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Am a contradiction of sorts. i love going out and having a good time with friends, and i can also stay home chill out over a book or a movie.. Am very passionate about writing, so give me a topic and watch me float away into wonderland... I Am crazy about music,books,friends and my doggie... :)

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Simply South at Courtyard by Marriott, Chennai

Murugakai soup, 
Milagai Bajji
Sundal
Onion pakoda
Kerala Parota
Chicken Biryani
Rava payasam
Elaneer payasam............. 

Ah, see, you are drooling at the mere mention of these dishes right? Well, all this and more is what you can expect when you visit Courtyard By Marriott over the next few days. Walk into the Hotel and enter Paprika, their coffee shop between 7pm and 11pm  before 31st March to experience all of the above and few more. 




They are currently hosting a Simply South Festival where the menu has been altered to include some local dishes from the Southern Indian region. Chef told us that they have decided to keep the dishes simple, and spread minimal but offer all that people have grown up eating. There are quite a few live counters- bajjji, pakoda, parotta, non veg tandoor and quite a few more!! 

You can enjoy a bowl of hot Murungakkai soup or chicken soup [ depending on what your preference is] and wait for the plate of piping hot bajjji to arrive at the table. There is Vazhakkai bajji [raw banana baji] bread pakoda and Milagai bajji [the big green chilli] to choose from. 

If you were to look at the menu, your head would swim and you would be left in a daze. That is how elaborate it is. What the Chef has done is retain some of the familiar dishes on the buffet while incorporating the Southern flavours as well. 

I tried the parotta with a mix veg korma that was quite good, albeit tad spicy [ black pepper spice]. What me and my friend liked was that the gravies were not overpowered with masalas and all we could taste was the zing of the black pepper!! 

When we wandered around the buffet, we noticed quite a few dishes- avial, elumichai sadam [ lime rice], chicken biryani, kovakkai curry, lamb korma, cabbage poriyal, different kinds of raitas, steamed rice, apart from which there were 3 Western dishes- The beef stroganoff, Rosemary tossed potatoes and Moroccan Stew. 



Wait, there is more- there are quite a few kinds of salads, and an entire section dedicated to desserts- black forest cake, strawberry mousse cake, sticky date pudding, ice creams and ofcourse the South Indian desserts- Rava payasam and Elaneer payasam. 

My, just writing about it has me wondering how a person can do justice to this buffet~!!  If you are already salivating about trying some of what i've mentioned, time to head out to Marriott tomorrow... 

This festival is only till the 31st March
Timing- 7pm to 11pm
Rate- Rs1250+taxes [yes, it does sound pricey, but there are a lot of dishes available] 

Address:
Courtyard by Marriott Chennai, [Opp Ramee Mall/Hyatt Regency]
#564, Anna Salai, Teynampet, 
Chennai. 
Ph No: 6676 4000

Disclaimer:
The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-)

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Dot Yum, Aloft, Chennai

After the elaborate tour and the insightful session into the Dining options at Aloft, I was now all set to try the brunch.. 

As soon as I heard the name, I wondered what the story was behind the name. The Chef did not know, so I imagined it was either something to do with the Hotel being on the IT expressway or there is nothing better to define good food than saying "yum" and by saying "dot yum" you are basically telling the world this is where your search for the most amazing food ends~! 


Either ways, I was curious to try the food here. The only other time I have eaten at Aloft was a year ago at a wedding reception and the food had been outstanding. It was Saturday and the brunch was on. By the time I was done with a mini tour of the property, I could hear the hunger bell go off within me. The Chef spent some time talking about the place, his experience, the kind of crowd that comes, and how the crowds are scattered through the week - between the guests and those who come exclusively to dine. 

The Brunch Buffet was earlier priced higher but now has been brought down to Rs 550+ tax. It had a soup, couple of starters [ mix of veg & non veg] and quite a spread on the mains and the desserts. 




The Soup was Minestrone soup, which was quite good, loved the flavours in it. The vegetables had been finely sliced and it was followed by Cauliflower fritters that had a Chinese touch to them. Crisp and fresh, they were hot when they arrived on the table [which is a big plus]. I declined further starters and went ahead to explore the Buffet- there were the few dishes that we see in almost all buffets- the Veg pulao, Veg noodles, but here apart from the veg gravy, they had one made with Raw bananas which just blew me away. There was also snake gourd manchurian which I tried out of curiousity but did not like too much [the veg has a unique flavour which is not my favorite].  The black bean veg curry was quite good, went well with the noodles.  They also had a pasta with pesto, which I felt had an overdose of cream [ normally pesto pasta is dry with just the right amount of pesto bringing them all together]. 






