As the city prepares to celebrate Madras Day, Taj Coromandel invites guests on deliciously nostalgic culinary journey through Chennai’s rich heritage with a special a la carte menu, at its iconic South Indian specialty restaurant, Southern Spice. Available until August 31, the Madras Week Culinary Trail is a tribute to the city’s diverse food traditions and the timeless flavours of the Coromandel Coast. 

Madras Day is more than a commemoration of the city’s founding – it is a celebration of its rich cultural legacy, distinct identity and vibrant communities. At Southern Spice, which has long been the custodian of South Indian culinary traditions, this occasion presents the perfect opportunity to revive time-honoured recipes and honour the flavours that define Madras.

Curated with care and authenticity, the menu begins with comforting rasams – choose between the Kozhi Malli Rasam, a peppery chicken broth traditional with spices, or the Tulasi Rasam, a refreshing tomato and basil infusion. For starters, one can savour classics like the Merina Meen Varuval; the much-loved Chicken 65; the spicy Kasimedu Yeral Peratal, a spicy prawn preparation cooked with onion and tomato gravy, and the Mylapore Ulundu Vadai, crispy fritters made with urad dal. For those who love street-side nostalgia, Marina Bhaji, deep-fried gram flour snacks and Thalicha Sundal, tempered chickpeas with green chili, bring back memories of beachside evenings and festive gatherings.

The main course is a rich medley of flavours for both vegetarian and non-vegetarians. Savour the tangy Rayapuram Fish Curry, seer fish cubes cooked in tangy curry; the aromatic Adyar Kozhi Tawa Fry, chicken cooked with onion and tomato with spices; the comforting Muttai Salna, egg cooked with coconut and onion gravy; and the hearty Attukal Paya, a flavourful reduction of lamb trotters and spices. Vegetarian favourites include the delicate Kaikari Vellai Kurma, seasonal vegetables cooked in coconut and cashew; Vada Curry, crumbling cooked dal dumplings & tempered with spices; the spicy Urulai Pattani Kara Masala, potato & green peas tossed with shallots and tempered; and the traditional Beans Paruppu Usili, a blend of French beans and steamed lentils. Complement these dishes with traditional staples like the Kozhi Biryani, Kaikari Biryani, the robust Veg Kothu Paratha, layered South Indian bread minced with vegetables, or the soft Idiyappams.

No celebration of Madras is complete without its beloved desserts. Indulge in the creamy Javvarisi Semiya Payasam, sago, vermicelli & milk confection;  the crunchy-sweet Mylapore Adhirasam, deep-fried snack made from rice flour and jaggery, often flavoured with cardamom; or the ever-popular Rava Laddu, a combination of semolina, sugar, ghee, cashews and raisins, each evoking the warmth of a traditional Tamil kitchen.

As Madras turns another year older, come rediscover its timeless spirit with us at Southern Spice at Taj Coromandel, featured among India’s Top 50 Restaurants by Condé Nast Traveller India, and awarded 4 Stars by Culinary Culture’s Ultimate Restaurant Ratings.