Filter Coffee
Undoubtedly one of the best wake up alarms to start the day is with a cup of freshly brewed filter coffee (read, ‘Filter Kaapi’) Be it before or after, breakfast is incomplete without a cup of kaapi. Ratna Cafe, Triplicane High Road, Triplicane, is a perfect choice to have a steaming cup of coffee along with their signature Idli Sambar.
Bread Omelette
A visit to Egmore is not complete without visiting the Museum, the ‘Cotton Streets’ and tasting the Bread Omelette right outside Alsa Mall. Soft bread toasted with butter, spread with spicy mint sauce and wrapped in a fluffy omelette. This stall has been operational for many years and is actually more famous than the mall itself!
Murukku Sandwich
A novel sandwich with layers of tomatoes, cucumbers, mint chutney and cheese sandwiched between 2 murukkus (a crispy n spicy savoury) is yet another unique must-eat. Links @ Raja Annamalai Road, Purasaiwakkam are the founders of this fusion food in Chennai.
Biriyani
A one dish complete meal and the the King of all non vegetarian foods is best taken with chilled onion raita and hot brinjal gravy. Yaa Mohideen Biriyani, Church Road, Pallavaram that started out as a small outlet, now have a huge restaurant on GST Road in Pallavaram for those who want to skip the long waiting lines!
Kuzhi Paniyaram
A healthy batter made of black lentils and rice is poured in moulds and cooked with a generous sprinkle of oil/ghee. The spicy version is seasoned with green chillies while the sweet version is a delicious blend of jaggery and coconut flakes. Famous since 1982, The Grand Sweets & Snacks has been a household name for their range of tasty and hygienic preparations of sweets and savouries.
Jilebi & Badam Milk
Authentic sweet dishes from Kakada Ramprasad Sweets & Chats, Mint Street, Sowcarpet are the Jilebi – a pretzel shaped deep-fried batter soaked in thick sugar syrup; Badam Milk – a cup of sweet condensed milk with a generous mix of cashews, almonds, pistachios and flavoured with saffron. Indeed, a one stop destination to satiate your sweet tooth!
Buttermilk & Masala Milk
Head to Tiruvanmiyur or Kottivakkam beach after 9 and you will surely see an old man (fondly called ‘Mor Thatha’) selling hot masala milk and spiced buttermilk in the late hours at the beach. He has no shop but his tasty preparations have earned him a strong clientele. He carries his goods on his cycle and can be easily identified by the gathering crowd around his mobile shop! If you can’t spot him give him a call @ 9566231674