The buffet is laid out in 3 segments- the mains, the salad and the desserts. Again, the mains too were divided neatly between veg and non veg. There was also a live counter available, which changed periodically. In the Salads, I enjoyed the grilled Italian vegetables and the tender beetroot slices with sesame seeds the best. 

I was also offered an assortment of Indian breads [which is served in the table] and if you know me, you would know I ordered my standard Fresh Lime soda [salt], it is such a refreshing drink~!

It was quite relaxing, to just unwind and enjoy the food in peace and quiet. The place had a few other groups, but I saw people stream in around 2 onwards [which is when I discovered they had an afternoon menu- Sandwiches/pizza with beverages] .. I slowly made my way towards the Dessert section, and brought back a few treats- Baklava, Gulab jamun, Strawberry based dessert [sugarfree], few slices of watermelon and papaya and a simple white chocolate mousse cake with a slice of strawberry on top. There were more, including ice creams, which I passed up! 



Overall, it is a good value for money kind of a meal. And on a Saturday, after a brunch you are good to go through the day without thinking about food [ what to cook for lunch~?? being a nightmare for all of us] .. Infact, this would be an ideal place for a group to go hang out on a weekend.. Time to make some plans, are you game?! And next time, I want to try some dishes from Estia menu as well. 


I also had a cup of coffee about an hour later, which was the traditional filter coffee and not instant coffee..:-) Have to say, this was one good Saturday... 

Address:
Aloft Hotel
102, Rajiv Gandhi Salai,Sholinganallur,
Chennai -600119
Ph- 044 4592 5500

Disclaimer:
The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-)

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Dining options at Aloft, Chennai

As you walk down the lobby, along the curved path you see the textured wall with two words on it, rather three words- Dot Yum and next to it is Estia. I wondered what those words meant when Chef Ashok greeted me and welcomed me inside the restaurant. It was a two in one restaurant of sorts, two different cuisines, two different décor, but both under one roof.  This was the 1st time I was seeing such a concept, and I was quite intrigued.


The Chef went on to explain how Estia is their Greek restaurant, where they served up some amazing Lebanese dishes, while Dot Yum was where they had the buffet for lunch and dinner, and the weekend brunch as well. They also served alcohol along with the meals, for those who request! And for those who wanted to create a combo meal with Beer included, they could go for the Beer & buffet dinner for Rs1000+tax or for the others, there is the Soft drink + buffet dinner at Rs900+tax. Else, if you are just there for a good meal, then the Dinner buffet is Rs850+tax.





 The buffet lunch at Dot Yum on weekdays is priced at Rs850+tax while on Sunday’s the brunch was priced at Rs600+tax, which is quite the value for money, considering the spread they had.  Since it is a 24 hour restaurant, they also had a different menu for the afternoon- Sandwich/pizza/burger with milkshake priced at Rs550+tax [4-7pm].

Since the hotel is located on OMR, it is also a good drive from the city. If you are in the mood for something different, and maybe away from the city, you should head here for a Lunch or Dinner on a Saturday, enjoy a relaxed meal [priced very nominally at Rs550+tax] and unwind at their Wxyz bar in the evening before heading back on the road home. Saturdays is when they have a DJ night as well. And through the week Happy hours is between 11am to 8pm, how cool is that? You buy a drink, and get the next one free~!!


Apart from these, you also have a banquet hall where you can host parties of all kinds- birthdays to conferences to wedding receptions. Infact, now they have come up with a new concept for this space- “Your rate Our menu”. For those who have a budget of say Rs499 per head, you simply tell the chef this budget and they will create a menu within that budget [but mind you, it will be pure veg], if you need non veg, the price goes up a notch and beyond [depending on what non veg items you are looking for]

So, next time you are in the mood for something different, you know where to head….


Pizza and beer fest till 21st March at Skillet, Hablis, Chennai

It has been a long day, and nothing like a glass of chilled Amstel Light to help you unwind and maybe a few slices of pizza? Well, if this is your idea of an ideal evening, then grab your car keys, call your friends and head over to Skillet at Hablis, Guindy.

