Poonam's Gujarati Bhojanalaya, Broadway, Chennai for authentic Gujarati food

Pooam's Gujarati Bhojanalaya, Broadway, Chennai

Gujarati Meals (Thali)

Poonam's Gujarati Bhojanalaya, Gijarati Mandal's the vegetarian restaurant, located (near High Court) at Broadway, North Chennai, is serving the Gujarati Thali from 1130 am. The place is certainly not as noisy and cramped as other Gujarati restaurants. However the seating space is limited and during weekdays you may have to wait to get your turn and the parking is difficult here. But during sundays the crowd is less and dining is comfortable.

 The "authentic" Gujarati food at Poonam's Gujarati Bhojanalaya in Chennai is a crowd favorite. Whether you go with family or friends, Poonam's is mostly a favourite place in Chennai for Gujarati food.

The menu consists of Jelibi, dal (lentils), gravy, two vegetarian dishes, Phool Wadi, roti (instead of roti try Thelpa at an extra cost of Rs.4.00 each), rice, rasam (Indian soup), mint chutney, pappad, pickle, salad and green chilly toast. The unlimited - eat as much as you want - meals cost just for Rs 75/- per head. You may like to have srikhand or basundhi or gulab jamun or aam rass (juice of ripe mango) at an additional cost of Rs.15.00 for each. The thalis are full and the dishes are subtly delicious. The plus point is generous and frequent refills with quick service. The Bhojanalaya also offer  Dal Halwa, Dhoklas, Fafda, Khandvi, wide variety of Milk Sweets  and  snacks for the Gujarati food lovers.

Address: 116, Gujarati Mandal, Near High Court, Prakasam Salai, Broadway, Chennai - 600108.

 
Timing: 11:00 am to 11:00 pm

Meals: Lunch, Thaali, Dinner

Kaidi Kitchen (Restaurant), Mylapore, Chennai: Enjoy Multi-cuisine Veg. Food behind Prison Cell

Facade of the restaurant is appearing like the gate of the prison

Ambiance: Eight air-conditioned Prison Cells. Waiters in Jailer / Convict Uniforms

Prison Cells (Dining Rooms)

Kaidi Kitchen  is a first prison theme based Multi-Cuisine Vegetarian Restaurant in Mylapore, Chennai. You may be surprised to name the restaurant with the term 'Kaidi.' No one would prefer to dine in a prison cell. Yet these prison cells (dining rooms in Kaidi vegetarian restaurant) are arresting the Chennai food lovers with their  Chinese, Italian, Lebanese, Mexican, North Indian and Thai Cuisines. Of course no chance for south Indian dishes like idly, pongal, poori and dosas.

Hand-cuffs suspended. Brick walls

The facade of the restaurant is appearing like the gate of the prison.  The fully air conditioned 8000 sq.feet restaurant resembles like prison with eight prison cells incorporating revolving lights; hand-cuff suspended atop the ‘cells’ and toy guns displayed on the walls.  The earnest waiters are wearing the uniforms of jailers or convicts. They appear before the discerning customers with 30 page menu booklet (looking like encyclopedia) and take orders.

Guns Dispalyed on the wall

In addition there is a huge banquet hall in the basement with a capacity for 200 people to dine at any given time.

People choose to frequent this place during week ends; preferably on Saturday nights. Of course it is very difficult to reserve a prison cell on week ends and the plan of action will be strictly on the basis of  ‘first come, first get arrested’ policy. When the prison gate opens around 07.00 pm, the prison cells are packed every week end night. 

After its promising achievements in Kolkata, Rohit Ojha was inspired with confidence to replicate its franchised outlet in Chennai. There are scope for replicating similar franchised outlets in Gujarat, Hyderabad and New Delhi. The restaurant is targeting all sections of the food lovers including the youth and family circles and there is encouraging response.

Kaidi Kitchen is at 20/3, Bishop Wallers Avenue, Mylapore, Chennai. Contact for Information: 42009701 or 4200 9702.

Authentic Andhra Meal at National Lodge Mess, George Town, Chennai

Authentic Andhra Meal served in Banana leaf.

Govindappa Naicken Street, George Town, Chennai

Govindappa Naicken Street, George Town Chennai

If you are salivating over  hot Avakkai pickle or spicy gongura pachadi (chutney) or as an inveterate lover of authentic Andhra bhojanam (Andhra meal), then make a trip to National Lodge located at No.112, Govindappa Naicken Street, Sowcarpet, Chennai. The oldest three storey building with narrow winding staircase now housing the nondescript lodge (second floor)and the Andhra mess (first floor). At the entrance the cash counter is surrounded by people and the small Que waiting for their turn at the dingy (a.c and non a.c) dining halls.

