My Magazine writing - Parry's series - about Food.

Happy to share this article of mine was published in Chennai's leading city magazine - INBOX 1305, in the year 2011 and got me wide acclaim. 

There’s something for every Palate in Parry’s.

Trust me, street food in Parry’s is really catching up. Professionally made sumptuous meal at throw away price, where else will you find this combination other than in Parry’s?

Hygiene is something that one will need to be cautious about. So exercising caution while eating street food in Parry’s, is the number one tip to survive it. But here are some of my all-time favorite places where I can hang out, alone or with friends, which I can vouch for any day, popular as well as budget-friendly.

OLD and NEW

Snacks outlets have been here for very many years. Aggarwal Bhavan, Ramakrishna Bhavan, were here in Parry’s for over 3 decades now, occupying a pride of place. The popularity of them, has seen a high and a low, but has maintained a flow of customers to their joints. One feels welcome while walking into Ramakrishna Bhavan; spacious and stacked with umpteen number of delightful goodies; fascinating me even as a kid, this has remained in the Pandora box of my memories and I still visit this place to check out savories and sweets occasionally as I still savor the aroma and the sight of golden glow that is reflected through the yellow plates over the place.

Not very old is the Adyar Ananda Bhavan, opened about a decade back, even during non-peak season sees a brisk flow of customers. Suprabaa, opened with much bang, three years ago, to add to the competition, is also an alternative to the High Court and Bank crowds that visit the area. The owner at the Suprabaa tells me that holiday season and vacation time is when they cash in on their sales.

Just around the corner on N.S.C Bose Road, a cart selling a tantalizing pani-puri, is an occasional sight on this busy main road. The puri and the pani, usually covered in a red cloth, is perhaps playing a part in attracting a lot of chat food lovers, I notice now-a-days, as throngs of people delightedly munch away at this much-sought street food.

 Restaurants

Sangeetha Veg Restaurant, Saravana Bhavan and Hot Chips are just some of the prominent names that have established themselves for long now, fair enough as the main crowds get attracted to these restaurants. But the more food-savvy parry resident, is having much more of choices open, as more and more newbies are asserting themselves as caterers and dine-out lets.  To sample what I am talking about, Cilantro, a catering unit located on the Armenian street, is very popular with the shipping and logistics crowd out here. A decent amount of delicious curry, to

be eaten with a naan or rice, priced at less than rupees fifty, is a sumptuous food that I can enjoy after a hard day, shares an employee at a local logistics branch with me. Not far, on Broadway is the Sea Shore restaurant, the ultimate Arabian food delight. The Shevarmas are plainly yummy, and decently priced. And finally don’t miss out on this, even as you try to negotiate your way through the scorching summer heat - Sangeetha Veg Restaurant’s Bhakala Bhat, priced at around rupees thirty five, will take care of the wrecked nerves, while you do so!

Bakery

Pick up your favorite muffins, at Rupees twenty, or your walnut cake at rupees thirty five. The fresh baked aroma and the quick and genteel service at the Mcrennet has delighted many a baked-food lover for more than two decades. If you want an alternative to Mcrennet’s, you will not have to go far, as moulana’s bakery an equally well-known in this segment of food is at a close vicinity, in broadway. Mcrennnet’s has a delightful stock of fresh just-out-of-bakery biscuits, whereas Moulana’s breads are something one should get a taste of in a life time.

Coffee Bars

Right from Cosmo Cafeteria upto the Lamcy Coffee, Filter Coffee with its delightful aroma is an all-time favorite. The tea-kadais cater to the Corporates, business houses and shops whereas the coffee bars cater to the crowds which visit at the High Court.

Juices

Most popular among school students and office crowds here, is also the sliced cut mango and pineapple fruits, that is available at most corners. Also sugarcane and mosambi juice-sellers are very common. Delight in a plate of cut mangoes and pineapple fruits at just around rupees fifteen.

Kebabs and Tandoori fare

Mannady is a haven for kebab-lovers and tandoori food here sells fast, especially post the evening fall. Kebabs is something that I am regular at, and deep-fried in ghee, consisting of about nine pieces priced at around hundred rupees, is definitely a taste that you will remember. Close-by, on the Moore street, opposite the beach station, crowds delightfully savour the tandoori food made by a loyal, whose chicken tikkas are famously known as ‘Guru’s Tikkas’. It is priced at rupees hundred and twenty onwards, hygienically prepared and worth its taste.

Ice-creams

Home to the famous ice-cream vendors, Alambardar, and other such parlours of its like are joints where locals usually chill out with ice-creams of variety of flavours – Badam Pista, Kesar, Mango, you name it, half a kilo at rupees ninety, will never nleave the taste-buds that easily.  Kulfis of various flavours are also available here.