Absolutely awesome

Following up on the runaway success of Absolute Barbecue’s first outlet on G. N. Chetty Road in T. Nagar, Chennai, the speciality of which was AB’s Wish Grill, AB’s have just opened their second restaurant in Velachery. Strategically located on the vital Velachery-Taramani Link Road and bang opposite TCS, AB’s have come up with a few newer concepts to satiate the hunger of their patrons.

The new outlet features a Gaucho Style Churrasco counter – Mexican attired waiters and all! While they carry forward their favourite Cold Stone Creamery, a new introduction is a Kid’s Corner, during weekends. “This will help the weekend family diners to engage their kids while they focus on the food part of the experience. We have also noticed that, in recent times, it is the children who dictate the place for a dine-out,” says Prosenjit, one of the two directors of AB’s.

Prosenjit and Gurudas, the brains behind AB’s accompanied me to a lunch tasting at the new outlet. “This is a 160-seater restaurant and is located strategically to cater to both OMR and Velachery residents, as well as those from the immediate neighbourhood. With the addition of this, we are now operating 8 outlets, including two in Dubai. We have two each in Bangalore and Hyderabad,” informs Gurudas.

The live grill placed in the centre of the table attracts the attention of a retinue of waiters who constantly place skewers of veg and non-veg food. In between, to cleanse the palate, American corn is served, along with American Cheesy Potatoes. Only then can you do justice to the Chiptole Wings. Juicy Texan prawns, Singaporean Chicken Wings, BBQ Mushroom, Lady Fish in Sambal Olek Sauce which are followed by chicken and pineapple served the Gaucho style.

Desserts include donuts and soufflé, phirni and rabdi not forgetting hot crisp jalebis which can be topped with a variety of ice creams straight off the cold stone.

The overall eating experience is enhanced by the pleasing interiors with cleverly planned seating and air conditioning which, combined with the unique smoke exhausts, prevent any sort of stuffiness or food aroma.

Sun, sand and the sea

There’s something about the sun, sand and sea that increases your appetite for food. I think the salt in the air tickles your taste buds and the fragrance (note: NOT smell!) of the sea stirs the sensors in the nose to heighten the need for food. At least for me, the ‘sss’ combo always works to make me hungrier and thirsty. Probably the reason that numerous seaside eateries and beach resorts do so well.

Ever since Suresh Chandra Menon opened his The Beach Club at Neelangarai, I was dying to visit. I did so, a couple of months ago, at the fag end of the so-called Madras winter. The air still had a nip in it, when I reached the plonk-on-the beach eatery. Noon-time sun was bright, but not hot. Still, I decided to enjoy the sights from the vast and airy first floor balcony with its wicker chairs and glass tables.

Suresh has converted a twin beach house, with a medium sized pool in the front yard, into a well-appointed restaurant which has an air-conditioned seating area, a garden set-up with granite tables and chairs, and a vast balcony which overlooks the garden and the sea beyond. Inside, there are pool tables and a lounge area.

The Beach Club serves both Indian and Continental cuisine, with a firm thrust on sea food. With an eye on family patronage, Suresh has consciously avoided serving liquor. Hence, fruit cocktails or mocktails, smoothies and other ‘cool’ drinks will quench your thirst after a romp on the sands. Succulent prawns, fresh fish, tender lamb and chicken to go with Indian breads and rice dishes will make you crave for more.

Not being satisfied with the lack of exploring the sea and the sands, I made another trip to The Beach Club, just as summer was setting in, before the sun disappeared into the western horizon. While tiny crabs scrambled about and the waves lapped energetically at the shore, I built up a generous appetite by trudging the length and breadth of the almost private beach. Fishermen from the neighbouring village were returning home with their meager catch of the day.

Dusk was already setting in and I wanted to get as much of the sea, although the beach was already being lit in the glow of a couple of ‘street lights’.  With the sea breeze cool enough, I decided to occupy one of the granite seat/table, and indulge…in food, of course.

Here is a sample of food to die for:

• Stir fried prawns with chilly flakes, garlic, coriander and lime served with a cocktail dip and a mint and coriander dip.
• Crumb fried stuffed mushroom, stuffed with ricotta and jalapeno served with a garlic mustard cheese dip.
• Stew of lamb shank with potatoes, peas, pepper paprika, rosemary and wine.
• Mutton Biriyani.

The menu is endless….and I will have to make repeated visits to this heavenly seaside club to sample the rest of the variety.