I have had difficult times in finding shops, to get some goods, that I required for my cooking and craft work and I reckon there are many others also, facing the same difficulties. The following places are a list of shops in Chennai that I procure my stuff and my intention of giving the names of the shops here is to help others and not to promote any of the shops mentioned here.
I will update as and when I gather more information on shopping.
For Imported food ingredients in Chennai
Making tiramisu at home will not be problem anymore as you get mascarpone cheese right here in chennai, including Philadelphia cream cheese, Ricotta, Gouda, Feta and many more at Gormei market . If you are looking for maple syrup, quinoa, asian ingredients, marshmallows, rice noodles, organic almond butter, dried blueberries, lasagne sheets, sushi sheets in chennai, this place has all imported stocks that you are looking for to cook with.
I got Hershey’s cocoa powder from N2H in chennai, another shop that specialises in imported foods. You can get light and dark brown sugars, thai curry paste, sauces and mustard and a few varieties of cheese ( Feta, Parmesan, Gouda, Mozzarella, philadelphia cream cheese), dried nuts and herbs, pam, sushi rice and so on.
N2H has 5 branches and I am giving only the gopalapuram address.
No. 12,
Conran Smith Road,
Gopalapuram,
Chennai 600 086.
Near Corporation Ground
If you are looking for blue cheese and camembert and chorizo kind of sausages, you can find at Biscotti, the cafe' in Hyatt.
Amma Nana
On my recent visit to Amma Nana, I came across so many things that I thought I'll never be able to get in Chennai. I have given a highlight of products that is available here, which I thought might help others to shop for what they are looking for.
For cooking chocolates in chennai
Brand like Morde is available in shops like Nuts and spices, Brown tree, N2H, Gormei market and santhosh super stores. There are three types of chocolate, White chocolate, Dark chocolate and Milk Chocolate, which can be used in baking as well in making chocolates.
For baking essentials in chennai
You can find muffin cups, baking pans, paper cups, chocolate moulds and every thing, that you may need to bake a cake or decorate a cake, all in chennai, at currimbhoys and poppet jamal. At Currimbhoys, you can find imported food colours, cake sprinkles and bamboo steamers for making dim-sums, kitchen blow torch and almost every tool that you might want for baking.
I got my crystal ramekins in chennai at Currimbhoys and have seen some mini ramekins at landmark too.
( White and Red colour ramekins were gifted to me, by some sweethearts from across the sea)
Address of one of the shops in chennai is given here, you can google and find out the other branches.
Currimbhoys
New No M 73 old No M1
Third Avenue,
Near K4 Police Station,
Anna Nagar East, Chennai 600102.
The following address is one of the three branches of Poppat Jamal:
New No 161, Old No 219,
Anna Salai, Opposite to Spencer Plaza,
Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002.
Shopping for craft work in Chennai
For all craft needs like, jewellery making, beads, crystals, hooks, needles and threads in chennai, a one time visit to kasi chetty street, parrys in chennai will solve the problem. Here every single street is dedicated to sell a particular product, like the street adjacent to Ethiraj shop, you will find all the shops sparkling with ever silver kitchen gadgets, another street will smell of attar, as you will find the entire street with shops selling perfumes, another street would smell of cleaning liquids like phenyl and acid and one can find all hospital essentials like chemicals and surgical instruments. Once you reach parrys, take a walk and you will find everything that you will want, from packing materials like, wrappers, to dried fruits and nuts, to electronic goods, to stationary goods and even some exotic fruits like Durian that you will never come across anywhere in chennai. If you are exhausted by all that walking, fuel yourself at Agarwal, with their popular lassi, that too only if you are lucky as the lassi gets over very soon in this heavily packed sweet shop.
The following address is where I bought my crystal beeds. We walked around and around to find this shop, which was inside a small lane but stocked with everything that you might want for jewellery making. You will find many such similar shops around, but all you have to do is enquire where ever you go and be prepared to spend more time on the streets, if you want to find what you want.
Sha Kundanmull Bhawarlal and co.,
Now 36,
Narayana Mudali Street,
Chennai 600 079
I got yarns, knitting needles and crochet hooks, from here, which were only of smaller sizes and I am still looking to find needles of bigger size.
