McDonald's

The first McDonald's restaurant opened in Chennai, in Anna Nagar. Though there has always been an outlet in the Ascendas Complex, this was the first stand-alone restaurant.

And a HUGE deal was made of the opening. I mean, newspapers, TV ads, flyers... everywhere you would possibly look! And it was in Anna Nagar, which is fast becoming a little city of its own.

Now I know the West (esp the United States) is making a huge fuss over the fat content and general unhealthiness of a McDonald's diet. The fact that absolutely nothing there is actually healthy - no, not even the salads. But give India a chance. This is the first time we have a McDonald's and people see it as a integral part of the Western world! So the place is ALWAYS packed with people. Here's a view of the line that actually went out the door!!


The menu is very very different from the typical one in the US. It has Indian-ized versions of their products, such as a spicy paneer salsa wrap, and several (actually, almost half) the menu choices are vegetarian. I was on a recent holiday in the US and we went to McDonald's a few times when we were on long drives and nothing on the menu was vegetarian except the french fries (and I'm not sure what oil they use for frying the potatoes either).

Here, everything is 100% guaranteed to be made in vegetable oil. And they do not use beef products at all. So there's fish and chicken... and vegetarian options like the McVeggie Burger or the McAloo Tikki! And the Big Mac? Its the Chicken Maharaja Mac! :)

We brought home the food and I would give it 2 stars (out of a possible 5). There was no flavour, and everything looked old and sad. But I'm also not a huge fast food fan, so maybe I'm prejudiced.

On another note, a friend who is pregnant went to a KFC outlet in Chennai and ordered fried chicken. They said their policy states they cannot serve their chicken to pregnant women because it is not safe!!! It leads you to ask, so why are you letting children eat it? Or anyone else for that matter? Is it a big leap to maybe start distrusting any food from KFC? Or from any fast food place in Chennai? Hmm. It really does make you wonder.

Wire Less

I lost Internet connectivity on Sunday night at about 10.30 pm. Well, the fixer guy came by Monday and told me that someone had cut the wires and stolen the copper wiring on the inside! This was the case the previous dozen times I lost connectivity too. And, he says, its very common. The thieves steal the copper wires, melt them all together and sell the copper!

I went to see the wire and we found a cow settled down by the pavement chewing on the plastic outer casing! It was almost completely gone! Only In India, I thought!!

I walked down the block and suddenly realized that there were tons of wires lying everywhere - on the road, sidewalk, on trees, on walls - all exposed wires that had no right being left unattended. I have been oblivious to the many wires lying exposed EVERYWHERE! Here are some really scary photos:

A cut wire:


Open wires on the pavement:


The maze of wires from various houses:


An open box:
And another:

And if the wires didn't get you, maybe the pieces of glass will:

Knives

Some of the benefits of living in Chennai you start taking for granted. We can have veggies and fish delivered fresh to the door everyday! Doctors (some of them) make house calls. And when you call a doctor, you don't have to talk to a nurse first.

And you can get your knives sharpened professionally for Rs. 100 (about $2) for an unlimited number of knives, scissors and blender blades! And the man comes home and does it for you.

La Boulangerie

La Boulangerie is a French bakery/cafe that is tucked away in a little corner of Anna Nagar. Opened by a young Frenchman, Alexis de Ducla, it began as a noble NGO. Mr. de Ducla began La Boulangerie to help young adults from underprivileged backgrounds, get a career going by teaching them to bake and manage a bakery. Foodstuff from the bakery was sold to the cafes at Amethyst, the Park hotel, Amma Naana and Maison de Gourmet.

He then opened his own little cafe/bakery. After reading a lot of press about the cafe, we decided to give it a test run. So on Sunday afternoon, we set off there, to have some "coffee and cake".


The ambience is very nice. They have a little outdoor terrace with seating, and in-door furniture (for those not brave enough to weather the Chennai heat). There is a selection of croissants, bagels (yes, the first time I've seen bagels anywhere in Chennai), flavored breads, cakes and pastries.


