Karavalli Celebrations at Clubhouse, Taj Club House

Taj Clubhouse is celebrating 25 years of Karavalli, the award-winning iconic restaurant at The Gateway Hotel Residency Road Bangalore with a special menu from the coastal regions of South West India.  Chef Ganesh Sheregar from Karavalli had been flown down for the festival and we got the opportunity to meet him as well.

[Image courtesy: Taj]

The menu is quite large and is served Buffet & A la carte style.  Some interesting dishes on the menu include the Oggaraneda Aritha Pundi (Steamed rice dumplings, flavored with coconut and cumin); Koli Barthad (Succulent pieces of chicken, pan- fried in a blend of roasted spices and the tart flavours of Coorg vinegar); Allapuzha Meen Curry (Cubes of Seer Fish, simmered in a moderately spiced gravy of freshly ground coconut, ginger and raw mangoes); Kori Dosa that is ideally eaten with Kori Gassi (Tender pieces of chicken, cooked with finely ground fresh coconut, byadgi chillies, coriander and tamarind) or Kadala Curry [Kerala style black channa cooked in a gravy format] and/or Pachakkari Stew (Seasonal vegetables gently simmered in creamy coconut milk).

The evening opened with the in house Chef Siddique telling us a bit about the dishes in store, and how there was bound to be a lot of similarities with Kerala & Goan cuisine- coconut, curry leaves, mild spices and so on. We were then served the starters on the table- veggies got Coconut coriander pakoras of sort while the non veggies got Crab & Fish. It was served with a range of chutneys and dips, that included Chammandis [red chilli and green chilli version], and all kinds of pachadis- carrot, tomato, cucumber and many others…

We also got a portion of Oggarraneda Aritha Pundi (Steamed rice dumplings, flavored with coconut and cumin) – loved it, it was almost like ammini kozhukattais.

Apart from this, the buffet also held in store a variety of vadams [ bitter guard, mor milagai, nendram pazham, and few others] along with some pickles as well [ loved the garlic pickle and gonghura chutney among the lot]

Ok, enough digressing. After the starters, we wandered about the buffet and sampled quite a few dishes. There was neer dosa that went well with kadala curry. And then there was tamarind rice, red unpolished rice along with sambar, not to forget the veggie sides- Cauliflower Therattal (cauliflower cooked with onion tomato masala), Bhende Bardez (Goan specialty okra cooked tempered with coconut), Matti Gulla Gujju (udipi brinjal cooked with onion tomato and fresh coconut), Mirapakkai Pacha Pattani Igguru (Chili & green peas cooked with coconut & aromatic spices) to name a few.   Oh and special mention to the Pineapple Rasam that was sweet yet spicy and added a zing to the evening…

And for the grand finale there was the trio of desserts- Tender coconut ice cream, Dodol and Bibinca.. These were quite different from what we had earlier at another restaurant. The Dodol was warm, different texture and I loved this one. Similarly, the Bibinca too was close to what I had in Goa…

This festival is on till the 27^th.. So for those of you who love coastal flavours, make a plan!

Where: Clubhouse restaurant at Taj Club House off Anna Salai, Chennai.

When: Till Sep 27.
Lunch: A la carte average rate for a couple around Rs.2,200 tax included
Dinner: Buffet Rs.1,700 per person tax included

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 :-)

Sonargaon from Bengal at Beyond Indus, Taj Club House, Chennai

Plush interiors, comfortable seating and quiet ambiance is what comes to my mind the minute I hear "Beyond Indus at Taj Club house". This is my 2nd or 3rd visit to the restaurant and every visit has been wow! 

They had a festival going on this time around, tad deviation from their signature menu but an interesting one nevertheless. 

It was about celebrating the rich dishes from Sonargaon, Taj Bengal’s iconic restaurant headed by Chef Rajib Mohanta . And what is more, the dishes are all inspired by “Jomidari Bangla Ranna” - the jamindari food has been influenced by the British Raj, Islamic cuisine and effects of partition.

