M'Bessy in Hotel Esthell, Adyar

M’BESSY, the all new Continental Resto-Bar was launched at Hotel Esthell, Adyar by  Mr. Dinesh Raj & Partners this Saturday,  9.00 pm , 26^th December 2015.

M’BESSY Resto – Bar is placed in 2 levels; Ground floor furnished in a vintage European diner Décor’ and the 1^st floor has a contemporary lounge bar, the pride of which are the range of alcohol on the bar and the 6 best bartenders in the country.

As you enter the main hotel, you are greeted with a stairway on the left and a winding spiral stairway on the right. However, the one that is open for customers is on the left. The right one is used by the hotel staff. You get on top of the stairway and are greeted by a door, which opens to a passage flanked by Flags from across the World , some of which I had no idea about. And then you are hit by dark plush interiors and beautiful chandeliers..

[photographs above shared by the Restaurant/pub]

Beverages/Drinks at the RestoPub:

 Maid in India

Mint Julep [non alcoholic]

 mBessy Elite Sour

 The Royal Tea Punch

Ginger Cosmo

M'Bessy Kitchen & Bar:

An exclusive gastronomic endeavor in Chennai focusing on continental cuisine and a wide range of Cocktails and the largest Bar in the city.We have the Bar team headed by the 6th best bartender of India. Our food consultants are currently part of Michelin star restaurants around the world.

M'Bessy derived from Embassy is a  "Republic of Gastronomy" traversing the customer into a world of great food and drinks. The twist in the name is to emphasis the term "Bessy" which is the elite name for Chennai's iconic besant nagar beach and our strategic location of being the 1st building on the road to that beach.

An European Interior, our 2 level restaurant has a fine dining space in the ground floor leading into a Bar in the first floor. M'Bessy is the brainchild of young entrepreneur Dinesh Raj.The other partners of the restaurant are Mr. & Mrs. Britto and Nithya.

The dishes we had were,

Starters:

1. Mezze Platter

2. Broccoli Polonais - Loved it

Mains[veg]:

3.Pizza Bianca - blue cheese & caramelised onions - was good.. 

4. Paneer based dish 

Desserts:

5. Chocolate Terrin

6. Tiramisu [deconstructed]- was the best of the lot 

7. Caramelised Bono

Well, the decor is wow, the drinks were beautiful, each one different from the other and quite theatrical as well. Loved the starters, esp the Broccoli dish but they do lack consistency in favours. As for the mains, liked the pizza, others were alright... The desserts were alright...  But then it could also be that they are still new and rough around the edges.. Should do a visit few months down the road to give it another shot!! 

It is indeed a place where one can go hang out with friends or even hold a business meeting.. 

A Meal for two will cost about Rs.1800 without the drinks.

Address: 
No. 1, Royal Enclave, Besant Avenue, Adyar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600020
Phone:044 2446 3311

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 :-)

Eggs Benedict, Fusion and Breakfast at Park Hyatt

Since I wake up early, it is never an issue about getting ready and getting out early. But when you have been out on your feet all day on a Saturday, waking up early on Sunday wasn't  really exciting  But then, the thought of digging into Eggs Benedict, in different forms and a morning with good friends was what had me up and ready....

As we walked into Park Hyatt, I looked around to see what was different, the art in the hotel lobby keeps changing, they have display by new artists and it is always something I look forward to. From the minute we entered The Dining Room [ their all day dining restaurant on lobby level], it was magical...  Here is what we had... 

Madras 

Fried Idli + Tomato Sliced + Potato Masala+ Curry Spices

Florentine 

English muffin + Creamy Spinach +Poached Egg+ Grated Parmesan Cheese

Savory Waffle 

BBQ Sauce Glazed +Spring Onion [it comes with Bacon as well]

Southwestern 

Brown Toast + Refried Beans+ Tomato Salsa + Poached Egg+ Cheddar Cheese

Asian

Corn Cake+ Oriental Mushroom Salad+ Poached Egg+ Sesame Seeds

Cant seem to find the photograph, this was quite divine as well. It had corn and potato at the bottom along with some sautéed mushrooms. the egg sat pretty on the top!

