12
Jul
2014
0

Kerala: Fort Kochi – Vegetarian Food Trail

Kerala is a costal state. Obviously, it is famous for delectable fish curries, which is something that us vegetarians cannot enjoy. The state is also famous for spices – walking through the spice market will surely make you crave for some aromatic curries and rice.

Fort Kochi: Vegetarian street eats

Fort Kochi: Vegetarian street eats

Worry not – for the vegetarian foodie tribe that would want to join us in our food expeditions in Kochi, here are our two cents. Read on for a vegetarian food trail through Fort Kochi, highlighting the five best meals that we had during our four day stay …..

For a quirky set up…Tea Pot Cafe

The mustard yellow walls envelop the place in a unique charm. The tea pot cafe has interiors lined up with tea pots and tea cups. It urges your to have a cuppa – like a little girl tugging at your dress with all her persistence.

Fort Kochi: Tea Pot Cafe

Fort Kochi: Tea Pot Cafe

The menu is limited for vegetarian meals – rice with vegetable stew or vegetable kurma – it’s a café after all, not a diner. The food here compliments a cup of tea or coffee. A sandwich and a slice of cake with our coffee is all that it takes to please us on a lazy afternoon.

Fort Kochi: Bright walls of the Tea Pot Cafe

Fort Kochi: Bright walls of the Tea Pot Cafe

The food was tasty, but not all items listed on the menu were available, thus limiting the choice further. We would recommend this place for a late afternoon cuppa when you are in a mood to read a book in nook.

Easy setting… Pepper House Cafe

We visited the Pepper House Cafe late in the afternoon while we were restaurant hopping. Housed in an old building, the cafe transports you back to college. With young crowd around, you do feel younger… on the right side of 30!

Fort Kochi: Mushroom pasta at Pepper House Cafe

Fort Kochi: Mushroom pasta at Pepper House Cafe

The sit out faces a porch with a grass carpet that soothes your eyes. The menu is a single page menu – continental fare. However, every item that we ordered was outstanding, including the drinks. We would particularly recommend the mushroom pasta and mint lemonade- the best mint lemonade I have had outside the Middle East.

Fort Kochi: Egg plant salad at Pepper House Cafe

Fort Kochi: Egg plant salad at Pepper House Cafe

On some nights, post 7 pm, the area hosts a local band of youngsters that play a gig – music always elevates the experience by a notch. However, please note that the cafe does not serve food a after 7 pm – reach early, grab a bite and then enjoy the music.

Value for money… Fusion Bay

Fusion Bay was the first restaurant that we visited at Fort Kochi. They had plenty of variety for us vegetarians. Food was tasty and quantity was ample. A vegetarian meal for two was less than USD 8.

Fort Kochi: Eggplant and yogurt at Fusion Bay

Fort Kochi: Eggplant and yogurt at Fusion Bay

It is a smallish place with few tables… nothing very fancy, but that is not what your really expect from a value for money restaurant, do you? The egg plant in yogurt and mushroom vindaloo are must try items on the menu. The mushroom vindaloo was super spicy and left us perspiring …just what a spicy Indian curry should do!

For simple, tasty food… Jackfruit Restaurant

The yummiest restaurant food that we had during our stay was a the Jackfruit restaurant at Tissa’s Inn. We were staying in the hotel and requested the chef for some local vegetarian food of his choice. We were served fried mushrooms, vegetable stew and warm appams by the pool on the terrace. The flavours were delicate and coconut flavour did not overpower any of the dishes (it is very common to have too much of coconut in food in Kerala ). If you intend to eat here, may I recommend the chefs special ginger lemonade – it will surely tickle your taste buds.

Fort Kochi: Tissa's Inn

Fort Kochi: Tissa’s Inn

Throughout our four day stay here, we saw only the hotel guests eating at this restaurant. We would recommend calling up and speaking to the chef in the morning if you would want to have dinner later that night.

Home made authentic food… with laughter, gossip and hugs… priceless!

I have saved the best for the last …Nothing beats home made food! If you have a Keralite friend, invite yourself to his/her place for a meal.We were lucky to have a very close friend in Kochi – added a star to our entire Kochi trip. Annette Lulu invited us over for lunch and we jumped at the opportunity.

Lovely Annette and her family

Lovely Annette and her family

Awial, sambhar, beans, papadams and some white rice laid out on the table with plantain leaves for Ankur and myself. Food served on the plantain leaf is called ‘Sadya’ and typically has 22 items – that seems like a task to keep one occupied for the entire weekend! Annette’s cooking was delicious, and we were satiated souls by the end of our meal. I was truly touched by the effort that she took to host us. Handling a three year old, a six month old and a meal for guests – our lady surely knows how to multitask! Shhhh… tell no one… Annette even shared her secret recipe with me!

Kochi: Nothing beats home a warm meal cooked by a friend!

Kochi: Nothing beats home a warm meal cooked by a friend!

Four days of delectable food, laden with calories….I should double my time in the gym this week!

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14 Responses

    1. I am sure! We just had 3 days and spent all our time in Fort Kochi…. With one day in Alleppy.
      We were pretty worried that we would not get good vegetarian food, but were delighted with the treat that we had!
      Appams and stew was our favourite!

  1. Sonia, we also went to the Tea Pot Café – such a quaint spot for a quick bite. While in Fort Kochi, we also took a cooking class, resulting in a long siesta after enjoying all that comfort food. Fun bringing back those memories from 2012! Thank you. 🙂

    1. Tricia….glad you enjoyed the post! Nothing beats home cooked food and I am sure the cooking class would have let you experience that!
      Maybe you should plan another trip to India now…lots more to be explored!

  2. The road side eateries, called 'Tattakadas' in the local language make for great food as well. Hot 'Barotas' (read parathas, lacchedar ones) with kurma or a basic tomato chutney, fill my senses even now.

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