Saturday, December 25, 2010

Hot on the Food trail in Pondicherry

Pondicherry fondly known as Pondy lies on the Western coastline of India along the Bay of Bengal. Previously a French colony, it is not unlike New Orleans with its Rues, Avenues and shuttered colonial architecture. Vestiges of a grand French colony are evident even though time has taken its toll and the façade is crumbling. I was keen to do a short trip into Pondy although it meant a three hour drive from Chennai -just to get a taste of the French influence which remains interlaced with the local cuisine. I was not disappointed. After a brief recce of the restaurants and local watering holes we settled for the Garden Restaurant at the Hotel Dupleix. Our table was situated in an open courtyard but was cool in the shade and after a pint each of chilled Kingfisher Ultra beer, India’s largest selling beer, we were in high spirits ( no pun intended). The menu consisted of a section dedicated to French dishes, another to a medley of dishes from Southern India and a third to what is Pondicherry cuisine. A strange complimentary platter of crusty bread, maitre d'hotel butter, hummus and what looked like salsa was presented and was ignored for the most part. I hoped fervently that this was not a sign of what was to come.
Thankfully the meal which comprised of a Kari Melagu Varuval , lamb stir fried with curry leaves and spices, Chefs special chicken and Vindaya Prawn curry, redolent with coconut milk and warm spices each had its own distinct flavor.
Paired with freshly baked Tandoori Paratha it proved to be a satisfying experience. It was a worthwhile venture overall; panoramic vistas, great food and good company made my trip to South India an unforgettable one. Armed with a plethora of spices and cookbooks I hope to replicate some of the flavors in the comfort of my kitchen, once I'm back in Jersey.

No comments:

Post a Comment