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!!!!!

SaiRam's chats

Hello, all  I am back, & I am hungry too. Today let's go to MES College Malleshwara, to study? Hell no!!!
My tummy is craving for the chats that's served in Sri Sairam chats center which is very near to MES College.

Known for delicious & unique chats, Sairam chats mainly attract the students from MES College as well as  other institution near the shop, like HJKP, SVM, KVM to be named few.

Chats available here are the most common puris like bhel, sev, Pani , masala etc... But apart from these there are few must try they are dahi bhel, disco chat,bun bhel, gowdru special, ting tong and many more..

Let me tell you guys, that in this place the price of any chat won't cross rs 40/-..

Whenever I go to sairam's I start with bhel, then the iconic disco chat, then a delicious chat called Sairam special..
Every time I try a new chat, untill now I have tried nearly 40 varieties out of 99 varieties (59 chats to be tried 😂)..

But, believe it or not  every malleshwara residents tell " east or west Sairam's is the best"..

Apart from chats you do get varieties of fresh fruit juices & also ice cream..

I usually drink either lime juice or the masala soda, mostly soda because that helps in digesting these chats very effectively 😂😂😂..

Time to give the report card

Taste- 10
Ambience- 9
Service- very quick & yeah self service
Quality - 9.5
Value for money - 10

Do visit Sairam's chat center when you are in Malleshwara, very near to MES College..

Time to sign off from this post..
Will be back with a new post...

Kaapi katte of R R Nagar

Hello all I am back & I am hungry, today I am reviewing a restaurant namely kaapi katte,which is located in R R Nagar which also known as RajaRajeshwari Nagar, Bangalore..

Known for its wallet friendly menu, popular item in this hotel is masale dose, you may have to wait upto 15 minutes during rush hour to get your plate..

Limited items in the menu, they serve idly-vade, plain dose, masale dose, onion dose, rave idly, as usual twin brothers of south Indian breakfast "kharabath & kesari bath"..

Believe it or not a plate of idly-vade i.e 2 idlies & 1 vade may cost you from rs 35/-
But here it costs just rs 30/-.
Known for its economical yet crispy masale dose, customers here mainly order masale dose which costs rs 20/- ..

Chow chow bath brothers alias "kharabath & kesari bath" costs rs 20/-...

Beverages here are just awesome, kaapi in kaapi katte just mesmerized me 😂😂..
Apart from kaapi & chai there are hell lot of options like green tea, lemon tea ( please do try), ,(must try) masala chai   in hot beverages are to named.

If you don't like the hot beverages please try cold beverages,which is also a must try..

In the evening, they offer snacks like bun butter gulkan, bun nippat, samosa , kachori, ambode,etc..
My personal favourite is bajji ( pakoda) ..

Bajji & cup of kaapi, a love story Better than twilight saga 😂😂..

A cup of coffee costs about rs 10/-..

Do visit this wallet friendly restaurant when you are in R R NAGAR..

Time to give the report card
Taste : 9
Service : quick but self service
Ambience: too crowded but I will give 8
Quality : 9
Value for money : 10, because for the first time my bill didn't cross rs 200/- even after my tummy was full..😂

They do have branches in Nagarabhavi & Malleshwara too..

Time to sign off, will meet you guys in the next write up..

Iyer's mess - Malleshwara, Bangalore

I aaaaaaaaaaammmmm baaaaaccckkk, I aaaaaaaaaaammmmm hungryyyyyyy...
Today I will introducing a very popular mess of Malleshwara, Bangalore.

Malleshwara is said to be one of the oldest areas of Bangalore, Malleshwara is a place which is rich in heritage, culture, food, & also shopping.. If there is a function or festival in a house, every North Bangalorean visit to malleshwara for their shopping..

When comes to food, you guys have plenty of options in malleshwara, places like CTR, janatha hotel which serves crispy masale dose, veena stores for piping hot idli-vade with chutney, darshinis which serves the break fast, NKB which serves best meals are to named a few..

Recently I visited well known Iyer's mess, which is in Malleshwara for lunch..
Simple menu which consists of a curry, ambode, Majjige huli (moor kuzhambu), saaru (rasam), papad, a gravy made of channa, rice, chapati, a dessert & finally mosaranna alias tayir sadam (curd rice), which is served on plantain leaf plate..

