Once Upon A Time
Posted by Trivikram Prasad at 5/3/2009 6:36 PM 
Categories: Chettinaad, Kerala
Tags: Chennai Hotel Green Park
Categories: Chettinaad, Kerala
Tags: Chennai Hotel Green Park
Frankly, it was with some trepidation that I went with family to Hotel Green Park in Chennai. My wife's relative assured me that the food was great and the value for money was not too bad either.
The 4-start hotel is on Arcot Road in Vadapalani, a little bit out of the center of the city. The decor and the hotel itself are classy and spacious.
Once Upon A Time resides on the lounge floor neatly tucked away to the left of the large atrium. I was pleasantly surprised to see a substantial selection of South Indian food and was especially intrigued by the Chetinaad items on the menu. As only two of us are the vegetation eating types, I wasn't able to do full justice to the offerings. However, I ordered the Nethili Fry and Karuvapilai Kozhi for the starters.
One word to describe both the starters - 'amazing'! Nethili Fry is a dry dish made from anchovies that are deep fried and each piece is like a French Fry. The spices were exquisite to say the least. Chilli powder and turmeric powder were mixed in the right quantities to produce a true masterpiece of Chettinaad cuisine. The taste was crunchy and full of flavor. Adding salt to any fried dish is always a challenge but here it was just right and we cleaned up the plate in good time.
Next, on the starters list was Karuvapilai Kozhi. This was again an excellent preparation with pieces of boneless chicken made with Chettinaad spices and curry leaves. A little less dry than the Nethili Fry, the Kozhi dry was an able follow-up to the fish.
We then embarked on the main course. For this we went with a Erachi (Lamb in Malayalam) Kozhambu and the Kozhi (Chicken in Tamil) Kozhambu, which are essentially a Kerala Lamb curry and a Chettinaad Chicken curry respectively.
The lamb curry was served first. Once again - amazing! Made as a gravy with tamarind, chillies and other spices I have no clue of, the curry went great with steamed rice. The lamb was succulent and juicy and with the curry on the lamb, the rice and curry were an awesome combination.
The chicken curry was no less in any way. A very different kind of dish from the lamb, this had a lot of pepper and more of Chettinaad spices and went beautifully well with steamed rice. The spices for both dishes were rich and quite hot and definitely these dishes are not for the faint assed! It takes a while for the spices to hit the right spot, but when they do, you realize that these dishes are really really hot!
Summary? I asked to talk to the chef and a young man came out. I forget his name as I was too effusive in my praise for the fare he had presented to us! Without a doubt, this is the best Chettinaad food I have tasted in Bangalore and Chennai combined. If in Chennai, make time for Once Upon a Time. It is definitely worth it! 6 stars out of 5 I say!!
The 4-start hotel is on Arcot Road in Vadapalani, a little bit out of the center of the city. The decor and the hotel itself are classy and spacious.
Once Upon A Time resides on the lounge floor neatly tucked away to the left of the large atrium. I was pleasantly surprised to see a substantial selection of South Indian food and was especially intrigued by the Chetinaad items on the menu. As only two of us are the vegetation eating types, I wasn't able to do full justice to the offerings. However, I ordered the Nethili Fry and Karuvapilai Kozhi for the starters.
One word to describe both the starters - 'amazing'! Nethili Fry is a dry dish made from anchovies that are deep fried and each piece is like a French Fry. The spices were exquisite to say the least. Chilli powder and turmeric powder were mixed in the right quantities to produce a true masterpiece of Chettinaad cuisine. The taste was crunchy and full of flavor. Adding salt to any fried dish is always a challenge but here it was just right and we cleaned up the plate in good time.
Next, on the starters list was Karuvapilai Kozhi. This was again an excellent preparation with pieces of boneless chicken made with Chettinaad spices and curry leaves. A little less dry than the Nethili Fry, the Kozhi dry was an able follow-up to the fish.
We then embarked on the main course. For this we went with a Erachi (Lamb in Malayalam) Kozhambu and the Kozhi (Chicken in Tamil) Kozhambu, which are essentially a Kerala Lamb curry and a Chettinaad Chicken curry respectively.
The lamb curry was served first. Once again - amazing! Made as a gravy with tamarind, chillies and other spices I have no clue of, the curry went great with steamed rice. The lamb was succulent and juicy and with the curry on the lamb, the rice and curry were an awesome combination.
The chicken curry was no less in any way. A very different kind of dish from the lamb, this had a lot of pepper and more of Chettinaad spices and went beautifully well with steamed rice. The spices for both dishes were rich and quite hot and definitely these dishes are not for the faint assed! It takes a while for the spices to hit the right spot, but when they do, you realize that these dishes are really really hot!
Summary? I asked to talk to the chef and a young man came out. I forget his name as I was too effusive in my praise for the fare he had presented to us! Without a doubt, this is the best Chettinaad food I have tasted in Bangalore and Chennai combined. If in Chennai, make time for Once Upon a Time. It is definitely worth it! 6 stars out of 5 I say!!
Now you tell me! After my trip to Chennai is over and done with! Will definitely check out the place next time I have to go there.
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