Hridayam Kallu Shaap Piravom

Hridayam Toddy Hub: A Memorable Family Kallu Shaap Experience by the River

There are some meals you remember for the food. There are others you remember for the place. And then there are those rare experiences where the food, setting, people and atmosphere come together so naturally that the meal becomes a memory in itself. This place was introduced to us last year, by our friend Mr. Saji when we went to his fabricating unit located close by. Incidentally he is the owner of Grand Fab Designers who had designed a beautiful kitchen for our home in Kakkanad.

For Kochiites who need a break, this beautiful place is located about 25 kms away, on a leisurely 45 minute drive along scenic, winding, undulating countryside roads. It is a very relaxing unhurried car ride away, with minimal traffic especially on Sundays and holidays the drive would be shorter. Our recent visit a couple of days back to Hridayam Toddy Hub at Nechoor Kadavu, Piravom, Kakkad was yet another memorable experience.

Tucked away in the lush countryside of central Kerala, Hridayam has the character of an old-fashioned kallu shaap, but with a distinctly contemporary, family-friendly personality. The setting immediately draws you in. Greenery surrounds the property, traditional Kerala architectural touches add warmth, and there is an unmistakable sense that this is a place designed to celebrate the food culture of the region rather than simply serve a meal.

The very idea of a family visiting a kallu shaap for brunch might once have sounded unusual. Traditionally, toddy shops belonged to a very particular Kerala food culture, where freshly prepared spicy dishes were enjoyed alongside toddy. But places such as Hridayam are helping that culinary tradition find a wider audience. And that is what makes the experience interesting.

We settled down for a leisurely brunch and decided to explore some of the Kerala specialities on the menu. There was no elaborate fine-dining choreography here. Instead, food arrived in generous portions, carrying the unmistakable visual and aromatic cues of home-style Kerala cooking.

Our meal began with Paal Kappa, a wonderfully comforting combination of tapioca and a creamy coconut-based preparation. It was soft, mildly spiced and beautifully soothing, exactly the kind of dish that reminds you why Kerala's simplest foods can sometimes be its most satisfying.

Then came Pidi, another traditional Kerala favourite. Small rice dumplings cooked in a rich, creamy coconut preparation, Pidi has an almost nostalgic quality. It is rustic, filling and deeply rooted in Kerala's culinary traditions. At Hridayam, it worked particularly well as part of a leisurely brunch rather than being treated merely as an accompaniment.

But then our meal soon moved into more robust territory.

The Chicken Varutharachathu brought the characteristic depth of Kerala's roasted-spice cooking. The masala had that wonderful dark, roasted character that comes from carefully cooked spices and coconut, while the chicken absorbed the flavours beautifully. This is precisely the kind of preparation that begs for something soft and starchy alongside it. And then there were the prawns.

The Prawns Fry arrived beautifully browned and generously garnished, with fried onions and curry leaves adding both crunch and aroma. There was something wonderfully celebratory about the dish. Crispy, spicy and full of flavour, it was easily one of those plates that disappears faster than anyone expects.

The Prawns Roast offered a completely different expression of the same ingredient. Richer, darker and coated in a concentrated masala, it delivered the sort of punchy Kerala flavour that seafood lovers look for. The prawns retained their character while the masala provided the depth.

What I particularly enjoyed was the rhythm of the meal. There was no hurry. A family brunch at a place like Hridayam is less about ticking dishes off a menu and more about sitting around a table, sharing plates, discussing which dish is better, ordering one more thing and allowing the afternoon to unfold. That is perhaps the greatest charm of a traditional kallu shaap experience.

Kerala's culinary identity was never built around delicate little portions and complicated presentations. It evolved around freshness, local produce, coconut, spices, seafood, meat and the simple pleasure of eating together. Hridayam seems to understand that equation.

The menu certainly gives diners plenty of choices. From Beef Peralan, Pork Fry and Duck Mappas to Karimeen, Crab Roast, Koonthal Roast and Kakka Irachi Fry, there is a strong emphasis on the regional repertoire. The signature section adds dishes such as Pork Kanthari, Prawns Kanthari, Chicken Ilayil Pollichathu and Aviyil Vevicha Beef Perattu.

That makes Hridayam particularly interesting for anyone wanting to move beyond the familiar Kerala restaurant staples and explore the more earthy, regional side of the cuisine. 

