When we think of fine dining in Namakkal, we usually imagine continental dishes and multi-cuisine options in a classy setting. But Basil Town Restaurant has now introduced something completely different — a traditional banana leaf non-veg feast.
Located on Salem Road, Basil Town is already known for its rich ambience and proper fine dining experience. Clean interiors, comfortable seating, and that premium vibe you expect when you walk in.
Since this banana leaf non-veg virunthu was newly introduced, I was curious to try it out.
So I went ahead and ordered the ₹599 meal.
The first item served was Naatukoli Malli Rasam. As the name suggests, it had a nice pepper kick to it, and the coriander flavor came through well. It was a good way to start the meal.
Then something interesting happened — a food trolley was rolled right next to my table, and the serving began one by one. That’s when it really felt like a proper feast experience.
As tradition goes, salt and pickle were served first.
After that came the lineup: egg poriyal, egg roast (a boiled egg coated in masala), mutton blood poriyal, mutton kudal, mutton chukka, mutton head curry fry, chicken chukka, mutton kulambu, chicken kulambu, pachapuli rasam, curd, and finally milk payasam.
The banana leaf was completely filled with variety.
For ₹599 plus taxes, the non-veg items are served in limited portions. However, rice and gravies are unlimited, so you can eat comfortably without worrying about that.
Now, coming to the taste.
I tried each dish separately first, and then mixed them with rice to get the full experience.
Overall, all the dishes tasted good. The spice levels were on the milder side, with a subtle flavor profile. It felt like they had adjusted the taste to suit a fine dining crowd rather than making it very spicy.
Personally, I felt that a little more salt and spice would have elevated the dishes even further.
One drawback I noticed was that the food was not served hot. When you are spending ₹599 plus taxes for a meal, you naturally expect the food to be warm, because hot food always enhances the taste.
Overall, it was a good experience. A traditional non-veg banana leaf feast served in a fine dining setup is definitely something different for Namakkal, and it’s worth trying at least once.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#itaste#sriiyappavillas#komarapalayam
Watched Jallikattu at Kumarapalayam and enjoyed a tasty non-veg combo lunch at Sri Iyappa Villas.
Soft mutton chukka, country chicken dishes, and a homely meal you should try when visiting Kumarapalayam.
Location;https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sri+Iyappa+Vilas/@11.4374533,77.6940101,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x3ba9691dd6a104fd:0x83820ca3bfbd894f!8m2!3d11.4374481!4d77.696585!16s%2Fg%2F11yt2plh5d?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDIwMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Ever heard of Jallikattu? That famous Tamil sport where a bull reminds humans who’s boss 🐂💪
So there was a Jallikattu event happening at Kumarapalayam (near Erode), and since I had never watched one live before, I thought… “Why not? Let’s go!”
Now obviously, after watching all that action, hunger also joined the event 😅
Kumarapalayam is well known for its non-veg hotels, so for lunch we landed at Sri Iyappa Villas, mainly because they had combo offer meals (and we love combos, don’t we?).
Their lunch menu had multiple combo options like
🍖 Mutton combo
🍗 Country chicken combo
🐔 Broiler chicken combo
🍛 Chicken biryani
…and plenty of non-veg side dishes to confuse you while ordering.
The mutton combo came with mutton chukka, kudal (mutton intestine), egg poriyal, and different kulambu varieties.
The country chicken combo had naatukoli kaattu varuval and milagai chicken.
I went with the mutton combo.
The mutton gravy was decent — not mind-blowing, not disappointing either.
But the mutton chukka? That was the star ⭐
No heavy spice, super soft, well-cooked — honestly even a baby could eat it 😄
That oil from the chukka mixed with rice… pure comfort food vibes.
The kudal was good too, though it didn’t beat the chukka for me.
The country chicken dishes tasted good as well.
If they increase the spice level by just 5–10%, these dishes would be even better 🔥
Overall, a simple, homely non-veg meal that’s worth trying if you’re ever around Kumarapalayam.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So yes… it’s ₹100 again 😄 but this time with a small plot twist.
Let me explain 😏
Last time when we came to Namakkal for a ₹100 meal, we were supposed to eat here…
but somehow ended up at the next door place – Gramathu Kari Virunthu 🤦♂️
https://youtu.be/f4uw3P0ELmE
(You know… food plans never go as planned 😅)
Anyway, mission incomplete ❌
So now… MISSION COMPLETED ✅ — we are finally here!
To keep it simple, this place has two dangerous ₹100 combos 👀🔥
👉 ₹100 Non-Veg Meals Combo
👉 ₹100 Chicken Biryani Combo
🍌 ₹100 Non-Veg Meals includes:
Rice, chicken dish, mutton blood poriyal 😲, boiled egg, kesari sweet,
chicken kulambu, mutton kulambu, fish kulambu, rasam & buttermilk.
