42126461 T.Nagar 42606532 Barista 4 Khader Nawaz Khan Road Nungambakkam 42138567 Besant Nagar 42019455 Tea Lounge Radisson Blue Hotel 62 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

2 Ethiraj Salai, C-in-C Road, Egmore 30404444 Café Coffee Day Montieth Road, Egmore 28546981 Kilpauk 42175621 Ispahani Centre Nungambakkam 64627082, 43577231 Coffee World Abhiramapuram, 64 CP Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet.

43009499 Coffee Central 11 Dr B Narasimhan Road, Opp GN Chetty Road, T Nagar.

28152045, 9840111298 Café Pascucchi Express Avenue Mall 49 Whites Rd, Thousand Lights.

09840922895 Café tapas 47B Ground Floor, Ramana Nursing Home Complex Velachery Main Road, Velachery.

42325165 Café Zha 25 2nd Main Street, Kamarajar Avenue, Adyar.

42116027 High on Caffeine Mitsubishi Showroom, LB Road, Adyar.

42116482, 9003034049

Paprika Courtyard by Mariott 564 Anna Salai Teynampet.

66764000 Main Street The Residency Towers Sir Thayagaraya Road T Nagar.

28156363 Spectra The Leela Palace Chennai 175 Sathya Dev Avenue Extn.

MRC Nagar 3366 1234 Seasonal Tastes The Westin 154, Velachery Main Road, Velachery, 22553366 Water’s Edge Café GRT Temple Bay Mahabalipuram.

27442251, 27443636 Cilantro Le Royal Meridien 1 GST Road, St Thomas Mount.

22314343 Anise Taj Coromandel 37 MG Road, Nungambakkam 66002827

24 Hour Dining

601 The Park 601 Nungambakkam Main Road, Nungambakkam 42676000

Est Hilton 124/1 J.N. Salai, Ekkaduthangal.

22255555

Caramel Asiana Hotel 1/238 OMR, Semmencherry 67411000

24 Hour Dining · Seafood · Multicuisine Egmore 30404444 Fisherman’s Fare Casa Major Road, Egmore.

28194840 Sea Shell Greams Rd, Thousand Lights 28295789 Wharf GRT Temple Bay Mahabalipuram.

27443636 Bay View Point Taj Fisherman’s Cove Covelong Beach, Kancheepuram.

67413333 Samudra Trident 1/24 GST Road, St Thomas Mount.

22344747

Mixed Vegetable Broth Anytime GRT Grand 120 Sir Thyagaraya Road, T Nagar.

28150500

The Kitchen The Raintree Anna Salai 636 Anna Salai Teynampet.

28309999

Kayal Le Royal Meridien 1 GST Road, St Thomas Mount 22314343

Garden Café Radisson Blu Hotel 531 GST Road, St Thomas Mount.

22310101

Verandah Taj Connemara 2 Binny Road, Anna Salai.

66000000

Multicuisine

Rainbow The Raintree Hotel 120 St Mary’s Road, Alwarpet.

42252525

Seagull Taj Fisherman’s Cove Covelong Beach, Kancheepuram.

67413333

Club House Taj Mount Road 2 Club House Road, Mount Road.

66313131

Seafood

Coast to Coast Radisson Blue Hotel 2 Ethiraj Salai,

Fusion 9 Aruna Centre 145 Sterling Road, Nungambakkam 42664299 The Right Place The Residency 49 GN Chetty Road, T.Nagar, 28253434 The Kitchen The Raintree 636, Anna Salai,Teynampet 28309999

Want your restaurant to be listed? Give us a call. À LA CARTE • JULY 2013 • 63

Multicuisine · Health Food · Arabian Cream Centre 55 2nd Main Road, RA Puram 42815777 Nungambakkam 43561777 Ashvita 11 2nd Street, Dr R K Salai, Mylapore.

28476063 Rain Forest Gandhi Nagar 1st Main Road, Adyar. 42187777 Duchess 1/200, Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai Road, Mylapore 24996762 Oasis Radisson Blue Hotel 2, Ethiraj Salai, C-in-C Road, Egmore, 30404444 Mash, The Grill House 3/2 Haddows Road, 2nd Street, 28211555 Crimson Chakra 13 First Crescent, Gandhi Nagar Adyar 09677277900 Nungambakkam 64500 500, 97866 55845 Piano Hotel Savera 146 Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai,Mylapore, 28144700

Five Senses Oyster, No. 9, Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam 30062010 Drizzle No. 1, Sultan Ahmed Street, Neelankarai, ECR. 32219966 Seven Comfort Inn Marina Towers 2A Pooniamman Koil St, Egmore, 28585454 Ayna Hilton 124/1, J.N.Salai, Ekkaduthangal 22255555 Burgundy’s Somerset Greenways Serviced Residence 94 Satyadev Avenue, MRC Nagar.

49001000

Health Food Cholayil Sanjeevanam 97/45 Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam. 64508427 Mahamudra 117 Luz Church Road, Mylapore. 43535555

Vasco’s Hilton 124/1, J.N.Salai, Ekkaduthangal, 22255555 La Shaakahari 20, Pycrofts Garden road, Nungambakkam 9940415747 Dewberry’s The Resto-Café 6/29 Rajasekaren Street, Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore, 28473439 64 • À LA CARTE •JULY 2013

Chicken Shawarma

Arabian Escapade 361 Shakti Garden Road, Okyampettai, Thoraipakkam.

9884051456 Zaitoon No.1, Vintage Plaza, L B Road, Adyar, 24527778, 24527779 YallaYalla Radisson GRT Hotel St Thomas Mount, 531 GST Road, Anna Salai. 22310101 Al Arab 131 Dr.Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore.

45130000 Arabian Delights A46 3rd Avenue, Anna Nagar East.

42172047 Palmshore Foreshore Estate 111/108 Santhome High Road, 42102244 By the Bay T55 Elliots Beach Road, 6th Avenue, Besant Nagar 24461922

Relish a mĂŠlange of Mexican, Lebanese, Italian and Indian cuisines at your favourite global vegetarian restaurant, Cream Centre

now also in

anna nagar T-10, 4th Main Road, Anna Nagar, Chennai 600 040

R A Puram 4281 5777 Nungambakkam 4356 1777 Anna Nagar 4353 7077