Anjappar, Chennai
Chennai, over the years has changed in its Gourmet and eating habits with the change of the name from Madras. There was a time it was difficult to get non vegetarian items off the streets of Chennai but todays, it is different. Tam Brahmin food has been over the years over shadowed by Chettinad cuisine. Anjappar with its 50 plus outlets across Chennai, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Canada, , Bangalore, Australia and London has fast dotted the entire length and breadth of Chennai. Anjappar represents the authentic trader community that has over the millinum travelled the entire ASEAN nations pioneering excellent non vegetarian cuisine in its spiciest best!
Chettinad cuisine is the cuisine of the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu state in South India. The Chettiar community, who are a majority in this region, are a very successful trading community. Chettinad cuisine is one of the spiciest and the most aromatic in India.
Chettinad cuisine is famous for its use of a variety of spices used in preparing mainly non-vegetarian food. The dishes are hot and pungent with fresh ground masalas, and topped with a boiled egg that is usually considered essential part of a meal. They also use a variety of sun dried meats and salted vegetables, reflecting the dry environment of the region. The meat is restricted to fish, prawn, lobster, crab, chicken and lamb. Chettiars do not eat beef and pork, but rabbit they certainly relish.
Most of the dishes are eaten with rice and rice based accompaniments such as dosais, appams, idiyappams, adais and idlis. The Chettinad people through their mercantile contacts with Burma, learnt to prepare a type of rice pudding made with sticky red rice.
Over the years in Chennai I learnt to savour, understand and appreciate every details of the cooking styles and different cuisines. One of my favourite dishes has always been the wonderful tiny fish called – Nethli fish. This is available in Anjappar as Nethli Fish Fry – Nethli is a tiny fish from the area which is marinated in turmeric, ginger – garlic paste and coriander and fried. This was available at Rs.144/- per plate. Crunchy, sumptuous and can be easily polished off/walloped in tons unknowingly. I used to live on this by the tons whilst in Chennai. Recommend bongs, keraliites and Goans to taste this wonder dish from Chennai.
The second is the Mutton balls or the Cola Urendai is Mutton Mince marinated in beaten hung curd with dal pothu kadalai, peppercorns, fennel seeds , red chilli powder , made in to small i/2 inch diameter balls and fried crisp – Absolutely delicious, soft inside, spicy and crunchy outside. Next favourite from Anjappar is the Crab Masala – Chettinad Crab Masala, massive as you can get, thyese crabs are caught in the no moon night ( Amavasya) cracked and broken and cooked in ginger garlic paste. Plenty of red chilli powder, coconut with a dash of khas – khas. Crab Masala is available at Rs.237/- per plate. This is absolutely delicious but a word of caution – can be lethal, potent and spicy for the weak and faint hearted.
Host of Biryani introduced by the friendly Tipu Sultan amidst his conquest of the DINDIGUL ( rice bowl) district and thus Anjappar has a host of Biryani’s available in its spicy avatar’s – Kadai Biryani at Rs. 214/- per plate and the Mutton Biryani at Rs.175/- per plate. Also in the list is a Rabbit Biryani but I stayed away from this cute animal.
Other quick and finger foods available are the famous Brain Roast at Rs.138/- per plate. Vanjaram Fish Fry at Rs.171/- per plate per piece and Fish Poriyal at Rs.201/-. Another great dish I was introduced here at Anjappar is similar to the bong Mughlai Paratha but in a totally different avatar. The old paratha’s are chopped in to bits and fried with eggs and this wonder dish is called the Egg Kothu Porota at Rs.91/- per plate.
In the Fried chicken ranges Anjappar has to its kitty Anjappar Fried Chicken Rs.176/- per plate, Chicken Lollipop at Rs.171/- , Chicken Pakodas at Rs.144/- per plate and for the evil hearted Rabbit 65 at Rs.210/- per plate. I believe this is quite a dish but I never got down to trying this.
Non Vegetarian meals are available at Rs 145/- per person.
Excellent and Spicy food, here at Anjappar, and the Nungabakkam and Ashoknagar outlets was always my favourite.
Recommend – Northern Indians, Bongs, Keralite and Goans, when in Chennai, do visit one of the Anjappar outlets and you will be in for a pleasant and spicy surprise.
Ambience – 16/10 Clean, same and similar décor at all its outlets
Menu – 8/10 Excellent choice of Chettinadu food.
Taste – 8/10 Great, exotic Chettinad taste but watch the spice.
Value for Money –6/10 Wierd rates and small helpings
Recommend – MUST VISIT, superb Chettinadu cuisine and at affordable costs.
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes