Sabha Food: Kaana karunguyile.. kutcherikku variya variya

Sharpa 6:30ku Kutcherinnu call panna kamala.

4:30 pm aaradhu, asamanjam madiri nikkama kelambuda apadinnu manasukullaye thittindu. bikea start panni murukinen sabha logathukku.. R.K.Salai, TTKroad, alwarpet ellame kutcheri places thaane

Sruthi kaeka porom... suruthi yethindu pona ragamellam teliva ketkumnu oru idea vandudhu.. 5-8 happy hours vera.. lighta our quarter cutting vittutu polamnu oru bar pakkam odhunginen. Barukulle nalla naadu nam baradha naadu nu padinde One large vodka (romanov) with soda and ice dhaan order, adhuku snakcs free
Chilly idli: idliya small piecesa cut panni adhula milaga podiya pottu, lighta ennaiya vittu, adha appadiye peratti kuduppa parungo.. naakula jalam oorum
Veg salad: velleri, carrot and onions round rounda cut panni.. adhula lighta pepper and salt thoovi mela konjam lemon pizhinju adhu pizhinja verala slighta naakala nakinda..surrunu erum mandaiku
Fried snacks: mixture.. idhu evalavu venalum alli alli saapidalam esp. andha fried poondu piece irukkum parungo.. arumaiya pungent taste in your mouth. apparam batter coated masala fried nuts - semma taste
Masala peanut: boiled peanuts with finely chopped onion, tomato and coriander, with red chillipowder, lemon juice and salt.. aaha pramadham

sollitale ava kaadhala... tvla paatu odindu irundudu... time ponadhe teriyala.. mani 6:00 ayidithu. Kamala enna kamala pizhiyara madiri pizhinjiduvannu bayandu.. billa kattitu parendhen parungo..

Vaasalla kathundu irunda.. ava bike pakkathuleye park pannen
Yaen ivalo latea varel.. naan vandhu ethana nazhiyachu teriyumonnu moonja suzhicha.. "I will not miss a kutcheri for anything" appadinnu englisla velasina parungo... ada ada ada enna oru isai patru.


Ulle pona.... sabha was full I say, pin drop silencela kutcheri start aachu... vistharama kala neetindu.. kamala kadhula munu munuthaen - naduvula break viduvalannu?.. avalukku patthindu vandhudu but control pannindu pattu kettindirundha

Kacheri muzhukka.. iva psssk... pssknu... sollinde thalaya vegama left-to-right attindirunda (the way we usually do when we don't like something) ivadhaanu partha, avaa ivaa evaala parthalum sabhala adikadi idhe sound dhaan.. kashta kaalam

Paatukku naduvula oru ragathula....na ra no (naranum), na ra le (naralai) nu paadinadhu... naeku sirippa adakka mudiyala...ear bur bayam nasthi..(meedhiya terinja continue pannikongo mindla)

Kutcheri mudinjadhum pasi vayitha kilithu.. canteen pakkam ponom.. naeku oru coffee venum vangi tharelanu kaeta.. canteenla arachu vitta sambar manam thoookala irundhudu

Counterla... yaenda ambi... bru seivaar evaruranu (bro che vaarevarura) kaetadhukku.. naan dhaan.... aana token vangindu vanga maamanu sonnan. vangi kuduthuttu tablea poyi okkandhen - coffee stronga venumnu remind vera pannen!!! Kamala Koffee Kaaram idhu dhaan idhoda saaram

Thodiyil paadi nindren.. oodi nee varuvai muruga... nnu sonnadhum platesoda vandhan murugan
Keerai vadai, ven pongal, filter coffee, badam paal. 1,2,4 enakku 3 kamalavukku...

Food review:
Keerai vadai : nanna moru morunu shooda irundudu. ana keeraiya appadiye cut panni pottadhala kambellam appadiye perisu perisa neetindu irundudu.. bite pannubodhu pieces were hard to chewnu kamalatta sonnen
Ven pongal: Nei manam veesa.. nanna masinju irunda sadhamum paruppum ippadi devamrudhama aradhu oru ariya kandupidippu dhaan. mudiriya rendu edhuthu kamalavoda platela transfer pannen siricha ;)
Filter Coffee: avalukku paal uthi podra coffeeya vida, stronga dicoction kudutha appadiye rasichu.. rusichu kudippa. manam, dhidam, suvai.. filter coffee madiri varaadhu
Badam paal: namma oorla mattum dhaan badam paalla badame irukadhu.. edho instant powderla pacha karpooram vasanai thookala oru sugar syrup madiri irundudu.. thalaikku girrunu erithu.. sugar and alcohol don't go well I say!

