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For a completely different kind of culinary experience, foodies
craving the unique aromas of southern Indian cuisine are in for a
supremely aromatic treat this season. Launching in leafy Surrey in
June, Tandav offers the perfect excuse for destination dining that's
only a stone's throw from the capital. Effortlessly chic with a
contemporary elegance, the venue is also one that manages to blend an
informality, ambient atmosphere with a supremely exclusive
experience.
Beyond the muted, airy interior however, authenticity is the real key
to the venue's success. Each carefully coordinated, seasonally
sourced dish comes straight from the artistic direction of Anil
Mullath - head chef and a former chef for the Taj Hotel Group. With
an enduring passion for truthful dishes, Tandav and its expert team
help to create an experience that is arguably unlike other Indian
dining venues in and around London. The entire menu - be it the
Salmon masala dosai (£5.95) or a tender, superb Kerala Fish
Curry (£7.50) showcases a myriad of powerful flavours -
fenugreek, cocum, ginger, chilli - all combining exactly as they
should to evoke the flavours of India's spice capital.
Unsurprisingly, fish features heavily on the menu and Kerala's
signature fish - Kingfish and Pomfret - signal a real commitment from
the restaurant to replicate the truest Keralan dining imaginable.
Heading inland, the menu also references the region's interior
culinary prowess, with dishes like Erachi (£6.95). Frequently -
and hilariously - mispronounced by those who order it, this is a
unique signature Keralan recipe involving delicately spiced lamb
fused with chopped coconut slices and chilli. A wide selection of
beautifully robust tandoori dishes also offer a lighter alternative,
while a wide range of fiery crustacean dishes - including a
not-to-be-missed Alleppey Konju Curry (£7.50) an adventurous
dish from Allappuzha - referred to by Keralans as the Venice of the
East. Here, jumbo prawns are cooked in an aromatic coconut, black
pepper, and ginger gravy, then flavoured with lemon and curry leaves.
For all Tandav's exoticism and culinary expertise, it's easy to
assume the restaurant features the kind of prices associated with
certified fine dining. And that's where Tandav differs again; the
prices are astonishingly good value for the ingredients and
atmosphere, making this one long-haul (culinary) experience that's as
affordable as it is extraordinary.
Address: Tandav, 260 High Street, Sutton, Surrey SM1 1PG Tel:
02086421833 Website: www.keralagroup.co.uk |
