I would call this stay at Taj Yeshwantpur home away from home!
After 15 days of being away from home we decided to take a short break to visit family in Bangalore. Since this was an impromptu decision we had to book our stay one hour before we reached Bangalore. The best ever decision we made for a last minute booking at Taj Yeshwantpur!
We cannot stop talking about the impeccable hospitality that we received from each and every person at Taj from Rajeev Khanna to Ajay Sawe to Anshu Ukey, Dinesh Verma to Sundar to chef Jose, Aditya and Amrik. You have created that space in our hearts forever.
Our room was beautiful with the most precious view of Bangalore City! The service was such that even before we think of what we wanted it was at our door. This 327 rooms hotel is definitely a pride to the city and Taj hotels!
Conjee was my favouriteWaffles with NutellaWheat pooriThe tasting tiffin!
Bangalore if you are thinking of any place to celebrate your New Year just check in here and have the time of your life with friends, family and loved ones!
The Manchester of South India is weaving a new Coimbatore. My first visit to this little city was in 1998 when I married a young man from here. Our reception was held at the most iconic Annapoorna, I was told this was one place where many of the coimbatorians get hitched!
Mandatory
Our visits to this city continued over years and stories about how my husband and his friends use to hang around Annapoorna was something I got used to hearing often and at times the stories kept on repeating as friends who are all around the world kept coming to Coimbatore for their vacation. By now it had become a household name for me who came from Mumbai. The morning coffee and breakfast was a ritual everytime we came to Coimbatore from Chennai. We hosted and attended many weddings over the years!
Few years back when we saw the place closed for renovation, we were a little disheartened but at the same time excited and waiting for it to open. Little did we know that the wait was totally worth it. My heart swelled with Pride and happiness to what I witnessed today!
Coimbatore you have arrived should I say more! The structure, the food, the ambience, the service and the warmth was class apart!
Would I have ever thought of me seated in a vegetarian restaurant and enjoying the most amazing cocktail along with my family few years ago in Coimbatore???and today I was right here in this place enjoying Nannari Negroni & Jalapeno Mojito, really what – a – what -a !!!
Nannari NegroniJalapeno mojito
And wait, vegetarian did I say? Let me correct myself progressive vegetarian restaurant, because most of the dishes that we experienced today are specially curated for kove and kove alone by Gourmet Sage Hospitality Solutions who also are the principal consultant for this project.
We started our meal with Tortellini soup and Singhada makkai shorba. From Italy to North India the soups were spot on with the right flavour, taste and presentation.
Singhada makkai shorbaTortellini soup
The brocolli Thai cold salad sure was a pleasant twist to the salad experience. The Asian fusion to the south indian curry leaves the cream cheese Rangoon to the karuvepillai baby corn the journey kept the flavours intact.
The yam urandai kuzhambu ( yam balls) in South Indian gravy served with ghee rice was as good as the Nasi Goreng that was our main course.
Nasi GorengYam urandaiYam urandai kuzhambu
The mocktail shoots definitely intersting not only for the eyes but the palate too!
Mocktail shoots
The finale for this meal sure had to be exceptional. The nanari Sorbet was a refreshing palate cleaners and the best friend to someone who is vegan! The lucky Irishman was my favourite since I love Bailey’s!
Nannari sorbetThe Irishman
Kove at ikon, Annapoorna is definitely a place to visit for the sheer experience of something very very special, it is an experience not to be missed along with family and friends! A place to make memories thinking of the old, cherishing and embracing the new! And raising a toast with cheers to new beginning!
My hands are trembling with joy when I am writing this Blog. This is the food I grew up eating and have been wanting to have it in Chennai. Specially now during lockdown since I couldn’t travel to Mumbai or Goa due to the pandemic.
Fish thali and chicken thali
Deepika and me have been having discussion about konkan food and we started the discussion last year when lockdown was announced. Have been following up with him every other week and he kept telling me soon. Finally the dream is a reality.
Konkan food ( Goan and Konkan) has its own unique flavour of spices, coconut and kokam. The Flavours are very comforting and not too rich. The sol kadhi has its own soul and it’s the best! We ordered the fish thali and the chicken thali.
How the thali arrived.
The fish thali had bangda/ mackerel rava fry, prawn curry with kokam, kismur ( typical goan salad made using dry fish), kosambir ( veg salad), steamed rice and sol kadhi ( spicy kokam juice in coconut milk) it is a digestive. Like south indians have curd rice end of the meal people from the konkan region have a small portion of steamed rice with sol kadhi.
Fish thali
The chicken thali has malvani chicken curry with either rice bakri ( rice chapati/ roti) or vadi ( rice puri) kosambir ( veg salad) and sol kadhi. Packed with Flavours right from the Konkan region.
Chicken thali
A must must try meal it has its own charm and this one will definitely not disappoint you. If you have had Konkan food before go for this, if you haven’t tried Konkan food before you have to experience this Flavours. Very limited uncomplicated menu. Btw they buy their produce fresh everyday. Available for delivery in Chennai , call +91 9930503526 order!
The city of Chennai has been exploding with flavours from all around India and the world. Who are giving us these delectable food? They are the kind hearted and loving home chefs who share food from their home kitchens!