For the next 3days they have an amazing offer running- one 9” pizza and a beer for Rs 400 [all inclusive]. And it is not like they have limited pizza options, no way- there are 4 Veg pizzas and nearly 7 non veg options for you to choose from.This offer is till 21st March only... 



We started the evening with an Orange juice[this is not part of the deal, I had this while waiting for a friend to arrive] and the Margaritta pizza [ tomato sauce, plenty of cheese and olives]- though the base wasn’t exactly thin crust, the pizza was good, simple flavours. I also ordered a bottle of Amstel Light beer- it was good~! They have 3 kinds of beers- Kingfisher, British Empire & Amstel Light. Once we were done trying out this pizza, we got the next one which was a Pesto Pizza-  pesto sauce, olives, jalapeño, sun dried tomato, aubergines, coloured peppers and fresh basil with a sprinkle of cheese. 

The beer [Image courtesy- Karan]

Pizza Margherita


Pesto Pizza

Pizza Capricciose 

 The offer

 Orange juice


Pizza Marinara [seafood pizza]

I quite enjoyed this pizza, the pesto flavour and various textures. We were 4 of us, and one non veg who went ahead to order a Seafood pizza that he devoured [it had calamari, fish and shrimp]. I noticed the restaurant also had a buffet dinner going on, which drew quite a crowd. Apparently the buffet is available for lunch as well and Skillet is their 24 hour restaurant.  While we took it all in, the next pizza landed on our table- Pizza Capricciose- it had broccoli, olives, artichokes, basil and cheese over a bed of subtle tomato sauce.


After about 4-5 slices, we were full. I was curious about the other Mediterranean pizza they had on the menu, but have decided to try it out the next time I visit. This was my 2nd time at Hablis [1st time was to The Moon And Six Pence] and I must say, both times I have had such fun and enjoyed the food. 

Address:
Hablis No.19, Grand Southern Trunk Rd, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600032 
Phone:044 2233 4000

Disclaimer:
The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-)

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Avenue 195, Greams Road, Chennai

[image courtesy-www.ocr-it.com]

No, no I am not learning a new language, but infact just telling “hello” in different languages. You might need to know this before you step into Avenue 149. This is a restaurant, it is an address, it is all about global cuisine.

If you are the kind who loves a good buffet, then this is the restaurant for you. They have quite a spread, and it is quite the value for money, if you ask me! Even though a buffet is a spread that I am not likely to head straight for, I was very keen to check it out here. All thanks to the kind of food offered and the service and price factor ofcourse.

The buffet starts with the soup, a few salads, 4 starters, quite a range of main dishes, including the live counter for pasta, Chinese noodles, and rice dishes, and then there is the elaborate dessert section. From the Indian gulab jamun to cheese cake to not one but 4 flavours of ice cream, you have it all.

Talking to the man who helped set up and kick start the place, Chef Vijay, we learnt quite a few inside information about all that goes into setting up a kitchen. It was very interesting, insightful and fun discussion. He spoke to us about the different ingredients they have used in the sauces and dishes, for example, their Pesto is made with Coriander+ mint+ pistachio as against the traditional basil and pine nuts.  The main concept behind this restaurant was to introduce people to different cuisines and offer good food, nothing more~!!

When I questioned him about the name and the style of the name board, he explained that "195 countries in the world are registered with the United Nations and therefore the '195', the 'Avenue' was cos it was used to denote an area, an address." The name board is in the shape of an arrow, just as it is all over to denote the direction. What a cool thing! 

And over the weekend, the menu contains not 4 but 14 starters. Yes, you read it right.  What makes it all so exciting is that menu changes nearly every day. So even if you were to visit the place more than once in a fortnight, you are in for quite a few new dishes and surprises.

I had the Minestrone soup which was good, lots of vegetables followed by a mix veg tempura [ though I felt the outer batter was bit too much], then came the gobi Manchurian which was quite good. And then came the big bowl of nachos with baked beans instead of refried beans [ the 1st thing I noticed was that these nachos were round unlike the usual triangle]. While the non veg starters were devoured with a lot of Ooh aah, I enjoyed the veg starters as well. Then came the two chaat items, both of which were really fresh, crisp and filled with flavour- paani puri and dahi papdi chaat.  





