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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 …

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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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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
There are so many fun things to do in Kozhikode (C There are so many fun things to do in Kozhikode (Calicut) for the foodie traveler. When we can venture out once more, a return trip will be overdue! Our top recommendations are up on the blog now. Join us for a virtual tour about this welcoming town. Link in our bio. . . . #armchairtravel #malabarcuisine #malabarfood #kozhikodefood #keralafoods #keralacuisine #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kozhikode #Calicut #Kerala #MalabarCoast #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
The day we spent touring Kozhikode’s food scene 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 – colourful and full of life. Following our very early morning foray into the local fish auction, we met up with Bibin, a naturalist by training, who ushered us through Kozhikode's culinary hubs. Following a quick coffee in a shop near the iconic Paragon Restaurant we skipped across the street to watch the open-air workings of the Kumari Banana Chip stall come to life. A short walk down the road, Kozhikode's most popular sarbath walla was already mixing his refreshing elixir for a steady stream of customers. Onward we drove to the Kalpaka Vegetable Market, Sweet Meat Street, and the Wholesale Spice Market at Big Bazaar Road, which retains a slightly ancient, spice-route vibe. That day in Kozhikode kept extending itself as we went on to cook with chef Babu in the late afternoon, and then venture out again in the evening to the shops, art, and restaurants along Gujarati Street. Kozhikode's vibrant offerings felt like a gift that kept on giving. When it's safe to venture out again, we hope to make a return visit. Full story with photos and video up on the blog now. Link in our bio. . . . #foodtour #vegetablemarket #sarbath #bananachips #malabarcuisine #malabarfood #kozhikodefood #keralafoods #keralacuisine #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kozhikode #Calicut #Kerala #MalabarCoast #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
It’s easy to see why such a snack is an instant It’s easy to see why such a snack is an instant hit with all who try it. Banana fritters stuffed with coconut a.k.a. Unnakkai a.k.a. Cotton Balls? Yes, please! We'll never forget biting into them. They are light and fluffy cotton balls of coconut, bananas, nuts and raisins with a delicate cardamom finish. Sipping tea, savouring each bite, it was a great reward after a long day on the road. These treats are an indelible food memory for us. We greatly appreciate chef Babu and his team for all their TLC. We hope you will be able to travel to Kozhikode to try this local delicacy one day. See full photos and a how-to video for making Unnakkai on the blog now. Link to it in our bio. . . . #Unnakkai #teatimesnack #bananadessert #Nenthiran #malabarcuisine #malabarfood #kozhikodefood #keralafoods #keralacuisine #tajhotelsindia #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kozhikode #Calicut #Kerala #MalabarCoast #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
Arikkadukka - Spicy Stuffed Mussels is one of the Arikkadukka - Spicy Stuffed Mussels is one of the most impressive dishes we've enjoyed during our travels in South India. You can only find them in the Malabar region of Kerala. We were lucky to be in Kozhikode just in time for the mussel season, which runs from late October or early November to May. Chef Babu of The Taj Gateway Beach Road not only treated us to this sensational treat, he also taught us how to prepare it. Believe us when we tell you, we savoured every bite. We are very happy to be able to share this recipe with you on the blog. Link to it in our bio. . . . #seafood #arikkadukka #mussels #musselsrecipe #stuffedmussels #malabarcuisine #malabarfood #kozhikodefood #keralafoods #keralacuisine #tajhotelsindia #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kozhikode #Calicut #Kerala #MalabarCoast #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
It was four thirty in the morning and pitch black It was four thirty in the morning and pitch black when we crawled into Chef Babu’s car. A short drive later we crawled back out to roam the huge dock that’s home to Kozhikode’s Fish Auctions. Lights blared from the top riggings down a long line of trawlers backed into the wharf. Muscle bound crews on board these vessels retrieved their haul from the icy slurry keeping them fresh in the belly of each boat. Buyers, all men, wrapped their traditional dhoutis up to shorts length to avoid getting wet from the slick surface where the catches are bartered for. Plastic totes that looked like Leggo blocks in orange, blue, yellow, white, and green began to fill. A parade of men carried them from dock to delivery vehicle. They’d be loaded onto lorries and headed to markets and restaurants that would feature this true “catch of the day” on their menu that evening. The pace is brisk and the bustle is everywhere. By the time the sun fully rises, the fish have been unloaded, sorted, weighted and shipped. We take it all in, and keep out of the way! Our sincere appreciation to Chef Babu of The Taj Kozhikode for escorting us to this most interesting hub of food and commerce. Link to the full feature in our profile. . . . #fishauction #freshfish #moplahfood #malabarcuisine #malabarfood #kozhikodefood #keralafoods #keralacuisine #tajhotelsindia #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kozhikode #Calicut #Kerala #MalabarCoast #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip . . . Thank you also to Indus Travel @indus_travels and Hi Tours @hitours for sponsoring our travel throughout South India in 2017.
