And Yes!!! Now we have a way to experience big ticket restaurants for a fraction of the cost through the Restaurant Week India(RWI). I have heard about the previous seasons of this RWI but was not part of them, as I was held with work and studies. RWI gives this great opportunity to have a proper 3 course meal at restaurants which would easily cost more than 5 grand for a meal for two people.

The RWI has priced the lunch for Rs 750 and Dinner for Rs 900 at Chennai which is bang on pricing. So I was here at On the Rocks along with a friend for the RWI set 3 course meal. We decided to let the Chef WOW us.


Just to get our engines started we picked up couple of Mocktails. Yes mocktails, at On the Rocks! We were served with lovely Garlic bread. And it had theatrics. Soft baked bread in the pan and a roasted garlic over it. Then you squeeze the garlic over the bread to get awesome garlic infusion. Loved the theatrics and loved the taste as well.


The chef went ahead and sent us a Wild Mushroom Tart with a Sweet Onion Marmalade and Gorgonzola Melt. The puff pastry was fabulous. A little bit of the Gorgonzola melt with a dash of wild mushroom was nice. Next was the Baked Camembert with Honey Garlic Reduction. This had me floored. Amazing ratio of sweetness to saltiness, simply fabulous.


For the mains we had the Cardamom Pouched Prawns on Polenta and Slow Braised Lamb with Mashed Potato. It was like having opposite ends of the spectrum. The prawns was subtle and mild. Also I had Polenta for the first time. The Lamb was full flavoured and it hits you. The meat was tender and the mashed Potato had super smooth.


Finally we finished the super course meal with a Sticky Toffee Pudding with Caramel Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream. My O My! It was simply fabulous. The Caramel, the Toffee, the ice cream. Just Divine!

If you still have the feeling that fine dine is expensive. Please use this to get a feel of the restaurant. Hats off to RWI

Head over to www.restaurantweekindia.com to book your table

RWI is on upto 1st May 2016 with about 13 restaurants participating in it.

Disclaimer : Invited Review

On the Rocks is located in Crowne Plaza, Alwarpet.

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*A review about a place holds good only for 6 months as there can be a change in quality and quantity of the food, the service and the staff, due to reasons best known only to them. So kindly consider these factors while visiting the places.

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Actually at one point of time, the only alternative cuisine to Indian food was Chinese food in Chennai. It was the time when Wangs Kitchen, Nanking and Mandarin were ruling the roost. Infact I was so in love with Chinese food, it was my second favourite cuisine. To top that, I had a dad who loved the food at Nanking! So Chinese it was. Of late Chennai seems to be getting varied options, with Thai food taking centre stage and pushing Chinese to the next place.

Now that Chennai already has quite a few really good Thai food restaurants, what can a Thai food festival do any good, to a restaurant of Flying Elephants calibre? Thankfully chefs have taken care of it. Instead of offering a Buffet and diluting a nice cuisine, they have wiped up a separate menu and to make it really special flown down a Speciality Thai Chef from Park Hyatt, Dubai.

Food:
When in Flying Elephant, let the Chef wow you. We gave our preferences with regards to the meat and sat back. First to reach the table was the Seafood Salad. I am generally not a salad person, but My O My! I was floored. Loaded to the brim with freshness it just hits you and gets your parotid glands working. You get the instantaneous rush of salivary fluids into your mouth. WOW!


Next up was one of the best Prawn Tom Yum soups I have ever had. True to its origin! I finished the entire bowl. Then we had the Shrimp Toasts, a first for me. Never knew a toast can be made with shrimps on top. It was simply divine.






Next we started going through mains. Pad Thai and Wok tossed Tenderloin were the first. I simply don't have enough words to explain this. PAD THAI was out of the world. This just blew all the Pad thai's I have had up until now. Minced Tenderloin with the freshness of Basil was just fabulous. Fantastic combo. Just to sample we went ahead with Sticky Rice and Chicken Red & Green Thai Curry. Freshness... Awesomeness... Wowness... I was floored.


Finally for desserts we had a Water Chestnuts and Jackfruit in Coconut Milk and Sweet Sticky rice pudding with Mango. Simple dessert to end an out of the world experience.

If this meal was a Rollercoaster ride, then this will be like the FASTEST rollercoaster in the world like the one at Ferrari World. It was a course after course of pure bliss. If you love Thai food, please don't miss this.

Ambiance:
It stunning as ever.

Price:
It is a ale-carte meal. So proper three course meal should set you back by Rs 2500/- per head.

This Thai food festival is on till 29th of April 2016 at Flying Elephant

Disclaimer : Invited Review

Park Hyatt is located on the entrance of Velachery High Road on Guindy.

