Kerala Secrets

Lush green trees and balmy air envelope you as you drive through Kochi and one of the great joys of being in this beautiful coastal city is the food. From succulent Prawns in Coconut Curry to Chicken Stew with fluffy Appams, delicious food is not hard to find. But there are some secrets and a few places to eat that only a local can help you discover. Our latest trip to Kerala was one of just such discovery and here’s a list of a few Kerala Secrets that you must try when you visit:

1. Ada or Ela Ada: These are delicious filled rice cakes steamed in banana leaves, oozing with the caramalised taste of jaggery and coconut with every bite. Sweet and savoury at the same time, they’re a delight on the taste buds. They make for a great breakfast or tea time snack. We tried this at the stall at Janatha junction in Kochi.

2. Ada Payasam or Pradhaman: This is known as the king of payasams in Kerala and rightly so. The milk is cooked down and caramalised till it takes on a beautiful burnished shade of pink. The payasam even smells like caramel swirled into milk. With just the right amount of sweetness, the caramelized milk is wonderfully balanced with the plump bits of rice chips, called ada. Vinayaka serves the best Ada Payasam in all of Kochi if not Kerala. You need to book your order a day in advance and even more so during festival season. Vinayaka Caterers & Kalyana Mandapam, Sannidhi Road, Kadavanthra.

3. Andhra food: This might seem a little strange but Chillies in Kochi serves a fantastic Andhra meal. Served on banana leaves, the rasam, the carrot chutney, vegetables, this entire Andhra meal is delicious. The must try for non-vegetarians is the Mutton/Chicken Pepper Fry. It is to die for. Warning: It rates very high on Spice Meters, not for the faint hearted. Will leave your eyes watering and mouth on fire. Chillies, Layam road, near Darbar Hall Ground, Ernakulam

4. Fort Kochi: A popular tourist area, dotted with restaurants overlooking the water, quaint shops and Chinese fishing nets. The best time to visit is just as sun starts to set, the Chinese fishing nets with the setting sun make it the perfect picture. Add to this freshly caught fish, just off the boat, that you can buy right there, take to a little shack and have them prepare for you. Fresh tasting and delicious

5. Hotel Bharat: Thrissur or Trichur is the cultural capital of Kerala, also known for the popular temple festival, Thrissur Pooram. If you happen to be passing through Thrissur, we recommend heading to Hotel Bharat for a meal. Tucked away in one of the city’s tiny lanes, the restaurant is crowded even at 8.30 in the morning. But the meal is worth the wait for your table. Their large Medu Vadas have a crisp golden crust and a soft melt-in-your-mouth core and the Masala Dosas and Sada Dosas are crisp and buttery from the lovely ghee they use. Wash this down with some piping hot filter coffee for a quintessential South Indian breakfast of the highest quality. Hotel Bharat, Chembottil Lane, Round South, Thrissur