by Tim Blight | Jul 18, 2014 | Lounge (The City Life)
Benjarong Chennai
Thai food might be behind Chinese in the popularity stakes in India, but it’s no longer the rarity that it once was. Proof that Thai food has truly arrived in Chennai is to be found at Benjarong, part of a range of restaurants by Oriental Cuisines which also brings Japanese Teppanyaki and a French boulangerie to TTK Road in Alwarpet.
Benjarong Chennai (Image: Facebook)
Many first timers of Thai cuisine, especially those with no prior knowledge of it, are surprised at its difference from Chinese food. Lighter and livelier in taste, with a wide range of curries, soups and salads, it could instantly become your favourite at Benjarong where the dishes are rendered faithful to the original recipe.
Tom Yum Goong at Benjarong (Image: Facebook)
The Tom Yum Goong (prawn soup) is tinglingly spicy and thoroughly warming yet coconut cool at the same time. The Kaeng Ped Gai (chicken red curry) is perfectly balanced between savoury vegetable notes and sweet, almost fruity, creamy gravy. Served with rice, the red curry can also be done with prawns or red snapper fish – a mouthwatering dish which well deserves the status of signature dish.
Red Curry at Benjarong (Image: Facebook)
Service is typical of this type of upper mid-range independent restaurant; initially formal but surprisingly (and refreshingly) relaxed as the meal goes on. Stuffy it isn’t, but nor are waiters hovering like they often are in top-end hotel restaurants.
Pad Thai at Benjarong (Image: Facebook)
Yellow, green and Massaman (Thai Muslim-style) curries are also on offer, along with the stock standard Pad Thai – the best Thai-style fried noodles I’ve tasted in Chennai! The spicy Som Tam (papaya salad) is another one worth trying, while keep an open mind for dessert, because the Khao Niew Mamuang (sweetened sticky rice with fresh sliced mango) is about as Thai as it comes. Wash it all down with coconut water, and you’ll see why people fall in love with this cuisine.
Sticky rice with mango at Benjarong (Image: Facebook)
If you’re trying Thai food for the first time, come to Benjarong with an open mind and a big appetite. And if you’re a long-time fan of Thai, welcome home.
Papaya Salad at Benjarong (Image: Facebook)
Details
Food: 8/10
Ambience: 7/10
Service: 7/10
Cost: Three courses should cost around INR 1,200 per head, depending on what you order
146, TTK Road, Alwarpet, Chennai
(044) 2432 2640
www.facebook.com/BenjarongRestaurants
Daily: 12:15pm – 3pm, 7:15pm – 11pm
by Tim Blight | May 26, 2014 | Lounge (The City Life)
Stix Chennai (Image: Hyatt)
Stix
Although it has been quite some time since I last visited here, reviews suggest that nothing has changed; Stix offers a different, quality kind of Chinese dinner in India’s southern city.
Fried noodles at Stix (Image: Trip Advisor / Hyatt)
Opened in 2011 in the then new Hyatt Regency Chennai, the sleek yet warm Asian-inspired decor was instantly impressive. The restaurant is centred around the kitchen, when is open for all to watch the chefs prepare the delicious eastern flavours. It’s reminiscent of a Singaporean hawker market, albeit with a very posh spin.
Sichuan Chilli Chicken at Stix (Image: Trip Advisor / Hyatt)
The food is satisfyingly authentic, and although there are a couple of desi influences, on the whole this is the real deal. In fact, the food might be a bit too authentic for some more conservative palates; don’t come here looking for Chicken Manchurian. Think Sichuan-style chilli chicken, dumplings, stir-fried beef with celery, and Asian-style fruit-based desserts (mango pudding, or steamed pear with date and honey, anyone?). There’s also green tea cheesecake!
Prawn dumplings at Stix (Image: Trip Advisor / Hyatt)
The service is faultless too, and when you’re done, you can take a wander around the lovely lobby at the Hyatt and maybe stop by the coffee shop for a second round of dessert.
Sleek decor at Stix (Image: Trip Advisor / Hyatt)
Details
Food: 8/10
Ambience: 9/10
Service: 9/10
Cost: Mains INR 450 – 750
Hyatt Regency, 365 Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai
(044) 98 44 61001234
chennai.regency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/dining/Stix.html
Monday – Sunday: 12:30pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11:30pm
by Tim Blight | Apr 14, 2014 | News and Opinion
Rangoli at the front of a Chennai house for Puthandu
Monday 14th April marks the start of a new year in several parts of Asia, as the traditional solar calendar ticks over. Tamil New Year, known in the Tamil language as Puthandu, will be celebrated in Chennai and across the state of Tamil Nadu, as well as by Tamil populations in Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Australia and around the world. The Tamil calendar differs from the Gregorian or Western calendar, in that it recognises 60-year cycles instead of an ongoing ‘counting-up’ of years. As such, today marks the first day of ‘Kaliyuga 5116’.