Oh, and I also tried veg sushi [ it was good, but bland and needed the soya sauce to add some zing to it, I missed the wasabi]...By now, I had lost track of how many starters we had. And that is when Chef asked if we wanted to order something to drink- we each chose a drink- I chose the carrot & apple pie juice, and while others chose the banana honey juice and the other one was simply divine [ blend of orange, pineapple, strawberry and something else- it tasted divine indeed]..

And then came the main courses, we took our sweet time wandering around, exploring the buffet, choosing the pasta, veggies, the sauce [ I tried the fusilli pasta with broccoli and zucchini cooked in pesto] and also took sample of some of the other dishes on the buffet. I loved my pasta [though i felt the pasta had been cooked a few seconds more than I liked] and going by the reaction, others did too. There was tomato sauce and cream sauce as well for the pasta. Was fairly stuffed and so did not try the Chinese rice/noodles live counters, reserved it for next time.  I declined the request for Indian breads and steered clear of Indian gravies.  We spent some time chit chatting, building up an appetite for desserts. I tried the tiny gulab jamuns, a small scoop of strawberry ice cream and the cream with kiwi sauce.


So, if you are planning a family lunch or just a casual meet with your friends, this place would be a good choice. And don’t go expecting to see all that I have mentioned, remember I told you the menu changes…

Timings: 12 to 3 pm and 6.30 to 11pm
A meal for 2 would work out to about Rs 1200/- on a weekday and about Rs70 more over the weekend. 

Address:
13/33, Shafee Mohammed Road,
Opposite To Apollo Children's Hospital & below Zaitoon
Nungambakkam,
Chennai- 34
Ph: 044 43195195, 044 28290195


Disclaimer: The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. 
Bon Appétit :-)

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Sunday Brunch at Little Italy, Besant Nagar

A hot cup of Cappuccino 
followed by 
A  bowl of hot sweet delicious mushroom soup
A plate of crunchy nachos with salsa and guacamole
A bite of the cheese & corn balls and 2 kinds of Bruschettas
Oh and the rich jalapeno dip
This is how the brunch began on Sunday!








If you thought these sounded wow, you are in for a surprise with the rest of the items on the menu.
There was freshly baked Focaccia herb bread,  fresh watermelon juice, a whole selection of cold salads- pasta salad, macaroni tomato sauce salad, Greek salad and coleslaw. Hop on to the next section and you see a selection of cheeses [ red chilli, garlic, black pepper and plain] with olives and a tomato+basil+ cheese platter as well

Apart from these, there were 2 kinds of pizzas [one with broccoli and other with vegetables], a Lasagna that was rich & cheesey heaven and the beautiful melody of Rice dishes- Mongolian rice & Mexican rice. Oh wait, there was also the Mongolian noodles which had me smiling [quite a unique blend of flavours]!

For those who love their pasta, there was the live pasta counter where you could get pasta cooked just the way you like them- pick the pasta, pick the veggies, pick the sauce and get cracking..

We are not done yet!! Wait up! Take your pick from the bowl of fruits, or pick up a shot glass or two with some yummy desserts- Mango cheesecake? Strawberry cheesecake? Chocolate mousse or Tiramisu? So many divine treats all in one place, well that is Little Italy for you! We were also privy to an extra dessert- gooey molten lava cake- chocolate cake with gooey center served with a vanilla ice cream that had a drizzle of chocolate sauce over it. 



This Sunday brunch is priced at Rs 699 [all inclusive], I would say this i s total value for money meal.. Enjoy a lazy Sunday morning, savour the dishes while enjoying the music playing overhead.



Address: Little Italy 
E-50, 17th Cross Street, 
[Behind State Bank of Travancore] 
Besant Nagar, 
Chennai -600090 
Ph- +91 89392 95000 
URL: http://littleitaly.in/

Disclaimer: The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. 
Bon Appétit :-)

Monday, March 10, 2014

Tour of Aloft Hotel, OMR, Chennai

“Where is the place? How much further? Are we headed to Bangalore?” were some of the questions in my mind the 1st time we drove down to Aloft Hotel in OMR. It took us more than an hour, beating the evening traffic to reach the place. And today, it took me about 45mins to reach the place. I had been invited to spend half a day at Aloft Hotels and that it all began as soon as I walked in and was met by Chef Ashok who spent a good few hours talking to me about the place and giving me a tour of the property as well.  Aloft is part of the Starwood hotels group, SG as they are commonly known. This is the only property in Chennai, situated in OMR, near the Sholinganalur Signal and they cater largely to the IT and Expat community.


