Festivals are a time of celebration and coming together for families and friends. Festivities over the world are
synonymous with good food and desserts. For us Indians, sweets and savouries play a major role in celebrations. And
for South Indian families, bakshanam is both tradition and enjoyment. And this is not limited to festivals, weddings are
a time to enjoy and spread the joy. And this festive season, if you find yourself pressed for time, got bogged down by
the wedding galatta or want to gift someone the best of bakshanam, here are some amazing finds to help you sail
through this!

Bakshanam or seer bakshanam plays a major role in South Indian households. Over the years, it has also transitioned
from the traditional ladoos and mysorepak to a diverse palatable spread.People are ready to experiment and with many
options available, who can blame them! Here are a few providers, whose bakshanam hampers you will be tempted to
try!

Andhra Delicacy
Andhra sweets have always been an enigma for us and their variety and taste is out of the world, no doubt. If you have a
weak spot for Andhra delicacies, be sure to try their pootharekalu and jeedipappu paakam (cashewnut with jaggery
sweet), along with their halwa varieties. And needless to say their gongura pickle is to die for. Andhra Delicacy also
takes up orders for customized hampers and delivers across the world. Truly, a small world indeed!

Namma Farm
With global revolution and eating pizzas and burgers, we are all going back to basics. We are seen gravitating towards
millets, jaggery, palm sugar and our traditional/organic food items. Namma Farm has taken it a notch higher by
producing bakshanam from organic food. Kambu mysorepak, thinnai ladoo, samai mixture , varagu murukku – time to
binge without the guilt! And these guys offer hampers across India, gift your loved ones healthy option this season!

Subasri Reddy Vilas
With an effort to familiarise everyone with the traditional TamilNadu delicacies, Subasri Reddy Vilas offers us some
authentic staples from down south. Chettinad ribbon murukku, Nagercoil special nendran chips, Tuticorin macaroons,
Tirunelveli halwa – we cant stop drooling already. What sets them apart is that they offer their hampers in Chettinad
hand woven baskets to support the rural craft. They offer a variety of other packaging options as well. Do check them
out for some of the best treats!

Krishna Sweets
A popular name amongst all households, known for its mouth melting mysorepaks, Krishna sweets has been offering
bakshanam hampers for the longest time. They offer a wide range of hamper options you can choose from. With mini
hampers to melting magic hampers, they have these in all price ranges. Our favourite is the mysorepak kaju katli
hamper. And with Krishna sweets, you can never go wrong!

Chettinad Snacks Online
Authentic Chettinad snacks from its own land! With innumerable options for its packing, right from colourful Chettinad
baskets to jute bags, these hampers are hard to resist. Their variety ranges from lunck koodai packs to palm basket
hampers, and are available in all price ranges. With different hampers for specific festivals, their best sellers definitely
the adirasams and mavurundais. They also offer thamboolam packs, making your jobs easier – complete solution
providers!

24 Chakra
An amazing concept of bringing stores together online – 24 Chakra displays a number of brands on its site including
Krishna sweets, Amaravathi and so on, enabling people to buy form a single place. An e-commerce for sweets and
snacks! This place also offers special seer for weddings apart from the sweet and snack boxes for festivals. They ship to
the US also – this is truly unlocking the sweet side!

The post Start your festivities bang on with Bakshanams online appeared first on Chennai Food Reviews.

Chennai was always considered conservative – be it the calm nature of its people or the food scenario. Chennai has
become synonymous with its sambhar, softest idlis and crispy dosas. It would now come as a surprise for people to
witness the stunning restaurants Chennai has to offer. From the soothing beaches to starlit skylight outdoor spaces, from
pizzerias to nightspots, Chennai’s list of breathtaking places to eat busts all the myths. And here we present to you some
of the best spaces to dine out this summer and enjoy a cool breeze with your favourite dishes!

