Jonah's Bistro

I LOVE BURGERS... not just any burgers.. its gotta be BEEF .. period

My love for burgers have made me try at almost every place possible. It must be grilled red meat and beef in particular.  I have visited a number of places ( no 5 star hotels) in Chennai hunting for the same. Eatalica, Pupil, Llyods Tea House, Sandy's all the usual suspects i can think off. Apart from Sandy's the rest of them have crumby buns and meat is okayish at the max.

Sandy's has  a nice flavorsome meat and the buns don't crumble but doesn't fill your stomach. I have been reading up nice reviews from other bloggers and in food groups about this place. So on quiet weekday decided to stop by at this place in Besant Nagar.

The ambiance was blissful and liked the setup. They had high chair tables as well and so got myself seated in the corner. I knew even before the menu was handed out to me what i needed there. Ordered myself the beef burger while the water was served in glass which carried the restaurants name and so did the coasters, nice touch.

Then came the burger and boy was i impressed, the shiny bun was tempting with egg partially covering the meat patty sitting beautifully on tomato cucumber and lettuce perched on the heel of the bun. I was salivating like a dog and had to fight the urge not to take a bite before i took a nice pic of it.  Also, it was served with fries and salad made of white and purple cabbage, red peppers with lemon dressing i guess. But focus on the burger only....

Big question will the bun crumble and after the first few bites it did not.. kudos to the Jonah's team.
Patty was acting slippery  until i poked the toothpick all the way to the heel of the burger. Patty was juicy at its best.. not mushy neither dry... clearly it was rested  post cooking to retain the juices in it. The burst of juices with every bite was too good.. cleanly finished the plate. Veggies were fresh and added the crunch to the dish.

Next time i would order without the egg, personally i dont like egg in a burger unless its an egg burger.  Also, if i have to pick a grouse, not fair on my part but for the sake of it. I would set the patty on the heel maybe leave the lettuce and move the tomatoes and cucumbers to the top and replace the egg with bacon rashes. Also, go for pickled cucumbers instead of  fresh ones.

Jonah's Bistro is located on the first floor above Sree Krishna Sweets on the lane  before the petawrap kiosk.

Food  9.5/10 Ambience 9/10 Service 9/10 Price 9/10
Would I Recommend?  Yes,totally without hesitation

Thengaipal Sadham ( Coconut Milk Rice)

From my mom's kitchen.

Ingredients

Basmati Rice 2 cups

Coconut One medium size

Garlic 1 no

Onion 3 nos

Green Chilli 4 nos

Cinnamon 2 small sticks

Cloves 4 nos

Cardamom  2 nos

Bay leaf 1 nos

Cashew nuts about  10-15 nos

Oil 3-4 Tbsp

Ghee 2 tbsp

Salt to Taste

Prep

Extract coconut milk by grinding coconut such that you get 4 cups out of it. First use one cup of water to grind and extract. Subsequently add one cup water at a time and squeeze out the milk. Alternatively, one could use store bought coconut milk. Consistency should be that of milk, not to thick not to thin

Onions to be sliced thinly and garlic pods should be peeled.  Soak the rice for 15 mins

Process

Heat Oil and ghee together in a pressure cooker, add all the spices (bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom) let it cook add cashew nuts and cook until it turns light golden. Now add Onions, garlic and whole green chillies ( stalks removed) and sauté until the onions turn translucent. Now add the extracted coconut milk (4 cups)  with salt. Cook further until the milk starts to froth ensure that it doesn’t boil (risk of splitting). Now add the rice by straining water completely. Cover and wait for 2 whistles before turning off the stove.  Cool the cooker immediately and open to check that it hasn’t caught the bottom.

Serve Hot with Mutton Kurma, Spicy chicken gravy, Hot Pudhina Chutney, Veg Kurma, Koftha Curry or Raitha ( Potato, tomato, onions, green chilly)

Spicy Cauliflower and Broccoli Fry

On a lazy Sunday afternoon, thinking about doing a cauliflower based side dish to accompany mom's rasam. I stumbled upon amma chepindi blog on making Cauliflower karu veppudu. I kinda adapted the recipe to make this dish.