For Embroidered saree borders, fancy laces, ribbons, Saree falls and knitted cloth in chennai
No. 20/24, and No. 28c,
Kasi chetty street,
Chennai 79.
Updated:
If you are looking for 5 mm crochet hook, you can find it in
Ambika textiles,
nehru nagar, 13th main road,
anna nagar - 40,
which also has all the materials required for embroidery and other saree designing materials, needles, threads, rings, beads and yarn.
You can get yarn and 3.5 mm crochet hook in santhosh super stores, Anna Nagar.
If you are desperate for bigger size crochet hooks like me, I would strongly suggest to use ebay.in, to buy these pretty looking hooks. Once you start working using these hooks you will understand the difference it makes, from the hooks that are available here and its worth all that money. I got it delivered in a week from the day of order. I love these hooks. Thought I should share.
For millet grains and rice in chennai
I get all my millet grains like Thinai, kambu, kelvaragu, cholam and rice varieties like kaikuthal arisi, matta arisi, black sticky rice and samba kodumai from santhosh super stores and you will find some of them at Nilgris too, but not all.
Santhosh Super stores
No. 199, Second Avenue,
Thirumangalam,
Anna Nagar, chennai - 600 040.
Millets
You can find other millets at most of the organic stores in Chennai, like Kalpakshema, 60*F, Dhanyam, Restore and even in Amma nana, but the quality and the price will differ from place to place. Since I am not completely satisfied with the quality from where I buy in chennai, I can't suggest a particular place. Some millets and rice, I got it from krishnagiri.
I will update as and when I gather more information on shopping.
For Imported food ingredients in Chennai
Making tiramisu at home will not be problem anymore as you get mascarpone cheese right here in chennai, including Philadelphia cream cheese, Ricotta, Gouda, Feta and many more at Gormei market . If you are looking for maple syrup, quinoa, asian ingredients, marshmallows, rice noodles, organic almond butter, dried blueberries, lasagne sheets, sushi sheets in chennai, this place has all imported stocks that you are looking for to cook with.
I got Hershey’s cocoa powder from N2H in chennai, another shop that specialises in imported foods. You can get light and dark brown sugars, thai curry paste, sauces and mustard and a few varieties of cheese ( Feta, Parmesan, Gouda, Mozzarella, philadelphia cream cheese), dried nuts and herbs, pam, sushi rice and so on.
No. 12,
Conran Smith Road,
Gopalapuram,
Chennai 600 086.
Near Corporation Ground
If you are looking for blue cheese and camembert and chorizo kind of sausages, you can find at Biscotti, the cafe' in Hyatt.
Amma Nana
On my recent visit to Amma Nana, I came across so many things that I thought I'll never be able to get in Chennai. I have given a highlight of products that is available here, which I thought might help others to shop for what they are looking for.
Cheese : Mascarpone, Gouda, Camembert, Brie, Gruyere, Parmigiano-Reggiano,Emmenthaler, Quark cheese, Ricotta, Smoked cheese, Gorgonzola, Pecorina pepper, Provolone dolce.
Cream: Whipped cream, Blue bird whipping cream, Sour cream and other products like,
Cream of tartar, Brazil nuts, pecans, Harissa, Ragu, Szechuan Pepper, sundried tomato, Dried mushroom, maple syrup, Black fungus, Polenta, couscous, quinoa, Cooked sushi rice, Tortillas, rice paper, Hersheys cocoa powder, Hintz cocoa powder, Bacon slice, prosciutto, Salami, Chorizo and vegetables like Asparagus, Brussels sprouts, Lemon grass, Galangal, Bokchoy, galangal, cherry tomatoes,fresh Basil leaves and fresh Blueberries, all these in Chennai at
Amma Nana,
82/100, Chamiers Road,
Teynampet, Chennai -18
(updated on 18.1.2013)
For cooking chocolates in chennai
Brand like Morde is available in shops like Nuts and spices, Brown tree, N2H, Gormei market and santhosh super stores. There are three types of chocolate, White chocolate, Dark chocolate and Milk Chocolate, which can be used in baking as well in making chocolates.
