ANNACHIKADAI

Masala Dosa

Thin, lacquer-crisp crepe wrapped around spiced potato filling, served with sambar and fresh coconut chutney

Idli with Sambar

Steamed rice-lentil cakes with a tangy, vegetable-laden sambar that telegraphs whether a South Indian kitchen knows what it's doing

Medu Vada

Fried lentil donuts with a crunch that holds through soaking in sambar — a test of fry temperature discipline

Chettinad Chicken Curry

Assertively spiced curry from Tamil Nadu's Chettinad tradition — earthy kalpasi and marathi mokku make it taste unlike any generic curry

Biryani

Fragrant long-grain rice layered with spiced meat — best enjoyed with a side of cooling raita