Kashmiri Wazwan Experience @ Spice Haat, Hyatt Regency - Anna Salai

The food scene in Chennai is slowly transforming into one that will always provide a choice for everyone irrespective of their preference, thanks to the numerous food festivals that keep happening round the year keeping in line with the season and festivities. But one establishment takes their food festivals a notch above the others. Rather than having the usual type of festival celebrating the broader cuisine of a place, Hyatt Regency curate festivals specializing on a specific food family within the broader cuisine of the place.

And the latest in their festivals is the ‘Traditional Kashmiri Wazwan’ experience that brings to Chennai the authentic wazwan cuisine. For those wondering what does ‘Wazwan’ stand for, ‘Waz’ means Chef who has rare culinary skills that are passed on for generations within the family while ‘Wan’ stands for shops with a large selection of meats and delicacies. The Wazwan Chef is usually someone of high regards in the society and used to exclusively cook only for momentous events and special occasions such as Marriages.

To rope in the authenticity, Hyatt Regency has flown down Waza Bashir Ahmed from Kashmir who will help provide the same experience along with the chefs here in Chennai. The traditional Wazwan usually consists of 36 courses with each having its own traditions. However, the meal that we experienced was a shortened version having about 16 different dishes.

The main course comprised of several curry dishes that were accompanied with a ‘Kashmiri Pulao’ and ‘Shirmal’, the traditional Kashmiri sweet bread. The two stand out dishes were the ‘Lamb Rista’ & ‘Chicken Daniwal’. The rista is spicy paprika based red curry while there was also another subtle version of the same lamb preparation called Gushtaba which uses a yoghurt base. The Chicken daniwal as the name suggests was a preparation using loads of coriander that infused the flavour well balanced to the curry.

Source : foodinchennai

Awadhi Food Festival @ Vivanta by Taj - Connemara, Chennai

If one was to define Indian cuisine and the dishes that constitute it, I’m sure it would be a colossal effort. For Indian cuisine is not as simple as it may sound. To put in simpler terms, Indian cuisine is more a collective term and in true essence significance should be in mentioning the varying regional cuisines that are prevalent within India.

But if there was to be one such regional cuisine that has created an identity of Indian cuisine in the western world, then it’s got to be the Awadhi cuisine that originates from the Lucknowi region of Central India. The Awadhi cuisine is not completely indigenous to India as it was brought to India by the Mughal rulers from Persia. But over the centuries, the cuisine has adapted itself to its new found land.

The common saying goes that the true essence of Awadhi cuisine can only be felt in two places – one the kitchens of the royal family descendants and the other in the streets of Lucknow. Unfortunately, I still haven’t managed to gain an audience at either of the places. But luck struck when I was told that Awadhi Cuisine was going to make a stopover in Chennai. But being the food snob, I wanted to check it out only if it was going to be authentic. But when it came to my knowledge that it was being hosted by none other than Vivanta by Taj – Connemara, I knew it could possibly be the closest I can get to Lucknow.

The Awadhi food festival at Vivanta by Taj Connemara is spearheaded by Chef Shamshad Ahmad from the famed Oudhyana restaurant at Vivanta by Taj – Lucknow along with Chef Jaffer, Executive Chef at the Connemara. When I heard that they had flown the chef from Oudhyana, I knew for sure that the authenticity of the cuisine could be guaranteed. The festival takes over the complete menu and is in the form of a buffet spread with starters and soups served on the table as is the custom.

Source : foodinchennai

Winter Palace

Designed to resemble the sprawling Winter Palace in Petersburg, Russia, Chennai's tiny Winter Palace looks cool. Painted blue and white inside and out, it has carved wooden furniture with, guess what? Blue and white upholstery, of course. Somewhat like fairytale land. A small Disney castle, maybe.

The food here is typically Russian. It has cheese, herbs and French influences. A little bitter a little sweet with some fermented aftertaste. Turns out, it is made using fermented rye. A celebration dish, it has steamed vegetables, mayo, salted and fresh cucumber and grilled chicken. Vegetarians have a limited choice. One of them is the mushroom blini. 

Source : timesofindia

Lloyd’s Tea House

Located along one of Chennai’s busiest streets, Lloyd’s Tea House is an all-time favourite of food lovers. Known for its variety of teas along with blissful food, the cuisines available are Italian, Asian, European and a wide-ranging array of café food. Be it cheese fries, iced tea or golden dragon chicken, the bistro always outdoes itself with its excellent service and quality.

The place’s interior decor is a delightful mix of blues and yellows abruptly giving way to an occasional wall clad in off-white floral wallpaper. Lloyd’s functions as the go-to café for people of every age group, what with the whole ‘modern-meets-contemporary’ ambience.

Source : thetypewriter

GoGo Ramen

Chennai is having a bit of a love affair with Japanese food at the moment. It's no wonder then that the city is home to India's only ramen bar - GoGo Ramen.  GoGo's version of ramen is swollen with slow-braised pork, kombu and a soft-boiled egg in a tawny pork broth flavoured with scallions, ginger and leek. Although the restaurant also offers grilled chicken and vegetarian versions, its signature pork ramen is definitely the best of the three. The Gyoza (pot sticker) wrappers are appropriately silky thin. The Gua Bao (Taiwanese braised pork belly buns) in a delicious sauce is an explosion of salty-sweet flavours. And then there is cold barley tea to wash it all down with.

Source : food.ndtv.com

Lebanese Cuisine Comes To Chennai - The Hans India

Lebanese Cuisine Comes To Chennai - The Hans India

A fun stop at The Stop

Food is no game. But at The Stop, the gaming restaurant in Adyar, there are many to play, while indulging in a bowl of steaming soup or a plate of saucy pasta. The restaurant, located in a basement, is cramped with a billiards board, an air hockey table, a playstation and dining tables that resemble ludo boards. Additionally, for those who wish to have a sit-down meal and play at the same time, there’s also chess, snake and ladders and pallanguzhi to choose from. However, despite being a gaming destination, the place plates up some popular fine-dining dishes, including grilled chicken breast, spicy paneer shashlik, honey chilli fish, and salt and pepper squid. However, it can’t be helped that the place gets a little noisy, what with raucous customers out to have a good time. 

What to order 

 

Curried saffron sauce pasta, carbonara pasta, choice of cream soup 

Address: 48B/2, 1st Main Road, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar 

Tel: 4551 1966 

Source : TheHindu