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spices

Red Ginger flower
Places

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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  • There’s much to love about Puducherry. Called Pondicherry until 2006, it’s now fondly and mostly known as Pondi. The city was the French capital of India from 1674 to 1954 and as such is decidedly different than any other part of India. Up on the blog now is our Top 10 list of Pondi-esque things we hope you discover when you visit. Link in our profile. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #Puducherrydiaries #Pondicherrydiaries #Pondi #matrimandir #Aurovile ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Puducherry #Pondicherry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #Indiancuisine ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Thank you to the CGH Earth Experience group for hosting our stay in Puducherry at @maisonperumal_cghearth Many thanks also to the KTM Society and Travel XS for sponsoring our travel throughout South India in 2016. All words and photos are our own and we’re not shared with the sponsors before publication.
  • Coming up on the blog we explore Puducherry (a.k.a. Pondicherry), and partake in an unique recipe testing session with chef Anita Goubert and chef/author Sumeet Nair – a.k.a. @yummefy – as they worked to document and preserve traditional Indo-French Creole recipes from the historic Puducherry area. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Story up on the blog now with recipes to follow. Link in our profile. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #recipetesting #Creolefood #IndoFrenchCreolerecipes ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Puducherry #Pondicherry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #Indiancuisine ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Thank you to our friends Sumeet Nair and Anita Goubert for inviting us to spend the day with them cooking and sharing their delicious results during our visit to Puducherry. Many thanks also to the KTM Society and Travel XS for sponsoring our travel throughout South India in 2016.
  • Kulfi is India’s richer, creamier version of ice cream. When road tripping throughout South India, taking a break for dosa, chai, or kulfi can become, shall we say, a daily habit. Our good driver Murali knew all the best rest stops and just when we needed them. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This recipe for Coconut and Candied Ginger Kulfi marries two classic South Indian flavours into one indulgent delight. Recipe and story on the blog. Link in our profile. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #drivinginIndia #localknowledge #roadtrip #kulfi #coconut #ginger #dessert #icecream #Indiandrivers⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #TamilNadu #Kerala #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #Indiancuisine ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We’d like to thank the KTM Society and Travel XS for sponsoring our travel throughout South India and our driver Murali and guide Charles for sharing their local knowledge of Kerala and Tamil Nadu during our travels in 2016. When it comes to travel, this kind of insider access is what takes tourism from a service to a chance for personal transformation.
  • Kadala Curry (Black Chickpea Curry) sourced roadside from the Mariya Family Restaurant located in Pullapara on Highway 183. It’s a favourite stop of ours when traveling through the area. We’ve recreated the recipe here for you to enjoy the rich, satisfying flavours that keep us coming back. Pair with Kerala’s famous flaky handkerchief-style paratha bread and a steaming cup of creamy cardamom-scented chai, and you’ll start to question how your life was complete before eating it. Recipe and full story up on the blog. Link in the bio. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #drivinginIndia #localknowledge #roadtrip #kadalacurry #chickpearecipes #Indiandrivers⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #TamilNadu #Kerala #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #Indiancuisine ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We’d like to thank the KTM Society and Travel XS for sponsoring our travel throughout South India and our driver Muraly and guide Charles for sharing their local knowledge of Kerala and Tamil Nadu during our travels in 2016. When it comes to travel, this kind of insider access is what takes tourism from a service to a chance for personal transformation.
  • Off the highway he steered. We bounced our way on a dry, dusty, pot-holed goat track before passing a commercial district made of corrugated steel shacks. Once again we veered. When we stopped under the shade of a lone tree we had arrived at a small clear pond and cluster of soft beige stone buildings... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Our latest blog post recounts an impromptu visit to a small, off-the-beaten-track Shiva temple, courtesy of our driver Murali’s local knowledge. To share this transformative experience with you is very special to us. It’s not everyday in India that one can be alone at a temple complex with just a priest and the quiet tranquility of a rural morning. Please join us. Link to the story in our bio. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #drivinginIndia #localknowledge #roadtrip #Shivatemple #Indiandrivers⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #TamilNadu #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #Indiancuisine ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We’d like to thank the KTM Society and Travel XS for sponsoring our travel throughout South India and our driver Murali and guide Charles for sharing their local knowledge of Kerala and Tamil Nadu during our travels in 2016. When it comes to travel, this kind of insider access is what takes tourism from a service to a chance for personal transformation.
  • What has nerves of steel, lightning fast reflexes, and the focus of a laser beam? If you said a professional driver in India, you’d be correct. There are a lot of stereotypes about India we can bust. The state of roads and driving may not be one of them. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Our latest blog post is dedicated to the amazing professional drivers of India, and Murali in particular, one very special driver and guide who spent 21 days, 12-16 hours each day, and 2,000 kms with us on the road! Our upcoming posts include a visit to a secret Shiva temple Murali shared with us, and recipes from some of our favourites roadside stops, all courtesy of Murali’s local knowledge. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Don’t let India’s roads keep you from visiting. Hire a great driver and explore! Blog link in our bio. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #drivinginIndia #localknowledge #eatlocal #roadtrip #Indiandrivers⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #TamilNadu #Kerala #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #Indiancuisine ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A special thank you to our amazing driver Murali for safely steering us over mountain tops, across vast plains, and around hair-pin, snake like roads during our visit to South India in 2016. Many thanks also to the KTM Society and Travel XS for sponsoring our travel throughout South India that year.

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