by Neil Sowerby
SANMINIS, long a Taste of Manchester favourite, is branching out into breakfast every Saturday, served parimaaral style ie. the waiter brings each dish buffet style to your large steel platter as it is cooked as opposed to the whole-in-one go thali serving.
The Good Food Guide rated South Indian eaterie in Ramsbottom will open between 10am and 12 noon to serve a Kaalai Tiffin of masala dosai and idlis (a potato-filled pancake and a light sponge, both made from ground rice batter), poori masal, medhu vafai, thengai chutney, venn pongal and kesari just like back home in Tamil Nadu, for just £5.50 a head.
The same hands-on buffet service will continue after 12 for Madhiya Unavuf (lunch, £8.95pp, two sittings). This comes in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions, featuring a selection of authentic southern dishes and includes a payasam pudding. Wash it down with a bottle of Sanminis own IPA, commissioned from local brewers Irwell Works.
Sanminis, 7 Carrbank Lodge, Ramsbottom Lane, Ramsbottom, Lancashire BL0 9DJ. Telephone booking preferred. Ring 01706 821831. www.sanminis.com