Since Andhra Pradesh is the state of largest producer of rice and the hub of red chillies in India , Andhra cuisine is mostly based on rice and hot and spicy side dishes. Yes the mouth watering Andhra delicacies use spices and oil liberally.

They serve the Andhra meal in banana leaf; to start with sweet dish, pickle, condiments, thalinpoo (vegetable fry) and the mound of steaming rice. They also serve their unique spicy lentil powder (paruppu podi), avakkai (raw mango) pickle, gongura (sorrel leaves) pachadi and hot  ghee and it will make to feel the taste as divine if taken after with mixing with rice. The rice courses, if combined with authentic red hued sambar, kara pulusu (hot and spicy stew), majjika pulusu (buttermilk stew) and rasam (South Indian tamarind soup), are unique and traditional. To end with they serve a cup of thick curd and a spoon full of sugar and the taste is awesome. You are free to take a cup of buttermilk (poured in curd cup). The big meal will make you to feel sumptuous,  satisfied and sleepy too.

Mansukh's Sweets and Snacks: Gujarati Food Trial in T Nagar, Chennai

Manshuk's Sweets and Snacks. Source: Zomato

Sweet Stall at Manshuk's Sweets and Snacks Source: Zomato

Gujarati Thali

Mansukh's Sweets and Snacks, a favorite Gujarati restaurant for many Gujaratis and North Indian people, is located at no. 10, Ramaswamy Street, Opp. Shree Temple of Gold, T.Nagar. If you are a lover of Gujarati food, then this restaurant is one among the few places in Chennai where you can enjoy  Theplas (Dhebra: Made with a mixture of flours, pan fried, mildly spiced, usually contains shredded vegetables), Dhoklas (Steamed cake made primarily of rice flour), khandvis (Roll made of gram flour and yogurt topped with mustard seed, cilantro, and grated coconut.) and Dhabelis (spicy burger of peanuts and potatoes, in a roll), at one place. For people new to Gujju food this restaurant is popular for its authentic Gujarathi and Rajasthani sweets, chats and savouries as well as Gujarathi / Rajasthani thali.

The snacks are very tasty and unique and people often wanted to try Gujju food  freshly prepared dhokla or thelka or go for genuine Gujju snacks like Chakri, Fafda, Ghanthia, Khakhra,    Mathia, Sev, Sev mamra and Lasaniya mamra. The Staples include Bakri, phulka roti, Aloo paratha or methi paratha or cheese channa bhatura . The side dishes include pakora, dahi vada, handvo, khaman, khandvi, khichu, muthia etc. The Gujju sweets like Shrikand (made from Curd & Sugar), Doodhpak (rice pudding made by boiling rice with milk and sugar, and flavoured with cardamom, raisins, saffron, cashews, pistachios, or almonds) Puran Poli, Sukhadi, Moti pak, Malpuaa, jelebi etc, are generously prepared with ghee. You can try chat items like dahi pori bhel pori and pani pori or aloo paratha or methi paratha.  The ambiance looks like a typical sweet shop with few chairs spread across for people to sit and eat.

The restaurant called Swaad located in the first floor offer Gujarati and Rajasthani thali at normally affordable cost.  Gujarati Thali (special) included Jaljira, Dhokla as appetizers. Main thali plate comprise unlimited puris and rotis, steamed rice and curd rice along with  aloo subji, paneer subji, dhal makhani, sweet dhal and a sweet kadhi. Sweet dish offered for the day included Chum chum and jelebi. They keep changing subjis and the sweets everyday. The ambiance of the restaurant is good enough for such a small restaurant.

Bombay Lassi: Sweet and Spicy Treat in Ellis Road, Anna Salai, Chennai

Bombay Lassi, popular north Indian 12 x 12 feet kiosk  for its lassi, sweets, samosa and kachori, is located at No. 8, Bahar Agan Street, Ellis Road, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600002 (landmark: just behind Devi Theatre complex). At this narrow road surrounded by slum huts, the shop runs brisk business from morning to late night.

Hot and Crisp Jilebi

One can find two or three north Indians at this shop engaged in frying and stirring samosas, kachori and jilebis.

Kachori with Chutneys

The overwhelming crowd remains there to taste either syrup-dripping gulab jamoons, rasmalais, basandhis or crisp jilebis or palgovas. It is an all time favorite place for hot tasty samosas and kachoris at a nominal price and they disappear no sooner than they make it out of the frying-pan. The spicy potato and peas masala inside the samosa was hot and pungent. The lassi varieties are favorite beverage for many customers and their day is not complete without this lassi. 