Curry was very tasty, typical iyer's style potato curry was just amazing. Ambode which is also known as masala vade( which iyer's Don't call 😂) was very crispy & yet mildly spicy.
The channa gravy was not bad to be honest, as it was a side dish for chapati.
Majjige huli (moor kuzhambu) was delicious, as it had generous amount of pumpkin, pepper & also ginger which dominated majjige huli.. Majjige huli tastes best when the rice is hot & when you add generous amount of ghee😋..
Saaru or rasam is 2nd  hero in the Brahmin's meals, saaru was also very tasty here, mildly spiced but I had to request them for extra saaru just for drinking it.
Dessert was a payasa, which was also good, but picture abhi Baki hai mere dost because you can't tell that "I finished the lunch" without eating mosaranna or curd rice.. Yes that's the way you have to end the meal in the southern India, curd rice is the main hero in  the Brahmin's thali. Others do have importance, but lesser than mosaranna..

How do you tell that you are happy with the meal symbolically?
Just fold the plantain leaf towards you, that indicates you are satisfied with the meal or you are happy with the meals..

If not, fold the plantain leaf in the opposite side , which indicates you aren't satisfied with the meals..

Meals here costs ₹70/- per person which is really economical yet healthy, another thing zero usage of garlic and onion is the plus point for the Brahmin customers..

Here's the report card
Taste -8
Ambience - 7
Service - 10 which is very good , they treat their customers like their family members.
Quality - 7
Value for money- 9

When you are in Malleshwara in between 12:30 to 3:30 please have your lunch in this iconic mess, they are also open in between 7:15 to 9:15..
If you are planning to visit here on Saturdays, please drop the plan because they remain closed on Saturdays..

Malenadu Brahmin's coffee katte

I aaaaaaaaaaammmmm baaaaaaackkk &  I aaaaaaaaaaammmmm really hungryyyyyyy...

As you all know I love to visit various eatery points, & yeah today I will be taking you guys to a place called Malenadu Brahmin's coffee katte, which is located in southern Bangalore. Speciality about this place is taste & quality..

What is katte?
In Kannada, katte means a place where friends meet, have coffee together by discussing the current scenarios, or something very useful things or gossiping,etc..

I being the regular visitor to this place always wanted to write a review about this place..

The first dish that I tried here was idly-vade (that's my first order, irrespective of the restaurant), idly was extremely soft in texture & yeah piping hot too, but one thing that made me to visit this place regularly is the chutney, typical Malenadu taste 😋 (more coconut, spicy, bit tangy) & vade was just removed from the oil, that was too crispy to handle 😂..

Next thing I tried was avalakki bisibele bath (Sunday special), "awesome" was the first word that came from my mouth after I tasted it. Similar to bisibele bath ( a typical Karnataka dish) but  flattened rice or avalakki was there instead of rice, the veggies were cooked nicely, correct amount of masala, salt & a hint of jaggery that really enhanced the taste of Avalakki bisibele bath..

One should not miss masale dose here, wow!! Generous amount of oil which makes the dose very crispy, & the distinct colour which differentiate the dosai from dose. The Aloo palya (potato curry) & yeah the masale (the Kempu chutney) are the prime members for the masale dosé.

Other items available here are shavige bath, paddu, Goli baje (Mangalore bajji), Aloo bonda, plain dose, kharabath & hell yeah kesari bath which is not to be missed. For me Idly vadé & masalé dosé are my favourite. Note : Sambar not available!

After breakfast I drank a glass of filter kaapi, the kaapi has a hint of the chicory which makes you active for the next few hours. The sugarless and straang kaapi which is my favourite & I love this combo because I want to savour the coffee flavour.

Time to give report card

Taste - 10
Ambiance- 9
Service- 9 ( self service 😂)
Quality- 9
Value for money -8

Location : this hotel is located in a place called poornapragna nagar, which is on the uttarahalli main road towards kengeri in the southern Bangalore..

Note : Tuesdays the restaurant will be closed..

I will be signing off from this post, & will be back with another review..