Idly shop which serves Tamil Nadu Saapadu

I aaaaammmmm baaaaacckkkkkkk.....
I aaaaammmmm hungryyyyyyyyy...

After a long time I am writing a post which may be too short or not too lengthy.

I had to stay in a place which is near to Chennai international airport, so on the very first day, I had to fill my tummy which was craving for lunch, as I had pongal( which I really don't like ) for the Breakfast.

So, I Searched for a restaurant which can serve an authentic Tamil Nadu Saapadu (meals)..

Murugan idly shop came to rescue.
Lunch at idly shop, what the fish bro!!!!

You guys may be wondering how can I get a lunch at an idly shop, but trust me this restaurant is famous for idly, which I will be posting in the upcoming posts..

So the lunch was a very simple, yet delicious..

Usually here at Chennai, you don't find any steel plate or something similar to that, but the Chennai people are really eco-friendly guys that the lunch was served on the plantain leaf which localities term it as elai Saapadu..

Simple menu for that day kootu, poriyal, avial, kaara kozhambu, sambaar, Dal, rice, a dessert & a papad & curd..

Kootu was superb which had bhindi or lady's finger as the main ingredient, bit spicy and not too tangy.

Avial was just delicious & pumpkin as well as coconut milk was the prime ingredients. Tastes well with hot & steamy rice topped with 2 to 3 spoons of ghee.

No words about poriyal, raw banana or plantain being the main ingredient & regarding taste nothing, taste was well balanced. Not too spicy & was a wonderful combo with sambar.

Initially, I was served Parappu or dal, topped with ghee & an papad as an accompanying artist. Once the dal & rice is done, it is like you have officially begun the art called eating. Kaara kozhambu was something spicy yet very sour was another star attraction in the ele Saapadu, it had traces of sambaar onion, brinjal, Tomato & some garlic. For this if you have to pour some gingelly oil & mix it well. Now start enjoying just the way you enjoy your favourite song.

Sambaar was having a total different taste for me being a guy from Karnataka. The base ingredients are quite different than the one which we get in Karnataka. Absolutely no trace of jaggery & coconut. Abundant usage of tamarind & pepper makes the sambar tastes spicy as well as too tangy.

Next was rasam, which is an authentic Tamil Nadu Rasam. Never compare it with the saaru available in Karnataka. I was so lucky that i was served the mizagu rasam or the pepper rasam or menasina saaru!

Dessert was a payasam which didn't had the traces of sugar but sweetening agent of payasam was Jaggery along with some dry fruits, which makes me utter Payasam me mudam dehi!

That was the Saapadu I had at Murugan idly shop..Okay guys it's time to sign off from the post.

Wait how can I even sign off from the post without even  mentioning the tayir saadam or curd rice, south Indians won't spare me if I don't mention their favourite part of the lunch..

Or in simple words, you can't complete a movie without a climax..

Or if you are a cricket freak, ICC world cup can't be a successful event without a match between India and Pakistan..

Sorry guys, I am really deviating from the main topic, tayir saadam which is an essential food for Chennai citizens to tackle the peak summer here. No words to express about tayir saadam, or mosaranna. Which cools down our body for few minutes.

For ₹100/- in 2019, was the most Economical yet delicious lunch you could get in Chennai.

That's it guys for this post, yeah now this the actual ending, & just by seeing the previous ending please don't close the tab..

Untill then bye guys .

Kattabomman hotel, Port Blair

I aaaaaaaaam baaaaaaaackkk I aaaaaaaaam hungryyyyyyyyyy..
In this write up, I will be reviewing a hotel located in the city of Port Blair in Andaman and nicobar Islands, which really saved me from craving for an authentic veggie meals..

Very recently, I had been to the archipelago of Andaman and nicobar, which is termed to be the heaven for sea food lovers..
But, in my case I am that type of foodie who coined a term "vegetarian foodie"..

