Latest news with #Mattancherry
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Taunton Indian nominated for Best Restaurant in English Curry Awards 2025
AN Indian restaurant in Taunton has been nominated for the Best Recommended Restaurant of the Year category of the 2025 English Curry Awards. Located at 10 Station Road, Mattancherry is known for its authentic Kerala cuisine and 'exceptional hospitality', making it a 'favourite among locals and visitors alike'. Supporters can cast their vote and help bring this award home to Taunton by visiting: READ MORE: Taunton Indian restaurant recognised in national awards READ MORE: Taunton Indian restaurant named best restaurant in Somerset READ MORE: Taunton's Mattancherry awarded 5* Food Hygiene Rating This marks the fifth consecutive year the South Indian restaurant has been recognised on a national stage, having been a finalist in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. 'We're deeply honoured to be nominated once again - it's a reflection of the passion and dedication our team brings to every dish,' said Head Chef Loganathan Ramasamy. Front of house manager Gopinath Dharmalingam added: 'Our guests are like family to us. This nomination means the world to us because it shows how much people value what we do.'
The Guardian
04-03-2025
- The Guardian
Beyond ordinary: the Australian operator redefining luxury travel
We travel in search of different things. Some of us seek adventure that gets the heart pumping and spirit soaring, while others want to unwind, immerse themselves in what makes a destination unique, and arrive home restored. In a world where true adventure is increasingly rare, Captain's Choice continues to chart new paths that offer unexpected experiences. Since its launch in 1994, this Australian tour company has curated unique itineraries that are inaccessible to the average tourist. Whether it's a private jet lunch stopover at Iguazu Falls in South America, a celebration of the historic Kangaroo Route from London to Sydney (you'll hop between eight cities on an itinerary packed with special events), or exclusive access to the feet of the Sphinx (not available to the general public), these experiences impress even the most well-travelled repeat guests. But where to go first? Let's take a look at three all-inclusive itineraries. This 16-day journey begins in Cairo, where you'll take an in-depth look at the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx before journeying on to Luxor to explore the tombs of Tutankhamun and Nefertari. A private dinner in front of the Temple of Ramses III sets the exclusive tone that defines the trip. From Egypt, you'll be whisked away to Kenya's Maasai Mara, where game drives will give you a front-row seat to lounging lions, majestic elephants and other wild animals in their natural habitats. A hot-air balloon ride at dawn offers a unique perspective of the savanna – wildebeest and zebra grazing below – and you'll stay in the sublime surroundings of an upscale wilderness lodge. The adventure continues in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, with a rare trekking opportunity to observe endangered mountain gorillas. Crouching mere metres from these amazing apes is a humbling experience that you'll talk about for years to come. Next up is Zambia, where you'll admire the thundering cascade of Victoria Falls from vantage points including a helicopter. From there, you'll indulge in a three-night sojourn aboard Rovos Rail's Pride of Africa, a privately chartered train journey that brings to life the romance of yesteryear. The expedition concludes in Cape Town, with a two-day exploration of Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope. For those enchanted by the allure of the east, this 15-day journey is an immersion into the subcontinent's rich culture and history. Staying in accommodation that is positively palatial, and timed to coincide with the Diwali festival in October, the trip begins in Agra, where you'll take in the ethereal beauty of the Taj Mahal at both sunrise and sunset. In Varanasi, a private aarti ceremony on the Ganges River offers a spiritual experience, complete with the hypnotic rhythms of drums, intoxicating incense and the glow of oil lamps. The itinerary also includes a visit to Kochi, in Kerala, where you can choose between a cooking class to uncover the secrets of Keralan cuisine, a browse through Mattancherry's antique stores, or an indulgent Ayurvedic treatment. In Jaipur, known as the 'Pink City', a sunrise hot-air balloon flight provides panoramic views of palaces and forts, followed by visits to Amber Fort and the Hawa Mahal, the 'Palace of the Winds'. The journey culminates with a grand Diwali celebration at the opulent Oberoi Rajvilas, where you'll take part in the festival of lights in regal surroundings. This 18-day odyssey spans continents and cultures in style – you'll travel from London aboard a Boeing 757-200 with business-class seats that recline into lie-flat beds to ensure you arrive rested and ready for adventure. You'll first touch down in Ponta Delgada in the Azores, where volcanic landscapes and black-and-white architecture await. In Havana, Cuba, the vibrant streets and colonial edifices tell tales of a bygone era. You'll then choose whether to delve into the world of Cuban cigars or trace the footsteps of Hemingway through the city's historic haunts. Get ready to journey into the heart of the Amazon aboard a privately chartered river ship from Iquitos, Peru. Navigating remote tributaries, you'll encounter rainforest biodiversity, wildlife and indigenous cultures seldom seen by outsiders. The stark beauty of Chile's Atacama Desert offers an experience of a different kind, with its otherworldly landscapes and clear night skies. In Salvador, Brazil, the fusion of African and Portuguese influences creates a cultural mosaic showcased through music, dance and cuisine. The final leg includes a three-night stay at Reid's Palace, perched on a spectacular clifftop in Madeira, Portugal. Spend the next few days choosing your own adventure – an off-road jeep expedition, gourmet food tour, wine tasting and/or one of several guided walks. A farewell dinner in an historic military fort caps off this spectacular journey before guests travel – thrilled and invigorated – back to London. Discover more with Captain's Choice.