The meal opened with the refreshing Aam Porar Sherbet [A drink made with roasted Mango pulp, flavoured with Cumin]. It was perfect start to the evening, considering the day had been very hot- agni nakshatram [peak summer] had begun yesterday. 

Soon after came an array of starters, 2 for veg and 2 non veg. The veg starters stole the evening- we had Hara Matar Bhutte Palak tawa Kebab [ Kebab made with corn kernels, green peas, spinach and spices] that melted in our mouth and was accompanied by a tamarind based chutney. The next one was Vegetable Chops [ a cutlet of sorts that was made with mixed vegetables and peanuts] served with mint chutney. The non veggies got their share of starters, but I did notice they enjoyed the veg starters more.. :-) 

During the flow of the conversation, we got to meet Chef who told us how he had brought down some of the spices from Kolkatta, especially Panch Phoron, literally meaning “five spices"-  jeera, black onion seed, methi, saunf and radhuni. He went on to add, “Bengali food is quite simple and filled with flavour. Most of the dishes have been made in mustard oil, rather than sunflower/refined oil.”  He had been flown down to Chennai exclusively for the festival and is here only till the 10th of May. 

For the main course, we got different kinds of naan - one with chilli and olives, the other was chilli only- both of which were soft and fresh. For the sides, the veg dishes are Badi palak [ Fresh vegetables cooked with spinach] which was my favourite of them all, Narkel Diye Chholar Dal [ Channa daal cooked with cumin, ginger and coconut shavings]I noticed coconut is Narial in Hindi and is Narked in Bengali [ quite similar]- the dal was heavenly and light. And the other dish was Khus Mehak Paneer [ Paneer cooked in tomato gravy that was flavoured with fresh rose petals and spices]- this gravy was very very different from any paneer dish I have tasted, it also had a slight pungent bitterness to it. Wasn't really my kinda dish.. 

And for the meat eaters, there was the Beckti Macher fry [ a deep crumbed fish fillet] and Murg Chakori Kebab [ char grilled star anise flavoured chicken morsels]. I did see the guys polish them off as well. We did get to sample the Basanti Pulao [ Basmati rice cooked with saffron and raisins]- perfect combo for the Badi Palak. 

The evening wasn't just about savouring the dishes we were served. We chit chatted so much about food, Taj properties, the Chefs, recipes, bengali food and the region, that I knew I had to make a trip there soon. Time flew by and that is when we noticed the desserts arrive in style. The dessert for the evening was Patisapta [fresh coconut cooked with jaggery that had been filled and rolled in rice pancakes] and a portion of delicious Kulfi as well. 

Burrp.. it sure was a meal fit for a Queen/ King.. And we felt pampered at the end of the night. A meal for one would cost around Rs1000 [ not incl beverages]. 

Remember this festival is on only till the 10th May.. So hurry up if you want to sample some amazing offbeat interesting food.. Oh and the main menu is quite extensive, this was just a slice from the bigger pot of Mishti Doi  ... :-)

Address: Taj Club House# 2, Club House Road, Chennai, TN 600002Phone:044 6631 3503 

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 :-)

Rooftop Alfresco, Taj Club House, Chennai

Sitting in comfy chairs under the beautiful night sky, the swimming pool shimmers nearby, there is live music wafting in the air .. "Ma'am, can I serve the wine?" a question that suddenly snaps you out of the dream you were floating in...Ah, what a lovely evening it is turning out to be!

Where was I? I was sitting in the rooftop at Taj Club House enjoying their Rooftop Alfresco evenings! The perfect way to unwind after a crazy/long/busy day with a few close friends before you wind up for the day. Or you could indulge in some spa treatment before grabbing a bite a eat before you head home. Who thought you could experience such joy right here in Chennai? The hotel has come u with a simple yet elaborate menu ranging from mezzo platter to pizzas and the Istanbul burger down to the key lime pie and so much more, all of which is accompanied by a drink of your choice and some live music daily from 5pm to 11pm. 

