As a food blogger, I was invited for a bloggers meet at Rajdhani for their annual #Aamlicious festival #MangoFest happenning #OnlyatRajdhani. Wondering why this post is in this blog rather than in my food blog www.suvaiarusuvai.com? It is for one simple reason, that this post is a review post and I prefer to have my review posts here in this blog.
Thanks for the intro by my blogger friend Jofy Abraham of Foodie Adam Cookie Eve.
It was kind enough of Mr. Noel Fernandes of Bloomingdale Public Relations to send a personal invite via mail.
"Khandani Rajdhani 's 'Aamlicious Festival' at Phoenix Market City, Velachery, Monday 9th May at 12 noon".
Though the mail stated that the invite is for two, I had to take both my kids aged 15 and 11 and they were kind enough to accommodate both of them. It will be unfair if I do not describe it right from the moment we stepped in till the moment we stepped out. As Mango is king of fruits, the bloggers were also treated as kings. Not only the bloggers, Rajdhani is famous to treat all its customers royally. This is not my first visit to Rajdhani. Had been to their outlet in Escape Avenue with friends a few many times, but this is the first visit to their restaurant in Pheonix Market City, Chennai and that too during their #Aamlicious festival and more so as a blogger than as a customer.
As I was asked to meet the manager, I had to pause at the entrance, unfortunately the door keeper could not understand English. For that case most of the people who serve do not understand English or Tamil (I think this needs a definite look out by the management). We were then introduced to the session manager, who inturn took us to their Marketing manager who was having a chat with another blogger cum food columnist. We were welcomed with a tikka in our forehead and son was super thrilled by that welcome.
We were seated at a convenient place and then started the fun. Thali was placed in front of us with lots of cups mostly in the same shape and size but a few in a different size. As we were invited for the #Aamlicious festival food, I was given an intro in the mail as to what to expect:
"Kairi Chana Dal Dhokla, the inventive Kairi Samosa Sabzi, lip-smacking Mango Kofta Pulao, exoticMalabari Mango Kadhi and the regional delicacy Mango Pachadi. Evergreen favourites like the Mango Raita, Fajeto and Aamrakhandhold a place of honour. There’s the Mango Jalebi for all those with a sweet tooth. And of course, the jewel in the crown, the majestic Aamras will remain the highlight of the thali."
But as mentioned there was a rotation of dishes and here is the menu card for the day.
Another new dish that we got to taste was Aam Ki Launji with Kobra Roti. As the taste was different and new could not remember much of it or its taste.
Poori was served with Aamras as per the tradition. The pooris were fluffy and puffy and remained puffy for a long time. Was not oily too.
The mango pulav as it was named was another innovative dish. The jeera rice is mixed with pieces of semi ripe had mango pieces. That gave a new taste to the pulav and it was served with raw mango raitha. What a combination.
This raw mango pachadi was also called as mango kadi by the chef and his men.
Thanks for the intro by my blogger friend Jofy Abraham of Foodie Adam Cookie Eve.
It was kind enough of Mr. Noel Fernandes of Bloomingdale Public Relations to send a personal invite via mail.
"Khandani Rajdhani 's 'Aamlicious Festival' at Phoenix Market City, Velachery, Monday 9th May at 12 noon".
Though the mail stated that the invite is for two, I had to take both my kids aged 15 and 11 and they were kind enough to accommodate both of them. It will be unfair if I do not describe it right from the moment we stepped in till the moment we stepped out. As Mango is king of fruits, the bloggers were also treated as kings. Not only the bloggers, Rajdhani is famous to treat all its customers royally. This is not my first visit to Rajdhani. Had been to their outlet in Escape Avenue with friends a few many times, but this is the first visit to their restaurant in Pheonix Market City, Chennai and that too during their #Aamlicious festival and more so as a blogger than as a customer.
As I was asked to meet the manager, I had to pause at the entrance, unfortunately the door keeper could not understand English. For that case most of the people who serve do not understand English or Tamil (I think this needs a definite look out by the management). We were then introduced to the session manager, who inturn took us to their Marketing manager who was having a chat with another blogger cum food columnist. We were welcomed with a tikka in our forehead and son was super thrilled by that welcome.
We were seated at a convenient place and then started the fun. Thali was placed in front of us with lots of cups mostly in the same shape and size but a few in a different size. As we were invited for the #Aamlicious festival food, I was given an intro in the mail as to what to expect:
"Kairi Chana Dal Dhokla, the inventive Kairi Samosa Sabzi, lip-smacking Mango Kofta Pulao, exoticMalabari Mango Kadhi and the regional delicacy Mango Pachadi. Evergreen favourites like the Mango Raita, Fajeto and Aamrakhandhold a place of honour. There’s the Mango Jalebi for all those with a sweet tooth. And of course, the jewel in the crown, the majestic Aamras will remain the highlight of the thali."
But as mentioned there was a rotation of dishes and here is the menu card for the day.
Every thing was served to us after explaining in detail and we started feeling kind of full just after the starters itself. But a small stroll towards the display table where all the dishes were displayed gave us a bit more space (Yes when it comes to mango or dishes made of mango, every one's stomach will pave way for more).
The chef posing with the array of dishes he had prepared for the day.
The highlight of the starter was Kairi Potli and Kairi Chilli Samosa. Both were delicious. Inspite of using small chillies, the stuffing made it less spicy. The stuffing was potato and crumbled paneer combined with raw mango for the tangy taste.
Aamras was served with Poori. But we had other side dishes too to go with Poori and kids cant stop with just a cup of aamras and they kept asking for more.
No we were not served Aamras in this big glass but only in cups but they never hesitated to serve us more when asked for second and third helping. The Aamras the highlight of this #Aamlicious festival was not diluted mango drink that we get in juice shops but thick pulp with no additives. It is definitely heavenly taste and one should not miss it.
Something different was the mango dal batti. I usually make mango dal at home, but having baatis in it is an innovative idea. Chunks of mango combined with mushy dal and sheets of baati tasted right for a light side dish along with the different rotis served.
The south Indian delicacy sweet and sour mango pachadi also takes a place in the #Aamlicious festival of Rajdhani, The blend of sweetness, tanginess and sourness is perfect and the dish tastes just right how it is made at home. (They also gave a box of this as a take away along with a box of Aamras).
Slices of ripe mango dipped in a thin batter and soaked in sugar syrup was a new dessert and it tasted good though cannot eat more than one piece.
The drinks include Aam Panna and Mango Lassi.
The mango pulav as it was named was another innovative dish. The jeera rice is mixed with pieces of semi ripe had mango pieces. That gave a new taste to the pulav and it was served with raw mango raitha. What a combination.
This raw mango pachadi was also called as mango kadi by the chef and his men.
The Thali that was served to us.
The complete spread.
You might wonder after reading this why I have not posted this earlier even though I had visited on 9th of May, the reason is lot of personal commitments. But the feast was royal and so was the taste and it struck to the heart and mind and the pictures were perfectly captured in my mobile.
We happy gave three bongs when we stepped out after our sumptous meal. Thanks to Rajdhani for this wonderful feast and also to Bloomingdale PR for arranging such wonderful lunch session. The ambience of the restaurant - amazing; lighting - pleasing. But one small suggestion when a feast like this is arranged for bloggers it would be better if that entire session is dedicated only for bloggers so all the food bloggers get a chance to interact with each other.
To know more about the Rajdhani restaurants:
Facebood: Rajdhani Thali
Twitter : Rajdhani_Thali
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