Hot and spicy Samosa

Sweet and milky Rasmalai

Your evening treat could be the 50 gm jilebi or rasmalai coupled with the hot samosa is served with hot and sweet chutneys in dried (manthara) leaf cup will be divine and you may end up with sweet or salt lassi. Their speciality is chocolate lassi with full of malai.

This shop has been around for many years now and does brisk business. Previously its name was Brijwasi Lassi and the present name is Bombay Lassi.

Sugarcane Juice Nature's Wonderful Beverage

In Chennai Sugarcane Juice is a Delicious Beverage during Summer Months

Sugarcane juice is the juice extracted from pressed sugarcane. It is consumed as a beverage worldwide. This is a popular drink in India especially in states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. It is known as "Oosacha Ras" or "Ganneka Ras" in Maharashtra in Marathi and Hindi accordingly. People usually like this drink in the summer months. Some other additives are added to the fresh juice like lemon, ginger, mint, and ice.

People also can find this drink along the roadsides in Tamil Nadu from mid March to the last of October. I have captured this sugarcane juice vendor using his sugarcane juice extraction machine in Chennai keep preparing fresh juice quickly on demand.

Quick Facts:

Sugarcane juice is considered rich source of vitamins and minerals:

The beverage has vitamins  A, C, B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6; minerals such as calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium and zinc as well as an excellent source of phytonutrients, antioxidants, proteins and soluble fiber. It is provides quick re-hydration of human body and the rich glucose source replenish your energy.

Presence of the high concentration of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and manganese in sugarcane make it as an alkaline base food drink. Eating an alkaline diet helps the blood pH level to stay in balance (between 7.35 and 7.45) without as much effort. This does not mean we should eliminate acidic foods from our diet altogether; it simply means we need to shift the balance from the typically acidic diet to a more alkaline diet.

Though the beverage is known for its high sugar content, it is an encouraging tips for diabetic patients. The drink has low glycemic index, since it is the natural sugar and there won't be the steep rice in blood glucose level.

It also boosts protein levels and sustain the smooth functioning of the kidney. It subsides the burning sensation associated with urinary track infections. 

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/India/photo1415684.htm

Chennai Food Street: Sowcarpet Street Food - Chats, Sweets and Beverages

Kakada Sweets - Sowcarpet

I have been to Sowcarpet on many occassions and have never been disappointed.  The entire stretch is lined with  tiny and small dhabas, push carts, makeshift stalls with Hindi speaking workers keep boiling, frying, stirring from dawn till dusk. It is the long street where age old eateries have emerged and still thrive, serving  crispy jalebis, golgappa, pyaz kachoris, pau bhaajis, aloo sabzis, bhindi, raita, shahi panner, chotu motu bhel, kulfis with different flavors and Kolkata paan at last but not least. People love to walk along this crowded stretch and like to enjoy these North Indian ‘reality bites’ around here.

What is golgappa? In North India people call Pani pooris as "Golgappas" and in West Bengal its name is "poochkas." It is a fun to witness the preparation of golgappa. With an inviting smile, the vendors poke his thumb into crispy fried shells (small puris appear like a golden sphere).  Later fill it with fresh garbanzo beans (chick peas) and boiled potatoes, then dip the puri into the ice cold sweet and sour water (pani prepared using tamarind and jaggery). Then topped with savory green chutneys, spicy masala powder and finely chopped onion pieces. The item will be served one by one in paper cup and the customer waiting with anxiety will eat it as a whole.

Vada Pav (Wikipedia)

Maharashtrian fast food Vada Pav is gaining iconic status in India. This street food, once enjoyed by poor man in Bombay, is attracting  rich and famous businessmen, family and students. People  flock around vada - pav stall at another corner.   Golden colored oil fried vadas are inviting. It is nothing but potato pieces mashed with garlic, chilli and coriander masala and dipped in chick-pea flour and fried in oil.  The crafty vendor slices the pav ("pav" is the Indian colloquial for bread) and butter it well, spread with green chutney and sprinkle some garam masala powder. Keep vada in between pav and served hot.

Pav Bhaji (Wikipedia)

Pav Bhaji is another Maharashtrian street food, now served every in Indian street food joints. Pav means bread. Bhaji in Marathi means vegetable dish. Bhaji is a mixed mashed vegetables usually displayed in a large tawa. The sliced pav will be shallow fried in butter and the crisp golden yellow pav will be served with bhaji, a dollop of butter, with optional toppings of grated cheese, dry-fruits and even fresh fruits. It is becoming an all-time favorite in Chennai.