Note:  All eggs benedict were  served with our homemade hollandaise sauce... 

Apart from this, we did a run of their Breakfast buffet, learnt about the fresh honeycomb they had brought down from the Himalayas in Oct [honey collected was also part of buffet spread], and the beautiful dessert spread they had.. I loved the Beetroot cake- it was sweet, had the strong Beetroot flavours and was very soft.  Chef Balaji who has put his together has really gone all out !!

I also tried the Masala Dosa which was served with three chutneys and sambar... 

Fresh fruits, Muesli with berry topping and a slice of the beetroot cake. It is accompanied with Fresh watermelon juice.. They also had orange, pineapple juices.

The dessert counter.. 

Priced at Rs 900 plus taxes (or was it Rs. 1150 /-) with no additional charge for the Eggs, this is a breakfast for someone like me.. Indulgent and delicious!

The Eggs benedict festival is on till the 31st,  but we did suggest they incorporate these into their regular breakfast as well..

Address:

#39, Velachery Main Rd, Raj Bhavan Colony, TN Police Housing Colony, Velachery, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600032
Phone:044 7177 1234

Fuji, Japanese Restaurant comes to Chennai

Looks like the city has caught the Japanese fever.. First it was  pop up Japanese restaurant, then came the Japanese food festival and now a new Japanese restaurant opens doors. Hmmm.. Interesting and exciting! For someone who loves experimenting with food, this is a happy thing! Years ago, if someone had told me Japanese I would have scrunched up my nose and said "raw fish?yewww".. But over the years, I have learnt there are quite a few veg dishes in Japanese cuisine and some of them are quite umm as well. That apart, Japanese food is quite light, most are steamed and very healthy as well. 

Well, this new restaurant is on Chamiers Road  [few doors down from TOI office if you are coming from Chamiers road side, and if entering from Nandanam, just after Aavin booth on left side, take a right cut and it is there]

The interiors are simple, wood based and quite Japanese. They have table chair seating on the left and floor style seating on the right side. As you walk along the corridor, towards the rear side, is a private room of sorts for large groups. 

The restaurant is as authentic as it can get, with a Japanese chef, and manager as well. Having established a name in Delhi & Kolkatta the management has decided to make an entry here in Chennai. 

An extensive menu, most of which goes over our head, it is best left to the restaurant team to order for you... There are quite a range of veg dishes, some of which i enjoyed- the Tempura, the Brinjal in Miso, fried tofu and ofcourze the dessert. The Soup I did not like at all, it felt like hot water with a few pieces of brinjal & tofu- was lacking any kind of flavour. I also got to taste the Japanese omelet and it was sinfully yumm..so was the broth that came as part of the non veg soup. 

Next time you are looking for something different, give this restaurant a shot!

Meal for two: Rs 2000 [approx]

Fuji

Address: Old 10, New 134, Chamiers Road, Nandanam, Chennai

Phone: 044 33011577

Cuisines: Japanese/Korean

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 :-)

Flavours of Vietnam- Benjarong, TTK Road, Chennai

“Chào bạn”

... that is how you greet someone in Vietnamese. No, I am not learning the language, was just curious to know how people greet each other. Where did this come from? I recently got the opportunity to attend the Vietnamese Food Festival going on at Benjarong, TTK Road and that is where my interest in this region.

All the tables had a little standee which described the Vietnamese Cold Coffee [Ca phe da] in detail along with a picture of the same. So, when we met the Chef the 1^st thing I asked was “can we try it?” He obliged and soon we had a staff brought the apparatus and began showing us how it is made. They brought a glass that had a tablespoon of condensed milk at the bottom. He proceeded to place a coffee filter [much like the south Indian filter kaapi filter] on top of the glass and poured hot water on the coffee powder[  the powder was not finely ground, but was coarse], soon coffee began dripping onto the condensed milk. There was another glass with crushed ice in it.  Once the coffee was done dripping, it was mixed well with condensed milk and then poured on the crushed ice. It was divine, tad bitter and chill.