For baking essentials in chennai
You can find muffin cups, baking pans, paper cups, chocolate moulds and every thing, that you may need to bake a cake or decorate a cake, all in chennai, at currimbhoys and poppet jamal. At Currimbhoys, you can find imported food colours, cake sprinkles and bamboo steamers for making dim-sums, kitchen blow torch and almost every tool that you might want for baking.
I got my crystal ramekins in chennai at Currimbhoys and have seen some mini ramekins at landmark too.
( White and Red colour ramekins were gifted to me, by some sweethearts from across the sea)
Address of one of the shops in chennai is given here, you can google and find out the other branches.
Currimbhoys
New No M 73 old No M1
Third Avenue,
Near K4 Police Station,
Anna Nagar East, Chennai 600102.
The following address is one of the three branches of Poppat Jamal:
New No 161, Old No 219,
Anna Salai, Opposite to Spencer Plaza,
Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002.
Shopping for craft work in Chennai
For all craft needs like, jewellery making, beads, crystals, hooks, needles and threads in chennai, a one time visit to kasi chetty street, parrys in chennai will solve the problem. Here every single street is dedicated to sell a particular product, like the street adjacent to Ethiraj shop, you will find all the shops sparkling with ever silver kitchen gadgets, another street will smell of attar, as you will find the entire street with shops selling perfumes, another street would smell of cleaning liquids like phenyl and acid and one can find all hospital essentials like chemicals and surgical instruments. Once you reach parrys, take a walk and you will find everything that you will want, from packing materials like, wrappers, to dried fruits and nuts, to electronic goods, to stationary goods and even some exotic fruits like Durian that you will never come across anywhere in chennai. If you are exhausted by all that walking, fuel yourself at Agarwal, with their popular lassi, that too only if you are lucky as the lassi gets over very soon in this heavily packed sweet shop.
The following address is where I bought my crystal beeds. We walked around and around to find this shop, which was inside a small lane but stocked with everything that you might want for jewellery making. You will find many such similar shops around, but all you have to do is enquire where ever you go and be prepared to spend more time on the streets, if you want to find what you want.
Sha Kundanmull Bhawarlal and co.,
Now 36,
Narayana Mudali Street,
Chennai 600 079
I got yarns, knitting needles and crochet hooks, from here, which were only of smaller sizes and I am still looking to find needles of bigger size.
For Embroidered saree borders, fancy laces, ribbons, Saree falls and knitted cloth in chennai
No. 20/24, and No. 28c,
Kasi chetty street,
Chennai 79.
Updated:
If you are looking for 5 mm crochet hook, you can find it in
Ambika textiles,
nehru nagar, 13th main road,
anna nagar - 40,
which also has all the materials required for embroidery and other saree designing materials, needles, threads, rings, beads and yarn.
You can get yarn and 3.5 mm crochet hook in santhosh super stores, Anna Nagar.
If you are desperate for bigger size crochet hooks like me, I would strongly suggest to use ebay.in, to buy these pretty looking hooks. Once you start working using these hooks you will understand the difference it makes, from the hooks that are available here and its worth all that money. I got it delivered in a week from the day of order. I love these hooks. Thought I should share.
For millet grains and rice in chennai
Santhosh Super stores
No. 199, Second Avenue,
Thirumangalam,
Anna Nagar, chennai - 600 040.
Millets
You can find other millets at most of the organic stores in Chennai, like Kalpakshema, 60*F, Dhanyam, Restore and even in Amma nana, but the quality and the price will differ from place to place. Since I am not completely satisfied with the quality from where I buy in chennai, I can't suggest a particular place. Some millets and rice, I got it from krishnagiri.
Hello...am so happy to see such a blog...its so wonderful that you have taken all the pains to give the info..really useful and I appreciate it :) Good work :)
ReplyDeleteSrilatha
Btw I came across ur blog while searching for 'kambu soru'...I did something today and it turned out very dry...my kids were saying its good for kozhambu but very dry for curd rice :)
Srilatha, I am glad you find my blog useful and thanks. You have not mentioned how u made kambu soru. If you have followed the method mentioned to cook saamai, then it will not work, kambu should be cooked like cholam (sorghum rice) and if you had followed that method you wouldn't have failed. Recipe to cook cholam saadham is also given. Kindly check gallery.
