THE MOST memorable travel moments are those defined by your dining experiences. Knowing what and where locals eat saves cost and gives a direct account of cultural habits. Which is why I was puzzled why the Royal Cuisine restaurant at Raj Palace, where I stayed during my brief visit to Chennai this week, did not include South Indian fare in their menu. I was in Chennai, center of the Tamil world, and I had to have idli and sambar!
When I asked the restaurant, I got a tongue-in-cheek reply. "There's no South Indian dishes because we eat them everyday."
To quench my hunger for chettinad food, I guess I got to travel to Chennai everyday then!