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spices

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A South Indian Spice Primer from Mr. Abraham’s Spice Garden in Kumily

Our friend Mr. Abraham has a two acre spice garden surrounding his home and two more gardens nearby. They are completely organic and open for tours. Lunch can be booked. In our previous post, we described our day in the spice garden in his backyard. Now, with Pauli-Ann’s beautiful photos, we want to lead you …

Read more about A South Indian Spice Primer from Mr. Abraham’s Spice Garden in Kumily

Mr. Abraham of Abraham's Spice Garden.
Faces

Mr. Abraham and his Spice Garden

I’m excited to write this piece for you because Mr. Abraham’s Spice Garden is a must every time we visit Kerala. As a cook, it’s the kind of place that I dreamed of experiencing because it is chockablock full of spices. I had always longed to see where and how spices grew. I imagined a …

Read more about Mr. Abraham and his Spice Garden

Anna Zacharria's garam masala.
Plates

Anna’s Secret Garam Masala

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SOUTH INDIA ROAD TRIP ROUTE MAP

South India map, Kerala, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, South India, India, Faces Places and Plates blog

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Award-winning writer and photographer Karen Anderson and Pauli-Ann Carriere spent over 40 days in South India in 2016 and 2017 travelling and researching this project to bring you closer to the people, food and rich culture of this place.

