Chennai Gets A Taste Of Andhra Cuisine

Lakshmi Subramanian, Chennai

It was Andhra Food Festival this time around at Navrathna, the authentic Indian restaurant at Le Royal Meridien, Chennai.This a' la Carte Andhra food festival was the fourth of its kind at Navrathna, the authentic Indian restaurant at Le Royal Meridien, Chennai from July 17-26, 2004. Previously the hotel has organised a variety of food festivals such as Hawkers Street, Oriental Dreams etc.

Shyam Sunder a trained chef from the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh created a menu, which listed a variety of dishes such as pulsus, kooras, igurus and the like. Most of the dishes were authentic barring a few which were improvised to suit the local palates. The menu included starters like Guntur Mirapakaya Kodi, Bijawada Mirapakaya Bajji and curries like Kora Pulusulu, Mulakai Menthi Kaima Kura, Korivi Karapu Royula Chintamani, Palakura Pappu, Mavidikai Pappu, Potlakai perugu Pachadi. Jonna Rotti etc. The chef's favourite was Kandha Bacchali Kura a special vegetarian dish made with yam and spinach.

To enhance the ambience the hotel organized a Kuchipudi and Andhra folk dance performances by the well-known Divyanjali group.