​Over the last two decades and a half every time I have had a Biryani Craving (and that usually happens at unearthly hours ..My go to destination has been the Taj Coramandel and their famous ‘Geeli’ Biryani (pronounced ‘Gilli’ Biryani.), From when the Coffee Shop used to be called the Pavillion, then Match Point and then ‘Anise’ as it is called now.
Hence when I heard about the ‘Biryani Festival’ at Southern Spice, Taj Coramandel, it was definitely something I wanted to have a look into, since I was sure they had the pedigree to pull off some awesome Biryani :)
The Concept of the Festival was fairly simple. They have on offer Biryanis from the various southern states, both Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian. The Biryanis are served with a glass of Beer along with accompaniments and a simple Dessert to end the meal.
 
Incidentally on account of the ‘International Wine Day’ the Taj Coramandel is offering a glass of wine (150ml) from 20 different labels across the world, both new world and Old world from their famed cellars at incredibly friendly prices. I have enclosed a detailed list of wines and the Prices at the end of this post.

 NON VEGETARIAN BIRYANIS

PALLIPALAYAM KOZHI BIRIYANI :  Pallipalayam is in Erode district and it is known for its signature Chicken dishes. The distinct flavour in the Pallipalayam Biryani is on account of the Red Chillies used. Traditional Pallipalayam Chicken tends to have ' Nattu Kozhi' though for this festival the Biryani is made of regular Chicken. 

MAAMSAM BIRIYANI : This is a spicy Lamb Biryani in traditional Andhra style. The novelty in this biryani is the abundant (yes I meant abundant ) use of Guntur Chillies which Gives this Birnyani the 'Oomph' :)

KALLU VEETU KOZHI BIRIYANI  : This is a Chettinad style Biryani, though I have No Clue why it is called Kallu Veetu Biryani. This Biryani was also high on the spice quotient.

MALABAR MUTTON BIRIYANI  : Traditional Malabar Style Biryani , including the use of Kaima/Jeeragasaala rice sourced from Kerala. (This is a thin grained flavoured rice which is staple of the Malabar style Biryanis unlike the Basmati ). This Biryani was low in spices as the spice mix was more of Green chillies, Ginger and garlic paste along with oodles of Ghee.
THALASSERY NEIMEEN BIRIYANI : This is again a Malabar style Biryani with Kaima rice using Seer fish cubes. 
MOPLAH CHEMEEN BIRIYANI : This prawn Biryani in the traditional Kerala style, easy on the Chillies with a Cinnamon edge. Prawns being the star of this Dish. 

VEGETARIAN BIRYANIS
PALA KAI BIRINJI : Jackfruit Biryani with Bread pieces and Basmati rice.
KALAN BIRIYANI : Mushroom Biryani, cooked in Chettinad Style with Basmati Rice.

KAIKURALU BIRIYANI : Vegetable Biryani 

ACCOMPANIMENTS

• KATHIRIKKAI KARI : 
• VENGAYA THAYIR PACHADI

DESSERT
BREAD HALWA

My Verdict

I tasted every Biryani that was on offer for the festival !!! (I know the sacrifices I have to go through to give my readers authentic information :)  )
My favourites were the Maamsam Biryani from Andhra and all the Kerala Style Biryanis which I felt the Chefs got spot on !!!
The Thalassery Neimeen Biryani : Is the best Fish Biryani in town at the moment !! Period ! :)

This is a wonderful opportunity to savour some authentic Biryani from across South india this month. 

Wine Connoisseurs too shouldnt miss this opportunity to club their dining experiences at the Taj Coramandel with some great Wines at an extremely friendly pricing this week at all the Restaurants at the Taj Coramandel. 

The Biryani Festival is open for lunch and Dinner at the Southern Spice at The Taj Coramandel.
The Veg Biryanis are priced at 1000 onwards.
The Non Veg Biryanis are priced at 1200 onwards.

Please call +91 44 6600 2827 for more details

​Coorg is an area of Karnataka situated on the Eastern slope of western Ghats. It is also known as ‘ Kodava Nadu’ . Coorgi Cuisine or the Kodava Cusine is one of the most lip-smacking delicious cuisines of South India. The Cuisine is heavily influenced by the location, the fauna of the region.

The specialty of the Coorg cuisine is the way in which the various masalas are blended with a liberal use of cardamom, cinnamon and pepper. These spices are usually cultivated in Coorg and in the neighboring areas of Kerala.
 
