Padippura Toddy shop along the Pala-Ponkunnam Road in Kottayam district attracts food lovers from far and wide. A special dish offered by the shop is chicken curry prepared by grinding coconut, red chillies, coriander and cashew nuts along with fried coconut pieces. Instead of broiler chicken, domestic fowl is used. When onion, ginger, garlic, pepper and masalas are added, the attractive scent spreads all over the premises. The shop offers several other tasty items too.
Numerous family groups reach the toddy shop and for them tiny huts and tree houses are set up on the premises. Located at a scenic spot, several narrow streams flow near the toddy shop. Along with the tasty food, the scenery also draws families to Padippura toddy shop.
The items at the toddy shop are prepared using idi irachi (crushed meat). Starters include crushed dry beef prepared along with onion and lemon. Light food comprises palappam and karimeen (pearl spot) mappas which has a heavenly taste. The shop has on its menu karimeen pollichathu and pork chaps also.
A popular combination is tapioca and varaal (snakehead fish) curry. Head curry of vatta (yellow fin trevally), kada (quail) fry and duck curry are also ideal along with tapioca as well as chapathis.
Perhaps Kottayam is the place where the best beef dishes are available in the state and Padippura toddy shop also offers a sumptuous fare of the meat. Liberal amounts of fried coconut pieces and pepper are used to prepare the beef dishes here.
Along with tapioca, chapathi and palappam, rice is also served during lunchtime. A large number of people arrive at the toddy shop from nearby places also to enjoy the lunch.
Many patrons are bowled over by the dishes that they make repeat visits. The entrance of the toddy shop is right on the Pala-Ponkunnam Road and dining at the place will satiate the taste buds as well as the mind.