Ingredients

Cauliflower 1 no

Broccoli 1/2 head

Onion 2 nos big ones

Green chillies 3-4 nos sliced

Curry leaves 10 nos

Garlic paste 1 tsp

Ginger paste 1/2 tsp

Chilly powder 1 tsp

Coriander pwdr 1/2 tsp

Cumin pwdr 1/2 tsp

Garam masala 1/2 tsp

Turmeric pwdr 1/2 tsp

Oil 2 tbs

Water 1/4 cup

Salt to taste

Fresh coriander  a handful  chopped finely

Preparation

Cut cauliflower and broccoli into small florets. Place them in a bowl and rinse then thoroughly with water and strain. Chop the onions roughly and sluice the green chillies.

Heat the oil in a pan and add the curry leaves along with the sliced green chillies. Cover and cook, then add onions and continue cooking until the onions turn translucent. Now add the ginger and garlic paste cooking until the raw smell goes away. Add chilly pwdr, turmeric pwdr, cumin pwdr and coriander pwdr mix well and cook till the spices get cooked.

Now add the cauliflower and broccoli mixing well and add salt. Sprinkle some water, cover and cook under medium flame till the cauliflower is well cooked.

Remove cover, add garam masala and chopped coriander leaves mix well and cook uncovered for about 5 mins.

Serve hot as sides for rice or chappathi.

Sura Puttu ( Shark fry)

Ingredients

Sura fish ( baby shark)  1 nos ( should be less than 1 kg around 1 foot)
Turmeric Powder 1 tsp
Garlic (sliced) 1 whole garlic
Green Chilly 5-6 nos

Onion 6 nos ( big ones)
Red Chilli Powder 1/2 tsp
Salt for taste

Water
Mustard Seeds
Urad Dhall
Curry leave
Coriander

Oil 4 tbsp

Preparing the Fish

Clean the fish and scrub the skin side well to get rid of grit. Cook fish in water with 1/2 tsp turmeric powder for 10 minutes, drain the water and wash the fish under running water. Skin the fish,  squeeze excess water and shred the fish. Add 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, salt and 1/2 tsp red chilli powder, mix well and set aside

Making

In a kadai, temper mustard seeds, curry leaves, urad dhall in oil. Add thinly sliced onions, sliced garlic, green chilly and saute for 3-5 mins. When the onions turn tanslucent add salt (just for the onions and  chillies) and rest of the turmeric powder. Cook for just 2 mins and add the fish marinade and mix well.  Cook for 5 minutes under low fire and finally add chopped coriander before taking of the heat.

Sura Puttu

Serve it hot with plain rice or as accompaniment  for Sambar & rice, Rasam & rice or for Chappathis.

If you like it  and tried it, do leave a comment. Don't forget to  share it

Sam's Pizza -- What Zaa?

After a long time me, my cousin and friend decided to go out for dinner, we had two options hit BBQ   Chicken or Sam's Pizza. Since none of us had any particular choice we let destiny decide and by quick choice of selection between two fingers Sam's Pizza it was. Thinking back i should have just chopped that finger. 

We landed up on door step of Sam's Pizza - incidentally i had earlier come across this place during the setup and assumed it was Pizza Republic. Its in the same building as that of Moti Mahal Deluxe on Jaganathan street, off Nungambakkam. High Road. They have an underground parking for 2 wheelers and Car park in front. One has to take a flight of stairs to get to the joint, its quite a bright inside with a splash of vivid colors. Decor is very casual with transparent plastic chairs on one end and sofa types for the rest of the place. This place is not suited if you are looking for a quite place or for business/casual conversation cause one has to shout on top of their voice to be heard, noisy is an understatement.

