Exploring India: The City of Chennai

The coastal city of Chennai, formerly known as Madras and the capital of Tamil Urdu, is a vibrant industrial and cultural center of South India.  The cuisine of Chenai is also the inspiration for our Madras Curry Sauce and Madras Vegetable Spice Mix.  The cuisine is just as fascinating and reflects both traditional influences as well as international textures and flavors typical of cosmopolitan port cities.

Common dishes include pongal, boiled rice served sweet or spicy; fermented crêpes known as dosa, and idli, fermented rice cakes. In many of the city’s restaurants, you’ll find the traditional Chennai meal, served on a banana leaf and accompanied by chutney and sambar as well as the much-loved aromatic, foamy Madras Chennai filter coffee.