The less said about the bread, the better! It all sounded very good, but tasted ... disappointing. I sampled a mushroom quiche was "ok". The only thing that was very good was the little tea cakes that came with the cappuccino we ordered.


I think they have a long way to go before their food resembles, in taste, a Parisienne cafe. I wish them good luck - god knows Chennai needs a great bakery/ cafe.

Contact information and address on their website. (the site is under construction, but the basic address and phone numbers are there).

The Samosa Factory

The Samosa Factory is a relatively new store that has opened in Anna Nagar. Its a little - and I mean tiny - desk! on the sidewalk.


You order something and they have it pre-packaged in little bags. If they're out, the lady at the desk, runs upstairs (where the kitchen is) and brings some down - hot, fresh fabulous mini samosas. You could alternatively eat there, and they have a microwave to heat it up for you!


They have 4 kinds - Indian, Chinese, Potato and Jain. I really like the Chinese - its unique (carrot, beans, potatoes, cabbage sauteed in a chilli-soy sauce. The Indian and Potato ones are almost identical (the lady wasn't too sure either what the difference was). And the Jain...well, its a Jain samosa (no root vegetables - onion, garlic, potato...).


You get a package of 12 mini samosas for Rs. 20. I thought that was extremely reasonable. And it was delicious. Perfect to pick-up as appetizers for a last-minute party!

Address and phone numbers on their website.

Bay Leaf

For the best Kathi Rolls in Chennai, try Bay Leaf. They have a huge menu with north Indian, Bengali and Chinese food, but their Kathi Rolls are really superb.

If you like paneer, try the Achari Paneer Roll. And the mutton and chicken egg rolls are also supposedly superb.

The restaurant is pretty old - they did close down for a few months, but are back up and running now. They have a simple restaurant with modest decor and clean tables - but I always end up doing take-out/ delivery.


Give it a try. Its really the best kathi rolls I've had in Chennai (ok maybe tied with Tic Tac).

Bay Leaf
14 Gopalapuram,
Chennai

+91 44 28114558‎

+91 44 28114557

Madras, Nalla Madras!

The Chennai Corporation has finally decided to beautify the city and build infrastructure before it gets out of hand.

They have done some amazing things already. Though everyone complains (and will continue to do so) non-stop, we are soon going to be thankful for all the flyovers being built. Especially when the traffic is intense. Flyovers ease traffic congestions, so be happy folks.



Another wonderful thing they are doing is removing all illegal billboards! I really didn't think I would ever see this in my lifetime. Chennai is looking cleaner and greener already. They work at nights and remove the boards and hoardings. And then people complained that the signs had brought extra lighting to the roads, so they installed lights (in the Gemini Circle alone, they have spent 13 crores on lighting!). And now it looks amazing. Clean.



They have also decided to BROADEN roads! Can you believe that where they have found they cannot deal with the traffic congestion any other way, they've decided to just move all walls bordering the road by 5 feet. I think that's amazing - and every single person has complied. The roads are already more navigable.



I'm so happy that I get to see and enjoy all these improvements. My congratulations - everyone really is trying. Madras, Nalla Madras (Madras, Nice Madras).

Restaurant Review: Lotus

I've eaten at Lotus numerous times. So much, infact, that my usual dining companion and I have a special sauce there that they bring out only when we dine there!! I couldn't believe that I hadn't reviewed it here. I did mention it briefly, but not nearly enough.

Lotus, located at The Park Hotel, has the best Thai food in Chennai. And maybe in south India. A cozy restaurant with ample plush seating, the ambience invites you to linger over your food and have 3 hour lunches with a good friend.

Now to the exciting food. We always start with the Vietnamese spring rolls that are fresh and crunchy and served with a special dipping sauce that is incredible. The must order salads are the Mango Salad and the ever popular raw Papaya salad. They also have a Banana Blossoms salad that we tried recently which is very nice.