 

While we were enjoying the coffee, the chef came over to take us through the cuisine, the chefs and how the whole process unfolded. The festival starts in Chennai, and then moves to Bangalore before winding up at Kolkatta and available only at Benjarong restaurant across the cities.

We were then served Pho Ga ( Rice Noodle Soup ), the broth was just divine, not overpowering, very different from Tom yum soup [ thai soup] – subtle beautiful flavours that filled your taste buds. The soup also had a mix of veggies- mushrooms, carrots and greens, garnished with coriander. We loved it. The Chef did mention that the ratio of veg to non veg dishes wasn’t exactly equal as most of the Vietnamese food involved a lot of meat [& sea food]

Moving on, a wide range of starters arrived at our table and each one looked sinful. There was a cane basket that had an assortment of starters- a veg wrap [raw veggies in a rice wrap], stir fried chestnut and cashews, a medley of pickled veggies accompanied with a peanut based dip, there was a plate with Banana Blossom & Tofu starter and finally the showstopper, a cold mushroom salad [ that was the star of the evening]

Phew, that was a lot of food and we had a whale of a time enjoying them while chatting with the Chef.  He spoke to us about the Chefs who were visiting from Vietnam, one of them understood some English and other dint but they communicated via hand signals. Thumbs up for good and down for bad. They went on a trip to Koyembedu market and commented on how the markets back in Vietnam were quite similar to how it was here in Chennai. But since many of the ingredients were not available here, some of the dishes were taken off the menu and then ofcourse Benjarong does not serve pork so none of those dishes made it as well.

It was then time for the main course. I saw a plate of Glass noodles, Green Mungbean Sticky Ric [rice cooked with moong daal that was tad sweet], a Tofu dish cooked in the traditional clay pot and then there was the Vietnam Veg Curry in Coconut Gravy. Each of these dishes were unique in terms of flavour and the combo of rice to curry was heavenly [ the gravy would pass off for a dish from Kerala, probably because of the coconut gravy base]

And the only way to finish off such an elaborate meal was to have interesting desserts. We were offered two- one was the Mungbean Cake and Bánh Chuối Hấp Nước Cốt Dừa which is a Crystal Steamed Banana Cake served with Cream Coconut. I quite loved the Banana dessert, probably because of the texture and complex flavours.

With that the evening was a wrap!!  Oh wait, we were given a cute hand massager as a gift when we bid the team adieu. Catch the festival in Chennai till 27^th, else you gotta visit Bangalore or Kolkatta.

A meal for 2 should cost around Rs 2500-3000 [depending on all that you order- veg/non veg] But the one thing I would recommend is the Vietnamese cold coffee and mushroom salad…And for those who love Benjarong's food, their original menu is also available!! 

Xin chào [Goodbye] … Mai mốt gặp lại [We shall meet again soon]

Dot Yum, Aloft, Chennai

After the elaborate tour and the insightful session into the Dining options at Aloft, I was now all set to try the brunch.. 

As soon as I heard the name, I wondered what the story was behind the name. The Chef did not know, so I imagined it was either something to do with the Hotel being on the IT expressway or there is nothing better to define good food than saying "yum" and by saying "dot yum" you are basically telling the world this is where your search for the most amazing food ends~! 

Either ways, I was curious to try the food here. The only other time I have eaten at Aloft was a year ago at a wedding reception and the food had been outstanding. It was Saturday and the brunch was on. By the time I was done with a mini tour of the property, I could hear the hunger bell go off within me. The Chef spent some time talking about the place, his experience, the kind of crowd that comes, and how the crowds are scattered through the week - between the guests and those who come exclusively to dine. 

The Brunch Buffet was earlier priced higher but now has been brought down to Rs 550+ tax. It had a soup, couple of starters [ mix of veg & non veg] and quite a spread on the mains and the desserts. 

