Street smart

Whether she's dining abroad or on the streets of Mumbai, Shruti Hassan loves things with a dash of chilli. In fact, she even loves eating green chilli raw.

My favourite food: I absolutely adore sea food!! Anything with chicken is also great. I like good vegetarian South Indian food it's my comfort food.

I begin my day with: A fruit and loads of water.

My breakfast is: Usually my heaviest meal as I need the energy for the rest of the day. I love dosas.

My lunch is: Either pasta or sandwiches.

In the evening I snack on: A fruit.

My dinner is: My lightest meal maybe soup or salads.

In sweets I like: Jalebis and ice cream.

My fitness regime is: I try and work out everyday as it makes me feel healthier and it clears my head. I love trying out different work out routines. Sometimes I cycle a lot or do a high intensity work out or do basic cardio and weights. I like to mix it up a bit to keep it interesting.

My favourite restaurants: Abroad, in Las Vegas, I love Koji's which has great Japanese food. I also loved the food in South Africa most of the places there have superb sea food. In Mumbai I like the food in general. I love the disco dosas of the street stalls!

In the south, I love the Murugan idli shop, they have the best idlis, vadas and chutneys which I reserve for my binge days.

I can cook: All sorts of things now. I just started cooking seriously about a year ago and I find it really creative and relaxing. I love cooking for my friends. I bake a lot of cakes. I am also learning how to make South Indian
and Goan food, so it's all very exciting.

My favourite cook in my family: The cutest cook would have to be my sister Akshara. When she was just six she made the most delicious apple crumble.

My best dining friends are: Anyone who appreciates food and its flavours.

My dad: Doesn't cook but he has the best idea about the places we should eat at. He is always very experimental with food so I've eaten a lot of different stuff like octopus to bugs to alligator.
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My mom: Always made simple food.
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My Sunday lunch is: Usually brunch with friends or pizzas. I also eat at my best friend's place sometimes as they make the best Indian khaana. I usually don't eat rice but on Sunday I eat whatever I feel like.

One thing I can't resist buying is: Chocolates. I stock them up even if I don't always eat them. I love Godiva and Maltesers.

I feel guilty after eating: Nothing. I work out and it's all fine. I think food is so special, you can't feel guilty about it. On second thoughts, I do feel mildly guilty when I over eat. Sometimes it tastes so good and you know you were full a long time ago but it's just too tasty and you can't stop.

My childhood memory of food is: Dal-rice and rotis with some home made subzi. I loved the simple food made at home. There is always something wonderful about home made food it's like a story of that person's kitchen.

I think I resemble: An onion Not the smelly part but the fact that its always around and as Shrek says onions have layers.

My fridge always has: Fruits and eggs.

I always carry: Granola bars and fruit yoghurt. I feel this stuff goes down light so you are not feeling too stuffed but it gives just enough energy.

My comfort food: Sambar saadam and papads.

I am allergic to: Nothing in food, not that I know of at least.

My favourite spice: Green chillies. I even eat them raw with food, they're so great and they just feel like they're doing something good to my system.

My favourite beverage: Water. It's seriously the best drink on the planet. Nothing like a tall cold glass of water.

My favourite kitchen appliance: The blender. It's so versatile, sometimes I wonder what I would do without my blender.

My favourite foods are: Indian and Japanese cuisine.They've got very unique flavours.

My idea of a romantic meal: Any good food. I might get distracted by the food though, so something simple would be better.u00a0 I don't think I am very picky about a romantic meal, I mean I do love Italian food but on the whole I don't really pay attention to 'the romantic dinner' details.
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The meals on the sets of Luck:u00a0Were good. But Mr Mithun Chakravarthy's chicken curry was memorable. He cooked for all of us once and it was delicious. He is a very good cook.

Shruti's Favourite Recipe

Southern Potato Saladu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

Ingredients
4 potatoes
4 eggs
1/2 stalk celery(chopped)
1/4 cup sweet relish
1 clove garlic(minced)
2 tbsp prepared mustard
1/2 cup mayonnaise
salt and pepper to taste

Method
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm (about 15 minutes)drain and chop.
Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil. Cover, remove from heat, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water peel and chop.
In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, eggs, celery, sweet relish, garlic, mustard, mayonnaise, salt and pepper. Gently mix together and serve warm.