Its been a while since I did a proper blog post. I have become so accustomed to doing an Instagram Post / Story and be happy with it. It helps me get done the work really really quickly. But this restaurant deserves a proper blog post.

I was here at the Welcomhotel which was previously known as the My Fortune and before that it was called The Chola Sheraton. It was the first hotel setup by ITC. It was around the same time that Taj had setup Taj Coromandel in Chennai. Now both the hotels stand as a part of Chennai's city scape with glory and pride.

To be very frank I have not visited the hotel ever since it dropped the Chola name tag. So visiting here after 10 plus years was bringing back a lot of familiar memories of the time I had visited with my parents and grandparents.

The hotel still holds its charm with its design very reminiscent of the 70's. One would definitely notice the teak wood which has been used in abundance, cane chairs with upholstery very much in tune with the trends in the 70s to the 80s. It definitely gives a good rewind in time.

So I was dining at the Earthen Oven for lunch with the bunch of bloggers. Earthen Oven used to house Peshawari when the hotel used to be called the Chola Sheraton. The layout of the restaurant remains the same but has been revamped to suite the time.


Food:
Earthen Oven explores the food from the northern frontier. Full on Kebabs, Dals and Rotis. We started our meal with nice welcome drink. Pineapple Rasam Mocktail it was amazing. They do have a alcoholic version of the same called the Pineapple Rasam Martini which I did not taste.

The kebab course began with the Aatish-E- Aloo which was crispy stuffed potato with potato cooked in a tandoor. We can call it alooloo (just kidding). It was delicate and well balanced. Next was the Bharwam Paneer. It is paneer stuffed with spinach and batter fried. It resembled a sandwich only the bread was replaced with paneer. I must say it was heavenly. Even as I type describing the dish I get the gush of salivation in my mouth.


Next began the best non-veg feast I have had in a long time. Tandoori Jhinga or Prawn tandoori was delicious. Also the prawns looked like they were measured and compared before cooking so that they look identical in size and shape when served.


Murgh Kadak Seekh was next to be served. It was batter fried Chicken sheekh with a stuffing of cheese and chilli. This dish is essentially a ITC Chola Sheraton invention and it remains part of their menu even today. This dish has good back story too. One fine day a Guest walks into the restaurant just as they were about to wind-up for the day and asks for a kebab dish. The Chef realizes that the the tandoor had been switched off and it would take a few hours for it to get to temperature. So he decides to batter fry it and give a twist to it. Thus the Murgh Kadak Seekh is born. The story is written as it was conveyed to me. Also the kebab was as tasty as the story. At times the craziest dishes are invented at the time of need.


Then came one of my favorites Murgh Zafrani Tikka saffron flavored boneless chicken which was infused Indian Spices. Full marks to the succulent chicken. I loved it.



Finally we got to sample the Shikandari Raan. Hands down the best dish. If you are a person who loves mutton please do not miss this dish. The meat was so tender it just fell apart from the bone and also when you pierce the meat with the fork it breaks down into small fibers.







For mains we got to sample the Dum Mutton Biryani, Palak Aur Anjeer Ke Kofte, Dal Makhani, Murgh Khurchan with assorted Indian Breads. Mutton Biryani was finger licking good and very good by restaurant standards. Palak Aur Anjeer Ke Kofte was spinach kofta curry which was different from the regular paneer koftas that I am used to. Dal Makhani was yummy and went well with the Naan. Finally the Murgh Khurchan was shreds of Tandoori chicken in tomato gravy. Mixing a bit the bread in the chicken gravy and in the kofta was simply scrumptious.


We finished our meal with a warm Gulkand Gulab Jamun and Saffron flavored Rasamalai. Both tasted like a bite of heaven!

Ambiance:
The restaurant is pleasant with many touches from yesteryear.

Price:
A stomach & heart filling meal for two would roughly cost Rs 3000/- and above if we choose to indulge a bit.


They do have set Menu which is worth exploring.

Disclaimer : Invited Review

Earthen Oven is located in Welcomhotel which was formerly known as Chola Sheraton.

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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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Dhaba By Claridges has been my on cards ever since they opened shop in Chennai. I decided to surprise my wife with a Valentines day dinner here. So I made my reservation for a table on Feb 14 and we walked into the restaurant only to be declined a seat. The manager informs me that the reservation made was a temporary reservation and it would take another 45 minutes to get a table. So we decided to walk off and celebrate our First Valentines Day elsewhere.

Putting this incident behind, I still wanted to dine here and see what the fuss was all about. So we walked in,  the following week and got our seat.


