Posted by Navin Ganesh on May 31, 2007 in
Chennai With branches in two of the most happening areas (i.e Besant Nagar and Nungambakkam), Cascade has given the foodies of Chennai a great place to dine. Consisting of both Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian, Cascade’s menu offers dishes varying across the entire Oriental region like Chinese, Thai, Taiwanese, etc.
Each section of their menu is quite long. There are a number of variations to choose from among the starters and the soups. The choice of the main course is quite mind boggling and the waiters at Cascade are extremely willing to help you out to make the right choice. They patiently explain to all your queries regarding each item.
Talking about the food, there is no particular dish I would point to as the best. But I must say, they are all delicious and it is a great experience trying out various oriental delicacies. One important aspect that you must consider before ordering is that, their portions are humongous and I’m not exaggerating. Just 1 main course (such as fried rice or noodles) and a side dish to go with it should more than suffice for 2 people. The first time I went there, I ended up ordering couple of stuff as I usually do, and that was more than enough to cover my meals for 2 days. Lol.
Though I am a vegetarian, I have to mention that the Non-Vegetarian having dinner at Cascade would be spoilt by the plethora of items to choose from, ranging from Seafood, Lamb and Lobster. But this need not, stop Vegetarians from going there. There are plenty of vegetarian stuff (various types of fried rice and noodles) to try out too, and you can ofcourse have a great time filling up yourself to the fullest.
Their ambiance is great, with mild lighting and great arrangement of tables. It seems perfect for a date with just 1 other person or a dining out with your family over the weekend or a hanging out as a gang. Though the price of each dish seems pricey, because of the sheer quantum of each dish, it gets compensated and actually works out very cost effective for a place of such caliber.
A meal for 2 people, would average between Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 depending on how much you can eat, which I would consider as very nominal considering the quality of the food and the place atmosphere itself. Believe me, its very relaxing. Go ahead and check it out, the next time you plan to dine out in Chennai.
The Nungambakkam branch of Cascade is situated on the main road itself before you turn left into Kadhar Nawaz Khan Road and you can find the Cascade at Besant Nagar just behind food world on the road parallel to the beach coming straight from the bus stand away from Adyar. Find the addresses below.
The Cascade, Kakani Tower (Basement), # 15, Khadar Nawaz Khan Road, Chennai – 600 006. Phone: 2825 3836.
&
The Cascade, 4th Floor, E – 28 A 16th Cross Street (Ramaniyam Arcade), Besant Nagar, Chennai 600090.
Posted by Kanchana Pradeep on May 30, 2007 in
Abu Dhabi Standing in my balcony and seeing the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation is always a marvelous sight. Situated in the heart of the city, the Foundation invites visitors for many reasons. It boasts of an amazing library, both in Arabic and English, which can make any book lover, stay here for hours together. You can find books on almost any subject, from classics to history to management texts. The best part is that you need not pay any fee for browsing books in the library. In case you want to take them with you, a very nominal fee is charged.
You can also enroll for some really interesting courses here. The Learning Development Cell in the Cultural Foundation offers short and long-term courses in diverse areas, such as, French, Arabic, and German to candle making, needlework, personality development, creative writing and music.
The Cinema Hall at the Foundation screens new Hindi, English, and Arabic movies regularly for just Dhs. 5. That’s why this place is a great hangout for movie lovers, who get to watch good movies for less, as the fares at the cinemas cost anything between Dhs. 25 to 50.
If you were a music lover as well, you’d have landed yourself a double treat. Every year, the foundation hosts the Annual Abu Dhabi Classical Music Festival, usually during February and March, inviting leading western and Indian classical singers to perform.
The foodies also have a reason to smile here. The first floor has a café that serves some great Arabic coffee, along with your regular bites, like burgers, pizzas etc. The highlight of this café is the mouth-watering Falafel, a sandwich wrapped in Arabic bread known as Khooboos. The café has a serene and soulful feel to it, accentuated by the sound of the piano in the background.
