FOOD-- 10:

‘THE TASTE OF TAMIL NADU’ AT GATEWAY HOTEL COONOOR

P S SUNDAR 

Taking its contribution to promote Tamil Nadu among the visitors from other states and various countries, Taj group’s Gateway Hotel Coonoor has launched an exclusive package of select cuisines from Tamil Nadu titled ‘The Taste of Tamil Nadu’.

“This is our introduction for the benefit of visitors during the ongoing summer season.   We have created an exclusive Menu Chart to guide the guests on selecting these special items”, Gateway General Manager R Muralidharan told me.

“We did extensive analysis of the possible cuisine keeping the taste of the guests in mind and have come out with both starters and main course separately for vegetarians and non-vegetarians.  Collectively, these make stand-alone food selection and the guests show enormous interest in each of these items”, he disclosed.

“For starters, we have fried Udhiri Vazhaipoo and keerai vadai for vegetarians and vanjaram meen porichathu, Pallipalayam Kozhi Varuval, Uppu Kari and Karuvepillai Yera for non-vegetarians”, said Executive Chef D Ramalingam.

“For the main course, we have introduced arisi Mandi rasam, Paruppu urundai Kozhambu, Vatha Kozhambu, Urulai Mochai Perttal, Vellai Sadam, Kothamalli Sadam and Kambu Thayir Sadam for vegetarians and meen kothamalli Kozhambu and Thanjavur Chicken Saru for non-vegetarians”, he detailed.

“We thoroughly enjoyed Kothamalli Satham with urulai motchai peratall and have decided to come again during our stay in The Nilgiris”, Aadhit Balaji, company secretary from Chennai, said.

“Interestingly, we have collected the recipe from Executive Chef Ramalingam who is guiding the guests on understanding the ingredients and cuisine associated with the items on Taste of Tamil Nadu menu”, housewife from Chennai Vijayalakshmi Bhavanisankar said.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

HAPPENING -- 10:

VISIT ‘METTU KUDIL’ FOR ROADSIDE TEA SHOP EXPERIENCE 

BY P S SUNDAR

Yet another unique attraction for visitors this summer has come about in Ooty now.   It is ‘Mettu kudil’ trying to fulfil a desire lying deep inside many customers of star hotels but shy to be experimented now.

The roadside tea shop, especially in a village, is a telling example of Indian lifestyle and many, irrespective of their current position in business or society, have a craving for the delicious tea and snacks in such a rural ambience.  This takes them on nostalgic walk down the memory lane recalling their childhood days in their village with friends from school and farming community gathering at the tea shop where elders also assembled and talked about almost everything under the sky! 

“To recreate this experience for those who hesitate to enjoy in the roadside today owing to their social status, we have established a village shop called ‘Mettu kudil’ in the open area in our hotel”, Ismail Khan, Resident Director, Gem Hotels and Resorts Ooty, said.

“The palm leaf roof, tea shop seating, newspapers to read and songs from radio are adding realism to the atmosphere so much so, we see guests preferring to stay back here rather than get drowned in the summer crowd in downtown”, he explained.

“More importantly, many are concerned about the hygiene and safety of the food and drinks served in the roadside tea shop.   We address this issue with utmost care so that our guests can safely enjoy everything rural or roadside”, he disclosed.

“We have live counters to serve Vazhakkai (plantain) Bajji, Molaga (chilli) Bajji, Vengaya (Onion) Bajji, potato Bonda, mini Vada, samosa with chutneys. We also serve sweets and savours kept in glass jars just like the tea shop in the village”, Executive Chef Surendran said. 

“Tea and coffee are prepared in front of the guests and served in glass tumblers to help guests enjoy the roadside feeling.  Every item is served at ` 25”, F & B Manager Pradeep Kumar said.

“The shop is open from 4 pm to 8 pm daily till June 15.   Already, the summer visitors are enjoying the luxury of leisure at this shop and we are stepping up supplies to cater to the anticipated increased demand as the summer season advances”, he noted.

