Poornima, our PR executive from Chennai, unearths the secrets of South Indian delicacies and invites us to experience the joy of eating down south.
Food, the main substance of existence has always been a much explored affair. A significant food is so overwhelming that it has become a part of religion too, gluttony is considered a sin, but difficult to resist when it comes to tasty food. So am I when it comes to tasty food…..
Traditional Tamil cuisine by which I have survived is known for its balanced mix of the six important tastes- sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent & astringent. For a complete feast and the actual taste, not only all the flavours have to be included but the order in which they are consumed is also significant.
When talking about favourites, my all time favourite is my mom’s special. I have been fortunate to have tasted various kinds of typically yummy Tamil dishes prepared by her with lots of love. Breakfast itself has lots to offer with Idlies & Dosas taking the primary slot. The Idlies when eaten with a little chutney and then dipped in Sambar tastes even better. Idlies also taste good with Groundnut chutney, Kara Chutney, Tomato Chutney, Podi with oil and much more. My other favourite breakfast includes Iddiyapam, Appam with Coconut milk, Suda Kangi with thick Groundnut chutney, Pongal with Sambar, etc.
When I sit down, empty stomach to eat a typical Tamil meal served on a banana leaf, my excitement has no bounds. Curiosity in what we are eating makes the dish even more interesting. Steamed rice is our 
main course which comes with lot of tasty accompaniments. Sambar rice with potato fry, Puli kulambu with Appalam, Hot Rasam rice with Lady finger fry/ vegetable Kootu, Curd rice with Mango Pickel has always been by favourites.
Now its Non-Vegetarian time, Sea food has always been my favorite. As Pondicherry is my home town we get fresh sea stuffs to cook. Dishes prepared in Fish & Prawns tops my chart with a lot of other favorites like Chicken 65, karuvaatu(Dry fish), Pepper mutton fry, Chicken Biryani etc. Tamilnadu is known for its non-vegetarian specialities in Chettinadu and Virudhunagar areas.
So want to taste, the first option I give is my home sweet home where everyone is always welcome to savour Tamil food. Also let me suggest few places which have been my favorite food destinations in Chennai- Sanjeevanam a Natural Health Restaurant in Nungambakkam which serves healthy & tasty Meals. Sea Shells Restaurant at Greams Road is known for Grilled Chicken with Chapatti. Ponnuswamy & Chettinadu Hotels for Non–Vegetarian dishes. Murugan Idly Shop/ Vasantha Bhavan/ Saravana Bhavan/ Udipi Hotels for Tiffin items. Hyderabad Biriyani/ Thallapakattu for various types of Briyanis. Pondy Bazaar Kaiyenthi Bhavan for hot Podi dosas.
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