For art lovers, this place is truly art for art’s sake. You have paintings that depict the history of the UAE, its rulers, and course of development. Also, paintings by leading artistes from all over the world are showcased here.
So, if you are in Abu Dhabi and do not know what to do on a Friday evening, you know where to head for. And trust me; you’ll never regret spending your evening here.
Posted by Navin Ganesh on May 29, 2007 in
Chennai It is one of Chennai’s very popular restaurants and is just a short walk from Elliot’s Beach. They have now opened up branches in Nungambakkam and Anna Nagar as well. For those people who are paranoid about non-vegetarian food, then this is just the place for you. Even though they serve only vegetarian, this place has something for everyone to have a satisfying meal. So don’t miss it.
Eden is a purely vegetarian cuisine and along with great quality food there is no compromise on the variety of dishes available. You’ve got the usual soups and starters. Then you’ll find yourself a reasonably long list of continental dishes which are lip-smackingly tasty. Also included in the menus is North Indian food such as Roti, quite a few side dishes and variations of Fried Rice.
I just can wait to recommend you to try out ‘Corn Florentine’ (Rs. 100) which you’ll find among the Continentals. It’s a baked cheese bowl along with spinach and corn. Its simply ‘yummy’. And I’ve confirmed that its not just me, but I know lot of people who love it. I don’t think I’ve ever had North Indian over here, but knowing Eden’s standard, I can say with some certainty that it would be among the best you’ve tried. Finally you’ve got a whole page of desserts and ice creams on the menu to finish off your meal at a high.
Apart from the food, the service is pretty good and waiters are friendly. But I must warn you, its popularity in food quality lures a lot of people from all over the city. So, if you are planning to come in as a group, you’d better make reservations to avoid getting disappointed. It gets really crowded at weekends at some people end up waiting for over an hour. Nevertheless, I believe that just speaks for Eden’s universal liking across all categories of people.
Its quite affordable especially for what it has got to offer. A meal for 2 people including everything from soups and starters to the desserts would work out to about Rs. 400. I would call that real value for money as there are few places that can give you such good food.
By now (if you are like any other normal foodie) I guess you would have the urge to find out what all the buzz is about. Go Right Ahead! You can find Eden by going straight down the road from the Besant Nagar Bus depot away from Adyar. Its right before the ICICI Bank on the Left. I’m sure anyone around there must be able to guide you.
Posted by Swetha Sivagurunathan on May 27, 2007 in
Chennai The first time I walked into Sigree (which I think means ‘clay oven’) struck me as a ‘really nice place’ and every time its ambience makes you feel just that. It’s the kind of place where you could take someone special out to dinner. Its unique and stands out among Chennai’s restaurants.
This place serves wonderful Tandoori, Mughlai and a little of Bengali cuisine (don’t try it if you are not a Bengali). They also have cocktails/mocktails and choice of spirits to sip on while you wait.
The décor has bit of Chinese influence. I tried to reason out why, but couldn’t come up with a reasonable explanation. It comfortably seats around 60 people in low rise tables and chairs. The service is very good and their courtesy makes you feel pampered.
If you get a bit confused about what to order (like I did), ask the waiters (they are very helpful). Probably because they cater to a lot of foreigners, the food can be a bit mild. So if you like it otherwise, specify your preference while ordering. The portions are generous and the food is very rich (you’d better abandon your calorie count at the door step).
Sigree is located on Sterling Road adjacent to Aruna Inn, Nungambakkam. A meal for 2 people would work out to Rs. 600 – 800 (Vegetarian) and Rs. 800 – 1000 (Non-Vegetarian).
Posted by Swetha Sivagurunathan on May 26, 2007 in
Chennai If you like to combine good food with a nice long ride along the ECR aka East Coast Road, then West Park is the place. It is between Neelangarai and Vettuvankani with a huge sign board that is really hard to miss.
West Park has got these semi secluded seatings under a canopy like roof of red tiles on the garden. Alternatively, you could opt for sitting indoors, but then the ambiance is lost. It is pretty pleasant during the day but the best time to go especially this summer would probabyly be for dinner.
