The world in a tea cup at Coco Jaunt 1728

When Coco Jaunt 1728 was launched a few months ago, there was no doubt about the theme: the invite was in the form of an airplane ticket. And when you step in, don’t be surprised if you feel like planning a trip yourself. A wall covered with visa stamps, a mural of a biker, and a menu filled with dishes from various countries will probably help. Bright yellow accent walls might remind you of sunny beaches and a big ‘CJ’ sign made of light bulbs, of Las Vegas.

With primarily Indian food, with flavours from both the North and South, there is a smattering of American and Continental food as well. The most intriguing item is the bunny chow — no, it’s not rabbit food, but a street food specialty from South Africa, originating from the Indian community in Durban. A hollowed out bread roll serves as the bowl, and is filled with a gravy of your choice. It’s styled as a bakery/cafe, and serves a variety of pastries and cakes as well. 

What to order

 

The fries, which come with peri peri, herb and olive, Mexican and cheese and onion flavours, are a must. The chicken masala fries doused with minced chicken gravy are melt-in-the-mouth. For a dose of coffee, try the affogato. Railway mutton curry or paneer masala in the bunny chow is great when you’re hungry. 

Address: T2, 4th Main Road, Anna Nagar West 

Tel: 3092 598

 

Source : TheHindu

Meals and wheels at Ciclo café

The café has now become an independent institution in the country — it’s the meeting point for business, friendship and love. Cycling cafés are a new addition to this tradition, and Chennai is home to the first cycling café in the country, Ciclo Cafe. Started by Nidhi Thadani and her husband (along with TI Cycles), the couple who also run L’Amandier, Ciclo lets customers enjoy a cup of coffee and a slice of pie while your bike is being washed. If you prefer getting your hands soiled, there’s always the option of washing your bike. 

 Here, the decor matches the theme — there’s a reading area with books on cycling, the legs of the table were previously cycle forks, some are rims, balcony lights are wheels, and there’s an artsy chandelier with cycle chains. Sounds positively junkyard-tastic, doesn’t it? And that’s not at all, you can also decide upon which high-end bicycle you want to buy; there are brands such as Bianchi, Cannondale, Mongoose and Schwinn. And in keeping with the theme, Ciclo’s July menu had all sorts of titbits and information on the Tour de France 2015. If you’re looking for pies, quiches, pizza and coffee, Ciclo is the place to head, and if you have a cycling fetish, why not? 

What to order

Zucchini, rosemary and feta tart or the chicken ham quiche. If you’re looking for something light that’s also filling, you cannot go wrong with the watermelon and feta salad or the salade nicoise. Finally, round off your meal with an espresso and a piece of salted caramel cheesecake. 

Address: 47, Gandhi Mandapam Road, Kotturpuram 

Tel: 3085 3800 

Source : TheHindu

The secret cabin at Swiss Hutte

 

When a getaway seems impossible, hop over to Swiss Hutte, tucked behind the bustling Greams Road. As the name suggests, this place resembles a chalet by the Alps, and has brick walls and snug wooden interiors, with a few pieces of furniture made from old trees in their garden. Before it took on this chic avatar, it used to be a barn. And the room where you dine in used to be the milking room. The menu is largely Continental with steaks, spare ribs and lasagne, but you can also find Goan pork vindaloo and Madras Chicken Country Captain. The backdoor of the cabin leads to a lush garden, where you can organise a party and dine under the stars. 

What to order

Grilled seafood and beef burger 

Address: 168, Graemes Lane 

Tel: 4207 4844

Koftas behind bars at Kaidi Kitchen

Who would have thought that an evening in a jail cell with friends would get us this excited? All the more, because we have an entire cell to ourselves, while obedient jailers bring us food. Then there are a few waiters dressed in black-and-white striped prisoner outfits, bringing up the rest of our order. And for the bad prisoners there are handcuffs — props that many diners enthusiastically pose with. The vegetarian menu has Indian, Chinese and Continental dishes, with endearing names like Kaidiyon ki pyaas (chaach), Kaidiyon ki pasandar (soup), Kaidiyon ki pasand (laddu). Apart from the dishes, what you will also find on the menu is information on famous prisons around the world. 

What to order

Litti chokha — a delicacy from Bihar, these are doughy, crispy little balls with roasted chickpea flour stuffing that’s doused in ghee, Batata Harra and Amritsari Paneer Tikka

Address: 20/3, Bishop Wallers Avenue, Mylapore

Tel: 3020 5648 

Source :  TheHindu

Dining with Tarzan at Rainforest

 

If you ever want to dine in the jungle, you don’t have to travel far: simply drive down to Adyar. Rainforest has been a family favourite ever since it opened as one of the earliest theme restaurants in the city. A man with a crocodile casually slung over his shoulder greets you at the door — he’s just a painting, of course — and on entering, it’s like stepping into a different world. Rocky walls, creepers hanging from the ceiling, and the slightly eerie background noise of crickets chirping. Occasionally, an animal roars, startling you out of your reverie, while you’re waiting for your food to arrive. 

The menu is multi-cuisine, features a lot of North Indian and Indo-Chinese flavours, and is geared towards pleasing non-vegetarians. Be prepared for a wait if you’re going on the weekend; it’s popular enough and they don’t take reservations. Weekend evenings might be a better time to visit. However, you can while away the time with the kili josiar who makes his rounds at the restaurant. 

 Source : TheHindu