It was Independence Day and the place was full  at around 8 PM, however we got seated immediately and by the time we got the menu card there were a couple of families waiting to be seated. The menu isnt exhaustive, they have their dinner combos which were priced at 299 for Non veg and 249 for Veg, one gets a soup, 26 varieties of salads, garlic bread, choice of 3 veg or 2 non-veg  deep pan pizza and one dessert.  They have set pizza type for different days, plus their prices for Saturday and sunday lunch  were higher by 50 rs ( beats me as to why the same stuff should cost more on weekend). Also, if you squint eyes enough one can find the wordings that say if the patron is seated for more than one hour you will be charged 50% more. Not sure if they actually time someone. Also, they have only two types of  crust thin and deep pan and neither of them are what they claim to be.

We ordered  french fries, one medium Veg thin crust pizza and a chicken pizza deep pan. It took roughly around 20 mins for the pizza's to arrive followed by french fries. I have never seen such small medium sized pizzas. The waiter said it was 9 inch pizza but i think it was only around 8 inches, imagine your regular pizza from domino's slightly larger and made of six slices instead of four. Coming to the taste of it the chicken pizza had a minimalistic topping, it didn't have any flavor of the sauce seemed like they hadn't put any sauce at all. Seasoning on the toppings were good, though they claim deep pan, it was just regular pan pizza. IMO deep pan will have twice the amount of toppings this was not the case with the one we got. Veg pizza was no different and thin crust was not crispy but merely 3/4 of the dough of the pan pizza.

Non Veg Chkn Pizza Deep Pan

Thin Crust Paneer Pizza

Thin Crust??!!

I have personally worked in a pizza place, made and served pizza's also tasted varieties of crusts in Chennai/UK and i would not rate the one's i had as pizzas. They are like the pizza's you get in your local bakeries.  French fries had the portion was over cooked and too crispy like biscuits and over salted. Total bill was Rs 1071. I felt it was a rip-off for the size and taste, moreover i could have got 2 medium pizzas, garlic bread and coke for far lesser $$$ at other places. Its italian for heavens sake.. and one would feel stuffed after a pizza meal... unfortunately not here.

Service was okay not so great and they charge 10% as service charge as well.

Food 3/10

Ambience 3/10

Service 6/10

Price 2/10

Would I Recommend?  No, PM me and will give you better ways to spend your money.

La Shaakahari

Late in the evening me and my friend wanted to have dinner outside, i was suggesting that we head to Pizza Republic only to find out that its not opened yet. As we were riding around Shashtri bhavan i remembered someone mentioning about  a food joint and i took the Pycrofts Garden street and ended up at La Shaakahari, vegetarian restaurant.

It was a medium sized restaurant that could accommodate atleast 50 people, we were quickly seated at a table and then asked to move to another table as  a bigger group turned up. The ambience isnt that great very noisy place and infact one of the noisiest that i had been too. 

Menu card was simple they had Continental and indiam cuisine, we decided to try the baked stuff for the main course. For starters, we ordered cheese bombs and roasted tomato soup followed by Roasted Lasagna Verdu and Vegetable Moussaka.

Starters came in no time at all, soup was an excuse for starch water with tomato flavoring. It lacked flavor and wasnt good.Cheese bombs was alright, wasn't gooey with cheese rather one gets hint of cheese in it and the batter is like the bajji batter.

Next was the roasted lasagna verdu which was served in a very hot plate, with the cutleries in it and though the waiter did mention that the plate was hot. I think they had put the cutleries also along in the oven. Almost burnt my fingers. Lasagna was just sheets of pasta with veggies in white sauce and some tomato sauce. First couple of bites were good however more you have it, gets tough to eat. Vegetable moussaka was totally unlike a mousakka, hardly any aubergines, looks they picked up the baby brinjals and sliced them up.  Though it looked alright with a rich tomato gravy, as one digs in its again diced veggies in cream sauce and just the top layer has aubergines. It tasted so-so and was definetly not a moussaka very pretentious stuff.