The Madras Pavilion at the ITC Grand Chola is hosting a Coorgi Food festival, which is curated by Chef Nikhil Merchant and Chef Santosh Shetty.
 
There was a welcome drink aptly named the ‘Coorg Spice Market’ which had a Rum base mixed with spices. This drink reminded me of the Mulled Wine, and I guess this would be an ideal Core body warmer in the Chilly Hilly Coorgi terrain !!!

​This was followed by Appetizers.

• Koli Fry
• Erachi Nallamelagu
• Chilli Prawn fry
• Balle Cutlet (Banana)
• Koomu Masala Fry
• Yam Cutlet

The spice mix used in each of the dishes were unique and was the USP. The Eraichi Nallamelagu had an ideal amount of Pepper and the mutton was perfectly tender and succulent. Another Winner was the Chilly Prawn Fry which had a subtle amount of spice flavors.
There was also a Live grill which served up, Chicken, Fish and Prawns in authentic Coorgi spice mix. The Prawn in the Live Grill was literally Mind blowing.

The Mains

• Pandi Kari ( The ubiquitous star of Coorgi cuisine and it totally lived up to its ‘super star’ billing. ) It was undoubtedly the best Pandi Kari I have tasted by miles.
• Kyma Urandai (Called ‘Kaima Unde Saaru’ in Kodava Cuisine, this Meatball Gravy preparation was wonderful)
• Prawn Bafad (Lovely, Though strictly speaking I am assuming the origins are more Manglorean than Coorgi )
• Koomu Masala Kari : (Another Coorgi specialty, incorporation Mushrooms found abundantly around coorg into their Cuisine)
• BeimBale (Bamboo shoot Kari): (The dish was a revelation that the Bamboo shoot could be served up in gravy form with such a lovely taste)
• Mangai Kootu. (A kootu made of Gram and raw mango

 
 
These main dishes were accompanied by Kal Dosa and Kottai Kabadu (which is a form of Idly steamed in a leaf)
 
There was also a ‘Yerachi Pulau’ which I tasted, where again the interplay of the spices took the taste of the dishes to an entirely different level.

Desserts
There were two desserts

• Khus Khus Payasa
• Jackfruit Halwa

The Grand Finale was the Coorgi specialty coffee served with Black Jaggery.

​This was one of those food festivals which did not have a single dish that failed to satisfy our palates. The whole meal was extremely well researched and executed by the Chefs and in my opinion is something that any Connoisseur of food in Chennai Should NOT miss.
 
The Festival is on till the 29th of May for dinner. Priced at 2200 plus taxes.

Stix at the Hyatt Regency is hosting an authentic Taiwanese food festival from 20th to 24th May, 2016. The festival is in partnership with The Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in Chennai. Visiting Chef, Sung Chiung-Hung from Grand Hyatt Taipei has curated the menu in conjunction with the Executive Chef of Hyatt Regency Vikram Ganpule. 

Taiwanese Cuisine is rather Unique in that it has influences from Southern China Provincial cuisines of the Min Nan, Teochew and Hokkien Chinese communities, along with Japanese cooking (Taiwan was under Japanese occupation from 1895 to 1945)

We had three starters

1. Garlic salt and pepper shrimp
Crisp fried Shrimp, I loved the seasoning.
2. Green tea mushroom dumplings
This Vegetarian Dumling had a filling of Mushroom, clelery and water chesnut
3 .Green pepper, pork, seafood pie
   

Main Course

1. Pink Lady : Filling of Rice in Tomato
2. Mango fried chicken                                                      
3. Bacon fish roll : Bacon wrapped around fish , Which was absolutely yummy.

These dishes were served with

1. Pineapple fried rice                                                    
2. Pumpkin, pork  fried rice noodle

The Desserts

1. Mango sago : Just as the description, Sago immersed in Mango pulp                                      
2. Sesame balls with bean paste                                    
  

Mother's Day is right around the corner, and if you are not sure about how you should show your affection to your mother, I have tried to list some options out for you. 
Treating your mother to some quality time with you over a good meal at some of the restaurants listed below could be one of your many options ! Many hotels in Chennai are offering special menus and other surprises that are guaranteed to spoil your mother.
Here are a few of my favorite options and I will keep adding more as I locate them .....

 Taj Hotels, Chennai has lined up an array of exciting offers that are sure to bring a smile and make this Mother’s Day special.


