I have heard about this place–Sanjeevanam–but only recently I had an opportunity to taste its famous, nutrition-rich Kerala food. The lunch menu comprises a speciality-Rajakeeyam. It’s a fully fledged meal, which is sumptuous as well as delicious. It’s not spicy, yet tasty.
To the uninitiated, each dining table has a card that tells you how to enjoy the meal in a proper manner. First, you start with ripe banana sprinkled with grated coconut. The card shows a lot of banana slices, but they serve you just two; maybe, two pieces are sufficient to whet your appetite. Next, you taste five types of soups and juices served in small glass tumblers. You can gulp them down in one shot.
Are you feeling hungry? Now, they serve you an array of uncooked vegetables and wait until you finish them off. Next come semi-cooked veggies. I swear the plantain pith hasn’t tasted this better anywhere. Yummy.
Before you start the main courses, they serve you four types of fully cooked dishes. First course is of course, paruppu sadam aka dal chawal. The rice they serve is bran rice, the variety which is red in colour and preserves all the nutrients rice can offer you. The other courses are the usual ones that occupy a South Indian meal: sambar, mor kuzhambu, rasam, and buttermilk; only they taste better here.
You still have an empty place in your stomach? Then how about a pint of ambrosia, I mean, payasam? Wow! Do you feel satiated now? Wait, they will serve you honey to help you digest all you have gorged. Honey is served in the same fashion thulasi theertham is offerd in Perumal koil—in your plams. Lick it to your heart’s content.
Well, during the course of your meal, you will notice that one important thing is missing: water. They won’t serve you water until you finish off your meal (or until you beg them to pour some). It is the famous chukku vallam, medicated water, served in brass tumbler. Now go wash your hands and chew the thamboolam. This sweet paan will not put make you intoxicated.
The meal costs you Rs.120+10% service charge+VAT, but it’s worth every paise. Sanjeevanam, abutting Valluvar Kottam High Road, will not let you down if you are searching for a place to have a good lunch. Go, try it. Burp.