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Review of BBC MasterChef judge's favourite Indian restaurant in Taunton
MATTANCHERRY is an award-winning Indian restaurant in Taunton that has been named in the top eight Somerset restaurants and named 'Best Takeaway in Taunton in 2025'. It has also just been named in the top five most romantic restaurants in Taunton, awarded a 'coveted' 2024 Good Food Award and a "Recommended restaurant" certificate from the Restaurant Guru. Alongside these achievements Mattancherry was the only Indian restaurant to be named Bristol, Bath and Somerset's 'Restaurant of the Year' in 2024 (bronze), Tripadvisor's 2024 Traveller's Choice and BBC MasterChef judge William Sitwell's favourite Indian restaurant in Taunton. I had the pleasure of dining at Mattancherry this week and was really impressed by the attentiveness of the staff from the beginning of my visit. They were all so friendly and greeted me with huge smiles and no matter how busy the restaurant got my glass of water was constantly topped up and I was constantly asked if I need anything and if I was enjoying the food throughout my visit. READ MORE: Taunton restaurant named best aims for Michelin Guide 2025 READ MORE: Review of the best curry restaurant in the South West READ MORE: Top four most romantic restaurants in Wellington for Valentine's Day 2025 Patha Chaat. (Image: Molly Kirk) I really enjoyed taking in the warm interior as I settled into my seat at my table. The décor all felt homely, understated and intentional and I really appreciated how the ambience of the restaurant added to and complimented my overall dining experience. To start off I was given poppadoms with a chutney trio, including mint and pickled lemon flavours while I decided on what to order which was a light and tasty way to start my meal. In terms of food, I wanted to try a little bit of everything, and the lovely manager Gopi helped me pick out some popular menu items including the Patha Chaat for my starter. Patha Chaat is a dish consisting of baby spinach leaf fritters topped with sweet yoghurt and tamarind sauce. As someone who naturally opts for vegetarian dishes I really enjoyed this one. The fritters were absolutely delicious and I really enjoyed how the savoury spinach mixed with the sweet yoghurt and tart tamarind sauce. If I had to offer a slight critique I would say at times the strong sweet flavouring of the yoghurt slightly drowned out the taste of the fritters and tamarind for me but overall this did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the starter. Assortment of mains. (Image: Molly Kirk) For my main I had Toran (spiced stir fried vegetables including cabbage beans and carrots sauteed with coconut oil, lentils, aromantic curry leaves and subtle spices), Pan-seared Sea Bass served with curry leaf infused mash potato and raw mango ginger coconut sauce, Garlic Naan and beef Kizhi Parotta - which is parotta layered with beef, fresh onion and curry leaves wrapped in banana leaf. All were also really tasty, with the beef being really tender and flavourful on top of the crispy but also soft parotta mixed with all the delicious stir fried veggies complimenting the meal perfectly. I also really enjoyed the sea bass and mash potato with the mango ginger coconut sauce perfectly complimenting the meal and providing the perfect dipping sauce for the garlic naan. Overall, the main was incredible but if I were to be slightly nit-picky I would say that the sea bass was slightly too salty for me. Despite this, I again do not feel that this significantly took away from my enjoyment of the meal and very much do send my compliments to the chef. Rose Brulee. (Image: Molly Kirk)For dessert because I was extremely full from trying a bit of everything aforementioned I decided to opt for something light and fragrant. Enter the Rose Brûlée - a floral twist to the classic Crème Brûlée made with rose petals. This pretty little number was truly the perfect way to finish off an already successful dinner. Whilst small in size this dessert is by no means forgettable (and not just because of its bright pink colouring) with the delicious creamy taste of the classic Crème Brûlée shining through but complimented the subtle taste of rose making it also perfectly on theme for the week of Valentine's Day. Overall, this was a wonderful introduction to yet another restaurant I have never tried before in Taunton. The food exceeded my expectations, which were already pretty high, and with the outstanding service I received I had no choice but to give this place a high score. Mattancherry truly deserves the recognition and the awards the team have worked so hard to receive, and I cannot recommend it enough to those who haven't tried it yet.