Oruvazhiya kutcheri mudinjidhu.. Nanna mooka pidikka saaptu.. vistharama kattaya sachu korattai vittunde... kanavu vandudu parungo

Saareerathuku tuning avasiyam.. Sharerathuku dining avasiyam, Idhu rendume venumna kutcheri seasonla kutcherikku poradhu romba romba avasiyam...

Ensoy..

AASIFE - AS IF, Aa Sip, Aa chip, Aawes If...

ASSIFE - AS IF e, Aa Sip, Aa chip,  Aws If...

AS-IFs: This place looks like as-if they own the whole butt-road area with 3 shops on both sides of the junction... sign boards flashing.  
If you pan your eyes from left to right you can see the metamorphosis of a shop-to-restaurant - from a shop with ear-deafening clammer on the biriyani anda to the take-away counter opposite to it and next to it is the dinning restaurant - where we went

CFG Men at work - the usual suspekts and the newbies...

 The chicken soup and the seafood soup with crab lollipops

AA-Sip: the next to arrive were the soups. They were spicy and decent with lot of coriander added to it. Crab lollipops looked like stuff picked up from a frozen food counter not made at the resto

  

 

      Crab lollipop                                                                                                           Shawarma

AA-chip: Chip-off chicken skewered up on a rod cooked with flames from the side and all around. These shreds of chicken are mixed with sweet mayo, tomatoes, veggies and rolled inside a flat bread. Thats Shawarma for you. The chicken here tasted minced rather than shredded and the mayo was sweet tasting and not so good when it was cold

The menu card is so out of place.. if they meant home like food in a restaurant.. it puts me off right there

 

The com-bow special for  Nag

 

Grilled-chicken with khubz bread and SWEET Mayo 

The chicken was tender and juicy.. no hard chewing nor bad taste.. the only problem was with the oil as it tasted very odd.

Prawn 65 with sweet hot chilli garlic sauce

 

Chilly fish                                                                                                            Chilly fish           

The batter fried fish had a leathery consistency to the outer coating but the fish tasted good. Soya sauce and the chopped onions enhanced the flavor, not bad in taste
 

Chi. hariyali kebab: The green monster that had too much food color, sweet in taste but why???

 

(L-R) 3-biriyanis Regular, Afghani and prawn

Regular Biriyani (Manja Biriyani): Made with long basmati rice but the typical 

Mughal Biriyani: Sweet! it was like biriyani fried rice with egg scramble cashews, sultanas and cardamom. why would a biriyani taste so sweet?

Prawn Biriyani:  Sweet again! it was like, they used the same biryani and replaced the chicken with prawns.What was interesting was to make it look like there were more prawns, they cut the prawns into half (smart move)

Location: If you get down the kathipara flyower, on to the butt road, and head towards porur, Aasife is at the junction of mount and you cant miss it with so many hoardings and signboards around

Verdict: 
Aws-if: If they don't turn things around drastically, people like us (CFGians who attended) are never going to try this place. Stop making things so sweet (mayo, biriyani), improve the quality/taste (had a stomach upset next day) 

Aasife Brothers-in-arms - to disarm you completely the next morning. Ass-if-e(atery) went not so well down the "butt" road after-all...

Ashvita - Accomplish with a Soul

Ashvita - Forgot to ask Ashvin the meaning and thats when the naughty devil in me cracked this - Ashvin restaurant vachi food vitha - Ashvita! he he he

A few google search results below:

http://www.birthvillage.com/Name/Ashvita - The baby girl name Ashvita comes from the Unknown word which means, "angel of goddesses." Unknown word which means, "ass." ;)))

 

I had to google again for the right definition  and I got this finally at Namespedia - Accomplish with a Soul is what I got - makes sense!!!

Now you know why - Ashvin was explaining us passionately, patiently answering all our questions and tolerating our antics too

Ambiance:

A independent house converted into a space for fine art, fine dining, jewelery and books. I like the second one as that's why we were there for "CFG showcase" of their new menu. The outdoor setting was awesome with the glass bottles with "vines" not wines, the natural cascades, little streams around the table - there is risk of someone stepping in which is what one of our CFGian precisely did, the greenery, the woodwork - would make you go and relax and enjoy your food for the evening.