But ultimately, what stayed with us was not simply what we ate. It was also that friendly hospitality ably served by Jomon George that was meaningful precise and informed which enhanced our experience immeasurably. It was the feeling of being somewhere that still allows food to be an experience rather than an event. The greenery, the rustic surroundings, the traditional flavours and the relaxed pace created the perfect setting for a family meal. Thank you Team Hridayam, you have found a place in our hearts, and we will visit you again, next time with our friends who would want a great Toddy experience.

Hridayam Toddy Hub is in many ways, a little reminder of Kerala's old food culture, presented in a way that today's families can enjoy. Come hungry. Come unhurried. And come prepared to share. Because at a good kallu shaap, the table is rarely just a table. It becomes the centre of the afternoon a place for celebration of different meats and flavours.

Mobile No:

+91 99611602255 

Website:

Hridayam Toddy Hub https://hridayamtoddy.com/

Google Location:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/un7ok3viZzipFbpc6?g_st=aw

Kyra, Holiday Inn, Kochi

KYRA, Where Dinner Becomes a Theatrical Celebration

We are all generally used to dinners where we order and get served what we ordered, while our wait is interspersed with either polite conversations or our own screen time, with some accompanying music, and at most a live performance. 

But then Kyra gave us all an alternate unforgettable experience. When a dinner unexpectedly becomes a memory even while you are still sitting at the table, you know you are enjoying something very rare, different and novel. Our celebration of Nandini’s birthday on 2 September at KYRA, Holiday Inn Kochi, belonged to this category.

KYRA is not just another restaurant on Kochi’s dining map. It aims to turn dinner into theatre, ritual and a cultural journey. The concept draws from the Ottoman world and blends Greek, Persian and Turkish influences, bringing together food, craftsmanship and contemporary hospitality. The menu reflects that identity, moving across mezze, Anatolian dishes, Persian preparations and Mediterranean flavours. 

The décor sets the stage. Dramatic tones, pulsating live graphic walls, intricate décor detailing, and an atmosphere that feels transported creates the sense of entering another cultural universe. Then comes the vibrant music, while the bar also becomes a stage. The evening moves with a pulse, allowing conversation, cocktails, food and performance to become one wholesome experience.

And this is where KYRA separates itself from the restaurant formula. Dinner does not remain politely confined to the table. There is plate breaking, DJ music, dancing, cake cutting with a staff escort and a sense that everyone is invited into one big celebration. On Wednesdays, the Greek and Persian dancers add another layer, turning the room into a living cultural stage. KYRA’s own presentation promises live DJ performances, traditional Greek and Persian dance shows, a signature staff ritual dance and a Greek plate-breaking ceremony.

This Greek plate breaking is a festive tradition associated with celebrations, weddings and lively tavernas. Plates are smashed to express joy, abundance and emotional release. Once linked to ancient customs of symbolic sacrifice and warding off evil, the practice today is largely theatrical, accompanied by music, dancing, laughter and "Opa!". There was something wonderfully liberating and therapeutic about gripping a plate and smashing it against another. The sharp clatter, this wilful destruction is cathartic one feels a cleansing release of emotions, and the collective laughter with others, also awakens a childlike joy within.

We began our evening with some coctails. The Mediterranean Daiquiri, was an inventive white-rum creation infused with basil, saffron and banana, while the Saffron Whisper, was a luxurious blend of saffron dill syrup, pineapple, coconut milk and cream. Interestingly, the menu places Saffron Whisper under its non-alcoholic mocktails, a reminder that KYRA is as interested in flavour blends, as it is in infused spirits. 

The food followed like chapters in a traveller’s diary. Our selection of starters was Warak Enab, Hot Hummus and Apple & Goat Cheese Via Cairo, followed by the others that included Spiced Turkish Chicken Dumplings, Ottoman Chicken Skewers and Beef Tenderloin Stifado. These dishes were worthy ambassadors of their respective regions, served with elan and generosity. I shall now briefly describe, my personal experience of each one of these delicious creations, which titillated our taste buds with perfectly blended flavours, textures, and tastes.

Warak Enab (Dolma)

Delicate vine leaves wrapped around fragrant rice, herbs and spices, these little parcels carried earthy brightness, gentle perfume and comforting elegance, with a beautifully restrained yoghurt finish that lingered to perfection. 

Hot Hummus

Warm, creamy hummus arrived with freshly baked balloon bread, delivering silky chickpea richness, lemony lift and olive-oil depth, turning a familiar mezze into theatrical table comfort for sharing heartily. 

Apple & Goat Cheese Via Cairo

Red and green apples, lettuce, almonds, warm goat cheese and orange-basil dressing created a playful Cairo-inspired salad, balancing sweetness, creaminess, crunch and citrus freshness with grace and brightness all at once. 