If you like what you are reading, Please share it with others.

*A review about a place holds good only for 6 months as there can be a change in quality and quantity of the food, the service and the staff, due to reasons best known only to them. So kindly consider these factors while visiting the places.

**Want instant reviews follow me on Instagram!!

I have come to hear from many people that they love Parotta and their next question would be where could they find the best Parotta in Chennai? Up until now I went about suggesting this and that which were fine but not out of the world. Well the search for the best Parotta, has finally come to an end-with the entry of Courtallam Border Rahmath Kadai!


My trips to Courtallam took place when I was really young. So the chances of me remembering a dine at the original place is equal to zero. I have got many raving reviews about this place in the recent times from a close friend. So expectations were running high and I hoped it would not disappoint, when they opened an outlet in Chennai.


Food:
As there was a lot of build up for this place in my mind, I just could not wait for a formal dine-in. I cross the restaurant almost every other day when I head to work. So had a small dash and splash pit stop and took a take away to work.

Our order was 12 Border Parotta, 4 Nattu Kozhi Pichupotathu and 1 Chicken Kothu Parotta. I did not order any gravy as I wanted to relish the Saalna. I think they have the got the Saalna just right. Adequate amount of spices and fantastic taste. Goes well with both Parotta and Kothu Parotta. The Saalna felt like it was based on a chicken broth with small pieces here and there.


Now coming to the Border Parotta which is the size of my palm, is quite small, I would say. A person with normal appetite can gobble up 4 of these with ease. If you are the type who wishes to drench the parotta in a gravy, then this parotta is definitely for you. Once it soaks up the gravy it becomes really really softer, and goes in with ease. The Nattu Kozhi Pichupotathu is a pepper fry preparations made in Nattu Kozhi and then smashed into pieces. Darn tasty! Loved the flavor.

The Chicken Kothu Parotta was stumptuous. Same Parotta torn into pieces and then with a dash of egg and chicken pieces Vola! Mix it with Saalna - Pure Bliss!

Ambiance:
NA

Service:
NA

Price:
This fantastic tasty parotta meal cost us Rs 970/-

I had a small chat with the owner of the Chennai branch, and to my surprise I came to know they are from my native town It was quite nice catching up with them.

Food - 8.5/10
Price - 8.5/10

PS: Photos were shot using Samsung S6

Disclaimer : I paid for it.

Courtallam Border Rahmath Kadai is located on G.N. Chetty Road, opposite to Murugan Idly Kadai

If you like what you are reading, Please share it with others.

*A review about a place holds good only for 6 months as there can be a change in quality and quantity of the food, the service and the staff, due to reasons best known only to them. So kindly consider these factors while visiting the places.

**Want instant reviews follow me on Instagram!!

Homebakers have taken the food scene by a storm. Chennai has 'n' number of homebakers with their own fan following. I too have loved their creations and have had custom made cakes for several occasions. But one thing about homebakers which was a miss was not many homebakers made ready to eat cakes / desserts which people crave. Enter Indulge by Inner Chef. A food tech platform which has enabled homebakers to put out their preparations on sale to the general public through their website. Hatts Off for this initiative. I did a small search about the Inner Chef and I am actually in LoVe with their other food items which are on offer in other cities. I really do wish they launch them soon in Chennai.


I got to sample various selections as a part of their goodies bag which I was given to me. The first delicacy which I had from the bag was the Gur Er Patishapa. Yes it is a mouthful to pronounce. I am a big fan of Rabdi so thought I would start with Gur Er Patishapa. Rabdi was rich and creamy and complimented the Coconut filling inside the soft crepe. Quite delicious.



Banana Walnut Cake and the Oreo Walnut Cake both rich in their own right. Moist cake with healthy walnut interdispersed with Banana / Oreo. My pick between the two will be the Banana Walnut as I am a sucker for the banana flavour.



Finally after a day of relishing the above mentioned goodies, I put my hands on the Chocolate Brownie Salted Caramel Jar and the Apple Pie Cheesecake Jar. The Brownie Jar was decadent, rich and heavenly and a tad bit on the sweeter side. One jar can be easily shared between 3 people. In fact it took me almost three days to complete it. Brownie complimented the chocolate chips and the Caramel - out of the world combination. Apple Pie Cheesecake Jar was by far the most different cheesecake I have had thus far. Biscuit base with healthy loading of the cream cheese and finally a cinnamon filled apple pie. Richness in every bite.

So when you have the craving desserts look no further.
Head over to www.innerchef.com

Disclaimer : Invited Review