When it comes to Chettinad cuisine not many would spare a thought for the traditional Devakottai style of food making, as Chettinad food often conjures up an image of a spicy and tangy dish variety available in and around Karaikudi.
But, for Devakottai Aachi restaurant, which has tweaked the cuisine to spread out some of the mouth watering delicacies, it has become the USP.
Strategic location
Located on the strategic Melur Main Road and Ring Road intersection, it is difficult to miss the restaurant as its imposing front elevation does attract people's attention. With spacious parking and good ambience, it provides a fine dining in a cool setting.
Rummaging through the eclectic menu one gets to see several ‘Aachi' specials in each category from soups and starters to the main course.
“Though Devakottai comes under the Chettinad belt, it has its own taste. We plan our recipes in such a way that our customer does not feel totally out of place but at the same time we also showcase our own expertise, which has resulted in series of ‘specials' on the menu,” says M.S. Velu, the Executive Chef and one of the partners of the restaurant.
Some of the recipes are quite interesting and sound unique like the ‘Aachi Special Mutton/Chicken Uppucurry'. “From the name you can understand the dish is for those who would like to have less spicy food. Though it does not require any exotic spices, its taste is unparalleled. The diced (cut) mutton is boiled well with salt and turmeric powder till it gets tender. Then it is tossed with a shallow fried onion, red chillies, saunf and cumin seeds in gingelly oil to make the mutton uppucurry. It is a good starter and liked by everyone,” asserts Mr.Velu, who has more than 30 years of experience in the culinary field.
Though it has the Devakottai tag, it is a multi-cuisine restaurant with good spread of Chinese and Continental food. “In the Italian section, we offer spaghetti, bolognaise, macaroni, Napolitan, Au gratin and Au Grain (vegetarian). There is also Hawaiian vegetable and chicken salad,” he lists.
Desserts
If this is not enough, the desserts are more inviting. Starting his career as a baker and being an expert in pudding, the chef reels off a list of impressive pudding. “Though ice creams are major attraction in this section, we do suggest our customers to go for the fruit custards and majority like it. We prepare fruit custards with banana, pineapple and apple, apart from the regular traditional Indian desserts of Gulab jamun and Rasagulla,” says Mr. Velu.
The restaurant also has a marriage hall in the second floor and a conference hall in the first floor. “For small meetings we have a dedicated space in the ground floor itself. It can accommodate up to 40 persons,” he informs.
Aachi is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m and also takes outdoor catering orders. For more details dial 9597611155.