1. Bayroot, Green Meadows resort, Palavakkam
The East Coast Road, popularly known as ECR, has been bustling during the weekends, owing to the number of
aesthetic cafes propping up. A part of an ethnic concept based resort, Bayroot offers both indoor and outdoor dining.
With a beach feel to the interiors and plush outdoor seating , their Mediterranean is for the win. The Mezzeh platter is a
must try as is their seabass – grilled to perfection. A perfect place to spend an evening catching up with friends and
cocktails over good food and great music.

2. Le Amis, Chamiers road
A new age cafe with the right menu to attract kids and adults alike! Known for its wide range of gelatos and popsicles,
Le Amis also offers quite a few continental delicacies and flavoured coffees for the coffee lovers. What works for us is
their splendidly done rooftop dining – giving a feel of the Chennai life right in the middle of the city.

3. East Coast at Madras Square, Neelankarai
A resto pub situated in the unassuming lanes of Neelankari, it has one of the best ambience the city has to offer. With
indoors done splendidly and the outdoor seating spectacular, it is no wonder that this place is almost always crowded.
Their Thai cuisine is out of this world and with the right cocktail, your day is made. Dont forget to reserve well in
advance!

4. Amethyst, Gopalapuram
One of the first in teh cafe space, a trailblazer, Amethyst has stood the test of time and is still among Chennai's best
restaurants. An ancient property renovated into a modern glory, it is like a get away right in the heart of the city.
Antique furniture amongst greenery and fountains gives this place a unique touch. Do visit them for their coffee and
continental food! We almost forgot, there is an amazing flower shop right next to the cafe, perfect for your date night!

5. KokoMMo, Intercontinental, ECR
Dining with a view – If this term has a place tagged to it, it should be KokoMMo. This beachside outdoor dining in the
Intercontinental resort has the closest beach dining, along with some amazing dishes. Their grills are a must try as are
their food cocktails. Head here for a peaceful breezy evening!

6. Cafe De Paris, Cenotaph road
Resembling a Parisian cafe, Cafe De Paris, is known for its pleasant outdoorsy ambience. The indoor glass house like
space almost gives an outdoor feeling. A perfect way to spend a rainy day here with their latte and chocolate cake.

7. Up North, Raintree, Anna Salai
A view of the city lights on a breezy night with the perfect North Indian cuisine – thats Up North for you! Their
flavourful galoutis and kebabs will make you go back for more every single time. With many North Indian places in
Chennai, this restaurant serves a few of the best and authentic recipes, and if you havent tried it yet, what are you
waiting for!

8. The Mayflower, Palavakkam
A pan Asian restaurant, serving the best Asian dishes, The Mayflower has some really impressive dishes. Mountain
chill chicken is a must try and their Burmese khow suey chicken is lip smacking good. This restaurant offer indoor
seating with tastefully done interiors and also an outdoor seating by the pool, making way for a great evening!

9. Nolita, Khader Nawaz Khan road
A quaint little space giving a feeling of home, Nolita is best for short-eats and desserts. While you are there, and are
done appreciating the beauty of the place, do order their cheesy garlic bread and Chelsea vegetarian pizza. You will
thank us later!

10. Sage & Lavender, Alwarpet
One of the newest kid on the block, Sage & Lavender are all our French feels! Their glasshouse concept based indoor
and airy outdoor seating is all set to perfection. A limited menu, with all must try items. But our most favourite is of-
course their salted buttermilk cake an their Lindt chocolate cake. Needless to say, be prepared to hog!

The post 10 stunning dine-outs in Chennai appeared first on Chennai Food Reviews.

Chicken 65! 

If you are looking forward to enjoying India’s varied food recipes, the Chicken 65 reigns as one of the top dishes to make you drool from anywhere in the world! This spicy and dry chicken snack is best loved as starters at most Indian homes, restaurants, and festivities! Have you tried them yet?

Why is it called Chicken 65? 

