Into the City

Eight things to do this month.

RESTAURANTREVIEW / WRITER’S CAFÉ

BOOKLOVERS’ DELIGHT

The city has always been home to quaint, pretty cafes but none that charm you without creating a deep hole in your pocket. If like us, you have been looking for one that gives you a good economical cuppa without compromising on the ambience, your prayers have been answered. Writer’s Café, from the house of Oriental Cuisines and Higginbothams, the city’s oldest bookstore, brings you a café that could well be any booklover’s paradise.

The prices are the first thing you will notice on the menu and they are sure to leave you beaming as will the wide variety of Swiss-inspired offerings like flammunchkens (thin-crust pizzas), pastas, salads, desserts and more. We stopped by for a late lunch to sample the exotic offerings but soon settled for some comfort food in the familiar surroundings of books. Our simple order of macaroni and cheese came plated in a single serve pan and was just the right amount of creamy. Though we enjoyed a meal with a book from the shelves, it took Chef Karan Manavalan’s Siphon coffee (not on the menu yet) for us to be blown over. A Japanese contraption that reminded us of our Chemistry practical days complete with a burner was placed on the table. Fed with Arabica beans, the result was a golden brown mild decoction that could well make you fall in love with coffee all over again. If the prices and this golden brew aren’t reason enough already, the café gives all its proceeds to burn survivors and trains them in their own kitchen to bake. ÜAT 98, Peters Road, Gopalapuram ÜTEL 48611604 ÜMEAL FOR TWO Rs 800 By Prachi Sibal

TIMELESS ELEGANCE

Citizen watches has launched the limited edition Citizen L Ambiluna Collection for women. Aimed at contemporary women, the watch is encased in Super Titanium case and is water resistant upto 50 metres. PRICE Rs 1,35,000 AT Citizen watch stores across the city

RUN FOR HEALTH

February 19

All you runners in town, here’s a chance to run for wellness at the LystNow Marathon. Creating awareness on health and physical fitness is a big challenge in the socially and economically weaker sections of people in any country. To inculcate the knowledge and awareness of importance and benefits of health and physical fitness, JGC Group is conducting this marathon in the city. So take your running shoes out and get set to run for your life. AT Marina Beach

TIMING 7 a.m.

GIFT A CRAFT

The Crafts Council of India has opened Kamala Crafts shop, its third in the country. Head here for all your gifting needs sourced directly from artisans. You will find porcelain from Agra, wood carved items from Bijnor, brass lamps from Delhi and much more.

AT Kamala Crafts shop of the Crafts Council, 12 A-C, 350, Pantheon Road, Co-optex Grounds, Egmore Tel 28191457