A few days ago, a blogger friend asked me if I wanted to join him at the Food Review at the Ancasa Hotel and Spa, and being not one to turn down an invitation unless I did not find it interesting or if I had something on, I jumped at the chance.
So a little before 12pm I was already there at the Ancasa Hotel and Spa's Saffron Brasserie.
One can easily see that the Saffron Brasserie concept is simple , spacious and a comfortable place for business people, tourists or friends to hang out or have a meal or a drink. The mirrors on both side of the Saffron Brasserie creates the illusion the are is even more bigger then it is.
The center piece of two golden elephants were very attractive to the eyes.
The food review started with a speech and a very catchy and colorful Indian dance.
The Chennai Spices Food Festival is ongoing from the 3rd of November until the 14th of November 2014.
You will be looking forward to authentic South Indian food with hints of Chettinad influence, and Saffron Brasserie/ Ancasa Hotel and Spa are offering a huge selection without compromising on the quality of the dishes for a very affordable price!!
Our culinary adventure starts with a stall preparing tosai and also idli. Tosai is very much like a crepe made from rice batter and black lentils. Idli is also made from rice batter and black lentils and is a favourite breakfast for South Indian households. They are quite healthy choices as they are low in calories and oil. and is delicious served with curry, sambal or chutney
The idli are steamed for about 10 minutes before they are ready to be eaten...
Ready to eat idli
The chefs here preparing the vadai at the vadai stall... the smells wafting from this stall was enough to make anyone's mouth water....
The vadai is also a very well known favourite from South India. You can find vadai in almost any mamak shop. They are savoury fritters made from dhall, lentils, gram flour , potatoes, onions...
These here are very fragrant and taste lovely. and can be quite high calorie, but it is so worth it sinking your teeth into one....
This here below is the milk vadai. The vadai is fried first then added into a milk base gravy.
The prawn sambal here was very fragrant and mouthwatering... It certainly was well spiced and cooked. I had a little bit more then I wanted to because I could not resist it....
The dish below is called the Chicken 65 Chennai ... it is just a fragrant and the meat is succullently well flavoured
Then we had the Fish Curry Timilu. The curry is slightly sour but very flavourful and irresistible as well, don't forget to have an okra or brinjal with the fish...
The Mutton Kurma Tanjoore is pretty hard to resist as well. You can taste the myriad of spices in the gravy and the potatoes are just right....
Then you have the dhall ... this is amazing with either the tosai or the briyani rice
Briyani Rice.....very fragrant and I had to just try it despite swearing to cut out rice from my diet whenever I can
A selection of chutney
Some fried vegetables....onions, bittergourd all fried with batter...
Rasam anyone?Rasam a South Indian soup, traditionally prepared using tamarind juice as a base, with the addition of tomato, chili pepper, pepper, cumin and other spices as seasonings, so it is pretty savoury. It is a must have with any good Indian meal....
And then,...... desserts... how can anyone resist these colourful desserts
and traditional kueh.....
and cakes...
Seriously for a sweet tooth dessert fan like me, I had a difficult time deciding where to begin.... everything looked so nice and tasted like heaven....
Then you had the South Indian sweets... some which can be really sweet...
Gulab Jamun is among India's most popular desserts! This delicious dessert consists of dumplings traditionally made of thickened or reduced milk, soaked in rose flavored sugar syrup. You really have to try these... they are out of this world!!!
Rasgulla... I had this , I liked it but I found it a bit too sweet for my palate....
The Laddu was also sweet but reminded me of coconut candy in some ways
I do not know if I got it right.... but "Khana tayaar hai,aao khaye" (Let's eat)
While having our lovely and and sumptuous Indian lunch, we were entertained by a beautiful Indian dance as well....
Oh yes, somehow I missed the cendol photo somewhere. I must point out the cendol here at the dessert stall next to the rasam stall is very tasty and to die for too... so, do not miss it!!!
Overall, it is a great place to try out something different, yummy, authentic food from South India.... and well worth the visit and at a very fair price!! I would go back again for another round...
RM45.00++ for adult
RM25.00++ for child
Call: 03-20266060 ext 7703 for reservations now...
or email : reservation@ancasanet.com
Website: www.ancasahotels.com
Ancasa Hotel and Spa
Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock
50050 Kuala Lumpur
Thank you to MoKA (Penaberkala), Paris Ashiqin (TM Info Media/ Destination Malaysia) and Ancasa Hotel and Spa for the kind invitation....
The food looks delicious...if I have opportunity, surely I'm going there...thanks for sharing
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