Tamil Nadu, South India – 10 Top Foodie travel spots – on my Wishlist

On My Wish list – Top Ten in Tamil Nadu

Top ten in Tamil Nadu Map (source Lonely Planet – South India and Kerala)

1. Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)

About 1-1 ½ hours south of Chennai on the coast.

Why Go?
Visitors stop here to see the World Heritage listed temples and carvings, particularly lovely at sunset, but I’m hoping to sample the fish curry at the Seashore Garden Restaurant, that Rick Stein declared was the best curry in all of India.

Where to Stay?
Grande Bay Resort and Spa (Grande Chalet room $160 incl. breakfast)

Book on booking.com or contact Samuel (phone works best) from Australia 0011 91 9840793960

How to get there?
Grande Bay Resort pick up from Chennai airport costs about $42 if travelling down the scenic east coast.

2. Puducherry (Pondicherry)

Why Go?
A former French colony on the coast, where Indian and French foods and architecture blend to achieve some lovely street scenes, good shopping and creole cusine.

Where to Stay?
L’Orient Hotel (every room is different but try the Karikal for about $185)
or

Les Hibiscus – A Lonely Planet Guide top pick in Tamil Nadu

How to get there?

Hotel pick up from L’Orient Hotel costs about $40.

3. Tranquebar

Why Go?
A little coastal town and former Danish colony, with a lovely place to stay.

Where to Stay?
Bungalow on the Beach (again, every room is different, but try the Queen Anna Sophia room (approx.. $179 incl. breakfast)

How to get there?

Drop off from Les Hibiscus $45, from Hotel L’Orient $53

And two stops in different Chettinadu towns:

4. Karaikudi
Why Go?
Stay in a mansion and enjoy authentic spicy Chettinad cuisine.

Where to Stay?
The Bangala – Famous for it’s food – the set lunch or dinner is a Chettinadar wedding feast

How to get there?

Drop off from Bungalow on the Beach $82

5. Kanadukathan
Why Go?
Stay in a beautifully restored mansion and enjoy authentic spicy Chettinad cuisine.

Where to Stay?
Visalam – A Lonely Planet top pick in Tamil Nadu, a gorgeous art deco restored mansion with great style and a lovely pool and garden.

How to get there?
Local taxi (only 20 mins)

6. Madurai

Why Go?
One of the oldest cities in India, that traded with Ancient Rome and home of the amazing Meenakshi AmmanTemple and Foodies Day Out tour.

Where to Stay?

The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai
How to get there?

Drop off from Visalam $45

7. Kodaikanal

Why Go?
A misty hill station in the Palni hills. Popular for it’s spectacular lookout points, waterfalls and very pretty lake.

Where to Stay?
Lonely Planet’s top picks:

Villa Retreat
Great views over the valley

The Carlton
Nicely situated on the lake and recommended by Lonely Planet for its restaurant.

Book through the hotel website to get a special two night package that includes sightseeing and a romantic boat ride.

How to get there?

Pick up from Villa Retreat/ The Carlton Hotel approx. $45

8. Coonoor

Why Go?
Coonoor A hill station with beautiful scenery in the Nilgiri Hills and on the Nilgiri Toy Train Railway line.

Where to Stay?

180 McIver – A Lonely Planet top pick in Tamil Nadu and a classic 1880s British bungalow

How to get there?

Drop off from Villa Retreat/ The Carlton Hotel approx. $85

9. Ooty
Why Go?
Ooty another hill station of the Raj era in the Nilgiri Hills with great scenery.

Where to Stay?
Savoy Hotel

How to get there?

Take the famous toy train to Ooty leaves 10:40am (very cheap)

10. Chennai

Why Go?
Chennai the gateway to Tamil Nadu and a major airport in Southern India

Where to Stay?
Best location in Chennai to stay is T.Nagar near the Pondi Bazaar and some good spots to eat.

The Residency Towers has a great package for $155 for a Club Room on 18th floor for 24 hours (i.e. check in time is check out time) that also includes buffet breakfast, airport transfers, use of the Club Lounge for breakfast and free drinks between 7:30-8:30pm and a pool.