DeleteWow your blog is so informative. I am starting my foray into baking and when looking up some yummy recipes was wondering how on earth I would be able to make them, considering I don't know where to go shopping. Thanks to your blog. I am heading towards Gopalpuram to shop. I thought Amma Nanna was the beginning and end of all imported goods, and was quite disappointed after my last visit. Thanks to you, I know I have an alternative!
ReplyDeleteAm very happy to read your blog. Its very useful for all. Thanks for sharing your blog.
ReplyDeleteWow....this is a lovely blog....am so impressed by ur patience to provide details with address of shops. I was searching for blow torches in chennai and fell upon ur blog....thanks a bunch! Will try ur shops very soon...am into food blogging too...
ReplyDeleteHey ....where can i get cream cheese nd whipped cream
ReplyDeletePls have the basic courtesy in ur enquiry. If you want some info from someone, Use the words please and thank you while u do.
DeleteDear All ,Now we Started New Business in Nungambakkam,we have All Kind Of Imp.Cheese,Butter,Creams,Like Philadelphia Cream cheese,Parmesan,Mascarpone, Elle&Vire Butter,Whipped Cream,Cooking Cream, if you Need Pls Call On this No.044-4202-5934,9841131008,9043449203
DeleteI have seen cream cheese(Philadelphia) in most of the shops that I have mentioned above (Gormei market, Brown tree, N2H), but I have not seen whipped cream in chennai yet. When I do, I'll promptly let you know.
ReplyDeleteHyma, thanks a lot, your recipes are very interesting too. You can find blow torches at Currimboys(anna nagar) in their basement shop called Passionate baking.
ReplyDeleteSindhu, there's nothing like baking our own cake or bread at home and that happiness is possible only if we have the right ingredients and gadgets in hand. I guess these shops I have mentioned satisfy that need to some extent. I have heard about Amma nana, but never been there.
ReplyDeleteWow...this is amazing!!! I have never even heard of these shops!! I am in desperate need of baking essentials. You are such a help, I cant thank you enough!!! Great Job!!!
ReplyDeleteI am glad it is helpful Meena.
DeleteThanq so much for this write up of valuable information. But i checked all these places for mini marshmallows or the plain white marshmallows but no one had them. Any idea whr else i can try them? Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteSaadhana, I remember seeing mini marshmallows in Gormei market when I visited there a year ago and I think they were flavoured and not white. I remember seeing them in N2H and Amma Nana too, during my recent visit to AN, but I don't remember if it was white or flavoured ones. Since, most of these stores have branches, what is available in one branch may not be available in another when they run out of stock. What I would suggest is, call up these places and find out if they have what you want before you visit the store, that way you can save a trip and disappointment. If I happen to come across marshmallows again, as specified by you, I will definitely make sure to add to this page.
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing.
Hi I am from chennai, can u pl. let me know where i can get the wonderful grain "quinoa"
ReplyDeleteYou can find quinoa at Amma nana.
DeleteHey vimala... i am just trying out my hands on baking. would like to know which electric beater or mixer would good buy? The hand whisk is not giving me the desired result for cream whipping and cake mixes. kindly suggest :)
ReplyDeleteHello sarmishta, I had the same problem before. My hand whisk lost its life after making just one cake. I used to make my cakes painstakingly whipping by hand until my better half bought me a good standing beater ( Moulinex) during one of his trips to the middle east. Things have been pretty easy since then. The electric beaters that we get here are not capable of withstanding long duration of beating as the motor gets heated up very soon. I can't really recommend any brand available here, without using it. As for whipping cream, there's a little technique to whip the cream. To whip the cream ( brand like amul), the cream should be at room temperature. Transfer the cream to a bowl in which it is going to be whipped (drain the liquid part) and freeze the thick cream for about 10 -12 minutes( not longer that). Remove from the freezer and whip until thick, this will take a few minutes. Whipping cream is possible in any hand mixer.
DeleteBut, I request readers of my blog that If anyone has been successfully using a stand mixer available in India, kindly comment here, as it will be helpful to a lot of wannabe bakers.