At Prego, the recently re-launched Italian restaurant at Taj Coromandel, enjoy a leisurely lunch with a glass of sparkling wine and a live band followed by a specially crafted four-course set menu designed by Specialty Chef Luca D’Amora. If you’re accompanied with your mother, you get a celebration cake on the table with yellow roses. The set menu includes Milli Feili with Porcini, Caprino and garlic sauce; Pumkin and prawns soup; and Zucchini Risotto and cacio pepe sauce, followed by the delectable Dessert Degustation. Only Lunch  | INR 2000 plus taxes.
 

​Treat your mom to a perfect Chinese meal at Golden Dragon. All mothers will be offered special mocktails and a special pastry platter with a celebratory Mother’s Day message. The menu, specially designed by Chef Willam Ho includes Mushroom and chicken Sui Mai; Stir fried chicken in chili oyster sauce with water chestnut and mushroom; Steamed Palm of heart in dark sweet and sour sauce; Stir fried Chinese greens; Stir fried auberjine and courgette in lao gan ma sauce; Golden garlic vegetable buttered rice; and not to forget the all-time favourite Nest of Dragon. Only Lunch |  INR 1500 plus taxes per person.
 
At Anise, the all-day diner, the exciting buffet spread with Indian and international delicacies beckons you. Enjoy a 20 % discount on Food and Soft Beverage for all mothers and a Special pastry platter with celebratory message for mother’s day. Savour Mom’s style biryani, home style chicken curry and the very humble paneer and shimla mirch masala and Aloo dahi wala. Other selections include baked vegetables, roast chicken with its own jus, and grilled fish accompanied with lemon butter sauce. The desserts on offer are vanilla cake, dry fruit cake, Swiss rolls, freshly cooked pan cakes with topping of banana.  Lunch buffet priced at  INR 1685 all-inclusive. 
 

​If it’s South Indian cuisine that appeals to your mom, then Southern Spice is the place to be at. Treat her to the Gold thali experience that adds a touch of drama to the meal! Delight her with Kori kempu (Crisp shredded chicken with chillies and spices tossed in yoghurt); Mango kara kuzhambhu (Mango cooked in a tangy gravy); Malabar urulai roast (Roasted potatoes in kerala spice mix); Kari sukka (Succulent lamb shoulder meat, cooked gently with spices, a popular dish from Madurai); Alleppy fish curry (Seer fish morsels simmered in a green mango and coconut curry); Kozhi milaghu curry (Boneless chicken thighs in a fiery curry with black pepper and fennel seeds – a Chettinadu specialty); and Paal Payasam. Only Lunch  |  Veg thali priced at  INR 1802 all-inclusive  |  Non veg Thali priced at INR 2161 all-inclusive. Call +91 44 6600 2827 for more details.
 
Enjoy the day with THE GATEWAY HOTEL IT EXPRESSWAY CHENNAI at the all-day diner, Buzz. Bring your mother along and enjoy a 50% discount on the bill for the Sunday Brunch. What’s more, Mothers can also avail a 20% discount on Spa on 7th and 8th May 2016. Call +91 44 66802500 for more details.
 
TAJ CLUB HOUSE offers 50% off on the Brunch at the all-day diner, Clubhouse. Enjoy the special brunch as a live band plays melodious music. The special Brunch rates for Mother’s Day are INR 1700 NETT (without alcohol) and INR 2350 NETT (unlimited premium alcoholic beverages).  Mothers can also avail special Jiva Spa and Salon vouchers. Call +91 44 66313131 for more details.

Treat your mom to a perfect rejuvenating Sunday at TAJ COROMANDEL with an exciting spa experience at Jiva Grande Spa! The VELLANA signature treatment, available only at Taj Coromandel and curated especially for seekers of urban rejuvenation, is an uplifting and energizing 90-minute experience that instantly invigorates and refreshes you, The treatment rolls the Velan, a rolling pin found in Indian households, over the entire body, touching on various muscles and pressure points, instantly releasing tension. This therapy improves blood circulation, flushes out toxins and lactic acid build-up, leading to improved cellular function. INR 4500 all-inclusive. Validity: May 8-31.
 

ITC Grand Chola lets you celebrate Mother's Day at ‪#‎MadrasPavilion‬ as their Chefs treat you with the recipes they learnt from their moms.
For reservations call (91) (44) 49065272

Hablife-The Spice, the newly renovated restaurant at The Hablis has a special Mother's Day offer on 8th May, from 12:30 to 3:30PM. 

Have a sumptuous lunch and also get to cook #cook your favorite  desserts , bakes , salads and Chaats with your mother.  Hablife - The Spice lets you spend some quality time with each other, when you celebrate Mother's day. 
For reservations call: 044 4023 5555.