Tigers Experience on the Chennai Express

Simbly The Best 

"Engay"

"Perpetual Neck Yoga"

Lungi Manipulation

Colorful Gajras

So the above is my symbolic view of Chennai - I love Chennai 

The Gang of 24 Punjabi's attacked Chennai to PARTY , actually to surprise  dear friends on their 25th Anniversary . The fun started from the flight itself - Indigo 6.40 am flt Oh God , most of were hungover hence cud not look up .... boarded with great difficulty and arguments. On the flight excitement happened when we spotted the food trolley coming towards us - the last row of seats we had was 9 . The lady kept crawling toward us at snails speed - till then all the party animals had been thru the menu , argued with spouses about the choice of sandwiches etc - we got stuck on the Anda Sandwich - kept drooling and praying that it doesn't get over by the time it reaches us - well well Just that happened .. sucks big time .. anyways we ate what was left and emptied the trolley LOL .. wonder why this happens .

Only Agenda was to Party , discover food and not sleep . We stayed at the Marriot Courtyard  very centrally located , nice rooms ,inexpensive SPa - 300 for a head massage was a steal - food was so so not impressed  . First day went to Junior Kuppana OMG what an experience - a new concept for a dilliwalah was delightful. Then next day went to Amethyst for lunch - what an ambiance , amazing food but service will make u cry . Same night to a friends place for dinner - amazing biryani with mirchi ka salan . Next day lunch at L'Amandier - yet again super place so breezy and big , great fixed meal and super service . Dinner yet again at a friends place had dosa , pork with sweet idilies,and amazing fish curry - drove off to Fish Cove for the anniversary celebrations - was royal - lovely beach resort so like goa - friendly people , outdated cottages ,witnessed fishermen pulling in the net for the catch of the day - had a lavish spread for dinner and then pigged out on the buffet breka followed by a Chefs table Lunch. So now you see what i meant was this trip was to eat and not sleep .... not a dull moment. Wish i can post the inventory of the Alcohol consumed in three nights - hahahahaah .

One of the afternoons the dilliwalhs wanted to see the beach of Madras , Marina Beach - it is huge . Lucky for us the weather was good so we could walk on the sand ... good experience but not clean at all no dustbins ,filth all over the place - hawkers hassling you everywhere but i guess its like this at any tourist lace across the country . 

The Tangy Ready to Eat Mango

So anyways we have this street food freak friend - who just cant stop - he gets of the car at rajnikant speed dashes for the first mango stall comes back with all 32 shining bright and two mangoes with the gunpowder dip in his hand. Trust me It is just DIVINE . Take a slice of the mango wrap it up with the masala (salt red chilies is what i cud figure out) and BITE , whooooosh you are actually taken to another world of the sour and the chillies . This isa must have on any of my chennai trips , doesnt ever taste the same when i carry it back to Delhi .

Boiled or Rather Steamed Peanuts

This is something we had not tried nor witness upnorth boiled steamed peanuts - we tried finding out how they were making these but the lady got upset as we wanted to go within the bicycle cart - anyone knows the mechanics of the steam please share . The best part was that inspite of the peanuts being steamed they still had the crunch and with the spicy masala it tasted divine. A total new experience.

The Fresh Pakora Stalls

Very unique temporary stall with canvas barricades , women sitting within it on stools and frying pakoras . What a amazing decor of Huge Lethal Green Chillies was mouth drooling . They made fresh pakoras ,Mirchi, Banana and other veggies. Unfortunately the Chillies were quite bland for our palate missed the hissssssss, the batter was nice and thin . Loved the banana fritters .

The Sweet Corn Roasted

Sweet Fresh and Awesome - i think its the same corn we eat in the corn chaat - american corn as they call it , otherwise to find such amazing corn is doubtful , Nevertheless it was fab to find corn on the beach and also the technique these lil girls were making it was fantastic . We dilii walas went mad and almost finished her stock . The Bhutta as we call it was very different from what we get Up North - we are used to the hard light yellow colored corn which doesnt taste anything like these. But the masala they put in Dilli is a killer with fresh lime .

What we missed on the beach was Coconut Water and  Dustbins

Below is the RAW list of Street Food Joints in Chennai - based on a one liner post on the Chennai Food Guide - "Travelling to Chennai - recommend where to eat the best Street Food"  so here goes .. presenting the unedited list of street vendors in Chennai .

                                         

·        Karthick tiffen center in Anna Nagar for Dosa.

·        Thenga+manga + pattani chundal by the beach side

·        Masal vadai on the street as well as nongu(a jelly like fruit), its very nice must have

·        Mylapore has a lovely selection of 'messes'.

·        Rayar Mess off Kutcheri Road has wonderful potato bonda and coffee, Jannal Bajji Shop (after 5.30 p.m.) Close to the Mylapore temple has great raw banana bajjis. Kalathi Shop diagonally opposite opp Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan has the most awesome peanut candy, date barfi, 'rose milk' and 'panneer soda'.

·        vaishnavas at milliers road back.side of sangam cinemas,,,i bet they.serve the best huge sized idlys .....mindblowing varities of dosas...ghee/butter..podi idly fluffyy best in chennai

·        kowsaw ( burmese delicacy)find it only in North madras... near parrys corner a madras speciality

·        Rayar karpagam mess for breakfast nair mess for lunch muniyandi vilas for dinner.....

·       Asiad tiffin centre, Annanagar west (thirumangalam)

·        Chandini Chowk (Chat - egmore)

·        Seena bhai kadai (podi oothapam – Sowcarpet

·        One MB (Chat - T.nagar)

·        Karthik Tiffin centre (Masala/Spl.dosa - Annanagar West)

·        Agarwal Sweets (Samosa/Rasamalai/Bengali sweets - Sowcarpet)

·        Alsamall egmore sandwiches

·        Seena bai for dosas at sowcarpet. Welcome at pursaiwalkam.

·        ormes road @ kilpauk - Vaishnava s.. amazing cheese capsicum dosa s.. mexican toast is its speciality.. n the big idlies bangalore style ones... really great taste..

·        kaiendi bhavan in pondybazaar near brilliant tutorials is awesome. 

·        ormes road @ kilpauk - Vaishnava s.. amazing cheese capsicum dosa s.. mexican toast is its speciality.. n the big idlies bangalore style ones... really great taste..

·        Nigar Sultana Grand sweets Amritham restaurant in Bazullah Road ,T.nagar can be an option to visit as their variety and quality are consistent as far as Chennai tiffins are concerned .

·        Fish fries in Besant Nagar beach r good for non veggies

·        Besant nagar good place for sea food dishes

·        Bread omlet outside alsa mall egmore

·        Momo mear Sathyabama University....

·        Try road side chicken pakoda
·        annamalai road for muruku sandwich, open grill, dabeli, vada pav etc

Sorry guys could not even try one of the places mentioned above as we were 24 of us and getting all to agree was a task . Instead we covered Junior Kuppana , Amethyst , , L'amandier,The Marriot courtyard , some home caterers and to end it all Fish Cove by Taj . Overall we had super duper time - loved every minute of hospitality, found chennai food really reasonsble and wondered how the plush restaurants survived without alcohol the main money spinner - could not understand the liqour policy of chennai . People are very very warm , shopping is the same , temples are gorgeous.

Blogs for each of my Epicurean Adventures are being prepared , keep reading .

Special Thanks to Mohd. Ali of CFG , Shri Guddu Anand Jee , Mr BC Kumar GM Taj , Satish F& B Manager Marriot , Laura Nikhil, Mehtas , Kochhars and Naths .