| rev:text
| - I eat a lot of indian food here in Montreal, yet I was surprised that about half of Chennai Express' menu was totally unfamiliar to me. Rather than sticking with more standard fare (dosas and byrianias), I branched out and tried some of dishes that were new to me.
I started with a pair of Medu Vada, a kind of savoury donut often served at breakfast. Actually, the donut comparison isn't apt. The dough in the Vada - lentil flour? - is more hearty than donut insides, and much less sweet. The Vada tasted wholesome, and not the least bit like junk food, despite being friend. The coconut chutney, served on the side, added a spicy kick.
For my main dish, I had a Sambar Idli. Sambar is a soup, and the Idli are dumplings that float in it and absorb its flavour. As with the Vada, it was both tasty and filling, and had a gamut of spices that were subtly novel for my Canadian pallet.
The Vada and Sambar Idli definitely both "keepers". I'm excited to go back and try everything else!
Seating is limited to a half-dozen bar stools at a wall-mounted counter.
|