As an Executive Chef with the Taj Group of Hotels, As an Executive Chef with the Taj Group of Hotels, Chef Babu has travelled to and lived many places. The thing we loved the most about him is - despite all his years in the business - he has not lost his sense of wonder when it comes to the connections between food, culture, and health. We spent an intimate afternoon in the kitchens of the Taj in Kozhikode making two of Chef Babu’s favourite local delicacies - Kallummakkai (stuffed mussels) and Unnakkai (Cotton Ball dessert) with him and his team. And when we shared how much we loved fish and seafood, he invited us to go on his weekly fish buying trip to Kozhikode’s massive fish auction docks. This early morning excursion was one of our road trip highlights. Read more about Chef Babu and his top 5 food stops in Kozhikode up on the blog now. Coming soon are the recipes for both Kallummakkai and Unnakkai... plus the details on our fish auction adventure! Link to it in our profile. . . . #Kallummakkai #Unnakkai #fishauction #moplahfood #malabarcuisine #malabarfood #kozhikodefood #keralafoods #keralacuisine #tajhotelsindia #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kozhikode #Calicut #Kerala #MalabarCoast #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
This Moplah Shrimp Biryani comes together quickly This Moplah Shrimp Biryani comes together quickly and has two surprising elements. First, you use short grain rice to make it. Second, you present it in a banana leaf. Where North Indian and Persian Biryanis use long grain and basmati rice, the locals on the North Malabar Coast of Kerala use a short grain rice called jeerakasala. This rice is native to the Wayanad area and though the grains are shorter, it is still aromatic and flavourful. Presenting the dish in a banana leaf adds a whole other dimension of taste of place. Kerala is famous for its bananas and over 20 kinds grow here. This is another delicious recipe from the kitchen of Abida Rasheed, a great Moplah cuisine ambassador. Find it up on our blog now. Link to it in our profile. . . . #shrimpbiryani #biryanirecipe #ricerecipe #seafoodrecipes #moplahfood #malabarcuisine #malabarfood #keralafoods #keralacuisine #cookingschools #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kozhikode #Calicut #Kerala #MalabarCoast #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
Koonthal Varuthatu (Squid Roast) is a Malabar deli Koonthal Varuthatu (Squid Roast) is a Malabar delicacy. Fresh from the Arabian Sea, squid is readily available on the west coast of Kerala. Most of the world has some version of fried or roasted squid. But a Moplah cook's version is quite different, owing in part to their own unique (and often secret) spice masala mixture that is handed-down for generations. The other key factor is in the final touch. That quintessential Keralan ingredient - coconut oil - is used to fry the squid. The results are mouth watering! The recipe is up on our blog now. Link to it in our profile. . . . #roastsquid #friedsquid #squid #squidrecipe #moplahfood #malabarcuisine #malabarfood #keralafoods #keralacuisine #cookingschools #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kozhikode #Calicut #Kerala #MalabarCoast #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
Neichoru (Ghee Rice) is a wildly popular tradition Neichoru (Ghee Rice) is a wildly popular traditional Moplah recipe. It's enjoyed on its own for lunch or dinner, and served for special occasions. The addition of fried shallots, raisins, and cashews elevates this rice dish to a grand level. The recipe is up on our blog now. Link to it in our profile. . . . #neichoru #gheerice #ricedish #sidedish #moplahfood #malabarcuisine #malabarfood #keralafoods #keralacuisine #cookingschools #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kozhikode #Calicut #Kerala #MalabarCoast #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
Pathiri is a bread made with rice flour. It's the Pathiri is a bread made with rice flour. It's the perfect accompaniment for Moplah cuisine, especially for dishes like Marinated Fish and Mutton Stew. There are many different versions of Pathiri. But, we love this one from Abida Rasheed. It comes together so easily. This is definitely one of our favourite Kerala taste memories. We'll never forget eating these treats hot off the griddle with Abida's sumptuous food. A fun video and the recipe are up on our blog now. Link to it in our profile. . . . #pathiri #riceflourbread #flatbread #moplahfood #malabarcuisine #malabarfood #keralafoods #keralacuisine #cookingschools #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kozhikode #Calicut #Kerala #MalabarCoast #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
#blackouttuesday Listening and learning. #blackouttuesday Listening and learning.
Kerala Fish Fry - Malabar Style is a succulent ble Kerala Fish Fry - Malabar Style is a succulent blend of spicing and technique. Abida Rasheed is a renowned Moplah chef and this is one of her signature dishes. We loved sitting in her kitchen watching her expert hands deftly pull the dish together. A quick marinade, a dash of coconut oil, onions frying and we were in heaven. The garlic cloves (crushed with skins left on), and curry leaves added at the last minute before serving are like a goodbye kiss from the flames. They sear a final flavour bomb into the dish. Link to this recipe and Abida's YouTube video in our profile. . . . #keralafishfry #fishrecipe #fishfry #moplahcuisine #moplahfood #malabarcuisine #malabarfood #keralafoods #keralacuisine #cookingschools #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kozhikode #Calicut #Kerala #MalabarCoast #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
This recipe for Moplah Mutton Ishtew (Stew) comes This recipe for Moplah Mutton Ishtew (Stew) comes from our friend Abida Rasheed, the expert voice of Moplah cuisine from the Malabar coast of Kerala. Abida says, "cooking should be about taste, smell and feel." As you make this recipe, taste it for seasoning, smell it for aroma, and feel it for doneness. Like all stews, this is classic comfort food. Moplah Mutton Ishtew has an exceptional depth of flavour, owing to the subtle art of blending spices to perfectly suit the main ingredients. It is easy to make, especially if you have a pressure cooker. It's still easy to make without one. It just takes a bit longer. If you are feeling uncertain, we have attached a video on our blog of Abida making the recipe step-by-step, and that will give you the confidence to try it yourself for sure. Link to the recipe and video in our profile. . . . #muttonishtew #muttonrecipes #stewrecipe #moplahcuisine #moplahfood #malabarcuisine #malabarfood #keralafoods #keralacuisine #cookingschools #SouthIndianfood #Indianfood #southindiaroadtrip #cooksandtheircultures #facesplacesandplatesblog #Kozhikode #Calicut #Kerala #MalabarCoast #GodsOwnCountry #SouthIndia #India #foodtravel #culinarytravel #culinaryroadtrip
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