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Happy New Year 2021! . Best wishes to all our frie Happy New Year 2021! . Best wishes to all our friends, followers,and partners. May we continue to enjoy armchair travel and support each other locally as we journey on to new beginnings in 2021! . Much love from Karen and Pauli-Ann ❤️ . . . #HappyNewYear2021 #SouthIndiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #SouthIndia #Indianfoodtravel #culinarytravel #SouthIndiaTravel #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood
Whether you are a visitor travelling across South Whether you are a visitor travelling across South India or a local bustling through a frenetic day in the life of Mother India, street food is often the easiest fuel supply to keep the human engine running. We spied these Green Chilli Fritters at a stall across from a monument we were visiting in Kochi. The fragrance of these chana (chickpea) flour encased green chillies hitting hot oil drifted our way like a welcome lifeline. Our noses had a conference with our tummies and demanded us to stop. We hope you love them as much as we do. Link to the recipe in our profile. . . . #greenchillifritters #Indiansnacks #streetfoodindia #snackfood #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #SouthIndiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kochi #Cochin #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
Thin, crisp, round flatbread papadam (papads) are Thin, crisp, round flatbread papadam (papads) are typically made from seasoned dough of black gram (urad dal) flour. They're either fried or cooked with dry heat (usually flipping over an open flame). We always imagined Indian home cooks would make their own papadam. But, in India, just like here in Canada, cooks typically buy them ready-made and dried for convenient storage. There is quite an art to making and drying papadam, and this task is often taken up by enterprising women and women’s empowerment projects throughout the country. Our latest blog posts features Usha from Kochi, who has been making papadam her whole working life, started as a young girl alongside her mother. We were drawn to her brilliant smile and perfect papadam technique while on a stroll through Kochi's spice market district. We also explore larger-scale papadam making as the focus of a women's empowerment projects, also in Kochi. Please join us by clicking the link to this post in our bio. . . . #papadam #pappadam #papads #flatbreads #crunchysnacks #streetfoodindia #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kochi #Cochin #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
When you go out for a walk at night on the streets When you go out for a walk at night on the streets of Kochi, as you near the Old Fort harbour front, you’ll find a wonderful assortment of street food vendors. Known as wallahs or workers in India, they usually do one thing and they do it very well. This is definitely the case for these Chilli Salted Cassava Fries. We met the young wallah, Shivalingam, responsible for them on our research trip in 2016. As we stood watching, he took tender young cassava roots and sliced them paper thin onto a makeshift wooden counter at the side of his small cart. A light bulb glared its starkness down over him and allowed him not to cut off his fingers while he sliced. He then patted the slices dry and slid them gently into a waiting wok of sunflower oil. While they turned golden, he slit open a paper bag to act as a receptacle for their exit from the pan. Once they were all out, he shook the perfect amount of salt and chilli powder over them and scooped them into newspaper cones for us. We couldn't wait to get back to our hotel. We began munching those Chilli Salted Cassava Fries immediately. And, we still had some left when we ordered a couple of mugs of beer back at our hotel's lounge. What a perfect end to a tropical evening's walk. That's the delight of street food. It always seems to be exactly what you're craving - whether you knew it or not. And, it leaves an indelible taste memory that makes you crave it eternally. Link to the recipe in our profile. . . . #cassava #cassavachips #streetfoodindia #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kochi #Cochin #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
Chefs love to talk food. And, we love to know what Chefs love to talk food. And, we love to know what they are cooking - both professionally and at home. We always ask about their favourite dishes. Often, they are amazingly simple recipes like this Shallot Salad. This is a dish that one of the @bruntonboatyard_cghearth Hotel's chefs - Francis Noble of Brunton Boatyard - shared. He got a smile on his face when we asked him about it. "This Shallot Salad was something I made for my college roommates when we lived on a very low budget," he said, "But, that doesn't matter, those were great times and it’s still my favourite." Taste it and you'll see why! Link to the recipe in our profile. . . . #shallotrecipes #shallots #saladrecipe #keralacuisine #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kochi #Cochin #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip #bruntonboatyard_cghearth
We learned to make this Keralan Chicken Ishtoo (st We learned to make this Keralan Chicken Ishtoo (stew) from the nightly cooking demo at Brunton Boatyard in Fort Kochi, Kerala, expertly conducted by chef Noble Francis. He explained that coconut oil is the backbone of Keralan cooking. After coconut, he shared that curry leaves also leave an indelible taste signature on the cuisine. This recipe is a great manifestation of both those principles. We found Keralan Chicken Ishtoo almost everywhere we travelled in this lush tropical state. But chef Francis's is the one we always come back to. Maybe it's a case of first impressions being strongest? Or, maybe it was just a case of love at first bite? Link to the recipe in our profile. . . . #ishtu #ishtoo #chickenstew #coconutrecipes #keralacuisine #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kochi #Cochin #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip #bruntonboatyard_cghearth
This recipe for Thiele (tiny shrimp stir fry) come This recipe for Thiele (tiny shrimp stir fry) comes from our friend Chef Manoj Nair, Executive Chef and GM at CGH Earth's @bruntonboatyard_cghearth Heritage Hotel in Kochi. Thiele (pronounced TEAL) is a quick and easy recipe that chef will make for his wife on a day off. Toasted shredded coconut and classic South Indian spices meld deliciously with the shrimp. All you need is a great bread vehicle like appams or naan to deliver it to your mouth. Link to the recipe in our profile. . . . #shrimprecipes #seafoodrecipes #coconutrecipes #seafood #thiele #keralacuisine #cookingschools #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kochi #Cochin #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip #bruntonboatyard_cghearth
