CHENNAI: The sun is well above us as we enter the highroofed cosy interior of By the Bay, the newest restaurant on located near the beach shores at VGP Golden Beach resort. Deepika Rajadas, founder, Madras Gourmet Society greets us, showing us to a table by the glass walls. We settle into our chairs, appreciating the expansive green lawns beyond and trying to fathom what the meal ahead has in store for us. The excitement at the table at the exclusive food tasting ahead of Madras Gourmet Society’s launch is palpable. The Society’s goal is simple — curating exquisite fine-dining experiences, bringing the city’s best chefs together for a one-of-a-kind menu served at a variety of locations across the city.
For their first event, Prime, reknonwn chefs Shriram Rajendran, of The Table, and Chef Mathangi Kumar, of That Madras Place, are coming together for the first time, for an evening of wine, dine and conversation. We sampled a few dishes from their carefully crafted menu. The warm braised organic carrot with coconut cream vanish like shots within minutes, followed by plates of Tapas — a choice of homemade basil walnut pesto with plum tomato and mozzarella flatbread or southern spiced lamb mince on flatbread with a dollop of sour cream.
We taste an array of innovative dishes — the crisp paprika potato skins with caramelised garlic served with a dip is a favourite, and so are the tequila marinated chilli prawns with sweet and spicy pineapple salsa, appropriately whelming, the table agrees. As the plates are wiped clean of the main course, a warm pumpkin risotto with caramelised onions and brown butter sage sauce, the chefs come out for a brief round of hellos, before heading back in to bring the showstopper — almost baked chocolate slice with salted caramel ice-cream, the raspberry coulis adding a zing in every bite. The main event due to happen on the November 24 will feature a more extended menu, explains Sriram. A selection of veg and non-veg appetizers, tapas, three main course options with veg, sea-food and chicken, and also an eggless dessert option.
And that’s not all! A fine selection of Spanish and Italian wine and liquor will be served and an open bar serving imported liquor will be available. “We wanted to bring chefs out of their boxes, explore venues like on the beach, give unique food experiences and also understand the food itself, which is why we have the chefs interacting with the guests,” says Deepika, promising that foodies will soon have more unique gastronomic adventures Register a table for Prime on Nov 24. Cost for one: `2,500 (including alcohol). Visit madrasgourmetsociety. com or call 9176268613