Oh and for those who enjoy the Hookah, it is back and they have it in a wide range of flavours.  We opened the evening with the mezzo platter- the yummy hummus, Tabbouleh Salad, spanakopita and a falafel accompanied by fresh pita bread. While I went ahead and ordered a glass of white wine, friends opted for an orange based mocktail. Following this, I dug into the Ricotta Gnudis [ it was fun pronouncing the dish name.. lol] which was a few deep fried ricotta fingers served atop a portion of mushrooms cooked in creamy sauce- it was sinful.. 

The guys sampled the Flamed prawns, which going by their clean plates was good. We also managed to try the wraps- mine had a strong pesto flavour which I loved, not to forget the fresh rocket leaves salad and a small portion of fries. We were stuffed but wait, the pizza was coming, mine had quite a medley of veggies and was quite different from the others I have had. 

How ca a meal be complete without a dessert, right? Yes, so along came a portion of Key Lime pie... Ah perfect ending to a relaxed evening. We were happy sitting there yapping away and would have spent the entire night there ... if only!! 

All this is open from Feb 7th, so next time you are done wit a meeting and want an early dinner or looking for a place to unwind, you should consider The Rooftop at Taj Club House..

Price for 2 is Rs 900-1000 approx. [ excl alcohol]

Taj Club House

No. 2, Club House Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600002

044 6631 3131

URL- http://www.tajhotels.com/business/taj-club-house-chennai/default.html

Coorgi Food Festival, Taj Club House, Chennai

Ah, the lush greenery, mist covered mountain tops, monks in red chanting in unison are some things that come to my mind when you mention "Coorg". During my visit there, I came to know that the Coorgs’ (Kodavas) love their food [Kadi] and their liquor [Kudi[] equally.  Their food is largely influenced by the geography (hills and forests) and their culture which is quite unique. 

They are essentially rice eaters, but eat rice in various forms - Akki Ooti (rice chapathis made like rotis using cooked rice and rice flour), Puttus (steamed rice dishes), Kadambuttu (ball shaped puttus made with finest rice flour), Thaliya puttu (flat puttus steamed in plates), and a wide variety of puttus [ some made with coconut milk, others with broken rice and then ther are some made with banana or jackfruit. There is also one puttu called Madd puttu (made of a medicinal leaf called Madd Thopp). Oh and how can I forget the Thambuttu that I tasted in Madikeri, a dish made with roasted and powdered rice flour mixed with mashed ripe bananas. Apart from these, they make quite a few varieties of Biryani and pulaos [ both veg & non veg]

The region is also filled with tea and spice plantations which is why we find all dishes laced with cardomom or cinnamon.  Therefore when I heard about the Coorgi festival at Club House restaurant in Taj Club House, Mount Road, Chennai, I was quite excited and eager. This is a cuisine that is yet to find a place in Chennai and so with all my memories and stories I had heard from friends, the curiousity levels were quite high. 

Chef Naresh has put together a simple yet intriguing menu based on Coorg cuisine and he hails from their Hotel in Coorg. The dishes ranged from Akki Ooti to Pandi Curry and Cardomom Custard as well. It had quite a few Non veg dishes, but I was happy to note that us Veggies were not left out. 

The meal opened with two starters - one was Kummu Barthad [chilli spiced Mushroom, lightly dusted with flour & fried] and the other was Kari Bale Cutlet  [Raw banana patties]. I loved the mushroom but the raw banana one was also good, the chutneys that accompanied these were amazing [one had a strong sesame kind of flavour while the other seemed to be made with ginger]. And then came the Kummu soup [Classic mushroom soup from Coorg], it was thick, it had coconut paste & curry leaves, and was tad spicy [very different from the other Mushroom soups I have had].. 

During the course of the dinner, we learnt more insights about Coorg way of life and food, how each family has their own version of making a dish [ very alike the rest of the world]. 