Spiced Turkish Chicken Dumplings

Mini Turkish dumplings came bathed in garlic yogurt and chili butter, combining tender parcels, cool creaminess and a warming finish in an irresistibly composed, comforting plate for sharing with delight. 

Ottoman Chicken Skewers

Overnight-marinated chicken threaded onto skewers with mixed greens, delivering tenderness, restrained spice and smoky Mediterranean character, with each bite carrying the quiet confidence of well-seasoned simplicity beautifully with understated grace. 

Beef Tenderloin Stifado

Slow-braised beef tenderloin, cooked in a classic tagine pot and paired with saffron rice, offered deep savoury richness, tenderness and fragrant warmth with every luxurious mouthful at the table.

A thoughtful touch was that fabulous birthday cake arranged by Nikhil, the Manager whom we acquainted with few years ago at Masala. It made the evening feel personal. Sajna deserves appreciation for her gracious management through the evening, while Deepa served us with efficiency, attentiveness and professionalism.

What stayed with me most was the idea behind it all. Food, at its finest, is never merely sustenance. It becomes a metaphor for celebration: we gather, we taste, we laugh, we raise glasses, we break plates, we cut cake, and ordinary time loosens its grip. Experiential dining of this kind is still rare in Kochi. KYRA is a fresh and welcome introduction to the city’s dining scene, and Holiday Inn deserves credit for bringing something so distinctive to the table.

We were enraptured by the entrancing ambience and electric atmosphere we were in. Somewhere between the saffron, music, dancing and laughter, KYRA stopped being a restaurant we had visited and became an awe-inspiring place we had experienced. A huge thumbs up to the entire team, for their vision and execution, under the astute stewardship of their maverick leader Fino Babu. 

Some evenings do not merely pass; they settle softly into the heart, taking root as memories we carry like quiet lanterns through the days ahead. This birthday was one of those rare evenings - woven from laughter, music, delicious food, the gentle clatter of plates, and the tender warmth of being together. For a few precious hours, time seemed to loosen its hold, and the world grew still, reminding us that life’s truest treasures are often found in the simple joy of shared moments. Long after the candles had burned low and the evening faded into night, what remained was more than a celebration: it was a glowing memory, held close and destined to live within us for years to come.

We have become enthusiastic fans of Kyra, and going forward for the special occasions, we will be bringing our friends to experience this enchantment.

Timings :

11 AM to 1 AM

Kyra,

A Greco-Persian Restaurant

33/1739, Holiday Inn, A Junction, NH Bypass, Chakkaraparambu, Vennala,

Ernakulam

Tel : +91 81294 97454

District 7 Encore, Kadavanthra, Kochi

District 7 Encore: Where Food Becomes a Memory

There are restaurants we visit for a meal, and there are places that quietly become part of our lives. District 7 Encore in Jawahar Nagar, Kadavanthra, belongs to the second kind. We have been returning here for over four years, drawn by its ability to move effortlessly between Asian, Continental, seafood and inventive fusion cuisine. The District 7 journey began in 2014 as a food truck in Panampilly Nagar before growing into a café and eventually Encore. 

At the heart of that journey are Smisha, Shiv and Aneesh, whose entrepreneurial spirit is matched by an appetite for experimentation. They did not simply create another restaurant; they created a culinary playground where curiosity is encouraged. Their willingness to evolve and keep pushing flavours forward has given District 7 a personality of its own.

The Jawahar Nagar location adds to the charm. Set amid leafy, relatively tranquil surroundings, Encore feels removed from the city's bustle. The warm, stylish avant-garde interiors creates an intimate, cinematic atmosphere, while outdoor spaces bring in the cool evening air. It is hardly surprising that such a photogenic setting has also attracted many Malayalam film shoots. The restaurant is currently located at Ozone Avenue, Kadavanthra.

The menu is where District 7 truly finds its voice. Asian heat meets European technique, Indian chillies meet Italian pasta, and familiar ingredients return in unfamiliar combinations. This experimental spirit of fusion keeps the menu exciting and gives repeat diners something new to discover. 

Tonight's meal was a little festival of that philosophy. The Smoked Tri-Pepper Chicken arrived beautifully charred, its smoky crust meeting the sweetness of roasted bell-pepper and red-wine purée, while nut crumble added delicate crunch.

The Broccoli Cheese Soup was silky and comforting, with broccoli, cheddar, sour cream, coriander, cracked pepper and nut crumble creating layers of creaminess, freshness and texture.

