South Indian Cuisine — Dosa, Idli, Vada, Sambar in Chantilly, VA

South Indian cuisine is the lighter, fermented, rice-and-lentil-forward half of the Indian table — and one of the world's healthiest cuisines by accident, since the staple foods (dosa, idli, vada, sambar, rasam) are gluten-free, naturally fermented, and largely vegetarian. At Pastry Corner Cafe & Lounge in Chantilly our South Indian menu honors the tradition: dosas griddled to order from 24-hour-fermented batter (Plain, Masala, Onion, Mysore Masala, Rava, Ghee Roast, Paneer, Cheese, and the rotating Chef's Special); steamed idlis with chutneys; medu vadas (fried lentil donuts) with sambar; uttapams (thick dosa pancakes with onion-tomato toppings); pongal (rice-lentil porridge with ghee and pepper); and a full set of South Indian thalis when the kitchen runs the weekend menu. Every order ships with sambar (lentil-vegetable broth) and three chutneys — coconut, tomato, and mint. Weekend brunch starts at 7am (Sat-Sun) — the dosa griddle runs hot from open to mid-afternoon. Naturally vegetarian, naturally gluten-free, naturally vegan if you skip the ghee.