The Soup was Minestrone soup, which was quite good, loved the flavours in it. The vegetables had been finely sliced and it was followed by Cauliflower fritters that had a Chinese touch to them. Crisp and fresh, they were hot when they arrived on the table [which is a big plus]. I declined further starters and went ahead to explore the Buffet- there were the few dishes that we see in almost all buffets- the Veg pulao, Veg noodles, but here apart from the veg gravy, they had one made with Raw bananas which just blew me away. There was also snake gourd manchurian which I tried out of curiousity but did not like too much [the veg has a unique flavour which is not my favorite].  The black bean veg curry was quite good, went well with the noodles.  They also had a pasta with pesto, which I felt had an overdose of cream [ normally pesto pasta is dry with just the right amount of pesto bringing them all together]. 

The buffet is laid out in 3 segments- the mains, the salad and the desserts. Again, the mains too were divided neatly between veg and non veg. There was also a live counter available, which changed periodically. In the Salads, I enjoyed the grilled Italian vegetables and the tender beetroot slices with sesame seeds the best. 

I was also offered an assortment of Indian breads [which is served in the table] and if you know me, you would know I ordered my standard Fresh Lime soda [salt], it is such a refreshing drink~!

It was quite relaxing, to just unwind and enjoy the food in peace and quiet. The place had a few other groups, but I saw people stream in around 2 onwards [which is when I discovered they had an afternoon menu- Sandwiches/pizza with beverages] .. I slowly made my way towards the Dessert section, and brought back a few treats- Baklava, Gulab jamun, Strawberry based dessert [sugarfree], few slices of watermelon and papaya and a simple white chocolate mousse cake with a slice of strawberry on top. There were more, including ice creams, which I passed up! 

Overall, it is a good value for money kind of a meal. And on a Saturday, after a brunch you are good to go through the day without thinking about food [ what to cook for lunch~?? being a nightmare for all of us] .. Infact, this would be an ideal place for a group to go hang out on a weekend.. Time to make some plans, are you game?! And next time, I want to try some dishes from Estia menu as well. 

I also had a cup of coffee about an hour later, which was the traditional filter coffee and not instant coffee..:-) Have to say, this was one good Saturday... 

Address:

Aloft Hotel
102, Rajiv Gandhi Salai,Sholinganallur,
Chennai -600119
Ph- 044 4592 5500

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  :-)

Sunday Brunch at Little Italy, Besant Nagar

A hot cup of Cappuccino 

followed by 

A  bowl of hot sweet delicious mushroom soup

A plate of crunchy nachos with salsa and guacamole

A bite of the cheese & corn balls and 2 kinds of Bruschettas

Oh and the rich jalapeno dip

This is how the brunch began on Sunday!

If you thought these sounded wow, you are in for a surprise with the rest of the items on the menu.

There was freshly baked Focaccia herb bread,  fresh watermelon juice, a whole selection of cold salads- pasta salad, macaroni tomato sauce salad, Greek salad and coleslaw. Hop on to the next section and you see a selection of cheeses [ red chilli, garlic, black pepper and plain] with olives and a tomato+basil+ cheese platter as well

Apart from these, there were 2 kinds of pizzas [one with broccoli and other with vegetables], a Lasagna that was rich & cheesey heaven and the beautiful melody of Rice dishes- Mongolian rice & Mexican rice. Oh wait, there was also the Mongolian noodles which had me smiling [quite a unique blend of flavours]!

For those who love their pasta, there was the live pasta counter where you could get pasta cooked just the way you like them- pick the pasta, pick the veggies, pick the sauce and get cracking..

We are not done yet!! Wait up! Take your pick from the bowl of fruits, or pick up a shot glass or two with some yummy desserts- Mango cheesecake? Strawberry cheesecake? Chocolate mousse or Tiramisu? So many divine treats all in one place, well that is Little Italy for you! We were also privy to an extra dessert- gooey molten lava cake- chocolate cake with gooey center served with a vanilla ice cream that had a drizzle of chocolate sauce over it. 

This Sunday brunch is priced at Rs 699 [all inclusive], I would say this i s total value for money meal.. Enjoy a lazy Sunday morning, savour the dishes while enjoying the music playing overhead.

Address: Little Italy 

E-50, 17th Cross Street, 

[Behind State Bank of Travancore] 

Besant Nagar, 

Chennai -600090 

Ph- +91 89392 95000 

URL: http://littleitaly.in/

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 :-)