Sunday, April 20, 2014

Trend in Restaurants

There is a trend nowadays with regards to eating in restaurants.  That is to eat at the Chef’s table.  Chef’s table is located inside the kitchen.  Not all restaurants offer this.  The reservation waiting list is at least 6 months to get a Chef’s table.
 
I always thought a restaurant kitchen is hot and noisy. So why would anyone want to eat in the kitchen?  I have never been to one yet.  But I am told that it is not inside the kitchen per se.  The eating place is separated by glass from the kitchen.  And, the chef discusses with the customers what to cook for that day and prepares.  It is a salon privee with a view.  You can also see the chef at work.
 
                      Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare Restaurant (Source: Yahoo)
 
What goes around comes around.
 
I have heard from my dad that there was a restaurant in Trichy in Tamilnadu.  Long time ago. May be in 50s and 60s.  The name of the restaurant was Sankara Vilas. Very famous for Rava Dosa.
 
What was unique for that restaurant was there were two dining places in Sankara Vilas.  Regular dining area and a dining area inside the kitchen.  Regular dining area had chairs and tables.  The dining area inside the kitchen was reserved only for the long time loyal customers.  They will sit on the floor in the kitchen and the food would be served on banana leaves.
 
Ahh. Imagine eating Rava Dosa on a banana leaf with 2 different chutneys and a bucket of sambar.  I am hungry now.
 
What they were doing in a no name restaurant in Trichy, India 50 years ago, is now the fashion in USA.                                                                                                       
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26 comments:

  1. RenuApril 20, 2014 at 9:09 PM

    World is round..in everything we are coming back..

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  2. rudraprayagaApril 20, 2014 at 11:48 PM

    We are blindly running after the west abandoning the unscientifically(said so) very scientific Indian methods. Frequently we use plantain leaves for steaming,frying etc. of items.

    EvenIndian superstitions have scientific views in them.We shouldn't disdain the beliefs. SG,somehow you find some common,yet unique topics. Nice.I liked it.

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  3. SGApril 21, 2014 at 10:08 AM

    Thanks for comments Renu. You are correct.

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  4. SGApril 21, 2014 at 10:08 AM

    Thanks for your comments Sarala. I am glad you liked this post.

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  5. Destination InfinityApril 21, 2014 at 10:24 AM

    Waiting period is 6 months?? That takes a lot of planning, don't you think? Here, we don't reserve tables even one day ahead. We walk in and expect to get a table. Or else, another neighborhood restaurant is always there! :)

    Destination Infinity

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  6. SGApril 21, 2014 at 10:38 AM

    Thanks for your comments Rajesh. The 6 month waiting is for getting a reservation to eat at the Chef's table. Not for eating at the restaurant.

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  7. ReshmaApril 21, 2014 at 12:09 PM

    Very true SG, what goes around, comes around... Interesting trend. Ah, crisp rava dosa fresh from the tava... Yumm!! I had some real yummy dosas @Sangeethas in trichy quite a few times about 5 years ago...

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  8. SGApril 21, 2014 at 6:18 PM

    Thanks for your comments Reshma. Sangheethas is a good restaurant.

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  9. Krishna/കൃഷ്ണApril 21, 2014 at 9:47 PM

    Interesting post...

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  10. AshaApril 21, 2014 at 11:51 PM

    Interesting fact and anecdote, SG!. It would be an unique experience to have such an eating experience talking to the chef. BTW, we have many such see through kitchens here now in india many small european style cafes, pizzerias and dosa stations.

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  11. chitraApril 22, 2014 at 4:43 AM

    Even now there are a few restaurants with see through kitchen.
    But don't think there are customized recipes.

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  12. Camila Rafaela FelippiApril 22, 2014 at 5:41 AM

    Wow, I've never see something like this! Chef’s table? Only on movies, maybe...
    I'll search if, in Brazil, we have some restaurante like this. If we have and if it's near my home I'd love to visit!

    Hugs :D

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  13. BK Chowla,April 22, 2014 at 6:55 AM

    See through kitchens in Mughlai restaurants are very common in India.

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  14. SGApril 22, 2014 at 6:25 PM

    Thanks for your comments Krishna. I am glad you liked this post.

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  15. SGApril 22, 2014 at 6:34 PM

    Thanks for your comments Asha. I am aware of see through kitchens in India. But this one is eating inside the kitchen and the chef preparing whatever you want to order(and not from the Menu Card).

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  16. SGApril 22, 2014 at 6:35 PM

    Thanks for your comments Chitra. Please refer to my reply comment to Asha.

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  17. SGApril 22, 2014 at 6:36 PM

    Thanks for your comments Mr. Chowla. Please refer to my reply comment to Asha.

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  18. SGApril 22, 2014 at 6:38 PM

    Thanks for your comments Camila. Please let me know if there is one in Brazil.

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  19. Shilpa GargApril 23, 2014 at 7:53 AM

    Wow! That's a very interesting trend and the fact that it was practiced in India so many decades ago, makes it all the more fascinating!!

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  20. SGApril 23, 2014 at 11:59 AM

    Thanks for your comments Shilpa. Western countries follow many of our older practices.

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  21. Swathi ShenoyApril 24, 2014 at 2:27 AM

    wow that was a yummy post with rava dosa n chutney served on banana leaf. i jst returned home hungry n reading dis am evn hungrier :-D i wasnt aware of this chef's table trend! and as shilpa said, hearin its something that was practiced in India makes in sound all more exciting :)

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  22. Camila Rafaela FelippiApril 24, 2014 at 11:21 AM

    I think there isn't a restaurant like this in Brazil, but I made a search about restaurant and I read a little about Dinner in the Sky, Bruxelas, do you know? it's crazy, or no... :b

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  23. SGApril 25, 2014 at 9:06 PM

    Thanks for your comments Swathi. Yes, foreigners learned a lot of things from India and improvised them.

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  24. SGApril 25, 2014 at 9:09 PM

    Thanks for your comments Camila. It will be exciting to have dinner at a Dinner in the Sky. I do not think USA has one. But we have lot of revolving restaurants. I was there for dinner and it was pure fun.

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  25. Afshan ShaikApril 27, 2014 at 5:25 AM

    Thats a unique way to eat in Chef's kitchen. Never heard of it and that rava dosa made me hungry too

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  26. Avada KedavraMay 1, 2014 at 6:05 PM

    6 months waiting list?! interesting. I don't think I have seen this in any restaurant so far. Or probably I did not notice properly. I would not want to sit there as most restaurants here serve non-veg.

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