With the Kustomary Klicks of all the photo enthusiasts and bloggers, we "click-started" the event with some fizzy drinks. Incidentally, it was the launch of the 3 drinks which are cocktail mixes now as mocktails in cans (Mojito, margarita and tonic water)

 

 Mojito vs. Margarita:  Mojito wins for its strong flavor and the minty taste. The other two are for the le miserables 
 

 
Menu:

Soups:

1. Pasta wagon soup - the tomato base was too sweet but the pasta well cooked - nice start

2. Veg Mushroom 'n' Garlic Soup - this was the best of the lot and a must try here

3. Caramalised Onion & Egg Drop Shorba - another winner of a soup

4. Peas 'n' Cream Soup - passable..

5. Pumpkin & Coriander Soup - interesting to get a soup combo like this.. chunks of pumpkin in a veg broth with coriander pieces was a refreshing new add

 Pasta Wagon Soup                                          Caramalised Onion & Egg drop Shorba

Veg Mushroom 'n' Garlic Soup

Green peas soup                                                                                     Pumpkin coriander soup

 

Starters:

1. Grilled Chicken with Cheese -  I loved the way how the cheese was packaged inside the chicken which was tender and the cheese complemented it so well - another must-try and sure winner from the house of Ashvita

2. Crispy Spinach & Beans - the spinach was crisp with the batter fry and the sprouts were also deep fried - oil defeats the healthy insiders (spinach and sprouts)

3. Mushroom Paneer Jholiawala - This jhol seals my bol (speech) - not that great

4. Mutton Kokri Kebab - the kebab-ed meat was tender and juicy and had the flavors

5. Crispy Ring Onion in Pepper - interesting twist to the usual fried onion rings that are sprinkled with chat masala or the likes. This one had some pepper masala to it (oily again but tasted nice)

6. Punjabi Breakfast - sweet poli with fried/colored potato shreds with a boiled egg: neither the punjabi sitting next to me was convinced nor me trying it with a neutral tongue. May be kids might like it !!!

7. Egg Mutton Roll - Minced mutton rolled inside an omelet, would have loved it more spicy

8. Potato Chaat - I would rather chat with others than eat this while at the table

9. Rice Corn Tikki - An innovation gone wrong, crispy rice corn vadai with chilli-honey sauce on top,  felt like someone dropped these into the honey by accident.. wrong combo

10. Mushroom Gotiya - Were these canned ones, I could get the taste of the solution it stays in..

11. Sesami Chicken - these looked like reshmi kebabs with sesame dabbed on them - again not my favorite

12. Chicken Lipta -  I could have it named Chicken lip"tucked".. too oily and so ordinary in taste

13. Bigg Boss ( Kashmiri/ Paneer Tikka/ Mutton Sheek) - Innovation again to merge the paratta, pizza in various styles except for a few toppings it was a big "SORRY" boss. The paratta base was soggy and was getting goey in the mouth as you mastigated it. This is the very same reason why I criticize my home made stuff - to have in a hotel is a huge no no

14. Momos - a combination of fried & pan tossed  - the whole idea behind the momo was to cut-out the oil and to have it fried or pan tossed defeated the purpose but nevertheless tasted good

15. Rolled Stuffed papad ( accompaniment) - nice twist to it like a cone.. but the problem was how to eat it.. as the fillings fall off if you eat the cone and if you eat the fillings ur papad taste doesn't come in

 
Find below the starters top-down (chicken sesame kebab, panfried/tossed momos, masala papad with a twist, punjabi breakfast, grilled chicken with cheese, crispy spinach and beans, onion rings with pepper, egg mutton roll, big boss)
 

Main Course:

1. Veg Jalfrezi

2. Badami Chicken

3. Mutton Bhuna

3. Roasted Lamb gravy

5. Pan fried noodles ( chicken)

6. Mushroom & Tomato rice

7. Coloured Saffron Rice

8. Dal Makhni

9. Egg parantha/ Bajra Roti / Gobi Parantha

A fellow CFGian at work taking pictures of the buffet main course

Badami chicken                                     Veg jalferizi                                       Colored saffron rice

Desserts:

1. Beetroot Halwa
2. Oreo Milkshake

3. Kit Kat Milkshake

4. Mocha Milkshake

5. Citrus Cake

7. Vanilla Cake

I literally had to desert these as I was heavy on the starters (too much oil and too full) and even missed the main course buffet for the same reason.

