Sunday Brunch at Paprika - Courtyard by Marriott,Chennai

Weekend is when you get to put your feet up, relax, sleep in late, and generally not do anything... And then come the hunger pangs- you can't really dodge that bullet now can you? Not in the mood to cook, not in the mood to order in, well, the only option would be get yourself out of the bed and head out for a fun meal. This is probably why the weekend Brunch concept has caught on in the city. Almost all restaurants in leading hotels offer a lavish spread, perfect for families! 

Why not this weekend head over to Paprika in Courtyard by Marriott  to savour their newly launched  launched Sunday Brunch -  based on the Fabulous Five.. Sounds like an Enid Blyton novel title right?  That is how I felt.. I was curious, I was craving something hot and spicy, and I wanted it made just the way I like it. Voila, the live counters offered me just that. 

There was a pasta counter, Chaat counter, Sushi counter, Asian kitchen counter and the grandest of them all a Live dessert counter- waffles with an assortment of toppings, fillings and sauces. Did I mention they also have a Bar counter- not only do you get to order drinks of your choice, but the bartender will come to your table and whip up something interesting right there. All this with some amazing live music [the duo sang beautifully and it added to the experience, maybe cos I knew all the songs they sand] .. 

Oh and wait, for those of you wondering what to feet the little ones, especially those with specific preferences, worry not. There is an entire Kids section tucked away in the buffet- with potato smileys, mac& cheese, donuts, cup cakes, oreo bites and more. Apart from this, your child can have some fun at the body art counter, or get a balloon shaped like a dog or a cloud, and maybe spend some time watching a TV show relaxing on the sofa. 

No rush, no reason to get off the chair but to grab a plate of food or something to drink, and the perfect way to spend your Sunday afternoon... 

Price: Around Rs1500 for the brunch sans alcohol, and close to Rs2000+ with alcohol. The kid's brunch is about 700Rs [all prices are per pax and approx only]

Address:

Courtyard by Marriott Chennai

#564, Anna Salai, Teynampet, 

Chennai. 

Ph No: 044 6676 4000

Disclaimer:
The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-)

Gujarati Rasoi at Jamavar, The Leela Palace till Feb 13th

"Kemcho?  [How are you]

Majama..[am good]

Thepla joye che/khavu che? [Do you want a Thepla-a kind of roti]"

These are the only words/phrases I know related to Gujaratis.. Infact there are quite a few jokes that do the rounds about the Theplas- they are known to be staples, which when travelling Gujaratis are known to carry in large numbers.. And so, when exploring the cuisine, it was quite a surprise to see there was more to this region than just the few dishes I knew of.

There I was walking towards Jamavar at The Leela Palace down the spiral staircase all set to experience the Gujarati Rasoi, an elaborate traditional Gujarati festival with Chef Punarmali visiting from The Leela Mumbai.  

Dhokla, Khandvi, Thepla are some dishes that come to mind when you hear "Gujarati cuisine"... And so it was quite a surprise reading the menu at the Gujarati Rashi festival. It featured quite an array of Veg & Non Veg dishes. Yes, you read it right. There were quite a few Non veg dishes as well, much to the surprise of my friends who joined in the dinner [they assumed it was going to be an all veg meal].. What I like about Gujarati food is that it is quite subtle, made with simple ingredients [local produce] and quite distinct. The one sticky point about this cuisine is that all dishes have a sweet element in them [jaggery/sugar/Kokum].. 

The Restaurant [Photo credit: The Leela Palace]- we sat in the table at the far end with the beautiful piece of art on the wall.

Aam Panna - which we had more than one glass of.. 

 The delightful starters- Patra [colocassia leaf based starter], Dhokla, Khandvi and Kachori 

Khatti Meethi Daal and Gujarati Kadhi 

 Three kinds of rotis - Bajre ki Roti, Bhakri, Thepla

Poori - made with wheat flour and another flour+ ingredients 

 Rajwadi Kichdi 

 Three main veg gravy - one with Lady fingers, Gawar phalli [Cluster beans with carom seeds & spices] and  Undhiyu (Gujarati Mixed Vegetable).. There was also a potato & dumplings based gravy which was lovely[perfect accompaniment for the poori]. 

The yummilicious desserts - Badam ka Halwa [Almond cooked over a few hours and was rich, ghee packed] and Phirni [Creamy rice pudding flavoured with saffron and cardamom]

The evening was quite an experience, the ambiance, the hospitality and ofcourse the food. It is one of those restaurants that makes you feel like the Royal. 

Open for dinner only- 7 PM to 11 PM

Dates: Till 13^th February, 2017.

The menu is priced at Rs 3500 plus taxes

Address:

The Leela PalaceAdyar Seaface, 

M.R.C Nagar, Chennai - 600028

Location: Lower Lobby

Reservations: +91 44 33661234

Disclaimer: The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember these were just my views!! Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit :-)