The weather is great and the appetite is sharp and there is a roadside food festival in town. So we head to Fairfield by Marriott that promises some sweet, sour and crisp fare. Step in and two thallu vandis greet you. Fryums in plastic bags hang from it and bottles of goli soda decorate the front.
‘Kovai Kulir Bhaana Kadai,’ announces one. “It means Kovai’s cool drinks shop,” explains Bharath of Marriott. A pyramid of shiny davara -tumblers are a reassuring hint of filter coffee to come. There is rose milk, nannari sherbat and shukku coffee among other ‘cool drinks’. We decide on the goli soda with a dash of refreshing nannari syrup and it is a good choice.
The Chintu aur Mintu Chat Bhandar on wheels offers chaat in various avatars. Dahi chat, kachori chat, bhel puri, paani puri, alu tikki ... Sit or stand around it and pick and choose your toppings and garnishes as the chaatwallah obliges. Sundal with manga is there and it is served with a side of sweet potato that is absolutely delicious with a squeeze of lemon on it. Just the chaats could be dinner, but there is more inside with momos (both veg and non-veg), dosa, vadaa pav and paav bhaaji .
There is nice sizzle and smoke at the live counters as dosas fly off the tavaa with assorted accompaniments. We are persuaded to try egg curry made two ways with the dosa. There is chicken curry to go with it too. Chicken, mutton and fish kebabs are being prepared at a nearby counter.
If you still feel the festival fare is but starters, dig into a main course of Thai curry, mushroom curry, paneer gravy, several non-vegetarian curries to be eaten with steamed rice/rotis, biriyani and pastas.
The goli soda does its job of washing everything down smoothly and the phirni served in a kulhad (mud pot) completes the experience of eating street food and the Tirunelveli halwa (sourced from there) is the grand conclusion.
The Rottu Kadai Fest is on till July 29 from 7.00 pm to 11.00 pm and costs Rs 699 plus taxes. For reservations, call 7094446622