Location: If you are driving down from the beach towards RK salai go past Lifestyle, the
President hotel, and find a small lane next to the Bannari Amman towers that leads inside to this place - No.11, 2nd Street, Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai, Mylapore.

Verdict: Nice place to hangout for the ambience and a few dishes which suited my taste. It would be really nice if you could cut down on the oil choosing an alternate to deep frying most of the items.  Ambience: 8/10, food: 6/10 (for the new menu alone), service: 8/10.

Ashvita...  leaves "us-with-a" twist of feelings with this new menu - neither here nor there... 

 

Bellaria - Your VI(s)SA to the world of Icecreams

 Bellaria  

- by Avanthi Vissa

The name board outside (best i could get with Iphone without flash)

At the entrance of the petite shop 

(Bella- beautiful, aria - expressive melody, but it means desserts in Latino) is how I would to describe the way Avanthi explained about her concept ICEcreams @ a CFG unofficial meet. It impressed me so much that I jumped out of my seat and wanted to try it. 

One fine evening, after the movie Life of Pi with my friend, we decided to go see the life(cycle) of ICEcream - which goes from mixing all the ingredients, freezing in minutes, to the melting into your mouth...

Ambiance: Bellaria - need more area
Tucked to the corner of the In-gate of Park Sheraton hotel on Chamiers road next to the N2H shop there is hardly any space to park and with inside seating for 4 -6 people max.

 The icecream making counter

 Order being noted down on the colorful wall

Menu: They have numerous ways you can customize your ICEcream right from the choice of milk, sugars, flavors and toppings. They also have options for lactose intolerant (replacing with soy milk) and sugar-free options for health-conscious and diabetics

She went for a Coffee mint and me for the love of berries wanted to try the 3 berries. Unfortunately Cranberries weren't available so had to settle for blueberries and strawberries. The fruits were blended along with sugar (I asked only for half sugar) and full fat milk. This comes to almost a smoothie consistency because of the bulk the fruit generates. This is then poured on a freezing pan and within seconds the smoothie transforms into cold ICEcream. This is then scrapped-off of the pan, patted and helped into the dollop scoop and then transferred into a cup. here is where you get to choose your toppings - I went for some cashews and almonds

 Strawberries box being opened to go into my ICEcream

 The scrape, scoop, to dollop tools

 This happened within a few seconds - The whole process of making an ICEcream takes about 3 minutes 

Looking at the whole process happening in front of your eyes, you are sure to think that the same can be replicated at home but the machinery is what makes all the difference is what I am told by Avanthi and her hubby who joined us there.

We had a hearty conversation over ICEcream for a good amount of time.. reviewing it and also understanding all the nuances of this art and how they went through those teething troubles before setting this up. Kudos for your perseverance to have stood all those struggles and come up with a concept which is here to stay. Customization is a sure-shot way to success be it Pizzeria or Bellaria

 Choco-mint first serve to be tasted

 The first spoon of frozen delicacy

 Their timings to plan and avoid any disappointments

 Writing on the wall for this innovative concept that has won many hearts

You also get to taste some goodie cupcakes from Adoniya.

Happy customers!!! KnS - Kiran & Sandhya

Verdict: The coffee mint was milder on coffee and stronger on mint - was told the real mint leaves would have made all the difference - I dislike coffee so I leave it at that. The berry-merry (my naming) was yumm with fresh fruits but strawberry sourness was dominating (I should have gone for the full sugar - its always better to leave the original recipe as is) and would have preferred boiled milk than fresh as I could smell milk more. Count the number of "ICE" in this blog and that's what I would give as a rating out of 10.

The pricing is vfm ranging from 60 - 200 for approx. 1.5 scoops of icecream

Address: The easiest would be to say next to in-gate of Park Shereton Hotel on Chamiers Road, Alwarpet or opp. Amma Nanna store. www.bellaria.in

Bellaria - They specialice, customice, to tantalice your taste buds
 Vissing you all the success and hope you churn out more n more of this !!