Authentic Southern Cuisine

It’s time for Authentic Southern Cuisine including delicacies from the traditional kitchens.

In Mumbai, if you want to get the feel of Chennai where you will go? Obviously to Matunga. It represents Tamil Nadu. I Presume there are more madrasis in Matunga than Parsis in the whole world. Your entry to Matunga is greeted with aroma of coffee in the Air. Temples with gopurams and vimanan and intricate carving of gods and of goddesses inside. Shankar Math, Astika Samaj’sGuruvaruppan, Bhajana Samaj Ram Mandir, are the main temples around. The flowers shops selling gajaras, with those big garlands, (My wife and I love those garlands and wants to get remarried, of course with each other only), local marketplace full of shops selling south Indian stuff, are a treat to your eyes. Matunga is frequently visited by my beloved wife for shopping silk sarees at Nallies. Ask my wallet. It keeps getting emptied frequently. It’s the only eyewitness. I believe Mahalakshmi Silk Saree Center is also famous for traditional silk sarees.

When you are in Rome, behave like Romans. Same rule applies at Matunga. Be Tamil. Matunga is a place where taste meets tradition. Explore Discover and Enjoy Southern Cuisine. For southern food lovers this is paradise. If you bypass all South Indian Restaurants around without even noticing it, you must be a follower of Stoicism.

The Gastronomical journey starts from the Matunga Railway Station itself. As soon as you come out, on your left hand side you will find a fatherly figure restaurant, with historical background opened in 1942, inaugurated by Sane Guruji, none other than Rama Naik’s Shri Krishna Boarding. Very Neat and clean, hygienic restaurant. One can even inspect their kitchen to verify the claim, of course that won’t be necessary. Just enter it and pamper yourselves. The meal is served course wise – Rasam serves as appetizer followed by rice and sambar accompanied by seasonal vegetables supported by Papadam & pickle, served on Plantain leaves. Then comes curd rice. If you happened to go there on Sunday just enjoy Sunday Special meals with vegetables like Dudhi Bhaji, Batata Bhaji, Tondli Bhaji, Beetroot Bhaji, Carrot Bhaji, brinjal, Shrikhand Puri, Gulab Jamun, Dudhi Halva as sweet dishes, all just for Rs. 65, full meals. If you do not order Payasam that taste heavenly, you are committing greatest culinary sins.

For breakfast there are several options available. On Sunday morning we prefer having breakfast at Ramashraya, opp. Railway Station only for Neer Dosai, Coconut Sevai. Lots of people prefer Mani at Ruia College. Recently Mani has opened a branch near Shankar Matt, which also serves equally tasty snacks. South Indian Concerns is just opp. Shankar Matt where Meals, Tiffin as well as Snacks are available. Sharda Bhuvan, Saraswati are among other OK options. One can also try a road side stall just next to Mani, near Shankar Matt who also serves good snacks.

Café Madras, Café Mysore, New Modern Home, Idli House are the restaurants near King’s Circle.

Café Madras is the Landmark, probably the best around, where ‘state-of–the-art’ dosas and idlis will drive you crazy. Pissarate Dosai, Ragi Dosai, Set Dosai, Ulandu Dosai, Pineapple Shira, Pan Poli, Badam Halva, Upma, Besibhele Hule Anna Bhat, Pongal Avail, Rasam Vada, Mysore Bonda, Vadai, Rava Dosai, Uttapam, Sada Dosai, Masala Dosai, you just name it. But nowadays I have one reservation about Café Madras. It’s slowly turning into Gujarati joint as it’s patronize by Gurjars. I have a strong hunch that the preparations are twisted so as to palate to their chief patrons.

If you are totally devoted to Idlis, please go and worship Idlis and surrender yourselves at newly opened “Idli House”.

Khottu, Mudho, Oondi, Sanna Khotto, Phanas Mudho, Mysore Rava, Kanchipurm Idli, Kakdi Idli, Pepper Idli, Idli Upma, (Those are the dazzling variety of Idlis ,can you believe that ? ) and it’s served with accompaniments like Molga Pudi, Limbda Pudi with Til Oil, Vengaya Sambhar, GSB Daalitqya, Coconut with Hing seasoning, Adrak and Rai seasoning and so on. Idli House has spoilt us. We wasted half of our life with just plain idlis with sambar and chutneys.

I must acknowledge another good restaurant outside Matunga serving authentic and best full meals, Tiffin (Chapatties limited as usual). Its opp. Sterling Theater on 5th floor, where you have to wait in long queue during lunch hours. Its name is New Modern Hindu Home, visited once in a moth on a regular basis by us.