Kakada Ramprasad is famous in Sowcarpet.  It houses, chat corner, sweet and snacks counters and as well as a restaurant. It is well acknowledged as one among the best sweet shops in Chennai. The Badam milk at this restaurant is one of the finest and tasty drink with perfect consistency and thickness.

Sowcarpet Images

Jilebi Maker at Sowcarpet

Sandwichwala

Namkinwala

Hot Kachori and Samosa at a Chatwala

White Pumpkin Peda

Gol Gappa or Pani Puri

'Royal Lunch spread' - Rajakeeyam - the Holistic Healthy Meal at Cholayil's Sanjeevanam, Chennai.

The holistic ayurvedic diet regimen meal 'Rajakeeyam' aka 'Royal Lunch Spread' served only during lunch hours at Cholayil's Sanjeevanam in (15, Indira Nagar, First Main Road, First Main Road, Adyar; No. 50, Block 1, AMM Towers, Mogappair; and 97, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkm) Chennai is getting popular among the true connoisseurs of food.

'Cholayil' is the well known ayurvedic (the most ancient forms of healing therapies) people from Kerala noted for their holistic health care concepts, products and services. There popularity can be understood through their product - 'Medimix', unique quality ayurvedic bath soap.

Cholayil's Sanjeevanam, another unique vegetarian restaurant  serving holistic healthy food integrating the  balanced ayurvedic diet of Kerala. Ayurveda focuses on the concepts of micro and macrocosm. The universe (macrocosm) is enlivened and described by three main doshas or forces: Vata (air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (earth). Each human (microcosm) has all three doshas in his or her constitution, in unique proportions. The fundamental principle of ayurveda is that the human is the product of natural elements contributing to the formation of this universe and forms a part of the cosmic environment. Therefore he needs to strike the right balance in his constituting elements (vata, pita and kapha) in order to be deemed healthy. The dietary regimen and dietary schedule are comprehensively meant for balancing the three types-'vata', 'pitta' and 'kapha.' The traditional balanced ayurvedic diet should have priority to sprouts, green and yellow vegetables apart from that of honey, almonds and cereals.

Sanjeevanam evolved their  holistic ayurvedic diet  'Royal Lunch spread' - 'Rajakeeyam' on the above principles. The food is served on banana leaf.  Their dietary regimen stresses on the need to take eight course vegetarian meal that is served in the prescribed sequenctial manner and they advise their customers to eat as per their serving sequence. The meal is unlimited, yet it is better to stick to the prescribed quantity.

To start with they serve a Kerala banana slices ("Nentrakai" or "Yethakai") with grated coconut. Together they also serve five different appetizing  juices (date juice, nut milk, veg clear soup,  harita buttermilk, and rice bran water) in attractive glass bowls. The Fresh uncooked puttu (a kind of food from Kerala), raita and salads and vegetable pickles from raw green vegetables will be following next. After uncooked food, they will be serving an array of semi-cooked food items. Fully cooked vegetable dishes will come after semi-cooked food. The main course of the meal is the boiled rice and they offer choice between red and white rice. For the dessert, they have an array of dishes like payasam (a kind boiled milk kheer), morkuzhambu and buttermilk. To wind up the meal they offer a table spoon of honey (to enhance digestion) and 'natural' beeda (chewing betel leaf and nuts).  Their dietary regimen helps human body absorb the nutrients in the correct way and also helps in digestion. The inclusion of six possible tastes in order that the balance of the human physiology is effectively maintained and also believes in the maxim that herbs and spices with their medicinal qualities add to the strength of the digestive system.

Balaji Sandwich Stall: Favorite Street Food in Montieth Road, Egmore, Chennai

Balaji Sandwich Stall, Montieth Road, Egmore, Chennai

Menu Card

Balaji Sandwich Stall is the most favorite and busiest street food joint  situated right in front of Alsa Mall, Montieth Road, Egmore.  It is a shop-on-wheels and hence no seating for one to sit and taste the food. However there is no objection if one sits on the steps at Alsa mall front courtyard.

Everyone makes it a habit of getting here during mid-morning or around lunch hour to taste the amazing range of sandwiches. Again at about 4 pm this place is surrounded by sandwich lovers and by evening there won't be a crumb left. This is how it is popular.

The menu is long. From vegetable sandwiches to chicken sandwiches, bread omelets .. a delicious array of sandwiches and most of them comes within Rs.20/- (see veg and non-veg menu card). They also serve the sandwiches as desired (specified) by the customer i.e, how spicy it should be or how crispy it should be? Whether to grill or not or to add cheese or chillies or butter or any other ingredient? One can have sandwiches the way he or she wants.  It is very difficult to guess what they add in the green colored mint chutney and the taste makes everyone to guess.