They serve continental, chinese and tandoori, however, I’m yet to venture into the continental section. The vegetarian food there is tastes good but I have heard from my friends that the non vegetarian food is equally good too. One of the good things about this place is the egg fried rice which smells delicious, so good that it is highly addictive! The only thing lacking is the choice of desserts – apart from an endless list of a number of permutations and combinations of icecreams, there is nothing else.
I think it is the kind of place where you could bring your friends along for a treat or have a get together. I have also heard that they arrange buffets on request, not very sure though.
The prices are pretty nominal and a meal for two would be say between Rs. 350 and Rs. 450. So go ahead and enjoy the food and a long drive!
Posted by Narayanan Hariharan on May 22, 2007 in
Miscellaneous 
A lot of us travel around the world in search of new destinations and usually, most of our journeys last more than 5 to 6 hours by flight. Just got these tips for flyers from a friend of mine via email. All these flying tips make perfect sense and I’m sure would help in making the flight journey much more pleasant and comfortable. If you have your own suggestions to make, do comment and I’ll try and incorporate them in this post.
Flying Tips
There are several simple steps you can take to significantly reduce the stress of flying on your body. We will cover tips associated with the act of flying as well as some suggestions to make your airport experience a better one.
1. Avoid diuretics: Diuretics are substances which cause your body to dehydrate (urinate). The two most common diuretics are caffeine and alcohol. Avoiding these substances can greatly reduce the achy feeling that is commonly associated with long flights. This also means avoiding caffeinated soft drinks and black tea. The best drinks for flying include water, non – caffeinated sodas, milk, and juice.
2. Stay hydrated: As an extension to the first tip, remember to drink lots of fluids. The reduced air pressure (even in pressurized cabins) and the dry air can dehydrate your body very quickly The generally achy muscle feeling is, to a large extent, the result of dehydration during flight. You may even wish to carry a sports bottle filled with water and drink from it whenever you think about it. Don’t wait until you are thirsty.
Read more…
Posted by Vasisht on May 20, 2007 in
Toronto Hangout – it brings us pictures of restaurants, pubs, parks and of course, malls. But there is one more place which we can add to this list, which happens to be our friendly neighborhood library. Let me tell you about the Toronto Public Libraries.
Libraries have been part of almost all our growing years, event though it meant those smallish rooms with bound books smelling of sulphur. I can still remember those days I spent reading superman and batman comics, and then moving on to more mature stuff like Hardy Boys and Sidney Sheldon. Well, you can relive those days even today, and have a cool place to hangout at the same time!
Let me tell you about the Toronto Public Library closest to me – the York Woods branch. Its a neat little building, with huge glass windows and an attached theater (where actors perform on a stage). The library has automatic doors…weee!! so that you can leave with your hands full of books. You are met by a friendly librarian, who sets you up quite fast. Did I tell you borrowing books is completely free?!
Once you get your card, you can go in and start browsing. Like any self respecting library, this one has categories too. They have books and periodicals of various languages too. Imagine my surprise when I found Kumudam and Kalki here. They also have a good collection of hindi and tamil movie DVDs. Coming to books, they have all the usual categories of fiction, self-help, cookery, educational and many more. Kids have an entire section to themselves, stocked with science books, encyclopedias and of course, colorful story books.
The library has a few computers too, all connected to the internet. Those wishing to study, can enjoy the comfort of the huge sofas in the reading section. The library has photocopiers and printers too. I barely notice all these, when there is this huge stack of superman comics in front of me. And I didn’t know Asterix came in this cool, hard-bound avatar. (Puff puff) Catch ya later. Have to carry this ‘heavier than schoolbag’ bundle of books home.
Posted by Narayanan Hariharan on May 19, 2007 in
Chennai If you ever get to see the Chennai Central (no, it is definitely not a hangout, it is the main railway station in Chennai aka Madras, India) this empty, then you are definitely lucky!
Click on the above pic to view a bigger sized image. It is definitely your lucky day if you happen to see Chennai Central like this. 
