by Tim Blight | Sep 2, 2015 | Lounge (The City Life)
Italia at The Park Pod
There are lots of places to get Italian food in Chennai, but not all of them are as classy as Italia at The Park Pod in Nungambakkam.
Italia at The Park Pod
I visited a while ago and was very impressed by the overall decor and level of service – all top class. The elevated, enclosed deck overlooks the small but smart courtyard.
Pane platter at Italia at The Park Pod
The food could best be described as ‘nouveau Italian’. I’m served a platter of breads and dips to begin, a small smorgasbord of Italian pane in a minimalist, angular design.
My bruschetta arrives as the perfectly balanced garlic-tomato-savoury morsels that they should be, with the most subtle hint of olive oil.
Bruschetta at Italia at The Park Pod
The main, tagliolini al pesto, is the creamy, savoury highlight. The vegetarian pasta is hinted with pistachio in the pesto, and the pasta is al dente; my only complaint is that by now I’m well and truly full, and can barely finish the rich deliciousness.
Tagliolini al Pesto at Italia
Italia at The Park Pod offers something a little different; the decor, the service, the clever menu tweaks and the overall level of exclusivity makes it just a little bit special.
Details
Food: 8/10
Ambience: 9/10
Service: 8/10
Cost: Mains Rs. 500 – 800
23/13, Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai
(044) 4295 5580
www.theparkhotels.com/chennai/the-park-chennai-pod/signore-italiano
Hours: 12noon – 11pm daily
by Tim Blight | Aug 15, 2015 | News and Opinion
India today is celebrating its 68th year of independence, with processions and festivities across the nation.
Security has been tightened at key sites across the nation, including at Delhi’s Red Fort where prime minister Narendra Modi is due to hoist the national flag and deliver a speech.
The sun sets over the Gandhi statue at Chennai’s Marina Beach on Independence Day a few years ago
In Chennai, a special Independence Day function is due to be held at the Madras High Court, while thousands are expected to throng Chennai’s Marina Beach to celebrate.
New Delhi’s India Gate will be one of countless venues for celebration today
India’s independence was achieved on 15th August 1947 after a long and sometimes violent struggle against colonial Britain. Independent India’s birth was marred however by bloody episodes of civil strife relating to the partition of the subcontinent.
Pakistan marked its Independence Day yesterday.
by Tim Blight | Jun 15, 2015 | News and Opinion
Often serendipity plays a role in writing work. I was recently back in Chennai and eating at the pizza cafe near where I used to live. Wondering who I could interview for the Chennai video, I went out on a limb and asked the steward at The Pasta Bar Veneto if he would be interested. I hit the jackpot – not only was Hari Ram willing, but he is a friendly Chennaiker brimming with civic and cultural pride, perfect for the role. His drinks and pasta are awesome too!!
To watch Hari on YouTube, click here, or for Vimeo, click here.
Mazhar Ahamed is the type of person who makes you want to love a place. Fun loving and easy-going, my friend since 2012 has always loved Chennai, and says there’s no place like it in the world. His typically laid-back attitude to life, but serious honesty in friendships seems to be a hallmark of Chennaikers so Mazhar was the perfect choice. Additionally, we got to spend the whole day filming, catching up and hanging out – just like back in 2012!
To watch Mazhar on YouTube, click here, or for Vimeo, click here.
by Tim Blight | Jun 2, 2015 | Lounge (The City Life)
¡Una Mas!
¡Una Mas!, whose name in English translates as “One More!”, is an eatery in the western part of Nungambakkam offering a Taco Bell-style Mexican experience. It is part of an American chain, and the Chennai restaurant is its first Indian outing.
¡Una Mas!
I really like Mexican food, and I also really like Tex Mex. ¡Una Mas! has the standard range of tacos, burritos and quesadillas with an interesting balance of Tex-Mex (like crunchy tacos) along with more authentic Mexican burritos. The restaurant is decked out in Tex-Mex, fast food style; fun and friendly.
Crispy chicken taco at ¡Una Mas!