The History of Chicken 65 dates back to the year 1965, Chennai, when Mr. A. M. Buhari, owner of the Buhari Hotel chain invented this legendary starter. Since then the popularity of this legendary dish has only surged in India and across the world.

Although the above account is far more well established, many myths are surrounding the origins of this legendary dish.

One story states that it was created in 1965 as a simple meal for Indian Soldiers. Another story tells us that Chicken 65 got its name because it was prepared using 65 chilies and cooked by a budding hotelier. A rather vague idea for naming this dish claims that the dish was to be made from chickens that were 65 days old. One more claims that the recipe had 65 pieces of chicken or that it was mentioned as the 65th dish on the menu and so on!

The many myths may confuse us, but they have only made the dish more interesting over the years! Can you cook up one such interesting myth? That would be fun!

The dish often derives its red color and flavor from the red chili powder added to it and can be prepared with different sets of ingredients. However, the main ingredients generally used to prepare it are Chicken, red chilies, ginger, garlic, and salt. The recipe varies as per the restaurant and region you are dining in. It can be prepared with bone-in or boneless chicken as per your preference.

This recipe has also inspired many vegetarian dishes we enjoy today such as – Gobi 65, Paneer 65, etc.

The recipe involves marinating the chicken, deep-frying it, and finally stir-frying it. It is best served hot, garnished with lemons and onions.

The Chicken 65 recipe is a simple one, anyone can try it with a little guidance! Better yet, head to one of the nearest restaurants to enjoy a plate of piping hot and spicy chicken 65! You could try the Chennai style, Madurai style, Hyderabadi style, Andhra style, or any other special varieties served by the restaurant!

Let’s look at the recipe step-by-step! 

Ingredients: You will need Chicken, Egg, Cornflour, dried red chilies, Kashmiri chili powder, oil, salt, rice flour, curry leaves, coriander powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, ginger and garlic paste, green chilies, and cumin.

Ready the chicken: For this recipe use 250 grams of bone-in or boneless chicken. Although both come out well, it is recommended to use boneless ones as there are chances for the bones to crack and splutter on you while frying them. If you can handle it, then sure, go ahead.

Firstly clean the chicken and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Pat them dry using some tissue paper.

Prepare the marinade: 

In a mixing bowl, add half tablespoon of turmeric powder, 1 tablespoon of chili powder, 1 tablespoon of coriander powder, half tablespoon of garam masala, and 1 tablespoon of salt or add it as per taste.

Further add 2 tablespoons of ginger and garlic paste, 1 tablespoon of cornflour, 2 tablespoons of rice flour, one well-beaten egg, and mix all the ingredients well.

Marination:

Add the tissue-dried chicken pieces to the marinade, coat it well and let it marinate for a minimum of half an hour.

Frying The Chicken: 

Take a frying pan with sufficient oil and heat it well on high flame for a few minutes. Once it’s well heated, bring the flame to medium heat, and gently drop a few chicken pieces. Try not to crowd the pan. Fry a few pieces at a time for about 5 -7 minutes or until you have a decent orangish-red color. If you are not able to recognize whether it’s cooked, simply taste one and confirm!

Final Step – The Stir Fry! 

For this step, you will need a pan heated with 2 tablespoons of oil, 2 slit green chilies, 2 dried red chilies, half a spoon of cumin, and 2 sprigs of curry leaves. Once it is ready, add in all the fried chicken pieces, and gently stir fry for another 2-3 minutes to absorb the flavors.

Your Chicken-65 is now finally ready with all the goodness of chicken, and spices! Plate and enjoy it while it’s still hot! While you can follow this recipe, you can always experiment with the ingredients!

Summing Up! 

Today, no doubt, chicken 65 is one of the best crowd-pleasers not only in India but across the globe! It is popularly served at parties, restaurants, and many other special occasions.

What can we say? It gets the conversation and party started!

In the next post, let’s look into Mutton with Onion & Green Capsicum Gravy

The post History of Chicken 65 and why it is called so? appeared first on Chennai Food Reviews.