Craving Naadan Food? This Kerala Food Festival Is Not Just For The Homesick Mallu

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What Is It?

The Kuttanadan Food Festival at Southern Aromas, The Residency Towers is a short but sweet food festival featuring authentic food from Kuttana: think Allepey and Kottayam flavours, peeps. So expect dishes like the chemeen (prawn) and squid ularthiyathu (roasted in masalas, coconut slivers and curry leaves) which we absolutely loved, by the way.  The fest is crafted by Chefs Ashok Eapen and Mahaboob and will offer you a variety of classic dishes from our neighbouring coast like Njandu Varutharacha Curry and Fish Moilee. The specialty restaurant at Residency Towers  has a lovely, classic ambience; we liked the touch of traditional Nilavilakku (lamp) on the table and the use of banana leaves over our plates .

Who Is It For?

Malayalis, of course.  But hey, also anyone who loves authentic Kerala cuisine just as much as us Mallu folk. Enjoy food with tons of masala, coconut and banana? Then this fest is for you. Although there are mushroom-based curry and boiled tapioca (puzhukku) and fluffy appams for vegetarians, we think carnivores will enjoy this spread much more.  And if you love seafood, then don’t miss this!

Why Should I Go For It?

Because if you’re looking to dig into really authentic flavours from Kerala, but prefer a fine-dining sort of ambience, this is it. We loved the starters and the feathery appams and soft yet sweet parottas with coconutty fish curry was lip-smackingly good. There’s also red fish curry which is a lot spicier that you could try but make sure to wash it down with a nice cold glass of buttermilk. We were a bit disappointed with dessert, the elaneer (coconut) pudding was so-so and the banana fritters could have been crispier and sweeter. But if you can satisfy you buds with a platefull of starters and mains, you’re sorted here.

When : June 22 to July 1

Where: Southern Aromas, The Residency Towers, 115 Sir Thyagaraya Road.