Even though first 3 days went very smoothly, due to the pure veggie restaurant at radhanagar beach(Havelock Island), tender coconuts, bananas,& other snacks which I took from my home, that was not sufficient for my tongue..

Upon enquiring our driver, he suggested one of the older yet famous restaurant namely kattabomman hotel..

Situated in the busy one way traffic road of the Aberdeen bazar of Port Blair, this hotel has been the one stop destination for many veggies like me..

A very small restaurant, yet they serve a homely food for their customers..
As it was the  lunch Time I ordered south Indian thali..
South Indian thali at kattabomman is slightly different from that I taste here in Bengaluru, here you won't get chapathi or poori along with the thali..

Main players in the thali are coconut chutney, dry curry of potato(changes every day), bhindi(lady's finger) curry, rasam, sambar, vettal kozhambu, spinach curry, curd, a dessert,& last but not the least the support roles namely papad & mor mizhagai which is also known as balkad mensinkai in Kannada.

Regarding the taste, only one word that comes from my mouth is just awesome .

Hotel may be very small in terms of carpet area, but the area of the staff's heart is too large, very friendly staffs they treat their customers as their family members..

In the beginning even though the quantity of rice would be very less, but if you're in need of rice they will refill your plate..even in the case of other  items likecurries, rasam, etc.

Regarding the price, believe it or not a plate of South Indian unlimited thali costs about ₹100/- only, for refilling of rice & other items they won't charge even a single paisa.

Other items that are available in this restaurant are lemon rice, curd rice, puliyogare, hot yet crispy dosai that is pocket friendly..

Veggie friends those who are reading this write up,this is the only vegetarian cheap eats that serves quality food at Port Blair.

How to reach Kattabomman hotel:
100 meters from the city police station, few yards from police gurudwara & less than a kilometre from Abardeen bazar clock tower.

Time to give a report card
Taste- 8
Ambiance - 7
Quality - 7
Service - very quicker than the expected, so I would like to give 9
Value for money - 9.5, to be honest there is no other restaurant which provides a full meals at ₹100/-..

That's all for this write up, will meet you in the next post.

Evening snack of Hubballi

I aaaaaaaaam baaaaackkkk, I aaaaaaaaam hungryyyyyyyyyy.. I am writing a review after a long time, due to personal commitments.

Today let's travel to mini Mumbai of Karnataka alias Hubballi. Here I will be introducing you guys few authentic Hubballi evening snacks.

During the recent visit to Hubballi, along with my cousins (who enjoys food but they are not connoisseur like me 😂) I went to have the famous snack namely girmit.
Girmit is a distant cousin of Bhel Puri , but girmit is way too spicy than it's cousin..

Mainly girmit consists of puffed rice, onions, tomatoes, a special chutney made exclusively for the girmit, traces of jaggery & a handful yet heartful amount of sev..
Even though I used to eat here in Bengaluru, but the taste of  girmit is superb at Hubballi..

Along with it please, I repeat please try the mirchi bhaji or chilly pakoda.
Mirchi bhaji is bit spicy when compared to girmit..
Please be careful while you are having an extra mirchi bhaji..

Girmit & mirchi bhaji combination that is something irreplaceable at Hubballi..

But picture abhi Baki hai mere dost, because you haven't consumed kadak cha or chai..

Whatever may be the weather condition at Hubballi, if it's extreme summer people want chai, if it's raining heavily people want chai, if it's too cold outside they need chai, tensed or happy or sad or succeeded or failed they need chai that's it..
Hubballi people & kadak cha's love story is better than Twilight Saga..

If you are at Hubballi, please try the combination of girmit, mirchi bhaji & kadak cha. I am damn sure you will fall in love with this combo, & then you guys will thank me for introducing this wonderful yet delicious combo.

Time for the report card-
Taste - 9/10
Ambiance- 7/10
Service - too quick so I would give a 10
Quality- 9/10
Value for money- too economical, 10/10..
Not a bad report card to be honest.

Will meet you in the next post, untill then eat wisely, eat healthy and live healthy.
So, that's all folks!!!!!