Forget what you know about South Indian cuisine-Kochi is here to surprise you. During my recent trip, I discovered that Kerala's food scene extends far beyond the familiar idlis and dosas. Welcomed by the city's lush greenery and refreshing weather, my culinary adventure began the moment I glimpsed the sea from my ride to the hotel.
What followed was an eye-opening exploration of flavours that truly define Kerala. The beauty of Kochi, combined with the traditional Kerala cuisine, will make you not want to leave this city. After a quick check-in at the Old Harbour Hotel, I went for a special cooking demo and lunch hosted by Mahima Simon, a familiar name and face in Malayalee households through her participation in popular cooking reality shows.
We attended a traditional Kerala cooking class by Mahima Simon at her home. Once the cooking commenced, the air was filled with delicious aromas of coconut oil, curry leaves, spices, and other beautiful ingredients. The entire cooking tutorial was simplified and went smoothly, the only thing that spilled in this session were some expert cooking secrets.
We learned four fantastic dishes from Kerala cuisine -- Paalappam (Coconut Appam), Chicken Mappas (Traditional Kerala Chicken Curry Made With Coconut Milk), Fish Mango Curry, and Vegetable Stew. The food tasted absolutely delicious, comforting, and wholesome. Our next stop was at 'The Place' in Kanjiramattam for a one-of-its-kind experience nestled in a lush, green banana plantation.
Fou.