Contact the hotel directly to book.

But a cheaper, good option also in T. Nagar is the Lotus Apartments

(Make sure you pick the branch on Venkatraman Street).

How to get there?
Being such a major airport, it’s easy to get specials on airfares from some of the best airlines.
keep an eye out for Singapore Airlines specials that often drop to around $1150 return ex Canberra/Sydney.

If you have extra time, consider continuing on to Mysore (a wonderful palace) and the Coorg or Kodagu region (for coffee estates, hill staions and a distinct regional cuisine), in Karnataka and then flying back from Bangalore.

The very best curry – Fish Cafreal, Calangute, Goa

Following in the footsteps of Rick Stein on the quest for the best curry in India….we found it! (Or at least, it was our best).
The Fish Cafreal (for about $AUS5) at a small eatery on a corner under the Plantain Leaf in Calangute, Goa, was a winner.
As Plantain Leaf nearby is in noted in Lonely Planet Guides (their top pick, worth a look too for thalis), it is easy to find, very well run, great value…and delicious.

Cafreal is a dish that was introduced to Goa by the Portuguese from their colonies in the Africa. The sauce ingredients include fresh coriander, onion, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, pepper, chilli, mace, cloves and lime juice.

A Canberra Street Food Tour – a great group summer idea

Exploring street food specialties is one of the most enjoyable foodie travel activities. So why not try the same idea back home?

This way of sharing food together offers variety, value, an opportunity to learn about foods from other cultures, a short stroll between courses and some interesting conversations with eatery staff. But more than that, the ‘progressive dinner’ nature of the meal mixes everyone up each time the group moves, so there’s a chance to chat with more people. It’s a great idea for groups wanting to get to know each better.

Tips for organising a successful street food tour include:
1. Choose warm evenings if sitting at tables outdoors.
2. Choose spots with a BYO licence and low corkage (as you will pay this more than once).
3. Avoid busy nights and stick with eateries where you don’t need to book. (It is hard to predict exactly what time you will arrive and it can be frustrating for staff who are expecting to cater for a whole meal if you only are wanting to order one course.)
4. Pick places where you can come and go easily.
5. Plan to share dishes so that everyone can eat a number of courses but still be comfortable.
6. But do also plan to order sufficient at each spot to justify the use of crockery. (Paying corkage is helpful to cover the use of wine glasses).
7. Estimate the cost per person and keep a kitty to pay from at each venue.
8. Include the cost of wine and corkage. It can be helpful to buy and bring the wine for the group.
9. Leave a tip.

Suggested Canberra City Street Food Itinerary

Entree:
iPho, Garema Place – Vietnamese fresh spring roll $2.50 each ($5 for two, must be bought in pairs). Corkage $3 per bottle wine.
(Allow $3.25 per person) (Open late)

Main:
Global Cafe, Northbourne Ave – Ethiopian Injera bread with Meat and vegetable combination Wat $18.90 per serve (share one between 3 people, includes extra Injera and rice). Corkage free.
(Allow $6.30 per person) (Open until 8-8:30pm).

(On a Wednesday, the Roller and tap beer/cider special at the Treehouse is hard to beat for $10).

Dessert:
Thirst, West Row – Modern Thai Street Food – homemade sorbet ($2.90 per scoop), coffee/tea $3.90, salted plain or peanut caramel $1 (or 80c with a hot drink).
(Allow $7. 60 per person) (open until 9:30pm)

Total $17.15 per person (not including cost of wine or tips)

On Red, Red Hill Lookout, Canberra

On Red has an undeniably outstanding view over Canberra and it’s hard to beat for a great setting.
It also helpfully offers a wide range of smaller entree sized serves, designed ‘for you to ‘build your own’ tasting menu’.
The options are three $67, four $78 or five $89 dishes.
However, while dishes sound interesting and creative flavours are not as outstanding as other similarly priced top Canberra restaurants.