🍗 ₹100 Chicken Biryani Combo includes:
Chicken biryani, kesari, raita & one chicken side dish.
Now coming to the taste verdict 😎👇
The non-veg meals was good — no complaints.
Not mind-blowing, not average… but definitely worth ₹100 👍
The chicken biryani though 😋🔥
Basmati rice, Chennai-style flavour — really good!
Honestly, the biryani combo felt more value for money, and for me,
it was the better choice than the meals 💯
Now tell me 👇😏
If YOU come here…
₹100 Non-Veg Meals or ₹100 Chicken Biryani? 🍽️🔥
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
🍽️ This time, it wasn’t just a meal… it was a full-on FOOD DRAMA! 🎭🔥
I visited Copper Kitchen, Coimbatore, and there’s one dish that’s trending hard right now – NAALUKETTU (Naalu Kattu) 😍
The menu itself was super tempting, but my heart (and stomach 🤤) was set on this legendary combo platter.
The ambiance at Copper Kitchen is cool and classy ✨ – a perfect spot for family and friends to sit, relax, and overeat happily 😄
Now comes the real show 🎬
The food arrived with pure drama – four clay pots tied together, smoke rising from the bottom like a movie entry scene 🌫️🔥
One by one, the pots were placed on the table and opened… and BOOM 💥 – TREASURE UNLOCKED!
🍗 Pot 1: Chicken Biryani
🍳 Pot 2: Layer Parotta with Chicken & Egg
🐟 Pot 3: Paal Kappa with Fish Kulambu
🍖 Pot 4: Ghee Rice with Mutton
Even before tasting, the look itself was mouth-watering 🤯🤤
I started with the Layer Parotta – very similar to Ilai Parotta.
Stuffed with fried chicken, egg, and completely soaked in gravy 🤌
Chicken + egg + gravy + parotta = FOOD HEAVEN 😍🔥
Just one word… WOW!
Next up, the Chicken Biryani 🍗🍚
Made with basmati rice and a BBQ chicken leg piece, this biryani had subtle masalas but BIG flavour 💥
The chicken had a lovely smoky taste, and the combo worked beautifully 👌
Only small disappointment – no raita 😅
Then came the Ghee Rice with Mutton 🍖
The ghee rice was rich and flavourful 😋
The mutton was slightly hard, but taste-wise… absolutely fantastic!
A solid, comforting combination ❤️
Finally, the Paal Kappa with Fish Kulambu 🐟
This was okay for me – maybe because it was my first time trying this combo. Not bad, but not my favourite either 🤷♂️
🔥 Overall Verdict:
A fabulous and unique dining experience!
Yes, it’s on the expensive side – ₹2000, but totally worth it 💰✨
This NAALUKETTU serves 3 people, so grab your foodie gang and give it a try!
Have you tried it already? 🤔
If so, please let me know in the comments whether it was worth it or not. 😄👇
------------------------------------------------------------------
💯 ₹100 UNLIMITED FOOD – Tamil Nadu Edition! 💯
These ₹100 unlimited meals are popping up everywhere in Tamil Nadu, and obviously… I had to investigate 😎
Plan A was to go to some other place (that story is for another day 👀).
But fate, hunger, and Google Maps dragged me to Gramathu Kari Virunthu, Namakkal 😂
📍 Location: Salem Road, right opposite Poomagal Showroom.
No treasure hunt needed – it’s staring at you from the roadside.
Now let’s talk FOOD 🍗🍚
For just ₹100, you get:
Rice
Pepper Chicken
Karaikudi Chicken
Chicken 65 (3–4 pieces)
Fish Chilli (3–4 pieces)
1 boiled egg 🥚
AND the real magic ✨
👉 Unlimited rice with
Chicken kulambu, Mutton kulambu, Fish kulambu, Rasam & Buttermilk
Honest opinion time 👇
Mutton kulambu 😐 – just okay, don’t expect fireworks
Chicken kulambu 🤯🔥 – THE HERO! Tasty, rich, and even had chicken pieces floating around happily
Pepper chicken & Karaikudi chicken – solid, no complaints
Chicken 65 & Fish chilli – same masala twins, but tasty twins 😋
Overall verdict 🏆
👉 Super value for money
👉 Perfect if you want to eat like a king on a pauper’s budget
⚠️ Reality check:
Ambience? Don’t even think about it 🙃
Service? One man army when I was there, so things were a bit slow
Final note 😎
You don’t need to travel the world searching for this place.
If you’re on Salem Road and hungry… just stop, eat, and roll out happy 💯🍛
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
🔥 Today’s menu: KOCHAI MEAT! 🔥
So yes… It’s Kochai time!
