First Day! First Show!!-Chennai Sangeetha Sabha Food Round Up

Music Sabha Canteens-Gnanambiga Meals

   

     Started my Sangeetha Sabha Canteen food round up for this year with Gnanambiga @Vani Mahal. Relished traditional Tanjore style banana leaf full meals.

   

Gnanambiga meals

Regular Gnanambiga Sangeetha Sabha canteen meals menu consists of the following dishes:

Sweet
Thayir Pachadi (Raita)
Poriyal (Shallow fried vegetable)
Vathakkal (fried vegetable masala)
Koottu (Vegetable gravy)
Sambar
Vaththa Kuzhambu/Kara Kuzhambu/Mor Kuzhambu
Rasam
Thick Buttermilk
Pickle
Papad

Gnanambika Canteen

      Sweetened Milk Khova was of right consistency and taste.
     
      Cucumber Raita (Vellari Pachadi) was fresh and tender.
     
      Broad beans (Avaraikai) shallow fried with sprinkled coconut gratings was a visual delight. The greenish colour of raw broad beans was retained even after cooking. The taste was the same which I used to have in my childhood. Ven poosani koottu (Ash gourd gravy) with mochai kottai (a type of beans) was good.

      Fried Brinjal masala (Vathakkal) was excellent with right amount of spiciness.

      Radish Sambar, Toamto Rasam, Vendaikai (ladies finger) Kara Kuzhambu were of homely taste.

   
Overall, the meals was healthy & tasty with less masalas. Right quantity of salt and spice (karam) in the meals helped to relish the original taste of other ingredients.

        Meals in unlimited. So you can ask for extra servings without hesitation.

        Each and every dish were served piping hot, right from the stove.

        Cost-Rs.180 per head.

Music Sabha Canteen @Vani Mahal by Gnanambika caterers
Fresh veggies are ready for cooking

Sabha Canteen food festival will be open @Vani Mahal till 9th January, 2018.

Meals session will start by 10.30 A.M. You will be served lunch till 3.30 P.M. It is best option for those who like to have brunch.

Filter Coffee counter @Gnanambiga sabha canteen

Coffee is always addictive. Coffee counter was live even during peak lunch hour. From 4 P.M. to 9.30 P.M., sweet, karam and tiffin varieties will be served. Podi dosa and Adai aviyal are must try dishes here.

CHENNAI DECEMBER MUSIC SEASON 2017:: SABHA CANTEENS-A CURTAIN RAISER

Music in the ‘ear’: (food) Aroma in the air

ARE YOU READY FOR THE SHOW?

            “Chocolate Pani Poori and Agra Pan are this season’s new flavours” says Mr. Ramesh of Sasthalaya caterers. His catering unit is all set to feed the rasikas of the prestigious ‘Narada Gnana Sabha’ for the second consecutive year.

             

FOR THE BEGINNERS

            Music Sabhas organize staging of classical music performance throughout the month of December in Chennai. Music and food always goes hand in hand. They provide gourmet’s treat for food rasikas, prepared by top notch marriage caterers of Chennai. These are fondly called as ‘Sabha canteens’ by foodies. Almost a dozen sabha canteens are in full throttle to give you a foodie drive.

TOP 5

Sasthalaya @Narada Gnana Sabha, 

Gnanambiga @Vani Mahal, 

Padmanabhan @Music Academy, 

Meenambiga @Mylapore Fine Arts & 

Mountbatten Mani Iyer @Parthasarathy Swami Sabha.

WHAT THEY OFFER?

            Piping hot, traditional, tasty and healthy vegetarian food is available till the end of music season. You will get authentic filter coffee as early as 5 A.M. and traditional banana leaf meals starting from 10.30 A.M. Evenings are dedicated for tongue tingling varieties of sweets & snacks made in front of you. Non vegetarians please excuse.

DO I NEED TO HAVE CONCERT PASS TO ENTER THE CANTEEN?

‘NO’. Sabhas usually welcome foodies with red carpet. They have separate entrance for canteens. Only Mylapore Fine Arts used to restrict entry during evenings.

AMBIENCE & TASTE

            In major Sabha canteens, ambience and food variety & quality are comparable to that of fine dining restos. Cost is also ditto.

                        Cost wise, Mount Mani Iyer’s is the top scorer.

                        Gnanambiga is VFM.

In 2016, Coffee was priced at Rs.25 to Rs.40 in different canteens. Meals cost varied from Rs.150 to 300. Price wise top scorer was Mountbatten Mani Iyer @Rs.550 for New Year Special lunch.

The early bird for this season is Gnanambiga (@Vani Mahal). Their doors will open for foodies on 10^th December 2017. 

HAPPY EATING