Kerala delicacies now on American Channel!!!
Published April 8, 2010 | Kerala and Keralites can now be proud that their own culinary specialties – appam, karimeen and puttu (to name a few), will now be showcased on a well-liked American travel and food show by name “No Reservations”. Hosted by US master chef Anthony Bourdain who has already shot the episode in Kerala, the sixth season of Travel channel’s culinary programme will telecast the delicacies of Kerala cuisine in July.
“By showcasing authentic Kerala food in the homes of ordinary people, Anthony Bourdain is also reaffirming that delicious food and hospitality is not just special to upscale restaurants and hotels but is something that is customary throughout the state,” said Kerala Tourism secretary V. Venu. “It was wonderful to have such a high profile television host championing street and home cooked food,” he added.
To shoot the Kerala episode, the master chef landed in Kochi and travelled all the way to Alleppey to relish the world-renowned backwater cuisine. Whilst his stay in a houseboat Bourdain tried kappa (tapioca) and mussels, home cooked puttu (steamed rice powder preparation), Kerala sadya (feast), spicy pearl spot fish (karimeen), meen curry (fished cooked in coconut) and other vegetarian dishes made with coconut.
To quote from this Times Of India report, Bourdain the author of “A Cook’s Tour-In Search of the Perfect Meal” said, “When it comes to spices and variety, Kerala is right up there in my alley”. Bourdain also stated to them that he had a special fascination for street food “I am also very impressed with the high standard of food in Kerala, especially the street food,” said the chef who hit the streets in Kochi and tasted the varieties. He also enjoyed a meal with Malayalam superstar Mammooty whilst on his Kerala tour.
A thought which came to my mind was that while most Keralites today prefer fast food, sandwiches and burgers as compared to Kerala delicacies, here is a westerner who is all praises for our traditional food. But for those of us who know and savour appam and Karimeen, we can be sure of one thing- our dishes will be exotic and who knows if people actually start cooking it, Karimeen and appam will be common names in some enterprising kitchens of America.
Is Kochi really in Kerala?!
Published March 6, 2010 | Rambling thoughts on Malayalam Cinema, Kozhukatta, Puttu-Kadala curry and Arabian food…..
Wandering along the streets of Kochi, seeing the many sights that life has got to offer in this expanding and ‘developing’ city, contemplating on things that happen all around me, I often wonder whether Kochi is really in Kerala or not!!
I have been taken aback by the fact that many of the Malayalam films that get released, of course not those with the superstars (who are reportedly or allegedly busy deciding whether a veteran actor, an all time best in Malayalam Cinema, is to continue acting or not), don’t find theatres to get released here, in Kochi. There are of course lesser number of theatres in Kochi than in some of the small towns in Kerala. That may be one of the reasons, but the other side of it is that Tamil and Hindi films do find theatres for release in this city. Sad indeed! I do love seeing Hindi and Tamil films too. In fact I am sad at the thought that while so many changes are overtaking Hindi Cinema and Tamil Cinema, Malayalam Cinema prefers to remain aloof from all that and mostly seems contented in churning out films that still don’t match up to those standards; and if at all good films come out, there are not many takers. Well, it indeed saddens the heart when I find Malayalam movies getting released in Kochi two or three weeks after it is released elsewhere.
I used to tell friends that I like Kochi as it still has people savouring the taste of ‘Kozhukattas’, ‘Pathiris’ and such traditionally Kerala kind of delicacies. Yes, these things are still available in Kochi, but if you take a closer look, you’d find that these too are disappearing. Instead you can find places that sell sandwiches, pizzas, burgers et al increasing in number. No, why should I be an enemy to these delicacies that so well appease many of my compatriots? Wasn’t it a burger that appeased my hunger the other day at Thevakkal on the outskirts of Kochi, when I couldn’t find anything else to eat? But my question is simple. Why should Kozhukattas and Pathiris bow out and beat a rather undignified retreat? I always find it hard to find in Kochi, while wandering along with friends, good tea-shops (that serve the kind of tea that we Keralites used to savour- strong, brewed to perfection and with a flavour that make you a tea-lover) too are growing less in number. A friend of mine had to control himself from bursting out when he asked for tea at a hotel and pat came the reply, with a bit of rudeness and contempt, “No tea! Only juice here”. I fear one day we may have to say that “Kerala is no country for tea lovers”.
