The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is one of daylight fasting, commemorating the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet. It’s also a month of myriad tastes and aroma, appealing to the eye as well. During this holy month of Ramzan, aroma of various dishes—some of them innovative and with curious names—waft over the Kozhikode beach, inviting the visitor to the grand cuisine joints on the beach front.
Festival of taste
Adam’s Tea stall near the corporation office and Foodies Club Ramzan Food Festival presents irresistible menu, which see 3,500-4,000 gourmets flocking these two places on weekends. A long queue forms in front of Adam’s by 4pm itself—much before the muezzin calls the faithful for the Maghrib.
After the long wait, many of them could be seen heading to the beach with their food packets. Foodies has set up a large stall, complete with dining tables. Still, most people prefer to eat on the beach. Both the joints conduct business well past midnight.
Beja fry
Any food should be appealing to the eye and olfactory functions. Many items included in the Iftar spread on the beach carry curious names, adding an extra flavor: chicken pottitherichathu, chicken maramchutti fry, Veerappan chicken fry, chicken adichapoli, swargakozhi, bejaraya brain fry and khalbum karalum fry are a few that Adam’s offer.
Foodies, meanwhile, has on its menu special items such as spring filled, chicken black, chicken T20, chicken 007 and puthiyapla chicken.
Affordable to all
Affordability is the USP of these food joints. Foodies sells egg masala for Rs 10, and goat’s head for Rs 550. Chief chef Moideen Haji says the popular ones are fried items, including quail and chicken. Malabar specials chattipathiri, and unnakaaya too have takers.
While chicken and mutton dishes are popular, beef doesn’t have many takers. Crabs—three varieties: fresh water, sea crabs and frozen ones from other states—too sell well. Dry fried prawns, soybean fry, squid fry and macaroni, too, are on the menu along with tapioca, chappati, various dosas and porotta. Still, chicken biriyani, priced at Rs 60, is a favourite among the visitors to the beach.
Megabyte tea
Adam’s sells kimothi kava and barami kava tea for Rs 20. Adivasi, mangalam tea cost just half of it. Tea is sold as one, two and three megabytes. Adam’s is candid that they don’t have the capacity for gigabyte tea!
Pickled ice with friends
At Foodies, dining is not complete without pickled ice or khalbaanu Fatima or rose milk. There is no better way to further bonding with friends on the beach over these items.
Food selfies
For the new generation, gorging on the food is not the in thing. They wait for all to be served, before clicking selfies with the spread. These selfies are soon uploaded and tagged to friends on social media.