Food:
We started our innings here with the Virgin Paan Mojito. Yes! I am a sucker for Gulkand and Yes! it was refreshingly tasty. I had recently introduced my wife to Galouti Kebab at Bombay Brasserie, so she was keen on having it, as she had glanced through the pages. So Galouti Kebab it was! She absolutely loved it. I on the other hand found it just above average. It seemed to miss the mark of a kebab and landed more into the cutlet territory in terms of consistency.


I being a Chicken lover settled on Murgh Malai Tikka. Cheesy juicy delights they were. This was followed by Mutton Seekh. I must say I was blown away. The best I have had thus far. They were juicy, tender and absolutely mouth-watering.

For mains we settled on a Chitta Butter Chicken and a Amritsari Kulcha. A single large Kulcha was cut down into 4 pieces. The Kulcha was served piping hot and the combination with the Chitta Butter Chicken was simply divine. By the end of the mains we were too full, so we skipped the desserts

Ambiance:
Dhaba by Claridges interiors looked and felt like a Dhaba with modern twist. Zing Zang Bling lights and quirky colourful interiors

Service:
Full marks here. Our waiter for the day Mr. Vincent was exceptional. He knew the dishes like the back of his hand and was able give valuable inputs

Price:
This rich experience cost us Rs 2435/-

Food - 8/10
Ambiance - 8/10
Service - 10/10
Price - 8/10

Disclaimer: I paid for the meal

Dhaba By Claridges is located inside Ishpahani Center, Nungumbakkam

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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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Food:
Had a early lunch with Mom after finishing up some work. As my mom does not have a big appetite, we just ordered a starter and a main each. We were served with a complimentary Nanari Sarbath drink which was quite refreshing. I have had Vada Pav's in most big joint restaurant and have been disappointed. So this Vada Pav was a welcome change. It had a nice butter toasted bun with crispy potato which was simply amazing. It was served along with Chilli Bhaji. A word of caution the chilli is not deseeded so it was quite spicy. Thankfully we had ordered the Red Velvet Cream Cheese which really soothed tongues.


For the mains, my mom had the Chicken Biryani while I had the Butter Chicken with Laacha Paratha. Chicken biryani was aromatic with saffron smell and was quite yummy. Also loaded to the brim with Chicken pieces. My Butter Chicken Masala with Laacha Paratha was quite decent and went well with the curd.

Ambiance:
Simple utilitarian decor which works

Service:
We were the only people in the restaurant. Considering it, the service was quite slow.

Price:
This meal for two cost us Rs 1058/-

Food - 7.5/10
Ambiance - 7.5/10
Service - 6.5/10
Price - 7/10

PS : Photos were shot using Samsung S6

Fully Local is located on R.K. Salai next to Bharat Petroleum Bunk in the building which used to house 50 BUCKS

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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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I was at Batlivala & Khanabhoy recently, the latest entrant into Chennai's ever growing food scene. Yes! the restaurant adds another feather to Chennai's Hat - A standalone Parsi restaurant. This is a type of food I have never had. So I was really curious to find out what actually constituted Parsi Cuisine.



Food
Since it was just Mr. Food in Chennai and myself, both voracious eaters we went about ordering stuff at random. We started the proceedings with Lollypop Na Farcha which was crispy batter fried chicken. This was followed by Kheema Kebabs - juicy succulent kheema balls served with pieces of lime was simply sensational.



Moving forward we had the Kheema Pav, which was essentially Pav Bhaji in which the vegetable masala is replaced with lip-smacking Kheema masala. An absolute must have. I loved it so much that I contemplated whipping it up at home. Next up we had Chicken Maivala. This dish had me confused. It was a mix of dried fruits and bechamel sauce. I am not able to state if I had liked the dish or not. Maybe it is more of an acquired taste.


We finished our meal with Kopra Pak Shots and Santra Na Kheer. Kopra Pak Shots was a rich coconut milk with heavy loads of ghee and rose flavouring served in a fancy looking chai vaala shot glass, while the Santra Na Kheer was rich Kheer with orange beads. Both heavenly in their own rights.

Ambiance:
Simple decor dominated by a couple of fine rustic name boards.

Service:
Service was kind of slow, but the attention to detail was simply fantastic. The way the food was served was the best I have experienced so far.

Price:
This meal cost us Rs 1500 /-

Food - 8/10
Ambiance - 7/10
Service - 10/10
Price - 8/10

PS: The photos were shot using Samsung S6

Disclaimer : I paid for the meal.

Batlivala & Khanabhoy is located in Maharaj Surya Road which is the same road as Tangerine.

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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.