It was only a couple of days back that I happened to see a lady and her son, the kid just about four or five years old, talking in English in the midst of interacting with a man selling tender coconuts by the roadside. I was impressed and at the same time shocked by the keenness that the lady was showing in interacting in English. I do agree that English is a fascinatingly rich language, enriched beyond all levels in many ways and I also agree that mastering that language is no doubt very much necessary to survive in today’s world. But I was wondering all the same as to why these moms don’t take the pains to teach their kids Malayalam, their mother tongue too. I personally know many such people who wanted to make their kids English-speaking kids and ultimately the kids ending up well versed neither in English nor in Malayalam. Ah! With a sigh do I realize that I, who takes pride in the fact that a few months back my daughter, at the age of five, recited in her school a Malayalam poem titled ‘Kunjedaththi’ written by renowned poet ONV Kurup in a rather impressive manner, represent a genre that’s simply thought of as misfits in today’s Kerala.
Just half a kilometre from where I stood listening to the English utterances of the lady and her son were shops selling Arabian food- Kebab, Shawarma, Alfaam, Kubboos (Hope my spellings are correct!) etc. One of my friends, while passing through that area, often comments, “Seems like I am walking through the streets of Dubai”. Well, last week, I happened to hear the a character in the Tamil film, ‘Vinnaithandi Varuvaya‘ mention about Kerala as a place where you can get ‘Puttu‘ and ‘Kadala curry‘ for breakfast. Yes indeed, you can still get such ethnic dishes, but takers are dwindling in number and very soon you won’t have shops selling these things.
So, is Kochi really in Kerala? Is there a point in re-naming Cochin as Kochi when people tend to go away from what all makes for Kerala and its culture? Hey, maybe the ranting of a cynic! Let me hope so. Let me stop giving vent to my feelings and go and have tea and see if they have brought Kozhukattas with tea today to our Karmakerala office. If no Kozhukatta, then of course cakes, cutlets or something like that. As the adage goes, while in Rome…..!!
Enjoy a timely treat in Kerala
Published August 7, 2008 | Kerala has many unique characters in its vast abode many of which are widely reflected in its society. You can find lots of peculiarities here, from its lifestyle to traditions all these features makes Kerala one of the impressive states in India. And one of the facets of this incredible land is its food culture.
This gourmet’s paradise flaunts a wide choice of cuisines, from traditional Keralian delights to exotic seafood’s. The land of spices blends a unique aroma and taste to its countless preparations tantalising your taste buds. With so much tourist influx this God’s Own Country has designed itself in a way that every guest does have lots of options to look for.
But when the matter of talk is about Kerala food how can one leave behind the series of restaurants, tea shops and local thattu kada(mobile restaurants) dotted along the busy lanes and rough terrains of the villages. These food zones or eateries are some of the most hot spots for any foodie. Here you can get a whole lot of stuffs to relish on starting from crispy dosa’s to full course traditional Kerala meal served in banana leaf.
But hey, you may find these places a bit unusual than the other restaurants and food zones you might have been before. Don’t get amazed on seeing the waiter telling you your menu for the time, well before you could even place your order which you have planned to munch on. Well, when you are in Kerala you do need to check out the time before designing your scrumptious menu. Because Kerala restaurants are very punctual about time, so you cannot order a dosa at the time of lunch, or tea at the time of dinner. Here you have to dish out your order as per the schedule of the restaurant.
So next time before slipping into these eateries do check the time twice ahead you place your lip smacking order.