Keralan Vegetable Ishtoo is another classic Kerala Keralan Vegetable Ishtoo is another classic Keralan dish picked up from our friend Aroma at her Casa Linda Restaurant in Kochi. Ishtoo is the Malayalam word for stew. Cooks first pick the freshest seasonal vegetables in the local market. They then simmer them until tender and flavourful. What's different from most stews? In Kerala, cooks use coconut milk and spices for the simmering broth. These signature flavours of Keralan cuisine truly set the dish apart. You'll find both the everyday Ishtoo and a special occasion variation up on our blog now. Link to the recipes in our profile. . . . #Ishtoo #stew #vegetarian #keralacuisine #cookingschools #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kochi #Cochin #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
Appams are steamed rice and lentil crepes. We made Appams are steamed rice and lentil crepes. We made them with Aroma Dipu at the Casa Linda Restaurant in Kochi. We watched in fascination as she spread the batter in a concave pan, then created a flower petal design by tipping it to and fro. The batter is then steamed to a finish by placing a lid on the pan. The best way to describe the results is dosa (crispy crepe of rice and lentil flour) meets idli (steamed rice cake). Appams go well with all of Kerala's curries. They make an elegant accompaniment with Fish Molee and Coconut Prawns. And, like all good breads, they help sop up every drip of gravy. Link to all the recipes in our profile. . . . #appams #indianbread #keralacuisine #cookingschools #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kochi #Cochin #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
After learning to make Fish Molee at Nimmy Paul's After learning to make Fish Molee at Nimmy Paul's Cookery School in Kochi, we were excited to try our friend Aroma's Fish Molee from her family’s Casa Linda Restaurant. Fish Molee (pronounced moy-lee) is a classic Keralan dish. It has a minimal number of ingredients and maximal flavour extracted from those ingredients. Nimmy Paul's recipe does not have turmeric, Aroma's does. We hope you make them both and see which one you like the most. Link to the recipes in our profile. . . . #seafood #molee #coconutmilk #keralacuisine #cookingschools #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kochi #Cochin #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
Large flakes of fresh coconut accent this dish of Large flakes of fresh coconut accent this dish of Susheela's Coconut Prawns. It's a favourite recipe at the family-run Casa Linda Cooking School in Kochi. Testing the recipe at home was almost as enjoyable as being there in Kochi with this warm and wonderful family. All that was missing were their smiling faces and the sounds of tropical birds carried in on the breeze through open windows. The flavours travelled well, even if the breeze could not reach us. We hope your curiosity and palate carry you to Kochi one day so you too can taste this food and feel the warmth of the breeze and the hospitality. Food like Susheela's Coconut Prawns can fuel such desire. Link to the recipe in our profile. . . . #coconutprawns #prawnrecipe #coconutrecipes #seafood #keralacuisine #cookingschools #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kochi #Cochin #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
During our time with Aroma at Casa Linda Cooking S During our time with Aroma at Casa Linda Cooking School in Kochi, we enjoyed a lesson in making Fresh Coconut Milk. Let's face it. Most of us get our coconut milk from a can. In South India, where coconuts grow plentifully, that would be a blasphemy. Coconut milk here is always a "pressing concern". That is, coconut milk is always freshly pressed from the coconut itself. It never comes from a can. In our current blog post, we share a lesson in making fresh coconut milk with our friend Aroma Dipu. Link to the story in our profile. . . . #coconutmilk #freshpressed #coconutrecipes #keralacuisine #cookingschools #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kochi #Cochin #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
We are circling back to Kochi to introduce you to We are circling back to Kochi to introduce you to the lovely and talented Aroma Dipu, and our day of cooking with her at the Casa Linda Restaurant and Cooking School. Aroma took us through many classic Keralan recipes, including scrumptious Coconut Prawns, delicate and flavourful Fish Moilee, Appams, Fresh Coconut Milk, Coconut Chutney, and an all-time favourite Keralan dish called Ishtoo. Along with cooking instruction, Aroma and her husband Dipu filled us in on Indian match-making and the story of their own match, which was written in the stars ✨. Click on the link in our profile to read the full story on our blog. Aroma’s delicious Keralan recipes to follow shortly. . . . #keralacuisine #cookingschools #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kochi #Cochin #Kerala #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
A family business since 1967, the Kumari Banana Ch A family business since 1967, the Kumari Banana Chips shop is a must stop for tasty snacks on any Kozhikode food tour. If you go early enough, you can watch the banana shipment arrive and the very large job of peeling begin. As the coconut husk-fired stove comes to life, the first bananas are run through the mechanical slicer, then washed in turmeric-laced water, until finally let loose to fry in a hot vat of oil. The result is an extra light and crispy banana chip with a hint of coconut flavour. Try to eat just one! Follow the link in our bio to the full story up on the blog now. . . . #bananachips #bananas #snacks #Malabarcuisine #Malabarfood #Kozhikodefood #Keralafoods #Keralacuisine #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #SouthIndiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kozhikode #Calicut #Kerala #MalabarCoast #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
If you go to the Bhaskarettante Kada (Brother Bhas If you go to the Bhaskarettante Kada (Brother Bhaskar’s shop) Sarbath shop in Kozhikode, you can order one thing three ways – Milk, Soda or Water Sarbath. That's it. That's what they make. And, they've been making it very successfully for over six decades. To make Milk, Soda or Water Sarbath you need sarsaparilla (aka Nannari) syrup (made with jaggery) and a mixture of milk and egg white stirred over a pile of ice. It's a thirst-quenching beverage that their customers line up for, especially on the hottest of days. Many Indian grocers will have bottles of prepared Nannari Syrup. We've included a recipe to make your own in case you can't find one. The complete refreshing sarbath recipe is up on the blog now. Link to it in our bio. . . . #sarbath #sarasparilla #nannari #Malabarcuisine #Malabarfood #Kozhikodefood #Keralafoods #Keralacuisine #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #SouthIndiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kozhikode #Calicut #Kerala #MalabarCoast #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
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