The Odia meal
Home chef Abhipsa has been in Chennai for awhile now and has been conducting quiet a few live cookery shows on instagram and Facebook. We have been encouraging her to start sharing the Flavours of Odia in Chennai for quite a long time now. The trigger for starting her small food delivery is the food exchange we had 2 week’s ago through our community group Eat Pray and Love that gave her the confidence that she could start taking baby steps towards her food journey!
Odia home chef in Chennai Abhipsa
we were lucky to be part of the first week of food going out of Abhi’s cafe. We had two style of meals one with Ghee rice Luchi Dhaba style dal tadka Alu potala bhaja ( pointed gourd fry) Pithau bhaja ( rice coated veggies tawa fry) Bilati baigana khata ( sweet tomato chutney) Odia style malpua
The meal
Another with Ghee rice Luchi Dhaba style dal tadka Chuin besara bhaja ( drumstick fry with mustard paste) Saga bhaja ( green stir-fry) Dahi bhendi ( ladies finger in yoghurt) Odia style malpua
The meal
Paneer kobi tarkari ( paneer n cauliflower curry)
Paneer kobi tarkari
Chhanka tarkari ( odia style mix veg curry)
Chhanka tarkari
Machha Besara( fish in mustard gravy)
Maccha Besara
Kukuda jhola ( chicken gravy with potato odia style)
Kumuda jhola
Luchi
For people who want to know. Odia food like Bengali food is cooked using Mustard oil Odia Cuisine is the cuisine of the state of Odisha. It has developed over time with local culture and agriculture and hence has its distinct items and practices. Odisha borders both north Indian states and south Indian states and consequently is similar to the cuisines of South and North India ( wiki)
Two varieties of meals with a beautiful handwritten note!
For us it was totally delicious home cooked comfort food that came with the best ingredients and flavours from Abhipsa’s home kitchen. The Flavours were definitely extra special because it was loaded with love and affection. If you are in Chennai and looking to taste the Flavours of Chennai. Please reach out to Abhipsa on +91 99401 28965
Manjal ( turmeric) is such an important part of an indian meal and so is this restaurant that serves the best of traditional food cooked on firewood. The food here is from Central Tamil Nadu.
Manjal
We all know that food cooked on firewood has a flavour and taste that cannot be matched by conventional cooking. The theme of this place is to serve traditional food the traditional way. The meal comes in plates laced by Banana leaf.
Firewood cooking
The vegeterian meal is as interesting as the non vegetarian meal keeping tastes and flavours intact. Both meals are unlimited Manjal has a whole variety of side dishes like the crab curry, brain fry, mutton chops, chicken fry, fish fry, prawn fry vanjaram fry that is served along with the meals. The biryani both mutton and chicken are available on the menu too. The vegeterian meal is priced at 450 plus tax and non vegetarian meal at 575 Plus tax. Remember it’s unlimited.
Vegeterian and non Vegetarian mealCrab curryCountry chicken shredded ( nattu kozhi) in traditional Tamil Nadu masalaPrawn tokkuLiver masalaVegetable mealsMutton biryani
What makes this place special is traditional food cooked on firewood with nostalgic feeling of eating at some small town, fresh ingredients, no fuss food, eat to your hearts content.
Rustic interiorsBreakfast menuLunch menu
Manjal opens their door for guests on Christmas with a hearty breakfast and lunch.
Manjal is located at Old no 17, ,New no 4, kasturi estate, 1st street Poes garden, Chennai-18
The most amazing evening at a beautiful location, outdoor seating, chic interiors and awesome food. You can find it all at “Meraki” at Neelangarai.
We started our early dinner with two unique soups. The Cream of chicken was bursting with flavour when the carrot and cumin was subtle and yet touched our soul.
Appetizers were a fusion of South, north and continental. Munthiri Parappu / dal Vada with cashew nuts did take the Vada to a different level all together, the salsa that went along was a total treat.
The vegeterian Platter was a mix of beetroot kebab, this sure was my favourite, it just melted in my mouth, the brocolli was yummy and the truffle mushroom bharwan was excellent.
The non vegetarian Platter was a combination of fresh fish in green masala, prawn with coconut was my favourite flavour since I personally love coconut and the chicken kebab was moist and subtle on flavour.
Gongura with black and white paratha was a treat to our eyes and palate
Grilled fish chimichuri was served on a bed of fresh vegetable salad. Huge chunks of mahi mahi was fresh and loaded with flavour.
By now we were full and made a little place for some rice and mutton gravy. The ghee jeera rice bursted with the ghee flavour and the tender mutton gravy complemented it very well.
Things to know – like every other industry they too are slowly crawling back to the new normal, the desserts menu is not totally available. Parking here is on the streets, though it is not a busy road, hence not very difficult. Good news they have open dining space on the ground floor as well on the terrace. One reason we opted to try this place.
Covid safety and precautions- please wear your mask all the time except when you are eating or taking pictures. Wash/ sanitise your hands well. Social distancing has to be maintained. If you find it difficult to follow the safety measures, you could order food from them or do a take away.
yogitauchil 