In 1985 the stall owner started this as a tea shop and during early 1990s the stall commenced serving sandwiches. In spite of its poor ambiance and services, this simple street food joint is being reviewed with high ratings in most of the newspapers and websites.

Jafar's: An Iconic Ice cream Parlour in Colonial Madras

Source: The Hindu Jun 25, 2003

M/s  M. Jafar & Co, an ice-cream parlour at Elphinstone Theater, Round Tana, Mount Road, Madras, has a lot of history, dating back to 1938. Some of the rich and delicious ice cream was served at this oldest ice cream Parlour in Madras. It was also  recognized and honoured with The Presidential award in the ice-cream business. Learn all about the seventy five year old Ice-cream parlour history.

Sohrab Modi, (the  `Cecil B. de Mille of Hindi Cinema' ) a film maker from Bombay, inaugurated the New Elphinstone cinema theatre in Round Tana, Mount Road, Madras in 1932. This poshest cinema theatre screened the best Hollywood films and this third cinema hall inculcated the habit of film going among the public in Madras.

Before the inauguration of Elphinstone theatre, this public place was occupied by two different (London based) theatres i.e, 1. Lycaeum Theatre and 2. Vaudeville Theatre as well as the dance hall and the boxing ring at the 'indoor stadium.' The Lycaeum Theatre run a soda fountain (Barney Dorai's Soda Fountain) since from 1910 to attract the gathering. Later it became as Elphinstone Soda Foundation to invite all film goers. 

Barney Dorai handed over his soda fountain to Jafar, one of his fountain keepers. Jafar took possession of the soda fountain in 1938 and  renamed as  Jafar's Ice cream Parlour, a landmark around Round Tana. At Jafar's the blenders whipped cream, fruits and other ingredients to prepare different cocktail varieties of milk shakes and ice-cream as well as colorful sweet menu and the parlour was furnished with  bar style furniture. People spent time in the new ambiance and enjoyed the lip smacking ice cream menu by sitting either on the bar stools or at low height tables with seats along the length of the counter. This parlour was duly recognized and honoured with The Presidential award in the ice-cream business.

During 1970s Jafar's parlour moved to Royapettai, Chennai. Later the cinema complex was converted into Raheja Complex, a shopping mall and was opened in 1981.

Reference:

1. Cinema at Round Tana The Hindu Jun 25, 2003 http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/06/25/stories/2003062500120300.htm
2. M Jafar & Co  http://www.mjafarco.com/
3. Jaffars: Those were the days when…. By che_david http://chennai.metblogs.com/2006/11/23/jaffars-those-were-the-days-when/

Murugan Idly shop: Authentic Madurai food at Chennai

Authentic Madurai food is served in Murugan Idli shop, a chain of restaurant in Chennai

 Restaurant

Soft Puffy Idli - Chutney varieties and Sambar served in banana leaf



 Cool and thick Jigarthanda

Murugan Idli Kadai (Murugan Idly Shop) is the chain of restaurants from the temple city Madurai and there are 12 restaurants in Chennai (at least five restaurants are located in T.Nagar zone. The restaurant is well known for soft and puffy white idlies (Indian rice cake) and they serve with different chutney varieties and sambar in banana leaf. Also chilli powder and gingely oil are served at extra cost. The restaurant’s menu includes idly, vada, dosa, masala dosa, ghee pongal, sweet pongal, banana bajji etc. Water is served in disposable cup placed in perforated steel tumbler.

The main attraction of this restaurant is Madurai special Jigarthanda, (meaning liver cool) unique and tasty cool drink served in the kiosk outside the restaurant.

Karpagambal Mess, Mylapore, Chennai

Mylai Karpagambal Mess at 20, East Mada Street, Mylapore, Chennai, 600004 is a South Indian Restaurant best known for common South Indian breaksfast menu.  This fairly small eatery, refurbished recently, has become  synonymous with traditional South Indian vegetarian breakfast. The atmosphere of the a.c and non a.c. dining halls are filled with the ,mixed aroma of scented sticks, strong authentic coffee, sambar and pongal.   

It is a small restaurant with reasonably priced quality menu items.  The food items like idly, dosa, pongal, Medhu Vada, Keera Vada and Thavala Vada was served hot in banana leaf and was very authentic and tasty. The coffee was also very authentic with the right amount of sugar and strength. The cash counter was manned by the middle aged person and he is also found running into the kitchen, takes the order and serve breakfast also.