Gastronomy

The gastronomic culture present in Pondicherry is very representative of South India.

In northern India, traditional dishes are made from bread made from wheat flour, such as the well-known “chapatis” or “naans”, or based on basmati rice and meat of any variety. They are very well known for their very spicy taste and visually very colorful.

In the south, the cuisine is said to be lighter and more vegetarian, which is justified by the concentration of a predominantly Hindu population. The dishes are mainly based on rice and vegetables. We can cite "rasam" to accompany rice, or also "sambar" and "dal", a kind of lentil puree with vegetables. You can also find "idli" or "dosa", usually eaten for breakfast or for dinner, accompanied by "sambar", but also "chutney" for all tastes (tomato, onion, coconut, etc.). The dishes are not exclusively vegetarian, you can find meat, but especially fish. The famous biryani, rice with spices with beef, chicken but also vegetables, is touring the whole country and the world.

The French touch is also present, if you pass through the French Quarter. Many establishments, such as the Café des Arts or the French bakery in Pondy le Baker street offer baguettes, croissants, raisin breads, etc., etc.… with the good taste of France! Also (and especially) go to "Crêpe in touch" , the crêperie of Fanny, a Breton  and enjoy real savory or sweet pancakes, in a warm setting.

The old counter works to bring French culinary culture to life with local products. If you prefer to continue eating local, you obviously won't have any problems. Excellent restaurants in Pondicherry offer North and South Indian cuisine.