When you are traveling through Kerala, you may be surprised at how each native dish undergoes a subtle variation within just a couple of kilometers. Kottayam has, for a long long time taken pride in its typical cuisine. Your trip to this place is incomplete if you do not try out these dishes.
Breakfast
While traveling, there are two mantras that I go by. One, the breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Two, while traveling, a good breakfast peps me up and keeps me on my toes—ready to explore the new places, ready to take on the challenges. And while in Kottayam, I would suggest you give the regular south Indian breakfast fare like dosa and idli a break. Start your day with 'appam and a smashing duck curry or zesty egg roast.’ For the veggie in you, team up the appam with a delectable vegetable kurma or luscious potato stew. Washing it all down with piping hot tea or coffee that, in my books, would make for an awesome start to the day.
The best places to have it: Karimpumkala Restaurant(Read our review), Menani Restaurant, Kumarakom.
Lunch
Settle for a thali spread if you are hungry. You can pick from a variety of dishes – but the must try here are the fish and meat dishes. We have a list of places for you to find that perfect plate of rice and seafood. Do stop by for the buffet lunch at Deja Vu restaurant at Hotel Arcadia, The Maha thali from Mahabelly will make your tummy happy. You can also try Thali Restaurant, Anand Restaurant, Kana Restaurant, Suryas for lunch.
Click here for the best thali restaurants in Kottayam
Beef is a staple diet, and an average Malayali enjoys it for lunch. Here's a list of five restaurants that serve beef in Kottayam
4 pm is time for 'chaya' and 'kadi'
'Kadi,' in Malayalam, in this context means a snack and 'chaya' is chai or tea. There are some authentic bites that you will not really find anywhere else. To Mamichedathi, goes the credit of inventing the churuttu - a snack made of rice, lemon juice and jaggery. Hail an auto – everybody knows Mamichedathi’s shop in Kottayam. A visit is mandatory, for churuttu is not the only savory made here. She has in store the famed achappams, kozhalappams and tea cakes as well.
Dinner
We've kept the best for last. Head out to one of those toddy shops in Kumarkom. We prefer Kumarakom Toddy Shop over Tharavad, but, that is strictly is my view. Watch the sun go down while sipping fresh toddy. And dig into the karimeen pollichathu. A dish which is rather unique to this part of Kerala. karimeen pollichathu is pearl spot fish marinated in spices, wrapped in plantain leaves and steamed until cooked to perfection. Team it up with kappa or rotis and you can turn in satiated.
