Sparkys

Before heading back to Delhi, we spent a day in Chennai. Here, we visited Chennai's only All-American diner called "Sparkys". This place was recommended to me by my competitive-eater friend Dale Boone, who's a top-ranking member of the International Federation of Competitive Eating. Dale spends half the year in Chennai making movies and the other half in the States competing in competitions like NYC's "Nathan's Hotdog Eating Competition". He's a regular at Sparkys because it has an all-you-can-eat buffet on weekends. I fell in love with the place instantly too.

Outside, the awning says, "Never trust a skinny chef". Inside, the place is crammed with U.S. license plates, photos of famous American celebrities, and the various booths are dedicated to each of the 50 states. We talked with Tom, the owner and chef (who's not skinny), and who's originally from Hawaii but has lived in Chennai for over 30 years. He is a natural story-teller and life-adventurer. Philippa and I sat at the "New Orleans" table. She ate a meatball sub, and I had country-fried chicken with gravy and mashed potatoes. All the while, Ella Fitzgerald and Charlie Bird Parker played in the background. This was one of the strangest, most wonderful meals I've ever eaten.