Interesting Trivia: The building of the railway station, one of the landmarks of Chennai (Madras in the olden days) was designed by the famous architect, Henry Irwin. Irwin’s other work include the Madras High Court, State Bank of Madras Building (Now called State Bank of India), Ambas Vilas – The Mysore Palace, Viceregal Lodge, Shimla etc. You can find out more about his work here.
Posted by Anush Srivatsan on May 18, 2007 in
Chennai When it comes to the best chaat in Chennai, there are very very few places to rival Gangotree. But for those of you who aren’t too fussy about the authentic north Indian taste, Suriya Chaat Corner is an ideal destination.
The choice of items that you get here are quite staggering, considering the size of the chaat shop.
For starters (in a chaat shop! Really?) the choice is from French Fries, Potato Wedges, Veg Nuggets and Smileys (Rs 24 each). You can also choose from among 4 salad varieties (each Rs 16).
You get the regular selections of pizzas (Yes! Even Gangotree doesn’t offer these!) – From Margherita (Rs 30) to Paneer Temptation (Rs 40) to Spicy Potato Pizzas (Rs 50). To be honest i think some of these taste far better than what you get at Domino’s! Sigh! If only someone else could perfect their garlic breadsticks with cheese-jalapeno dip 
Sandwiches and burgers include everything from the Plain Coleslow Sandwich (Rs 15) to the impossible-to-eat-without-spoiling-your-shirt Double layer burger (Rs 45).
Coffee addicts can choose from among the Capuchillo (Rs 25), Mocochillo (Rs 30), Frappe (Rs 30), Himalayan Heights (Coffee+Vanilla+Honey!!!, Rs 30) and Almond Frappe (Rs 35).
You even get veg hotdogs (??) – The paneer hot dog (Rs 35) is quite delectable. The remaining options leave a lot to be desired.
Now the CHAT items- you get the whole lot. From Pani Puri (Rs 17) to Samosa Chenna (Rs 18) to Dahi Poori (Rs 20) to Pav Masala (Rs 26). All the stuff you get here is fresh. Even the Dahi.
There’s even a nice range of sweets, ice creams and fresh juices to choose from. You get the softest gulab jamun in all of chennai here, i kid you not!
All in all, this is THE place to go if you are short on cash and have that craving for quality chaat but can’t go all the way to Gopalapuram!
And lest i forget, the BIGGEST plus point here – The parking. You can drive a Semi here and still have enough place to park. Err…well.. another semi… and another!
Suriya Chat Corner is at 54/9 Greenways Road, Chennai 28. (Near Govt. Music College)
Posted by Aparna Natarajan on May 17, 2007 in
Chennai Introducing the concept of a diner in Madras, Sparky’s boasts of delivering the all American experience.
The first thing that hits you about this place is its friendly bunch of waiters, who welcome you with their loud, enthusiastic smiles, down the stairs of the basement where it is located. Next, to get overwhelmed with the interiors of the place- 1000s of number plates fill up the walls! (Later we were told that those number plates where brought in all the way from USA!!)
We were lead to a cozy table, and it was time to order. The International menu has everything from Hawaiian, to Mexican to Italian to Cajun to the authentic American burger, steak and fries meal (fries that are covered with mozzarella cheese!).
We had ordered soup, and they were ready to serve their noodle soup without the noodles in it (some thing that very few places would agree to do!) Their salad meals are very healthy and filling too as their portion sizes are quite big. The mustard and honey dressing was yummy. If you are a barbecue fan, you can have a whale of time! Most items in the menu come with a vegetarian substitute for the PETA community The chocolate fudge brownie sundae, the dessert that was recommended lived up to expectations.
Back to the ambiance, the place gives you an overall flavor of the Wild Wild West. Even the bathrooms with their brick red and green combination suggest “American”! Also true to the diner tradition, was the chef Mr. Thom Petty, who drops in for a chat with you while you are dining.
Sparky’s gets a 10 for hospitality, as the customers are made to feel like they are buddies with the owners, and start missing it if you don’t pay them a regular visit to say hey! (ditto for the people there, who even enquire if we were on travel, if you were missing in action for long).
