The Hyatt Regency in Chennai is one of the hottest new hotels in the city. With quirky charm, this hotel displays an interesting array of art installations, which is dotted all over the interiors of the hotel.
One of my favorite places to eat in, at the Hyatt is their Chinese restaurant. Stix serves up authentic street hawker style Sichuan cuisine which is perfect for the fiery Chennai palate.
I really love a good Andhra meal and was ecstatic to find this brand new food spot called Sankranti had opened up on TTK road in Chennai. I am usually wary of chains but this place really has excellent Andhra food – which is very hard to find (outside of homes).
Dasa’s is back and as good as ever! Everything tastes exactly as it did way back in 80’s when they had opened on Mount Road.
Ente Kerelam in Chennai serves classic Kerala Cuisine in a homey setting. Occupying an old bungalow, the restaurant fans out in several rooms over two levels.
Madurai in India, is a 2500-year-old city that was essentially built around its gorgeous Meenakshi Amman Temple. This temple is a stunning example of Vijayanagar temple architecture with its intricate carved pillars, elaborate gopurams and stone carved idols.
The Bangala is a charming heritage boutique hotel located in the heart of Karaikudi. Mrs. Meyappan, who is passionate about preserving the heritage of the Chettiars, runs it.
The best part of my visit to Chettinad in South India was the food!
Chettinad is very well known for its fiery cuisine. There is great care taken in the preparation of meals. The kitchens are still very traditional using no modern machinery. Everything is hand ground and freshly cooked using the best of local ingredients.
Chettinad is a region situated in the Southeastern area of Tamil Nadu, India. The capital of Chettinad is Karaikudi.
Chettinad is the where the Chettiars originate from. They are today a very successful business community in India. The Chettiars were originally a community of traders known for their strong business practices and great sense of adventure. In the 1700’s, many of them traveled to Burma, Ceylon and other parts of South East Asia and Europe to set up very successful trades.
Claire Clark needs no introduction. She was most recently the esteemed pastry chef at Thomas Keller’s French Laundry.The French Laundry is one of the best-known restaurants in the heart of Napa Valley which serves stellar cuisine.
Chai & Chill Bar and Lounge take care of your day and night-time hydrations needs! With beautiful ocean views and overwater hammocks to hang out on, some of the islands best snorkeling is right by this spot.
Chai offers a variety of tea and coffee options form all over the world along with yummy ocean side short eats.
Chill Lounge and Bar has a resident mixologist who creates signature cocktails, using fresh organic ingredients from their garden.
Don’t be surprised to find a burst of fresh homemade jam or mint and rosemary infused into delicious cocktails.
There is a DJ every night playing soft tunes that keeps this spot buzzing.
Ice is a sweet escape from the salt of the ocean!
This cute outdoor ice-cream parlor offers a wonderful array of homemade ice-cream and sorbets. They offer island infused flavors such as carrot papaya, coconut lychee and the more traditional flavors like chocolate chip and vanilla. There are jars of toppings that you can help yourself to and a cut little bar to prop yourself up on to enjoy your sweet treat.
Altitude is a spectacular 6.4 meter tower of spun glass which rises out of the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Six Senses Laamu boasts of one of the finest wine collections in the Maldives. Altitude offers over 400 vintages, many of which are organic.
At Six Senses Laamu, there are select theme buffet nights offered during the week. One of my favorite meals during my stay there was the Asian Buffet night. The buffet was so extensive that is was spread out from Longitude all the way to Ice (the dessert room).
There really is paradise on Earth and it is in the Maldives.
This little island nation in the middle of the Indian Ocean is a true geological wonder. With it’s breathtaking clear waters, unbelievable reefs and sea life, powder white sand beaches and lush tropical groves – what the Maldives offers to visitors is unparalleled.
Food: ☆☆☆☆ 1/2
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $$$$
Must Try: warm doda burfi treacle tart, Andhra pickle chicken meatballs
Ego Thai is a great little Thai restaurant housed in the New Friends Colony Market. It is attractively styled with smatterings of interesting artifacts all over the 2-storied space. The food is good for most part as is the service. The dishes are pretty well priced and there is a full bar which offers interesting cocktails and mocktails.
Dilli Haat is an Indian crafts and food bazaar located in the heart of the city. There are many stalls here that showcase the great variety of handicrafts from all over India.
The idea behind Dilli Haat is to promote the rural craftsmen and artisans and facilitate them selling their handicrafts directly to the buyers. A few of the stalls are permanent but many or there on a rotational basis changing every fifteen days or so. There are on going festivals and performing arts from all over the country that keep this place quite abuzz.
The name Nizam’s is almost synonymous with kathi rolls in India. They were one of the first ones to popularize this food that has its historic origins in cuisine from the princely states of North Eastern India.
A kathi roll is a very popular fast food in India. The meats used in these rolls are traditionally cooked in a charcoal pit using wooden skewers, which are called “Kathi’s”; hence the name Kathi Kababs or Kathi rolls.
Bayerischer Donsil is one of the oldest pubs, which is located right off the famous Marienplatz in the heart of the shopping area in Munich.
Café Sacher at the Sacher Hotel in Salzburg is one of the most charming places in all of Salzburg to sit in and have a cup of tea or coffee. Named after the world famous Sacher Torte, the Sacher Hotel lays claim to being owners of the original recipe.
Café Tomaselli is perhaps one of the most famous coffee houses in Salzburg. This landmark has been around since 1703 and was a regular hang out for young Mozart. Over the centuries, Tomaselli has been featured in several movies and is a great spot for people watching. It is located in a really charming cobble stoned square of the Altstadt.