Interestingly, this concept has caught up with foreigners as well.  A group of Malaysian visitors were among the first to enjoy at ‘Mettu Kudil’.

A visitor from Malaysia Rozaimi said, “We enjoyed delicious bajji with tea.  This was my first experience of eating this snack.  The price is reasonable, the place is very hygienic and the service is great.   The place is full of fun and the management deserves praise for this concept”.

Visitors from Europe and the USA get attracted to the ambience and curiously enquire about the concept for, this is new to them in star hotels.  Once they understand, they enjoy taking photos while trying almost every item available at ‘Mettu Kudil’.   And, some were heard commenting that they would have to pay more for these same items if served inside the star hotels!  

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

HAPPENING -- 9:

VISIT ZEN GARDEN FOR ORIENTAL MEAL IN JAPANESE AMBIENCE

BY P S SUNDAR

This summer, tourists can enjoy dining amidst the natural surroundings in an exotic ambience – Zen Garden at Gem Park Hotels and Resorts Ooty.

“Zen Garden is often referred to as the Japanese Rock Garden.  It is a dry landscape.  As such a concept would be new to the Nilgiris, we created a miniature landscape outside our ‘Jade Garden’, Chinese Speciality Restaurant”, Gem Park Resident Director Ismail Khan said.

“We developed this as a composed arrangement of rocks, water features, moss, pruned trees, bushes and used gravel and sand.  These are tastefully raked to cause ripples in water”, he explained.

“To enhance the Japanese feel, we have imitated the Buddhist temple-like structure of Kyoto.   And, Pagoda as the temple is called is a tiered tower with multiple eaves sporting bright colour painting”, he disclosed.

The grass meadow intercepted with attractive tiles, pebbled pathways, Buddha statues in peaceful piety, Japanese colourful lamps and chandeliers, green plants, brightly painted rails – all transport the guests into the Japanese world! 

Little wonder that guests spend time clicking photos – groups individuals and selfies!   Hotel staff assist guests in taking photos thereby leaving long lasting memories of Zen Garden in their travelogue.

      

Consequently, this Pagoda has become the favourite dining area for the guests.  It can accommodate 15 guests at one go.  Guests are seen booking tables and waiting for their turn to enjoy the uniqueness of dining there.

Oriental meal is the attraction at the Zen Garden. Chicken satay, nasi goreng, pad Thai noodle and tub tim krob are among the favourite dishes there.  Executive Chef Surendran and his team interact with the guests and help them choose the dishes suiting their individual taste.

Foreigners equally enjoy the exotic ambience in the otherwise Indian hospitality.     A group of Russian dancers recently spent hours in Pagoda restaurant enjoying their oriental meal and recorded their appreciation of the service.

You may sometimes rub shoulders with film personalities, political leaders including Ministers and bureaucrats at the Zen Garden.   

“If you love to have dinner or lunch with a view of the beautiful mountain ranges and Niligiri trees, this is the place to be. We ordered veg burnt garlic fried rice with white sauce contains bells peppers, broccoli, baby corn, water chestnut and fried veggies.   Food was yummy.  Definitely a place to visit, the service is quick and the staff are very courteous”, a guest N Shambhavi from Chennai has noted in the hotel’s records.

So, while the inside dining is Chinese (Jade Garden), the outside dining is Japanese (Zen Garden) and both offer totally different experience because of the exclusive ambience. 

“The menu is ala carte and the rates are as listed in the Menu Card.  It is the ambience which enhances the dining experience; otherwise, we maintain the same standard in the food preparation and service in all our different restaurants”, Food and Beverage Manager Pradeep Kumar said.

“We had been there many times.  We keep going there for the fabulous taste of food and the view the place offers.   We found The Triple Shezhwan fried rice with prawns was yummy”, a Guest K Sunita from Bangalore has recorded.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)