just to report last night I had a great meal in an Indian restaurant,. It was called SAGAR, just off Tottenham Court Road, in London. It was vegetarian South Indian.

Fried idlis to start, and a dosa with paneer, and gunpowder as main. The dosa was easily 2 feet (600mm) in diameter, and no, I couldn't finish it. Sambar with each course, and extra at the end! With a small beer, ?15 a head! Highly recommended. Restaurant decor was modern classy muted tones, NO MUSIC.

Hello Lapis

That sounds great :-). We used to go to a lot of restaurants (befor kids were born) near Tottehma Court Road and Warren Street when my OH was a registrar at the UCH. This was a very long time ago. There was a very nice Indian restaurant around there called Gaylord, I think on Gerrard St. I wonder if it is till there!

We have had a new south Indian restaurant open in Luton. I am trying to persuade my OH to come tomorrow to eat a dosa. He is not too keen on south Indian food, but may come, because his sister is visiting ;-)!

From an outsiders point of view I would (wrongly) assume that a division between North and South Indian food wouldn't be a problem. This coming from a country where only a few hundred miles gets you jellied eels or haggis and both would be treated with similar distaste from the other. Its one of those things you don't think about until someone mentions it.

Steve

Oh I love south indian food and it is a good change now and then. Last week i cooked sambhar with recipe from this site. Here in Leicester there is a S Indian restaurant called "Halli" (name of a SI village) and its taste is very authentic unlike the "fusion" food.

Steve,

I doubt whether most people would recognise any dishes (maybe sambar) on the South Indian menu. No heavy curries or brightly coloured rice, the dishes are mild, not highly spiced, but still full of flavour and texture. A true taste of (Southern) India.

Some 'Indian' restaurants I've been in boast they will cook anything (Indian) you want, if you are in one of these, ask for a South Indian dish, like masala dosa, idlis or sambar/rasam. I bet they can't do it! And don't ask for gunpowder (milagaipodi), they will think you are mad!

I love Gun Powder, lovely!

Gunpowder - 1 1/2 cups red chillies !!! CUPS OF CHILLIES !!! not just one or two !...crikey that sounds powerful stuff

Steve

so called because it blows ya head off.