Faces of Marari Beach
The faces of Marari Beach are friendly and welcoming. From executive chef, yoga instructor, resident chai wallah, everyone welcomes you.
Friendly Faces of Mysuru
After the busy hustle and bustle of Bengaluru, we will always remember slowing down and enjoying the friendly faces of Mysuru. Everyone seemed to move at a relaxed pace and three people in particular made time for us as we got to know the city. Harsha S. is a tour director with Hi Tours. Shashikali …
Gopi Kishore Byluppala
As food lovers and cooks, we were excited to meet Gopi Kishore Byluppala, the CEO and Founder of a place called The Culinary Lounge in Hyderabad. As our car pulled up in front of its gates, we noticed a bouquet of freshly painted homes in soft pastel shades clinging to steep hills surrounding it. Tall …
Chef Velayudhan’s Team at Kalari Kovilakom
Seeing Chef Velayudhan’s team at Kalari Kovilakom Vengunad (KKV) in action was a chance for us to learn how to put Ayurveda food principles into practice. KKV is known as A Palace for Ayurveda. The CGH Earth Experience group of hotels lease the palace from the family who are descendants of the Vengunad Chieftains who …
Aroma Dipu at the Casa Linda Cooking School
We were excited to cook with Aroma Dipu at the Casa Linda Restaurant and Cooking School in Kochi. We always wonder if the experiences we have will be a good match for you when you (hopefully, someday) travel to this corner of India. Aroma came highly recommended and we had such a great time with …
Bibin Baby and a Kozhikode Food Tour
Bibin Baby The day we spent touring Kozhikode’s food scene with our local tour guide Bibin Baby is vivid in our minds because everything about it was vibrant. That is, except for the man himself. Bibin Baby was chill. He has a quiet confidence that allows him to be your “guide on the side” instead …
Chef Babu
We planned to do our research for Faces, Places and Plates in the off-season. It gave us the chance to access people who would otherwise be too busy to spend time with us. Executive Chef Babu at the Taj Gateway Hotel Beach Road Kozhikode was one of those people. During peak season, his job would …
Abida Rasheed
Abida Rasheed was born to cook. As a child, she loved spending time in the kitchen with her grandmother. She started cooking for others when she was in fifth standard. She ran a successful catering company and now operates culinary tourism outings and classes from her gracious home in Kozhikode (Calicut). Abida’s cuisine differs from …
Ranjini Menon
When we arrived at The Turmerica, Ranjini Menon cooked us dinner dressed in a stylish new saree. To top that, when we videotaped her making several recipes, she wore the traditional Kerala saree of cream with gold trim. At neither occasion, did she spill a drop on her beautiful outfits. We were in awe from …
Chai and Chai Wallahs of South India
Chai and Chai Wallahs – these words are all music to our ears when we travel in South India. Chai wallah translates as tea worker. Whether they have their own stall or are a worker at a restaurant, their job is to make and/or sell chai to their customers. One of the best things about …