At first glance, the place looks neat and chic, no over the top frills or fancy fixtures. The lobby is funky, with colourful seating square light fittings and a play area of sorts on the right side. There is the "remix" lounge with a pool table, beyond which are a row of computers where one can check their mails or surf the net in the area called "stay connected". Going further you find their Banquet hall, typically used by Corporates for seminars and conferences.

Now, if you were to head back to the lobby and go the other direction, you will spot a small area where there are a few ready to eat snacks and fruits along with a microwave- people who visit and those who stay here can use this service- kind of a quick grab and eat/drink on the go kind of concept. Very good one if you ask me. Instead of relying on room service or wondering if there would be anything to nibble on during those odd hours, you can walk down to the lobby, pick up what you need, pay and enjoy.


The lobby

 The bikes/scooters across the floors

The grab & go counter


And if you look on your right, ta da, that is where the W XYZ Bar is located- loved the simple clean look of the place. Comfortable seating and simple menu. They also have a DJ playing here regularly!

Walking further down the corridor is where the 2 restaurants are located. The interesting thing about this is that both restaurants shall one space- Dot yum and Estia are the two restaurants. Dot yum is where you find the buffet and a la carte meals [Indian/oriental/Italian cuisine] while Estia offers Lebanese dishes. There is a small seating area as soon as you enter that can accommodate about 30-40 pax and offers excl Lebanese cuisine. While the main kitchen/dining area close at 3, the other kitchen works round the clock [catering to room service requests], and they have one section catering to those who come in for a bite to eat- sandwiches, and pizzas [which is the most popular] along with beverages.


one of the corridors and a room facing the pool

The special fittings in the 2 rooms for specially abled guests.


The food here deserves a separate post, before that let us look at what else the hotel offers.  There is yet another banquet hall around the corner. Instead of getting off at the lobby, you drive further down about 10 yards and that is where the banquet hall is located. It can accommodate about 200 people comfortably and if more, then the buffet is placed outside the area. Infact, my 1st visit to the Hotel was for a wedding reception held in this very hall.

And for those who are looking for an option to stay, this hotel has 129 rooms, across 3 categories- the Single room, double occupancy and the suites. Tariff starts at 8k and goes upto 15k.  Few rooms have the lovely view of the swimming pool "Splash" outside. I quite loved the way the pool is located- you walk out on the 1st floor to a separate area where above a few steps is where the pool is located, below that a small casual seating area and then on the other side is the Spa & Fitness zone. A fully equipped gym "re:charge" with a trainer is what awaits the guests. I loved the murals and colours on the walls, oh and how can I forget to mention the Vespa, and other vintage bikes across every corridor.


Top image- The corridor to the swimming pool, the spa and fitness center and 
below- the casual seating area below the swimming pool


In total, there are 3 floors with rooms across the floors- and they sure looked inviting. A big cozy bed, simple décor, and a neat bathroom, the suit has a large spacious living room.  A special mention to the Hotel for creating 2 rooms that is for the specially abled- the beds are lower and the bathroom has extra handles and fittings that work for them. Kudos to the hotel for this~!!

Overall, I was quite impressed with the hotel and irrespective of the other Hotels in this area, felt this one should be getting better mileage considering their services and competitive prices.


Address:
Aloft Hotel
102, Rajiv Gandhi Salai,Sholinganallur,
Chennai -600119
Ph- 044 4592 5500

Friday, March 7, 2014

Hollywood at CPK [California Pizza Kitchen] till 16th March

California Pizza Kitchen is a place I associate with good interesting pizzas and have enjoyed myself the few times I have been there. The very first was with a friend a day after they had opened the outlet. Just the walk to the restaurant in open air is refreshing and puts me in a good mood. So, when I received an invite to get a taste of their Hollywood at CPK I was curious. I knew Hollywood is in California, but throwing caution to wind went over with a few friends. 

The menu was a one pager, looked interesting but on first glance I was slightly put off. Why? Because in total there were 4 veg dishes while non veg were more than double that. I don't get it, why do restaurants not pay importance to vegetarians or is coming up/cooking veg dishes that tough? Ok Ok, let me not digress. 