Vegetable Moussakka

Lasagna

 

We decided to leave and not try the desserts, the total bill came to 718 Rs. I have no clue about the Indian cuisine at this place, however unsure whether to check them out sometime later.

La Shaakahari is located on 20 Pycrofts Garden road, Nungambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600006

 

Food 5/10
Ambience 5/10
Service 6/10
Price 6/10

Would I Recommend?  Hmm may be not.

Sandy's Chocolate Laboratory

It was time for our quarterly team lunch and the big decision of finding a good place within the budget was at mind. Decided to try Sandy's at Wallace Garden  Rd, Nungambakkam, since they didnt have their menu online called them up and was told that avg price is around 600 Rs. This was on the high side however, we decided to go anyway and if it was too much on the high side will walk out to either Jakobs Kitchen, Equinox or Mash Grill House.

We booked the table and i was the first to arrive, flipped through the menu and found that well within our budget. Decor was very simplistic, more like a cafe atmosphere, with interesting receptacles for serving such as conical flask, beaker etc. Ambience was quite good and the tables are spaced apart as well. Beneath this cafe type place was hidden a restaurant that dishes out amazing food. Soon my colleagues joined in and were ready to order.

For starters, we ordered Jalapeno potato fritters and potato wedges, we wanted to order Spanakopita but they were not having it that day. Spanakopita was a dish with Spinach, Feta and other stuff sounded yumm but alas not to be had; probably next time. Jalapeno potato fritters was served with salsa and it was crumb coated with a gooey centre made of creamy potato, jalapenos and cheese, simply irrestible. Potato wedges was served with ketchup, i would have love to have it some creamy dip. Nothing wrong with ketchup its just me.

Jalapeno Potato Fritters

Potato Wedges

For the main course, we ordered couple of tenderloin burgers, couple of ravioli with spinace and mushroom in white sauce and grilled fish with lemon sauce. First to arrive were the burgers and they looked just like burgers- meaty and yummy served with potato wedges, ketchup and pickled veggies. I had ordered mine medium and the other was welldone. The buns were not thick crumbly ones and held well until we chowed down the last morsel of it. Patty was flavorsome, well seasoned and stacked amongst bacon rashes, tomato, lettuce etc. By far the best burger i have had in town and with each and every bite, it was just too good and fanfare for the tastebuds.

Tenderloin Burger with Bacon and Cheese

Grilled fish with butter lemon sauce was served with mashed potatoes and was grilled close to perfection, not dry and the sauce had a zing to it. Combination of the sauce, fish and mash was pure bliss.

Grilled Fish on Lemon Sauce

Raviolli with Spinach n Mushroom on white sauce was in no way inferior to the previous dishes and was quite rich and the pasta was brilliant to say the least. Only sore thing being the portion could have had a bit more of ravioli since it didn't quite feel filling as the other dishes.

Raviolli with Mushroom n Spinach

Next, we ordered desserts chocolate ice cream, nutella chocolate bar, funky monkey and  that little tiny cake. No complaints there as the taste was just orgasmic, only oohs and aahs as we dug into them. All in all a lunch well spent and worth every penny of it.

Tiny Chocolate Cake

Nutella Chocolate Bar

 

Funky Monkey

Chocolate Icecream

The only not so good comment is the fact that one had to wait for a long time to get our glasses filled with water, waiters were oblivious to the presence of customers and one had to holler out to get their attention. An improvement would be much appreciated. Another thing that caught my attention was that they do no have any lamb dishes on their menu.

I would say that when you step out of Sandy's you would leave with satiated appetite and money spent on worthy dishes.

Average price of starters is 160 Rs, Main courses 300 Rs, Desserts 200 Rs. Our bill came to 2900 INR with the above dishes.

Thanks to Luke, Bharath, Deepa and Felita for the awesome company for the lunch.


Sandy's Chocolate Laboratory is located on 16, Wallace Garden, 2nd Street, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600006

Food  9.5/10
Ambience 6.5/10
Service 7.5/10
Price 7/10


Would I Recommend?  Yes,totally without hesitation