**Want instant reviews follow me on Instagram!!

There are times in life for even a pure non-veggie getting "the craving for veg food". Yes! Yes! I know it is a banned term for carnivores. But then once you do get it, there is only one solution. To have a herbivore diet! This was one such time.

Food:
Since it was just the two of us (Mom & I)  for the dinner, we kept the orders to a minimal. Also my mom hates me clicking with DSLR's, thankfully I had my ASUS Zenfone 2 LASER on my hand. Our order portion of Onion Rings, Channa Bhatura, Malai Kofta and Lachha Paratha. The Onion Rings were the first to be served. Crispy batter fried onion rings with sprinkle of chat powder was just divine. Mom was really craving for yesteryears Drive-In woodlands style Channa Bhatura and the one served here was just super sized and tons of times richer. It was just a overload. The Bhatura was soft, while the Channa was rich and mildly sweet.


My Malai Kofta and Lachha Paratha was the last to be served by then I had my hands dirty binging on the Bhatura so could not click it. If the previous dish was an overload of richness, the Malai Kofta was epitome of richness. Even though it was slightly on the sweeter side, the combination with the Paratha was heavenly. Binge eating at this place a couple of times a month - one would definitely grow a full circle wider.

Ambiance:
A simple dining space which was quite empty when we walked in around 8pm but was fully packed, with people waiting by 9:30pm.

Service:
Courteous fast and fantastic.

Price:
The meal set us back by Rs 995/-

Food - 8/10
Ambiance - 7/10
Service - 9/10
Price - 8/10

PS: Pictures shot using ASUS Zenfone 2 LASER.

As I have been using two different camera centric smartphones for a while now, I can most definitely vouch for ASUS Zenfone 2 LASER. By far the best sub Rs 10000/- phone. Loaded with Tech to the teeth it can take battle up to my other higher end daily driver both in terms of Camera and Battery. A big mention to the battery which lasted a good 3 days with heavy usage while my other phone gave up in a single day during the Chennai Floods. For people looking to start a food blog or foodstagram page this phone would be a great starting point for having those amazing photos thanks to the LASER autofocus and full MANUAL mode just a DSLR. The Manual mode is quite brilliant as it gives complete control over photo output. Throw in a pair of steady hands and a creative mind, BOOMMM!!! Fantastic photos as output every time around.

Disclaimer : I paid for the meal.

Cream Centre is located on College Road near Alliance Francaise.

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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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India is a country of vast cultures and different types of food. A single dish varies across the length and breadth of the country. Of all the different sub-cuisines available my favourite has always been Awadhi or Lucknowi cuisine. One simple reason as it was the seat of power the Mughal empire, with which came the influx of Kebabs into the Indian Subcontinent.


Taj Connemera or Vivanta by Taj or however one would call it, has an Awadhi food festival on till the 25th of October 2015 at the Verandah. Also has flown in a Lucknowi chef for the same. This is a kind of food invitation which I should not miss. But sadly I had declined as I was held at work. But then as I was done with work on the day of the event, I gave a buzz to the foodies who had ventured in for the Boomastic food festival. To my luck they were just about to enter the Main course. Zoooom!!!! I went and joined them. So here goes the rest.


Food:
Starting of with the mains and then venturing into the starters has its benefits as you get to enjoy them together. My star pick among the main course was the Nihari Ghost which was one of the most succulent lamb Indian preparations I have come across in a long time. It was absolutely fantastic. Combine them with Romali roti or Shermal or Chicken Biryani - BLISS!!! I sampled a little of Dum Kofta Biryani along the Nihari and I must say, I continued raving. At this time I was served with a bit of starters both veg and non-veg. But I loved the veg Khoya Khubani ke Kebab the best. One of the best use of apricots I have come across.




The desserts were nice. But something was missing. Yes Yes! It was the Galouti Kebab. So we had a word with the Chef and returned again on Monday to check out the Galouti Kebabs. Soft succulent Galouti Kebabs along with Shermal and Pudina Chutney and a bit of onions rolled into one decadent wrap. WoW!!! Absolutely mouth watering! If you are a sucker of succulent Galouti Kebabs please do not miss the food festival.

Ambiance:
The typical Verandah ambiance, but looks like Taj has painstakingly restored the hotel. Looks much better than the last time I was here.

Service:
As always top notch.

Price:
The Awadhi food festival is available as a part of buffet for dinner and it is priced at Rs 1500 + taxes.
This food festival is on till the 25th of October 2015.

Disclaimer : Invited review.

PS: Thanks to Chennaifoodie for the food pics.

Taj Connemera is located on Binny Road next to Spencer's Plaza.

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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.

**Want instant reviews follow me on Instagram!!