If you’re wondering “Bro, what is this kochai?” — don’t worry, you’re not alone 😅
Kochai is basically a gym-going, protein-loaded rooster 💪🐓
These are native Indian breed roosters, usually trained for rooster fights and casually weighing 5–6 kgs (no leg day skipped, ever).
They’re fed full nutrition food, so when they retire from fighting life (or lose a fight), they get promoted to… lunch 🍽️
⚠️ Warning: This is NOT your soft, Sunday chicken.
Kochai meat is hard like mutton, so it takes more time to cook — but patience = taste 🤌
For lunch, we went to Sree Kochai Mann Satti Varuval.
We had already visited Karthi Kochai (famous spot nearby) — link below if you want to binge-watch 👇
https://youtu.be/dyuGcj58qYI
Here, they serve 5 varieties of Kochai meat 😍
• Kochai Green Chilli Varuval 🌶️
• Kochai Pallipalayam
• Kochai Sinthamani
• Kochai Kaatu Varuval
• Kochai Pepper Varuval
💰 Pricing:
For ₹1500, you get 1 kg of kochai meat and you can choose any 3 dishes from the list above.
Along with that, you get:
🍚 Rice
🍛 Kulambu
🐟 Karuvaatu Kulambu
🥣 Rasam
🍋 Pachapuli Rasam
🥛 Tempered curd
🍮 And finally… Desi milk payasam (yes, stomach space magically appears 😌)
🟢 Taste review:
Everything was good, but Green Chilli Kochai Varuval = TOP NOTCH 🔥🔥
Other dishes looked similar but tasted good.
Kochai kulambu & karuvaatu kulambu were okay-okay,
But the rasam was surprisingly super!
👉 If ₹1500 feels heavy, you can go for ½ kg kochai —
They serve 2 dishes with rice combo for ₹800. Fair deal for the experience!
✅ Final verdict:
If you’ve never tried kochai before — this is a MUST TRY 🐓🔥
Hard meat, heavy flavours, full mass experience!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This place is a cozy little sanctuary for meat lovers where they basically say, "We do Mandi, and we do it right." 🎯
Now, we faced a serious moral dilemma. They had Chicken, Mutton, and Beef. I don’t know about you, but in my books, it is a literal SIN to leave any of those animals behind. So, being the heroes we are, we did the responsible thing and ordered all three. Someone had to do it! 🤷♂️🔥
The "Meat-y" Details:
The Mandi Rice: Don’t let its plain looks fool you. This rice is a sleeper hit! It’s got that glorious, flavorful "grease" factor that makes every grain taste like a hug from the inside. I honestly think I could have finished a whole tray of just the rice and gone home happy. 🍚✨
The Beef Rib: This thing was a masterpiece. It was so tender that the meat was basically packing its bags and falling off the bone the moment it saw my fork. Juicy, tasty, and paired with that rice? Chef’s kiss. 🥩🤌
The Mutton: Usually, mutton can be tricky, but this was juicy, tender perfection. It played so well with the smoky Mandi flavors.
The Peri Peri Alfaham: For the crunch lovers! It was beautifully crispy on the outside but stayed dangerously juicy on the inside. A little kick of spice to keep things interesting! 🌶️🍗
We also got a side of salad and sauce that acted like the perfect backup singers to this heavy metal meat concert. 🥗🎸
By the end of it, our stomachs were full, our hearts were happy, and we were officially in a food coma. I’m starting to think the reign of Biryani might be coming to an end... 😱
Is the era of Mandi finally upon us? 👑 Or is Biryani still your Forever King? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 👇
Don't forget to LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more food adventures! 🔔
----------------------------------------------------------
🌴🏡✨🌿 Our Stay at Mango County Resort, Palakkad 📍 | Honest Review – iTASTE
A Relaxing Staycation in God’s Own Country
There are some places you visit once and instantly feel connected to, and for me, Mango County Resort in Palakkad is one of those favourites. Tucked away in the lush greenery of Kerala, this resort offers a quiet and calm atmosphere — the kind of place where you can truly unwind, whether you’re travelling with family, friends, or even enjoying a solo retreat.
📍 Location
Mango County Resort is located right in the serene outskirts of Palakkad, surrounded by the classic Kerala countryside.
We reached the resort around 2 PM, right after enjoying a hearty meal at the famous Kargil Toddy Shop. If you’re visiting Palakkad, this place is a must-try for authentic Kerala flavours and a rustic toddy shop experience.
(Watch the Kargil Toddy Shop video here – https://youtu.be/4hzet55Fz3U)
🌿 First Impressions: Nature All Around
The moment we entered the resort, we were welcomed by acres of coconut, arecanut, and mango trees swaying gently in the breeze. The greenery immediately sets the tone — peaceful, relaxing, and far away from city rush.
The rooms were spacious, clean, and comfortable, making them perfect for a family of four. The resort offers deluxe rooms as well as a tree house option, which adds a nice touch for those wanting something more unique. Since the entire property lies next to a flowing river, many spots in the resort open up to beautiful water views.
