CHENNAI: Simran’s Aappa Kadai at Vadapalani is lit up with easy-on-theeyes light, soothing Bollywood music playing in the background.
Naina Mohamed, service manager, explained the history of Simran’s Aappa Kadai. Contrary to popular belief, the restaurant is not named after the Kollywood actress Simran, though she inaugurated it. It is named after the daughter of the restaurant’s owner, Arul Raj.
Simran’s Aappa Kadai also has three chains of restaurants running in Dubai. The one at Vadapalani is the first in India, and more such outlets are expected in the city.
After a glance at the menu, I asked Mohamed to serve me the best he could. Starters came in the form of chicken garlic kebab and mutton sukka, prepared in Chettinad style. The kebab was deliberately cooked to be a bit hard.
But when you start chewing, it jells effortlessly, leaving an aftertaste.
The mutton sukka, made with raw garlic had a sweetsour taste. I enjoyed eating the garlic raw, as it carried the flavour of the mutton sukka.
Then came the Mutton Coconut Fry. A typical Kerala dish, it was cooked in coconut oil. The raw coconut pieces left in the dish had soaked up the mutton flavour and were just yummy. I wondered at the restaurant’s ability to prepare two mutton dishes in two distinct style.
But here comes what’s Simran’s Aappa Kadai is famous for and has made a name for itself in Dubai — the aappam. The aappams were being prepared in an open kitchen, where guests can watch the preparations.
Aappams of all mode and variety with interesting names were available.
From plain aappam and egg masala aappam to bulls eye aappam, the weirder the name, the better it tasted. But it’s the complimentary dish — mango fish curry —with the aappam that made an interesting and delicious combination. The kingfish was soft and tender and easily chewable. The gravy tasted like the macchher jhol, so typically famous in West Bengal.
Though my stomach was full, I ordered a chicken biryani, which was neither too spicy nor too sweet, but definitely delicious and tasty. Vegetarians needn’t despair.
There’s plenty to suit all palates.