What: The Southern Spice Pop Up
Where: Sonargaon,Taj Bengal
When: August 29 to September 2
Timings: 12.30pm to 3.30pm and 7.30pm to 11.30pm
On the menu: A taste of Chennai as chef Shankar of Southern Spice in Taj Coromandel and his team will cook up some yum dishes from the southern city.
There will be three offerings — veg thali, non-veg thali and an a la carte menu. The veg thalis will include items such as Thakali Rasam (a flavourful extract from tomatoes and home ground spices), Pachakari Kuruma (spring vegetables cooked in Kerala-style rich coconut and cashew curry), and Asparagus Paruppu Usili (asparagus and steamed lentils tempered with Madras chillies). You can accompany these dishes with sides like Steamed Ponni Rice, Parota, Thayir Saddam and conclude the meal with Pradhaman (made with rice flakes and jaggery).
If you like things meaty, then you can opt for the non-veg thali that will have dishes like Alleppey Fish Curry (seer fish morsels simmered in a green mango and coconut curry), Kori Gassi (chicken with Byadgi chillies, coconut, fenugreek and tamarind) and Vaigai Kari Sukkha (succulent lamb shoulder meat cooked gently with spices).
The a la carte menu will boast of dishes like Kuzhi Paniyaram (tempered rice and lentil dumpling shallow-fried and served with fiery red onions), Vazhapoo Cutlet (banana blossom and raw banana mash, fried and served with chutney), Kori Ghee Roast (slow roasted-chicken with chillies and homemade clarified butter) and Kadala Gassi (black chickpeas in a special chilli and coconut curry).
Arachivitta Sambar (a traditional Tamil Brahmin sambhar with lentil, stone-ground spices, drumstick and Madras onions) and other assorted breads and rice will be available but don’t miss out on the Pallipalayam Chicken Biryani and Bisi Bela Huli Anna (kedgeree with lentils and sona masur rice, coated with homemade ghee). Desserts include Elaneer Payasam (a chilled tender coconut delicacy), Asoka Halwa (light moong dal and whole wheat pudding) and Kumbakonam Kapi Ice Cream.
Pocket pinch: Rs 2,250-plus for veg thali, Rs 2,550-plus for non-veg thali and Rs 4,000 for a la carte menu for two.