🌅 Evening Walk, Games & Pool Time
In the evening, we took a slow walk around the property, soaking in the calm atmosphere. After that, we played a few indoor games before heading to the pool.
While the pool area was nice and enjoyable, we felt that it could have been a bit bigger and deeper. Still, it was a refreshing way to wind down after a long day.
🍛 Dinner Experience
For dinner, we ordered parotta, noodles, beef roast, and nadan chicken curry. The food was decent — not bad at all — but considering the ambience of the place, we felt the dinner could have been slightly better. A deeper Kerala flavour or more attention to seasoning would elevate the dining experience here.
🍽️ Breakfast at the Kerala Boat-Themed Restaurant
The next morning, we visited their beautifully designed boat-themed restaurant for complimentary breakfast. The seating area itself reflects Kerala’s rich culture and fishing traditions.
The spread included:
Watermelon juice
Fresh fruits
Idly, dosa, sambar & chutney
Poori–masal
Bread with jam
And a hot cup of coffee to finish
Overall, it was a simple, satisfying, and complaint-free breakfast.
🚣 Boating & Morning Leisure
After breakfast, the kids headed straight for a boat ride in the resort’s private lake — a fun little adventure within the property itself. We spent the rest of the morning relaxing by the pool, enjoying the quiet atmosphere until it was time to check out.
🏞️ Day Outing Package
The resort also offers a day outing package, which includes:
Welcome drink
Non-veg lunch (with two non-veg dishes)
Evening tea with snacks
This package is priced at ₹1250 per person, making it a good option for those who want to enjoy the place without staying overnight.
💸 Price & Final Thoughts
For our stay, we were charged ₹6000 for three adults and one child, inclusive of complimentary breakfast. Given the peaceful environment, the greenery, the riverside ambience, and the overall experience, we felt it was well worth the price.
In conclusion:
Mango County Resort is a lovely, relaxing getaway surrounded by nature. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a calm staycation spot in Palakkad where you can disconnect from the noise and simply enjoy the beauty of God’s Own Country.
A Toddy Shop That Does Everything Except Let You Leave Hungry
If you thought toddy shops were only about sipping toddy and getting on with your day… think again.
Because the one we visited near Palakkad — just a short, breezy drive from the Tamil Nadu border — flips that entire idea upside down.
Here, yes, you get cashew toddy, ginger toddy, and your classic plain toddy.
But alongside that?
You get a full-blown non-veg carnival happening right on your plate.
It’s like someone said, “Let’s serve toddy… but let’s also make sure nobody goes home without a food coma.”
We Walked in For a Light Meal… and Failed Miserably
We actually stepped in thinking, “Let’s have something light.”
Famous last words.
By the time we stepped out, we were seriously wondering if relocating near that shop would be a smarter life decision.
That’s the kind of emotional connection this food builds.
The Order That Started Innocently… and Escalated Quickly
We did the basics: Parotta and Pathiri — the two heroes who always know how to start a story right.
And then came the supporting cast of side dishes:
Jilabe Fish Fry
Pork
Beef
Chicken 65
Prawns
A parade of flavours, textures, and surprises. Let me break it down…
Pork – The Undisputed Hero
If this meal was a blockbuster movie, the pork would have been the lead actor with a fanbase of its own.
Perfectly cooked, beautifully flavoured, and paired with parotta… Pork + Parotta = a love story stronger than any Tamil movie climax.
This combo alone was worth the trip.
Fish Fry – Almost Perfect
The Jilabe fish fry came out looking like it was ready for its Instagram photoshoot.
Masalas? Excellent.
Freshness? Top-notch.
Flavour? Amazing.
The only tiny issue was a slight oil smell — just a little “hello” that could have been avoided.
But honestly, the taste still made us forgive everything.
Chicken 65 – Crispy, Soft, Perfect
Crispy on the outside, soft and juicy on the inside — basically how all relationships should be.
The flavour was spot on, and we cleaned the plate without even realizing it.
Prawns – Simple, Peppery, Delicious
The prawns didn’t try to steal the show.
They stayed humble, flavourful, pepper-kissed, and truly enjoyable.
No complaints, only appreciation.
Beef – Tasty, but With a Twist
The beef was nicely peppery and full of flavour.
But… it came with a few surprise appearances from liver and intestine pieces —
the kind of “guest roles” nobody really asked for.
Still, the taste itself was solid and enjoyable.
Final Verdict
Even if you don’t go anywhere near toddy, this place is absolutely worth the drive just for the food.
The flavours hit hard, the dishes are heavenly, and the experience is something you’ll definitely remember.
You go in hungry,
You come out full, happy, and thinking about your next visit.
😂🍽️🔥