Fried Ice cream and filter coffee at Madras Restaurant

Madras restaurant, also known as Madras Cafe is a quaint little eatery tucked into a little corner on Central Avenue in Kolkata. It is near the E-Mall and is just outside the Chandni Chowk Metro station. At first look it doesn't look anything impressive and usually people go there by recommendation. I had been a regular there since my early days of engineering because it is near Chandni Chowk(yes, there is a Chandni Chowk in Kolkata also), a haven for engineering students. My friend Abhay had first shown me the place and I was hooked ever since for its authentic South Indian food and the amazing filter coffee served there (point to be noted: not many places in the city serve filter coffee).

A couple of days before I had to come to Kgp for my admissions, I was in the area to buy some extensions and all and I decided to drop in for a quick bite. It was late afternoon and I didn't have my lunch. I noticed the new menu but wasn't expecting what I'd see in the deserts section. A new addition was 'Fried Ice-Cream'. I had read about it, heard about it, watched it on TLC(my favourite TV channel :D), but had never seen it in any city restaurant. So it came as a surprise to discover it in this little place, that too at such a reasonable price. Deciding to give it a shot, I ordered one with filter coffee (just to wait till it arrives). Looking around, I saw several other people discussing the new dish and ordering it. It was fun to watch their reactions.

Now, they serve the filter coffee the original way, with a little stainless steel tumbler and a bowl. For the uninitiated, you are supposed to pour the coffee back and forth in the two vessels in order to cool it and then have it. The good thing about Madras Cafe is the personalised attention they give to each customer. An attendant kept a tab on my coffee and as soon as I was halfway through, he came up to the table and asked me if I wanted the ice cream after the coffee. As I said yes, he went inside to get my order.

And then it came. A sizzling golden ball shaped dumpling with some red jam on the side, which later turned out to be strawberry jam. The sizzling exterior makes it hard to guess there is ice cream inside for first timers. As I cut in with a spoon, I saw the scoop of vanilla ice cream a little removed from the shell. I wanted to check out the shell alone and it reminded me of the dough made with the ready made gulab jamun mixes we get. Surprisingly, the ice cream was still intact with only very slight traces of softening. I took in a spoonful of the ice cream with the shell and the jam with it. The explosion of flavours and the textures on my palate was interesting. There was this cold, firm vanilla taste with the hot, crunchy dough and the strawberry flavour mixing with both. It felt good, very very good. It was time to dig in and it was gone before I even knew it. For 30 bucks (as far as I remember), it was an awesome experience. I haven't been to Chandni Chowk since July but I know for sure, if ever I am in the area, I'll stop by for another scoop.