A Small Beginning...

Kozhikode (Calicut) .......coastal area of southwest India....capital of the exotic Malabar is one of the most ancient trading ports in India.Traders from around the world especially the Arabs, came here in search of timber, ivory, pepper, ginger, cinnamon and other exotic spices and herbs. Ancient world travelers including Marco Polo, Zeng He, etc. wrote about the rich culture and people of Kozhikode. The well-known Moroccan traveler Ibn Batuta who visited Kozhikode at least six times wrote glowingly about the amazing prosperity of this seaport. Vasco Da Gama set foot on the shores of Kozhikode - on May 27th 1498 AD, heralding the beginning of Portuguese power in the south.

A food blog about Kerala food....
I started this blog as a way to collect traditional Kerala recipes, in true form, not the nuking and zapping way. What I am familiar with is the mappila cuisine of Calicut, Kerala since that's my hometown.
Influenced by the Arabs as well as the locally available spices,produce and culinary traditions,the Mappila cuisine now has its distinct taste.
Traditional Malabar cuisine is spicy and is charaterised by the liberal use of black pepper,clove,cardamom and coconut, cooked in the fragrant coconut oil.
Now miles away from Kerala, the sounds and smells of mustard and curry leaves sputtering in the hot oil is enough to weave memories of warm laterite contrasted with the lush green of the malabar coast, the palms leaning into the still river.