For the main course, there was Akki Ooti, Kadambuttu, a kind of simple Puttu and Tarkari Pulao[ veg pulao] that was served with 2 veg side dishes- Molai Kuru [mixed sprouts curry] and another made with Spinach which was really yumm.  The non veggies got to try the Pandi curry[pork gravy] and Koli curry[ chicken cooked with spices]. I quite liked the Akki ooti and the spinach the best, probably because I have eaten Akki ooti quite a few times before [in Coorg and at an aunt's house]. 

Just when we were talking about food, the conversation drifted towards Desserts and before we were done, a portion of Cardomom Custard [it was Caramel custard but with a good sprinkle of cardomom on top] served with traditional sauce. And then came the Akki payasam [ rice payasam] that i enjoyed as it was hot and low on sweet quotient.  Oh and how can I not mention the interesting drink we all tried- it was warm, filled with spices and just sinfully light.. 

This festival is on at Taj Club House till the 28th September. So, all of you who have never tried Coorgi food or knew what this cuisine was all about, go for it... 

Lunch and Dinner |A la Carte | INR 2000 onwards per couple

Address:

No. 2,Club House Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600002

For more details and reservations contact +91 44 6631 3131

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 :-)

Dessert Hopping- Part 3

You can read all about how the evening started here in Part 1 and then come back here to read how the night ended.. Yes, I do know there is a section missing in between. Following suit with one of my favourite songs, am saving the best for last.. :-))

The 1st visit to Hyatt was good, we were quite happy and then came the mega high and finally we landed at Hilton, the place highly recommended by Doc.. He spoke quite a bit about the Macarons and how on his way home from the airport, he normally makes a quick stop to grab a few home. We walked into Est, their 24 hour coffee shop in the lobby but not before drooling at the wide range of desserts on display. There were macarons [ quite large in size and prized at Rs30], and then there were plenty of Mango based desserts as well in the display nearby.

We picked out 3 Macaron- one strawberry, one blueberry and green apple. I also ordered a cup of Coffee and Doc went ahead to order a Salmon bagel. 

After clicking a few shots of the good looking macarons we quite eagerly took a bite of it.. I paused, put down the macaron and looked at the other two faces.. One of them mirrored mine while the other was oblivious and went about enjoying his.. The macaron- though was huge, lacked any kind of flavour. It was almost like the ones we get from Tutucorin [infact those are better]... When we pondered, Doc said it usually is different.. 

Hmm, probably a one off day the macarons were bad... I enjoyed my coffee and Doc his bagel before we hit the road calling it a night.  

Looking fwd to more such fun evenings with the gang! Until next time, adios! 

Dessert Hopping- Part 1

Before you start reading, should issue a warning: Do not tell me I dint warn you of how jealous you would get or how angry you would feel that you do not have awesome friends like I do.. buha haha…

The cool people:

Five friends with nothing but our love for food as the common thread…

The plan:

To go  Dessert hopping. Yes you heard it right, we decided to visit a whole range of places just to try their desserts.

Why? You ask!! Why not I say! One friend in the group suggested this nearly a month ago and since then talks were on, but we were yet to finalise on a date. And now, a date was set, the people were all informed. 

Alas, only 3 out of 5 were game! We said “lets go for it” and made it happen.

How cool is that? Yes, that is how cool we are!! :D

Had it been 5 of us, we would have visited Taj Club house in Mount Road to try their chocolate cake, Hyatt for their Tiramisu, Pan Asian in ITC Grand Chola  to meet Ms Lady of Mint and then finally end the night at Est in Hilton with their Macarons.  But since the 5 became 3, we took Taj off the list. I was dreading the sugar overload, but knowing me I would probably have ordered a cup of coffee to survive the sugar high..but it wasnt needed!

The Evening:

The night began at 8pm at Hyatt. I arrived and waited for the other two suspects to land in their carriages. In the meanwhile, I happily went about clicking pictures of the place and what not..

And it begins….

We rode up the elevator to the 1^st floor to Focaccia and were met by the Manager- Karthik who greeted us and asked us if we wanted food. We turned him down saying we were there just for desserts especially for their Tiramisu.

Karthik: You sure you don’t want anything to eat? Starters?

