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.