Then comes the Thai spicy fried rice, Pahd Thai, honey glazed crunchy vegetables, chicken satay and a vegetarian green curry. I must say here that every single one of those dishes is Excellent.



We usually end with the black sticky rice pudding, which is tremendous. I've been angling to get the recipe for a year now, and haven't managed to! One order might be enough for about 4 people - its really really rich.

If you love Thai food, head to Lotus for a delectable meal.

Lotus Thai
Park Hotel
601, Anna Salai
Chennai

Phone - (044) 4214 4000 for reservations

Restaurant Review: Somethin' Fishy

Though everyone seems to love Somethin' Fishy, I was a little skeptical, being vegetarian. I understand they have great seafood, but did they have good veggie food? Well, I tried it out, and though they don't have a huge selection for a veggie, the food was quite good.

Located on the rooftop of a hotel on busy Mount Road, the only major drawback of the restaurant was that there was no air-conditioning. In Chennai, that's a huge deterrent, and with all the fans and a thatch roof, it was still very hot. The ambience is non-fussy with wrought iron furniture, fish nets, shells and plain wood tables. On a Saturday night, I was surprised that the restaurant was empty the entire time we were there!



The owner and chef, Kadir, and his wife, Nimmi, are so nice that they accommodate most requests. My friend had grilled fish skewers, and I had a "mixed vegetables in spicy sauce". The sauce, which was super, turned out to be an unusual avocado sauce. It was definitely something I'd order again.

But the biggest hit of the evening was the Chocolate Mousse. Please order it if you remotely enjoy chocolate. Good Stuff!

Somethin' Fishy
Inn Chennai
578, Anna Salai
open for dinner only from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Phone # 9884110113 for details or reservations.

Beat the Heat

Coconut Water Salesman:


Chennaiites sure know how to beat the heat. Its been 36 deg C/ 95 deg F!! Absolutely too too hot!! Some enterprising vendors have brought their wares to the street. What a cool way to beat the heat!

Fresh Sugarcane juice:


This woman was selling "slurpies" - crushed ice with different flavors!


Poms



Watermelons


Tiny, tender cucumbers, served with salt and/or chilli powder


There were also several vendors selling sunglasses, hats and bandanas. And, at lunch time, every single vendor had a long line of customers!

Times of India

Times of India, which has been a national newspaper for decades in the rest of India, has finally made its entry into Chennai. A great time to enter the city, in my opinion.



Chennai has always had two major newspapers - The Hindu and Indian Express. For some reason, Indian Express started losing steam and readership over the last few years. Last year, a new entrant to the newspaper business in Chennai, Deccan Chronicle. DC suddenly became very popular - its a "fun" newspaper that the next generation enjoys reading. Their most popular section was the Page 3 Society section - people were talking about that page all over the city. This was, I think, only because Chennai lacks a public society magazine or newspaper round-up.

The Hindu, has been overheard to have become "boring". The coverage is still fantastic on the political front, and for International news. But the writing has become less "catchy".

Good time for Times of India to make an entrance. When I bought the first issue yesterday I was quite excited. It's not everyday that you get to hold the first edition of a major newspaper in your city! Good Luck TOI and Welcome to Chennai...finally!

Tangerine: Restaurant Review

Though this restaurant is right around the corner from us, we never managed to make it there for a while. This past weekend, we finally drove by and decided to stop for lunch. The decor is very stark and not a lot of fuss. The restaurant is known for its sizzlers, and sure enough, they had a menu that boasted about 15-20 kinds of sizzlers.

We ordered some bruschetta with garlic bread and crab bisque for our appetizers. The bruschetta was fabulous. Tomatoes were fresh and there was just a hint of basil and the garlic bread alone might get us to come back to this restaurant. My husband didn't enjoy his bisque at all.



For our entrees, I ordered a vegetarian Creole sizzler which wasn't pretty to look at but quite tasty. It didn't taste of anything Creole, but overall was still good.



At about Rs.100/ a head, I thought it was a good deal for a quick lunch. Not bad for a restaurant around the corner.