Pickled Octopus, Tuross, South Coast NSW

The Pickled Octopus at Tuross is a true South Coast favourite. Offering both casual fish and chips and BYO (cheap corkage) down by the water , under the verandah, if you go early as well as a la carte dining (BYO corkage $10) upstairs. Great views where ever you decide to eat.

Pride Of The Catch BBQ’D w’ Chefs Sauce Salad & Chips

BBQ Pickled Baby Octopus Marinated w’ Chilli & Garlic Sesame Crusted Tempura Prawns w’ Honey & Soy

Pokaran Fort – an fun local tourist spot between Jodhpur & Jaisalmer

Worth a stop, en route between Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, is Pokaran Fort. It’s a good spot to enjoy meeting fellow local tourists and stretch your legs.

Cork Street Gallery Cafe, Gundaroo

Cork Street Gallery Cafe in Gundaroo is a lovely spot for lunch on a sunny day.

The gourmet pizzas are good value and have a gorgeous thin crust. (Half and half toppings available.)

BYO only and corkage is low.

The setting and atmosphere is relaxed, casual and child -friendly.
Great pick for a weekend lunch and worth the drive (39km from Canberra).

(25% discount for Entertainment Book holders).

Casa Anjuna, Goa – sleeping

This converted Portuguese mansion offers four types of rooms, each with it’s own charm.

1. Standard rooms start at $108 in the low season and are lovely. (Casa Special Rooms)

Room 7 (A block first floor, overlooking the front garden)

Room 6 (A block first floor, overlooking the front garden)

Room 9 (A block first floor, no balcony)

Room 8 (A block first floor, no balcony)

Garden rooms G1 & G2 are in a bungalow in the front garden and share a common entry.

Pool rooms 1&2 are in a bungalow next to the pool. P1 is opposite the restaurant.

2. Luxury Rooms (Casa Favourite) start at $122 in the low season

Room 1 (Ground floor A block) has a lovely verandah onto the front garden but could lack privacy in the busy season.

Room 2 is at the other end of the verandah and is also a luxury room.

Room 4 has a lovely verandah, but it looks on to the restaurant.

Room 10 (first floor A block) has access to two nice shared areas with Room 11.

Room 11 (first floor A Block)

Room B1 (ground floor B Block)

Room B2 (Ground floor) B Block

Room B3 (first floor B Block)

Room B4 (first floor in B Block)

Room 12 (A Block second/top floor, overlooking back garden) next to suites.

3. Suites (Casa Luxury) (A Block second/top floor, overlooking the pool/back garden) start at $222 low season

Shared areas on top floor A Block (shared by Room 12, Mango Suite, Palm Suite)

Mango Suite (lots of room, but not as charming as other rooms).

Palm Suite (more charm than Mango Suite, and lots of room).

Also in the Suite category is…..

Room B5 (Ground floor B Block) (Opposite Room 1 in A Block)

and…

Penthouse suite (top floor B Block) has lots of room, and a kitchen.

My favourites were the Luxury Rooms (Casa Favourites) Rooms 1&2, on the ground floor of A Block as they have the lovely verandahs overlooking the front garden and are close to the shared areas. (But they would lack privacy in the busy season). Room 4 on the ground floor near the restaurant in A block is nice in very low season if it’s quiet (but otherwise would be very public).

The Standard (Casa Special) Garden Rooms are lovely, private and over look the front garden. They are ideal for two couples who are travelling together as they have a shared entrance area.

Luxury Rooms (Casa Favourites) Rooms 1,2,3& 4 in B Block are also very nice (and could be more private than rooms in A Block), but are away from the restaurant and shared areas.

Standard (Casa Special) Rooms 6& 7 in A Block on the first floor, are also nice (7 has a great bathroom) and have small balconies overlooking the front garden. Room 6 nearby is also nice with plenty of room, but no balcony.

The Suites are not very attractive (but the Palm Suite is the best as it does have a four poster bed.) However, there’s lots of room if you need to fit in an extra bed.

Standard (Casa Special) Room 5 on the ground floor of A block has a verandah like Room 4, that overlooks the pool but is more private. It is near the restaurant and could be busy. Room 3 in A Block is on the ground floor at the bottom of the stairs and probably not very desirable.