The first mango crop of the season in Chennai
Tamil Nadu holds a public holiday on Tamil New Year, with citizens celebrating by decorating their houses and hosting large feasts for lunch. The Sri Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, arguably the cultural heart of the Tamil community, hosts a large celebration, while other towns display their first mango crop for the season. Money is often given as a gift from elders to the youth, while others clean their houses to symbolise a fresh start and renewal of family ties. The start of the Tamil Year also coincides with the onset of summer, and rural areas may also celebrate with the first harvest of the new season. Two weeks from now the hottest season will be at its height in India’s hottest state, with the beginning of Kathiri Veyyil, or the ‘fire star season’, when temperatures exceed 42°C on a daily basis.
Sri Meenakshi temple towers over Madurai
Tamil New Year falls at the beginning of the Hindu calendar, and as such it also coincides with the celebration of traditional new years in other cultures which are influenced by Hindu civilisation. In India, the states of Assam, Kerala, Odisha, Punjab, Tripura, Manipur and Rajasthan all celebrate their New Years’ Days today, while Hindus and Muslims from both Poshchim Bongo (West Bengal) and Bangladesh will mark the occasion. Sri Lanka shuts down today for the celebration of the new year, recognised by both the majority Buddhist Sinhalese population and the minority Hindu Tamils. Countries formerly ruled by, or influenced by Indian civilisation also host large celebrations, and the day is a public holiday in Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Nepal.
UrbanDuniya wishes its readers Puthandu Vazthukal (happy new year), with many healthy and prosperous days ahead!
by Tim Blight | Mar 23, 2014 | Lounge (The City Life)
Madras Pavilion (Image: ITC Hotels)
Madras Pavilion
The Madras Pavilion in Chennai was a welcome addition to Chennai’s buffet food scene when it opened in late 2012; a range of food from across India, and pleasant, posh, contemporary (but not stuffy) surroundings.
Dum Biryani at the Madras Pavilion
On offer are northern favourites like real dum biryani and palak gosht, a handful of western continental options like ravioli and grilled chicken, and one or two okay Asian dishes. What’s great about this place is the availability of meat for us carnivores, especially in the southern metropolis. Non-meat eaters aren’t left wanting however, with a tasty collection of vegetarian options both Indian and continental.
The Penta Kitchen bar is a highlight, celebrating the cuisine of the five southern states (Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and of course Tamil Nadu). Chettinad Chicken was available each time we visited, along with interesting prawn dishes from the west coast, and beef choices from Goa.
Bread Station at Madras Pavilion (Image: Zomato, Khishore Selvanathan)
Last but not least of course is dessert, and the small but diverse dessert bar is laden with chocolate brownies, mousse, pannacotta and fruity concoctions – the perfect end. Like with all buffets, the Madras Pavilion is about choices, and choices it provides!
Dessert Counter at Madras Pavilion during a special Christmas Lunch (Image: Trip Advisor, Dr Ambrose)
Details
Food: 6/10
Ambience: 7/10
Service: 8/10
Cost: Rs. 1900 – Rs. 2100
ITC Grand Chola, 63 Mount Road, Guindy, Chennai
(044) 49065272
www.itchotels.in/Hotels/itcgrandchola/madras-pavilion-restaurant
Monday – Saturday: 6:30am – 10:30am; 12:30pm – 2:45pm; 7:00pm – 11:30pm
Sunday: As above, but with an extended special lunch buffet 12:30pm – 3:30pm
![Chinese New Year ushers in the year of the horse]()
by Tim Blight | Jan 31, 2014 | Lounge (The City Life), News and Opinion
Chinese New Year in Beijing (Image: Daily Mail)
Today is the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar year, with Chinese communities welcoming the new year around the world at midnight last night.
In the 12-year cycle, this year is the year of the horse, while last was the year of the snake. According to a report by the ABC, Hudson Chen from the Australian Chinese Charity Foundation called the year of the horse a romantic time. Mr Chen also said that people born in the year of the horse have healthy characteristics, but can be stubborn. Previous years of the horse include 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990 and 2002.
The new year festival is celebrated with gusto in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, along with countries with a significant Chinese population, including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Crackers and fireworks are popular, creating noise to ward off evil spirits, while red envelopes containing gifts of money are exchanged between family members.
Chinese New Year in Melbourne’s Chinatown (Image: The Age)
Chinatowns in Melbourne and Sydney will come alive today and across the weekend with lanterns, market stalls, shopping opportunities, delicious banquets and cultural displays. Melbourne will host a 100-metre long dragon in Docklands, while Chinatown will have other cultural displays, and Southbank will host its normal food and craft stalls. Sydney meanwhile will host a two-week festival featuring dragon boat races, and lion dances, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Chinese New Year in Sydney (Image: SydneyChineseNewYear.com)
The small Chinese community in Lahore is expected to celebrate the lunar new year with private parties or in Chinese restaurants, while in Chennai, Chinese restaurants are predicting a busy day with the city’s large number of Chinese expatriate workers.
For more information about Melbourne and Sydney events, go to ChineseNewYear.com.au. All are welcome to attend and join in the festivities.
UrbanDuniya wishes all our Chinese readers, and anyone else celebrating, a happy, joyous and prosperous new year. 恭喜发财!!
