It's a gastronomical revolution that’s shaking up the staid old capital city of Thiruvananthapuram. The place is no more the laidback city of demure souls. It is undergoing a sea change in culinary habits going by the 90-odd hotels and 357 restaurants that have set up shop here. Adding to the native flavours are the cuisines of the world which are being dished out in style here. That all of these eateries were cleared by the Food Safety Department goes to show that the food business is here to stay.
With this multi-cuisine scenario occupying centrestage, people's food choices too have changed. From North Indian to Italian, Spanish, French, and Chinese, there's a virtual beeline to those hotels which cater exclusively to these cuisines. At the same time, there's no dearth of rush in small eateries where the very popular kappa and fish curry are served. Suffice to say that Thiruvananthapuram has become another foodie paradise.
Apart from the food is the added lure of free wifi, music, talking nooks where one can chill out for hours and hangout places for reading, writing and intellectual pursuits in most restaurants.
Foodie groups
As active as the restaurants are the foodie groups. The all-day-and-night groups are active with comments good and bad on the food served around, on what's special and what was sloppy or tepid. Almost immediately come a volley of discussions. This year, it was for the city that the Food Safety Department cleared the most number of hotels. The new joints have come up in Kazhakkoottam, Technopark, Poojappura, Peyad, Vellayambalam, Kowdiar, Statue, East Fort, Ayurveda College, West Fort, Pattom, Pettah and Kesavadasapuram. In addition to these swanky food pads, the thattukadas which spring to life by night ensure that the capital city is well-lit for a food splash at any time of the night.
Unlimited offers
Hotels here are overflowing with chicken, mutton, beef, and fish dishes, biryanis galore, the best of North Kerala with its beef curry, savouries, snacks, pidis and what not. With the hotel boom, there’s also a rush of unlimited offers everywhere.
Food is affordable, as the competition is stiff. The unlimited offers come alive by lunch time with biryani, soup, chicken, mutton and beef on the list. With hotels high on style and comfort opening up all over, the old ones are going in for a makeover or facelift to welcome diners to their parlours.
