The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Medhu vadai takes on paneer pasanda

What has got the butter chicken-loving and pizza-addicted Chandigarhians queuing up outside new South Indian eateries? Chetna Banerjee finds out.

MURG TANDOORI, paneer pasanda and makki-ki-roti and saag — all-time favourites in the region— are now facing stiff competition from unexpected quarters : South Indian delicacies. Two major speciality South Indian food chains, that opened in the city in a span of 10 months, are battling it out for a place on the plate of restaurant-hopping Chandigarhians.

Though it's been a long time coming —Delhi and other metros have been feasting on specialised South Indian cuisine for umpteen years—the new-found exposure to unusual fare from Tamil or Andhra rasois like Medhu vadai and Kanjeevaram idlis has tickled the city foodies' taste buds like never before.

Five years ago, it was difficult to visualise long ,serpentine queues outside a South Indian restaurant in conservative (as far as eating habits go) Chandigarh.

Today, people awaiting their turn for a table at the new speciality South Indian eateries in upmarket Sector 17, are also mimicking the famous ad jingle ,"Mera number kab aayega?". The rush peaked on Karva Chauth, when hordes of Punjabi women were determined to break their fast with South Indian delicacies.

Oil-dripping butter chicken and other favourites—greasy Indianised chow mein and chopsuey , pizzas and footlongs—now have serious rivals in rasam vada and Mysore dosas.The talumein soup-guzzling Chandigarhians are suddenly experimenting with rasam 'n ' papad soup from‘ Madras ’. Those with a sweet tooth are trying out basundi ,rava kesri and pineapple halwa in place of the conventional ice creams and gulab jamuns.

True, that South Indian cuisine is not new to the city people ,with the Indian Coffee Houses having been around for ages and Anpurna,which claimed to be a typical South Indian eatery, having opened in Sector 32 about six years ago. But the South Indian fare never occupied the pride of place on the city gourmets' platter the way it does now.

So, what has got the Chandigarhians—the diehard non-vegetarians included— hooked on to these vegetarian delicacies from the land of coconuts and plantains ?

Explains Vaneet Khosla,a businessman whose entire family—the brood of tiny nieces and nephews included—makes it a point to go out for South Indian food at regular intervals, "The food is so good and authentic that you actually feel as if you're eating in a Tamil household", he adds.

The authenticity of the new menus is being painstakingly ensured to give the North Indians the typical fare that is eaten in ,say, Madurai or Mysore, without diluting the taste or compromising on the traditional ingredients used down South. Says Mukund Singh ,Manager of Dasaprakash ,which opened in the city three months ago," The papads that are used in rasam are specially got here from Chennai through courier .The other vegetables like hara kaddu ,safed petha or zimikand are procured locally".

Having chefs from South India further helps these eateries in replicating the exact tastes and flavours of Chennai in Chandigarh.One of these joints even claims to have a Maharashtrian expert to cook up Mumbai-ishtyle pao bhaji.And the background Kadri Gopalnath tunes on the saxophone virtually transport you straight to the South.

But it's the interesting variety and menus that extend beyond the run-of -the-mill dosas or idlis that sets these new eateries apart from the existing ones.So,sharing a place of pride on the menu with the routine rava masala dosas and uthapams are kaludosai (made of moong dal instead of rice or rava) ,guliappa vada (made of suji) and chitranna ."On popular demand from the city people, we have started offering bisi beli bhath(a special kind of khichdi) on Sundays," informs a partner of Sagar Ratna,that opened in the city this February.

"I have frequented the coffee houses for years. But the new joints offer much more variety. I like to try out their range of special rice-—lemon rice, coconut rice , puliyodhare (rice made with imli),"explains Mala Sivaram, a mathematician -cum-web designer."

Apart from the sheer variety, the new menus suit the Chandigarhians' pockets. And the plush,upmarket ambience pleases their eyes. Earlier ,a guy would think twice about going on a date to a staidly furnished coffee house .Now, the swank, mezzanine interiors , marbled floors ,brightly upholstered wrought iron furniture and the glowing warmth of Tiffany lamps make the new restaurants ideal for dating and comfortable for family outings.

Usha Dadeech ,a teacher who eats often at the new joints with her microbiologist professor husband, daughter and Maharashtrian son-in-law, sums up the new-found popularity of South Indian cuisine aptly." It suits both the stomach and the pocket !,"she laughs.

It’s curtains up on global designs
by Geetu

THE FIELD of home furnishing has gone truly global and this is evident from the range available in stores across the city. Western motifs for curtains and drapes are the rage this season. a mind-boggling range of designs and materials from all over the world is available to lend cheer to the interiors in the chilly months.

So, the American ‘titlis’ range is rubbing shoulders with Chinese ‘Sheers'. Also available are Mexican prints and abstracts woven by Indian weavers.

Bold checks and stripes in bright and muted shades are hot this winter. Available in cotton, stain-resistant material, these can be used for upholstery, bed linen as well as for making curtains. Bright and warm shades of blue and rust are on offer to perk up the rooms . Available in a range of Rs 150 to Rs 200 per metre, checks can lend a very western took to any room.

"Heavy curtains with lining are passe",according to Mr Chetan Dogra ,the owner of a local furnishing house. Light and delicate Sheers are there for those who don’t want to ‘burden’ their doors and windows in their house. Sheers, used mostly in combination, are available in a variety of florals and plains. This polyster-based material allows natural light in the rooms and can be easily washed at home. The price ranges from Rs 100 to Rs 180 per metre. Chinese Sheers are available for Rs 700 per metre. Indian and imported laces are also available for those preferring the dainty look. The price ranges from Rs 130 to Rs 245 per metre.

However, plenty is also available for those wanting more ornate look. Swags and valances in single coloured velvet and PV fabric in combination with Titlis florals and checks lend a ‘modern’ look to any room. Titlis, also a dual-purpose fabric, is available in a price range of Rs 225 to Rs 265 .

However, if you want to come out of the checks and florals ,then try Mexican prints and abstracts available for Rs 135 to Rs 155 .

Snow curtains, polyster-based material, with frost effect cost between Rs 145 to Rs 185, are ideal for those wanting to experiment with bold ideas.

YOUR SAY

Does living in flats invade privacy or does it foster bonhomie?

"In times of need or an emergency, living in flats proves to be useful as neighbours really help out"—Dr Geeta, an ayurveda practitioner who resides in the Sector 43 flats.

"In flats, there is always the feeling of being constantly watched .It does impinge on one's privacy."—K.P.S.Channi, Assistant Vice-President, IndusInd,who resides in SAS Nagar flats.

"Only if all the people living in the same block of flats are cooperative and understanding can there be bonhomie. Otherwise living in flats can be irksome."—Mrs Suman Bhagat, a housewife residing in the Sector 39 flats.

"Unlike abroad, where people living in flats are really civilised and considerate towards each other, people here don't respect your privacy. Life in flats here more often breeds animosity than bonhomie"—Mrs Gurkiran Bhullar, a resident of the Sector 44 flats.

"Since in flats ,there is a common passage ,it does deny one complete privacy. But if the neighbours are friendly, it can lead to a lot of interaction"—Mr Harcharan Singh, a resident of the Sector 39 housing Board flats.