It didn't strike my tiny brain, that I've always made the pit stop after lunch hours and that maybe the restaurant has a different menu for the hours between lunch and dinner! And because of that colossal mistake, for nearly three years, I've missed everything that Gossip is capable of. Ever had a feeling of melancholy and elation at the same time? I found out what that feels like. As if to rub it in, our lunch at Gossip was one of the best I've had this year. Clearly, Anand is not just doling out wraps here, but with the owners' vision, doles out dishes that are seemingly messy, but laced with such brilliance that they work. And work well!
The prawn and melon soup for example. Have you heard of cream of watermelon? I've not. And this has no prawns in it, but skewered on top, while the soup is entirely vegetarian. And somehow it works. But the chef's cheekiness comes out with the Chilli Chicken salad. Imagine a 90's Indo Chino, tried, tested (and for some, even bored) chilli chicken. Put some fried noodles on top, a slice or two of garlic bread on the side and serve it. Nothing spectacular. Not until your spoon or fork accidentally discovers the soup like dressing at the bottom, completely hidden from sight - not even the menu mentions this. This tom-kha like dressing caresses the chicken like no man's business, leaving me completely, but comfortingly confused! And unable to stop gorging on the dish.
How about some coffee? Sure. In your main course! Uh? I've had coffee rubs on meats around the world, but a coffee gravy? Nope, not yet. And so we were presented with the coffee gravy, with its unmistaken hit of coffee. Even the unevenly cooked lamb chunks didn't entirely take the magic away from this dish. The tiger prawns with a black sauce potato and black rice was struggling its way into my already stuffed stomach, the taste buds relishing every moment the tummy was protesting.
The Elaneer Souffle is all you need here, but give the baklava tart a shot. As I always do, I borrowed some space for dessert from other organs.
The place was buzzing with Christmas activity and they have a Christmas Eve Dinner and a Christmas lunch priced at about Rs. 1250 or so. I believe that will have some turkey on the menu! Gossip Bistro is just before the toll ECR toll plaza, on the left so is a great pit stop on your way, away from Chennai. Just make sure you go there during lunch or dinner. This place changes menu regularly, sources as much as possible locally and has taken no short cuts with ingredients and that is palpable in every dish.
I wasn't supposed to write this post. My blogs for the year are done and my annual list of top 10 dishes are finalised, but that casual visit, during lunch hours this time, has upset the cart. One poor little dish from Japan is out and one from Gossip is in! That's happening at the Instagram side of things!
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