“What is nostalgia, after all, but an attempt to preserve that which was good in the past?”
― Ruskin Bond, Roads to Mussoorie
Nostalgia is that stubborn, pensive state of mind that sometimes just won’t leave us alone. Just one of those days when I decided to rewatch some of the movies that felt like a warm hug, Ek Deewana Tha, Bangalore Days, Ustaad Hotel, and Kumbalangi Nights. To quote Charles Dickens, ” For I must confess, I suffer from homesickness”. Typing nimbly from a comfy corner of my room in Marburg, Germany I let myself pine for the old days by taking a walk down the memory lane. As far as I could remember, I was insanely in love with the region of Malabar and its cuisine. Hailing from Assam and living in coastal Karnataka (Manipal) during my Uni days gave me an uncanny sense of familiarity back then and it turns out that feeling never left. I was introduced to Malayalam cinema when I was still developing a taste in cinema, music as well as life in general. How almost every movie I watched struck a chord.
My idea of writing this blog is for those who can connect with the feeling. Anyone, who has lived and spent time there would hopefully relate. The place is hard to forget.
Location: Alappad, Kerala
Where exactly is Malabar?
Internet says it’s the southwestern coastal part of India connecting southern coastal Karnataka’s Western ghats to Kerala along the Arabian Sea. To me, Malabar encompasses everything from vast coconut and banana plantations flanking orange roof-tiled houses with huge courtyards, to the breathtaking beauty of the Western ghats during monsoon that gives you main character vibes from a Mani Ratnam movie. The extended list goes on to having piping hot rasam and rice at a local lunch house (Anjal fish fry with the rice and fish thali at Shetty lunch home, Manipal is an absolute local must-try). I have made peace with my inner hopeless romantic since it has been ages since I have found the time and opportunity to revisit the place.
What felt like never-ending and exhausting days at the University, back then, always came with a reminder of the gentle lull of the nearby sea. Especially during the long coastal summers, when we knew nothing would be more fitting than a ride down to the beach with friends to wrap the day. Deeply thankful for some of the connections and friendships that developed during the time and stayed.
Why add Malabar cuisine to your bucket list?
Malabar region of Kerala has a unique character and richness to its culinary style. Malabar coast was a prominent trade center, explaining a blend of Arabic, Persian, or even European influences in its cuisine. Several dishes from this part of the country were a great mixture of the diversity and indigenosity of the land as well as influence from the outer world. If one has tasted Malabar biriyani and loved it, there is a sea of dishes out there that are simply flavor bombs. Don’t trust my words, just try them out. Here are a few to help you find your next fav on the menu; Meen (fish) Curry, Pollichathu (fish wrapped in banana leaf), Idiyappam(tangled steamed rice noodles with coconut milk and curry), Puttu and Kadala (Bengal gram), Kozhukkatta (steam rice cakes) and the quintessential Appam with veggie stew and Malabar parotta with coconut chicken curry. Don’t forget to finish off the meal with a steaming tumbler of Sulaimani chai (thank me later, wink wink). Next time you’re feeling like a main character from the aforementioned movies, treat yourself to a complete indulgence with the beauty that is Malabari cuisine.