Us: No, we would like a portion of your Tiramisu please

Karthik: walked away shaking head…. Comes back with a nice big plate with a huge portion of Tiramisu.

This one looked nothing like what I have had earlier. It wasn’t a neat square nor was it served in a glass. It came like a blob on the plate [to quote Doc].  And when we asked them to show the main bowl, the chef brought one giant bowl that had Tiramisu to the brim.

How was it? Oh it melted in my mouth even before I pulled the spoon out. It was divine and so unlike any others. It was light, gentle and just mucho grando Bellissimo.. [throws kisses in the air]

Doc asked Chef Gopi if we could try the Chocolate Salami. I stared at them all like “are you serious?” and then was told that it was a dessert and not meat dish. Curious, we asked for a portion of the same. It looked quite cute- three big slices with a sprinkle of sugar and a single mint sprig on top. On first bite I knew it had biscuits in it and it was made with dark chocolate. Ah, what joy!! It was not sweet as in my teeth wanna do a tango kind!

 Phew!! That was one awesome start to the evening and we were all set to attack the remaining places. The staff at Hyatt couldn’t get over us declining food and only eating desserts.. lol..

Time for you to take a break and go have some water or coffee while we devour these desserts…. Slupralicious… [now now, dont put dhristi on me I say!!]

Part 2 continues………………….

Beyond Indus, Taj Club House

There was plans of lunch being made, and we were all quite excited- why? it was at a restaurant that not many of us had visited before. It was going to be at Beyond Indus, Taj Club House. Located on the road across from Spencers Plaza, this hotel is quite good. I enjoy the Weekend brunch at "Club house" restaurant and have also dined at Kefi on the rooftop. 

Beyond Indus is tucked away around the corner from Blend, the pub and oozes with luxury from the minute you walk in. We chose the table at the far end of the hall which had a sun roof and a majestic burgundy coloured chandelier. We were served a welcome drink called "Laughing Buddha", it was cranberry and apple fizz. It was delicious, so good that quite a few of us had more than just a few glasses of it. And we did manage to crack up, have a whale of a time through the lunch. Since it was a weekend, the atmosphere was quite relaxed and everyone was chilled out, no hurry.

The meal was a set menu, which began with a soup going on to dessert. The soup was fairly good, tomato based and light as well. Once we were done slurping the soup, along came the starter. The vegetarians got a platter that had Tandoor broccoli and coloured capsicums along with a slice of poached pear [or it was soaked in vinegar]. I quite enjoyed the peach as it had a bite to it and the vinegar's flavour was quite strong as well. I was glad to have got a vegetable and not the same 'ol paneer [quite fed up of seeing it as the substitute for meat for veggies]. Through the lunch, we kept asking for refills of Laughing Buddha till they had no more. This is when there came a twist to the meal. 3 of us went ahead and ordered a drink each- tropical sunrise, sparkling white wine and one more that was tequila based . They were all good and the Sunday just got better.......  :-)

For the mains, first came the plates, one oval shaped plate and another with a bowl of pulao and 3 cups in them with 3 different gravies-daal makhani, paneer butter masala and a kadai vegetable of sorts. The Daal makhani was just amazing. We were then offered different kinds of rotis, and I being the risk taker chose the methi laccha parantha which was quite good. Since we were quite a few in number, there was a lot of walking around and chatting as well. It was lovely as there were very few other guests in the restaurant that particular morning. 

Finally came the desserts- Kulfi, which I dint like too much. It had a weird sort of taste and texture, but I did enjoy the other platter they brought. It had a few dried apricots and prunes. I could have had a bowl of these and been happy! 

Overall, the meal was good, but nothing WOW about it. Priced at Rs600, it is a place you can go with family or friends and be assured of good quality North Indian food. I am however curious to check out their menu to see what else they offer.

Ambiance- 5/5

Food - 3/5

Price- 3/5

Service- 5/5

Address: # 2, Club House Road, Chennai, TN 600002

Phone:044 6631 3503 

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  :-)