The first few dishes to arrive were the pizzas- 5 of them in total, 4 non veg and 1 veg. See what am talking about!?! [you can also check more pics via my twitter feed.. Simply look for "#hollywoodatcpk#]


 All the non veg dishes.. Pizzas, chicken and the Mango drink 

The veg dishes-The Malfati, Spaghetti, Pizza & Pineapple Twister


The non veg pizzas were -

Hawaian chicken & grilled pineapple pizza                          
(say aloha, grilled pineapple and garlic chicken with homemade pizza sauce on a Traditional crust)

Jamaican jerk & chicken pizza  
(you will love this jerk. Spicy sweet caribbean sauce, authentic jamaican spices, garlic Chicken, roasted peppers and red onions on our regular crust)
*Add smoked bacon 

Deli style bistro pizza                                                                   
(our pesto marinara makes this pizza iconic. Italian sausages, capicola ham and Canadian bacon, finished with lemon herbed rocket leaves and bocconcini comes on a Crisp thin crust)

Spicy sonora pizza                                                                                          
(some like it hot, we like it hotter. Our housemade roasted corn & blackbean salsa and Spicy smoked chicken with cilantro and lime cream sauce hits well on a traditional
Crust) 

The one veg pizza we dug into was
Rustica pizza                                                                                                    
(a cpk version of italian classic, grilled zucchini, saute white mushrooms, green olives And capers spread on a thin and crispy crust)
*Add garlic chicken   [yes this has a nonveg version too]

A special mention to this pizza- it was the only thin crust pizza on the menu.  Now, I don’t know about Hollywood and connected flavours, but this was good, I quite liked it. It was nearly bland, void of the Italian herbs which is what made it different.  Few sprinkled red chilli flakes to add some zing to the pizza.

Moving on, we ordered drinks, I chose the Pineapple twister, while few others chose the Mango mint ecstasy…. I enjoyed the drink, filled with strong pineapple, lime and mint flavours [even though it arrived after what seemed like ages].  It also had a nice big pineapple piece on top.

The next round was for the Pastas [I wondered if pasta too had become a staple in USA, but then with influx of people from all over the world I just convinced myself that the country was a Melting pot of sorts]. The first to arrive [once again] was the non veg  pasta- it was  the Spaghetti carretierra  (an italian classic with a california twist, with hot red chilies, rocket, bocconcini and Freshly crushed pepper in a tangy creamy sauce) . The mozerella cheese and rocket leaves were fresh and lovely [I stole them from the pasta]. The guys loved the pasta that had been cooked in chicken broth.  

What came next was a bit of a surprise to most of us. It was the vegetarian Pasta- Mediterranean roasted mushroom spaghettini (a fiery blend of roasted mushrooms, garlic, onions, serrano chilies , mediterranean Herbs and spaghettini tossed in extra virgin olive oil) - the pasta was dry [could have used a drizzle of olive oil or some creamy sauce] and was quite void of any flavour. A pinch of salt made a world of difference.

I am sure you are seeing a pattern here, yes, the next dish that came was also a non veg one.  The non veg were in for a treat. They were served the Speciality dish, which was California Peri Peri Chicken [Peri Peri from Portugal landed in California as well?] California peri peri chicken (boneless chicken grilled with our housemade california periperi marinade and baked in Our creamy sauce). The boys couldn’t stop eating it, or raving about it. Infact some went on to request for another portion of the same thing and polished that off as well.  It came with a nice big side of grilled veggies which I happily dug into.

We were happy to see another dish arrive on the table with the veg tag on it. It was the yummiest dish of the evening, I loved it and so did everyone else. It was Spinach and Paneer Malfati with Milan sauce [gnocchi] served with a side helping of chargrilled corn and greens.

And then came the dessert - California Delight (a trio of white chocolate, strawberry and dark chocolate mousse with cranberries And almond praline)- chocolate lovers are in for a treat with this one. It also had a side of Cinnamon sprinkled pita bread [naan]…  

The festival is on till the 16th! So if you are a meat eater and haven’t tried CPK yet, this would be a good time to visit.

The pizzas come in two sizes- 9” and 14” and the cost for a meal for two should work to around Rs 1000-2000 [depends on what you order]

Overall Verdict- I love CPK and so shall definitely go back there~!!

You can read about my earlier visit here 

Address:
California Pizza Kitchen
Phoenix Market City, Velachery
Chennai 
Ph- 044 65108888

Disclaimer:

The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-) 
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