The name MotaFish gives a Keralite feel and that’s what I experienced when I visited this place last week for lunch. It’s a simple, compact outlet located in a residential area of Barsha, with both indoor and outdoor areas. The outdoor area is covered with transparent plastic which was nice as it provides protection against dust and flies, since it’s on the roadside. Lunch time … Continue reading A Keralite Lunch at MotaFish Restaurant
Fisherman’s Hub is quite a popular sports bar in Bur Dubai but the first time I heard its name was when a friend of mine invited me a few months back, to try the one at the Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa. You can read about my experience here. This restro bar has been for around 3 years and very recently, they opened another branch … Continue reading Fisherman’s Hub Reloaded
Deira is notorious for traffic jams and lack of free parking spaces and hence it is an area that I don’t visit quite often. But I was happy to visit Skillet Restaurant a few days back because they provide free parking at the supermarket right next door. Plus points for that!! The restaurant is relatively new and serves North Indian and Keralite dishes and can … Continue reading Skillet Restaurant
Curry Chatti is a typical Keralite eatery serving authentic Thalassery biriyani and other Malabar dishes and also many Chinese dishes with an Indian touch. They have two outlets in Dubai – Karama and Qusais. Both outlets are not very big as most of their customers vouch for take-aways or deliveries, but they do have a steady influx of regular diners during lunch and dinner times … Continue reading Biriyani Time at Curry Chatti
Century Village is like my home now… I’ve been there so many times recently and I love going back again and again. Whether it’s in the afternoons or at night, it is a wonderful place to be. It is like walking down a countryside with fabulous restaurants all around. This time I found myself in an Indian restaurant named Masala Craft, serving food from all … Continue reading Dine the Indian Way at Masala Craft
There’s a fishy place in one of the by-lanes in Karama and you’d be well off if you steered clear of it ‘coz one visit and you’ll be caught in its net forever 😉 Aptly named De Fish SeaFood Restaurant, it has been in the same location for a couple of years…. How did I miss out on this so-Fish-ticated eatery!!!! It has both an … Continue reading Have a Whale of a Time at De Fish Sea Food Restaurant
U.A.E. is a melting pot of various cultures and cuisines. If you live in Dubai and want to try a cuisine from anywhere in the world, you don’t have to get on a plane. Just get in a car, drive around and your bound to find food from all over the world at your fingertips. It is was on one such ride when we discovered … Continue reading Dine the Sri Lankan Way at Ayubowan
If you are a Keralite residing in Dubai and you haven’t heard of Salkara then you must be living under a rock!!! Serving authentic Malabar cuisine and having several branches in Calicut, Kerala and in Ghusais and Al Nahda in the U.A.E.for several years, Salkara is a well-known name amongst those craving for wholesome homely food. It was only recently that we came to know … Continue reading Salkara, Dubai Media City
There’s a new kid on the block. Have you heard…. Have you been there…??? If you haven’t and if you like authentic Keralite cuisine, then you must give Tamarind Terrace a visit. Its located near the Emirates Post Office in Karama. Yes, Karama…..was Karama running short of yummy, tasty restaurants??!! Karama is well-known for some amazing eateries, covering a variety of cuisines. And Kerala cuisine … Continue reading Tamarind Terrace, Karama
Kappa Chakka Kandhari…what is that???!!!! Sounds strange and funny, doesn’t it!!! Any Malayalee would definitely know the meaning of these words but only a typical Malayalee would know its importance. Kappa stands for tapioca, chakka – jackfruit and kandhari means bird’s eye chilli. A vegetable, a fruit and a chilli…. what’s all this about!!!
Once upon a time, these three were the main food items in any household in Kerala. But as time progressed and Kerala evolved, things changed. No one has any more time for the simplicities of life. Today, it’s all about fast food and take-aways. Kappa chakka kandhari feels like a long lost memory or a distant dream. And that is exactly why three wise men from Kerala, Chef Regi Mathew, Augustine Kurian and John Paul, got together and came up with this brilliant concept, a ‘neo’stalgic gastronomic journey back to our roots – Kappa Chakka Kandhari. They began their journey by travelling through the length and breadth of Kerala to sample the different foods and they came up with more than 80 dishes to showcase the authentic Kerala cuisine with great importance to these three staple food crops.
After conducting several successful food festivals in various parts of India, they are now coming to U.A.E. on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of February, 2017 at Expo Centre, Sharjah, powered by MS Events and Euphoria Events. I had the opportunity to be part of the curtain-raiser which was held on January 10th at the same venue. A big thank you to The Tasty Life for taking me along on this wonderful gastronomic journey.
This event had around 40 dishes grouped into 5 themes :
Here, I will be introducing Snehatheeram to you. For the rest, stay tuned. Snehatheeram roughly translates to “a shore of love”. Indeed, all 11 dishes under this theme seem to show the undying love Chef Regi Mathew and his team have for the typical Kerala cuisine they grew up having. Continue reading “Kappa Chakka Kandhari – Curtain Raiser”