5, Murray's Gate Road,
Alwarpet,
Chennai
Phone: (044) 42038800

Life's a Beach

The nicest part of Chennai is the beach. A mini-getaway. A break from the hustle and bustle of the city. And this weekend, the storm clouds provided a great backdrop!





It also happened to be Holi weekend. And Good Friday. And Navroz. There were tons of people on the beach playing Holi.



Its sad to see the condition of the beach though. Please do your part and don't litter!




Let's keep the beaches lovely!

What doesn't work

After working here for a year or so, I have come to find such glaring differences in the work cultures between the US and India. I never noticed it when I first worked here some 10-15 years ago. But after having worked in the US, I notice it more.

I don't write about the IT/Software/Call Center culture (which is still new to India) or the Advertising firms (that are and always will be "cool" places to work). I refer only to the traditional industries. And to my experience. In this non-confrontational Indian environment, its a little difficult for women (especially since there are 3 women and 102 men in my company) to say something to their bosses or colleagues without them taking offense. So I'm using this blog to tell anyone who works:

1. Hey Mr. General Manager - Everyone prefers to be addressed by their title rather than their names. They are, without blinking, called MD and CMD and President and etc. After always using first names at work in the US, its really strange. There, the CEO down to the coffee guy is on a first name basis. Here, I was first called Madam. Then when I asked them to call me Arundathi, I am now Arundathi Madam!

2. I'll give you time to think of a decent excuse - I sit down for a meeting and decide on a game plan for an upcoming project. We chart out responsibilities, deliverables. We review it in detail, what kind of information we need, how to get the information, how to present it. When the time comes to present, Mr. X's information is not there. I just don't understand. Has he forgotten? Has his dog eaten his homework? Who knows? Those are things that are just not asked or answered here! Its almost impolite to ask people why they didn't meet their deadlines! And they just don't bother with excuses.

3. For God's sake, Turn OFF the Cell Phones!! Its unbelievable that even if you tell people politely at the beginning of the meeting, they won't do it. And they will answer calls in the middle of the meeting. Just to whisper that "I'm in a meeting, I'll call you back"!? What the heck? Maybe when you say no cellphones, you have to specify no talking, no whispering and no texting either. And no, we don't care that you have the entire movie's soundtrack as your ring tone.

4. Leave the Toiletries at home. In the middle of a meeting today, this woman opened her handbag, pulled out her nail clippers, kept her hands under the table, and went click, click, click. Did she really think no one could hear her or see her cutting her nails? And in the middle of a presentation with 8 other people in the room?! What are you thinking? Be a little professional, people.

5. Don't wipe the drool off your face in public! How about one guy who was in a meeting with me and we were going through a proposal in detail. I look up after about 20 minutes of studying the figures, and this guy is fast asleep! In his chair. Snoring. He wakes up when I scrape my chair and wipes the drool off his face and continues with the meeting.

6. Use Deodorant. Its available everywhere in India now. Use it. Don't lean over people to explain graphs/ figures or even to hand them cups of coffee if you haven't used deodorant.

If anyone has any funny stories from work, do share. It might make mine seem a little less weird!

Ahh Rains!

Thank God for the rains in Chennai! Beautiful, dark, thundery pouring rain to take away the heat!! Thank you!!

BBQ Nation

There's been a lot of press lately about a new restaurant in town called BBQ Nation at a little hotel called Sri Devi Park in T Nagar. We simply had to try it out and we went last night.



The hotel is in some remote little corner of T Nagar, but once you get into the restaurant, its a pleasant surprise. Very tastefully done up and efficient, polite staff. We had kids with us and they even brought little toys for the kids to play with! The appetizer portion is served at the table - its almost dim sum style where the waitstaff walk around with different skewers of BBQed food. You choose what you want and then heat it up for a minute or two on the grill in the middle of your table.



There were skewers of baby potatoes, peppers, mushrooms, shrimp, chicken and fish. I personally loved the baby potatoes - they had a whole mustard dressing which was really great. They also had various dipping sauces at the table which looked very interesting.

