Dindigul Venu Biriyani

 What to eat: Authentic Dindigul Biriyani and Mutton kola urundai (Southindian meat balls)

Where: Venu Biriyani Hotel, Dindigul

Verdict: After a lengthy Kerala trip, we reached Madurai last night. As my wife had other plans for today, I started my lonely journey towards a town called Dindigul in search of authentic dindigul style Biriyani.

Got into the Erode passenger train from Madurai junction in the morning for 20₹ ticket. Train was late by 40 mins as usual.

There are 3 options available for Briyani in this tiny town...
1)Thalapakatti, 2)Ponram and 3)Venu Biriyani.

My heart always beats for venu biriyani.

As soon as the train reached Dindigul junction, I whizzed towards Venu Restaurant with the help of Google maps. I didn't had any food in the morning to keep my apetite just for Biriyani. Reached the resto (called as hotel by the locals) by noon.

Ordered for quarter mutton biriyani(105₹), mutton kola(20₹), chicken roll(25₹), mutton chukka(95₹). Quarter Biriyani was too less, so had to order another quarter and ended the lunch with quarter white rice which was served alongwith chicken gravy, mutton gravy, rasam and butter milk. Biriyani was served with dalcha (mutton bones cooked with dal), chicken/mutton gravy. Dalcha had 2 nalli elumbu lucky me.

Quarter Mutton Biriyani

Mutton Kola Urundai and Chicken Roll

Mutton Chukka

Mutton kola urundai (Meat balls) were so soft...Never had such soft kola anywhere in my life and that too for such low cost. Mutton chukka had tiny pan fried pieces of meat topped with crispy fried curry leaves . Chicken roll was divine. Had Keerai poriyal (Spinach) and Senai kootu (Root Veggie) as sides for the rice. And then returned back to Madurai in bus for just 28₹. Overall it was a bulky meaty meal for which 4 hours travel is not bad. If you ever hit Dindigul, don't miss the yummy Biriyani and kola urundai in Venu.

Hotel Aryaas at Kerala

 What to eat: Tamil Nadu style Veg Meal

Where: Hotel Aryaas, Chottanikkara, Kerala

Verdict: When you're on a temple visit in Kerala and wants to have Tamil nadu style "Sappadu", just come over to this restaurant which has many branches across Kerala. We had a sumptuous veg meal after a visit to Chottanikkara Devi Temple.

They serve both Kerala red rice and Tamilnadu white rice. We opted for Tamilnadu rice. Meal Coss 70₹ for which you need to get a token first. Beetroot poriyal, Chowchow aviyal, tomato thokku were the sides. Sambar, Moor Kolambu, Rasam, butter milk were served with rice. Got a mini cup of curd, payasam and a big appalam as well.

All were good, with the only complaint that sambar was spicy.

Ifthar at Edapally

 What to eat: Malabar cuisine including Malabar snacks



Where: Ifthar Restaurant, Near Lulu Mall, Edapally, Ernakulam, Kerala

Verdict: After a day tour of Ernakulam & surrounding places, family were so tired and not in a position to go out for dinner. So I had to walk with my friend to the famous Ifthar restaurant to get some Malabar delicacies for dinner for both the families. Ordered for Chicken kabsa(110₹), Kish Fish fry(120₹), Kerala Parotta(12₹), Wheat Parotta(15₹), Vellappam(8₹), Chicken Varutharachadhu(125₹) and some sweets such as Thari unda(15₹) and Elanchi(15₹).

Chicken kabsa is actually just like the chicken briyani that we get in Tamilnadu. Infact chicken briyani in Kerala is like ghee rice, you should go for Kabsa instead of Briyani if available. Chicken gravy was soft spiced with 4-5 pieces.

Vellappam was bit sour, actually it should always be sour instead of the one that we get in many places in Tamilnadu. Both type of parottas were large in diameter and soft in nature.

Fish fry was a thick slice and perfectly spiced. Thari unda is nothing but rava laddu. And Elanchi is nothing but sweet poli (batter mixed with nendram banana) with sugared cocunut stuffing.

Overall it is a must visit place for NonVeg eaters vising Ernakulam without burning a hole in the wallet. I personally feel that the price is cheap compared to Chennai. Veggies, instead just better go for the nearby Dhe Puttu restaurant for different varieties of puttu.