There are some interesting items, not so much in their selection, but more in their rendering. Nachos comes out covered in corn and other veggies, rather than the usual cheese-slathered snack we’re used to. And a vegetarian burrito reminds us that no matter how Mexican the eatery tries to be, we’re in southern India.
India meets Mexico – a vegetarian burrito at ¡Una Mas!
The tacos are tasty as expected, but with a distinct Indian vibe; something about the salad and the taste of the meat reminds us that this is still an Indian-owned eatery, not as authentic as perhaps we had hoped.
¡Una Mas!’s nachos; tasty, but a rather interesting take on a classic!
But the churros at the end of the meal is the show stopper. I’m not even a huge fan of churros, but the crunchy-outside, soft-inside, warm chocolatey goodness is stealing my attention from the rest of the meal!!
Churros at ¡Una Mas!
On balance, ¡Una Mas! Is a great place to hang out and grab a quick snack with friends, but if it’s authentic Mexican comfort food you’re after, you might be a bit disappointed.
Details
Food: 7/10
Ambience: 6/10
Service: 7/10
Cost: Mains Rs. 300 – 700
151 Kodambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam
(044) 4201 4233
www.unamas.in
Hours: 11am – 11pm daily
by Tim Blight | May 2, 2015 | Traveller
Springhaven Chennai
On my recent trip to Chennai, I may have discovered one of the best accommodation deals in the city. I had originally booked through AirBnB, the website that allows property owners to rent out rooms or entire homes as holiday accommodation.
Springhaven’s promotional shot; the trees have grown quite a bit since this was taken!
Springhaven has two properties; one in the southern Chennai district of Adyar, and another in the central district of Balaji Nagar (where I stayed).
The hosts are brothers Siddharth and Srikanth and their family, who do their very best to make guests feel right at home. I arrived late but was greeted by Srikanth and his wife, who offered me food, drinks and a wifi password – just what I needed after a long flight!
The Balaji Nagar building is a three-storey construction, with guest accommodation on the first and second floors. My first-floor room opened directly on to a communal dining and lounge area, but of course locked from the inside, so it was effectively like a private hotel room.
Springhaven’s communal lounge
The room was spacious but basic when compared with luxury hotel rooms, but that’s not a fair comparison, because it was more like a well-appointed bedroom in a typical upper-middle class Chennai home. There was air-conditioning, satellite television and two very comfy single beds. I also had an attached ensuite – no sharing here!
This is almost exactly what my room was like – I think this might have been the one next door. (Photo: Springhaven)
However I will perhaps best remember the stay for the kind hospitality shown by the hosts. A full breakfast is included each morning, perfectly prepared by the resident cooks, and the choice of breakfast was fairly varied; ‘Western-style’ (omelette with toast and jam) or ‘Indian-style’ (a range of delights including, but not limited to, dosa, idlys and freshly brewed local coffee.
Dosa for breakfast at Springhaven
Excellent vegetarian meals were also available at other times of the day – I enjoyed dhal, okra, rice and chapati one night – and there was always tea, coffee or lassi available. Filtered, safe-to-drink water is provided at no cost, and was one of the small touches that made Springhaven a home away from home.
Dinner at Springhaven
Siddharth and Srikanth and their family are a wealth of knowledge about Chennai and the local region, and are very very obliging. They’re chatty, friendly, easy to get along with, and both interesting and interested. It’s like staying with friends – and I’m already planning my return trip.
This was my first experience booking through AirBnB, and I was a bit worried that I would be stuck in a guesthouse where I was virtually a prisoner of my overprotective host. To this end, and most importantly, Siddharth and Srikanth are not overbearing, making Springhaven a place where you can really relax and feel at home. Which, says Srikanth, is exactly the concept they are aiming for.
Spring haven’s common chillout area. Much of the artwork around the house was painted by Siddharth and Srikanth’s mum!
Details
Springhaven Balaji Nagar
No. 23 Balaji Nagar 2nd Street
Royapettah, Chennai
Prices vary depending on booking method; through AirBnB in early 2015 I paid approximately US$40/night including breakfast and unlimited wifi access.
+91 99620 89414