After the appetizer portion of the meal, we were all ready to leave. But you can also have the usual fare of biryani, fish, chicken curry etc at an enormous buffet that is set up at the corner of the restaurant. Overall this is great and much needed in Chennai!

Schools

I feel compelled to write this, just to get my thoughts in order. Its almost a note to myself. As I've mentioned before, I was born and grew up in Chennai and went to school, high school, undergraduate and graduate school here. I only changed school once after my 10th grade, and even then I loved it. I can't say the same for others, but doesn't everyone have fond memories of their schools? Can anyone really tell me "I hated my school"? I think its almost universal that everyone you ask will say they loved their schools, no matter where, no matter how good.

I've been thinking very very hard and talking to lots of people about where to put my daughter in school. She currently attends Kids Central which is now a pre-school. I think its fabulous and my daughter loves it. She recently started attending school on her own and the separation was very hard, but the school was tremendously supportive and she loves it now. But Kids Central ends at the 1st grade. What then?

Since I was in the same school for the first 12 years of my life, I wanted the same for my daughter. So she could have the same friends and same teachers and same environment to foster a sense of belonging. But I can't for the life of me decide on a school. I really want her to do the ICSE board, which is what I did, and I thought it was a tremendous learning system.

The American School is not really an option since they don't allow non-US citizens. Sishya was a choice, but I've heard that the waiting list just for the lower Kindergarten is 100. People are registering their kids while they are 2 months pregnant! Since I didnt get a head start, it seems almost impossible now.

Its difficult. Does anyone have any insights into the Chennai school scene? How do others decide on a school?

Peshawri

After my favorite restaurant, Patio, closed down, my friend and I tried desperately to find an alternative place to have our leisurely lunches. And then, only because we had tried every place else, we decided to give Peshawri a shot. We hadn't been there in years and vaguely remembered the food as being pretty good. Well, we were very pleasantly surprised - the food was excellent.



They serve appetizers of fried papads topped with chopped tomatoes, onions and chaat masala that is just what you need to nibble while waiting for the food. The ambience has stayed exactly the same. The very same wooden menu cards, and chairs and tables that look like they are just polished tree trunks! They even have little cloth "bibs" for everyone instead of napkins. Forks and spoons are available on request, but people are encouraged to use their hands to eat. And let me tell you, its way easier when you are scooping up that last bit of dal with the roti!



We ordered paneer tikkas, seekh kababs, romali rotis and dal makhani. Everything was super. We ate up every last morsel, while drinking some chilled chaas and jal jeera. And we even licked our fingers shamelessly!

Hip Hip Asia

We've been to Hip Asia at the Taj Connemara several times, but last night was the first time we absolutely loved the food. Either the chef has changed or he has started to make stuff that he's comfortable with. The menu has changed and the lovely ambience stays the same. They specialize in most parts of Asian cuisine with parts of their menu devoted to Vietnamese, Malay and Thai food and a separate menu with Teppenyaki specials.

We ordered appetizers recommended by our waiter, who was spot on! He suggested the Lotus Stem Honey Chilli for the vegetarians (ie. me!) which was superb. It was spicy and sweet and crunchy and my phone's camera just doesn't do it justice. It looked orange and red and lovely. We also got some fish and chilli chicken which was much appreciated. I ordered the veitnamese rice paper rolls filled with crunchy vermecelli and vegetables that was also very good.

For our entrees we had teppenyaki fried rice with vegetables and garlic that I always order, and as expected, it was delicious. They are served in small bowls that are meant to be individual portions, but are quite enough for two people. We also ordered some shrimp that my dining companions were left scraping up the sauce.

We were absolutely too stuffed for dessert, but definitely tempted when they rolled out the dessert cart with lots of chocolate stuff that looked delicious. Next time...

Hip Asia
Taj Connemara
Binny Road
Chennai - 600 002
Tel : (91-44) 6600 0000