The Kanthari Crème Pasta was the boldest conversation on the plate: tender chicken and my choice of penne pasta enveloped in creamy kanthari-chilli sauce, lifted by garlic, herbs and Parmesan. Fiery, silky and savoury, it was fusion with confidence.

Then came the magnificent Marry Me Chicken: sous-vide chicken thighs, buttered mushrooms and sundried tomato folded into a luxurious white-wine, bouillon and cream sauce, with pasta and chilli-garlic aioli adding another layer. Every element complemented the next. This has been a consistent favourite of my son Divakaran, he has been ordering this for the fourth time today.

The Guava Litchi Chiller brought a refreshing fruity pause, while the Fudge Royale Brownie closed the evening with dense chocolate indulgence.

Vaishnav deserves special mention for attentive, unobtrusive service, while Albin, the Manager, ensured everything moved with quiet efficiency. The aesthetic appeal of the food that gets presented for the diner has always been exceptional, together with their impeccable attention, a guest feels pampered, and always leaves feeling special.

District 7 Encore always gets the equation right: great food, thoughtful service and a memorable environment simply transforms a meal into an occasion. Food is a beautiful metaphor for living: flavours meet, an uncommon contrast, with an unexpected surprise, and that becomes a special memory. The best dining places do exactly that. They stay with you long after the last plate leaves the table. Thank you team District 7 for creating experiences we cherish every time we visit you.

East India Street Cafe, Panampilly Nagar, Kochi

A Sunday Lunch at East India Café

Some restaurants become part of your life almost without announcement. You visit once because it is convenient, return because you enjoyed yourself, and somewhere along the way, the place quietly acquires the status of a favourite. East India Café at Panampilly Nagar has become one of those places for us.

Our Sunday lunch today was another reminder of why.

We began with Potato Cheese Balls, crisp on the outside and wonderfully indulgent within, before moving to the Asian Sesame Chicken Salad. The salad brought a welcome freshness to the table, with shredded cabbage, lettuce, chicken strips, roasted nuts and that distinctive sesame dressing creating a pleasing interplay of crunch, savouriness and subtle sweetness.

Then came the mains, and the table suddenly looked like a small continental feast.

The Herbed Grilled Chicken was comforting in the best possible way, a well-grilled chicken breast accompanied by parsley mash, buttered vegetables and herb sauce. A succulent healthy, savory dish featuring tender, boneless, and skinless meat infused with aromatic herbs, garlic and citrus, then charred to juicy perfection on a grill. 

The Beef Stroganoff brought its familiar Russian-European character to the table, tender beef wrapped in a rich, creamy mushroom sauce. This is a classic comfort dish made with tender strips of beef, onions, and mushrooms cooked in a rich creamy sour cream and broth sauce. It is a simple yet delectable confluence of tastes in a pan that is served hot over Buttered Rice and Grilled Vegetables.

And then there was the Tuscan Chicken Pasta, creamy, hearty and deeply satisfying spaghhetti, with chicken, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and mushrooms coming together in a sauce that demanded to be enjoyed slowly.

But East India Café has always been about more than what arrives on the plate.

There is something wonderfully theatrical about the place. Its London-street-inspired setting, vintage touches, old-world décor, warm wood, quirky details and cosy seating give it a personality that feels distinct from the usual restaurant experience. The café was conceived around this nostalgic street-café idea, and its origins are tied to the hospitality world of Fragrant Nature, with the concept subsequently growing into the East India Café brand.

The Panampilly Nagar outlet, tucked away on 11th Cross Road, has that rare quality of making you feel that you have stepped slightly outside Kochi without actually leaving the neighbourhood. It is relaxed enough for a lazy Sunday lunch, yet distinctive enough to make an ordinary meal feel like an occasion. The restaurant's emphasis on quality ingredients and its broad European, Continental and Italian-influenced menu have helped give it a character of its own.

And then there is Subash.

Over the years, Subash has become almost synonymous with our visits to East India Café. For more than five years, whenever we have walked through those doors, his attentive, courteous and genuinely warm service has been a reassuring constant. Good restaurants serve food; great ones build relationships. People like Subash are an important part of that invisible thread that keeps bringing guests back.

That, perhaps, is the real secret of a favourite restaurant.

It isn't always about having the most spectacular dish in town or chasing the newest place on the culinary map. Sometimes it is the beautiful combination of convenience, proximity, ambience, attentive service and consistently good food. Familiarity adds its own seasoning, memories accumulate around the table, and a restaurant slowly becomes part of the geography of your life.

We are fortunate that East India Café happens to be so close to home.

And on a Sunday afternoon, with good food on the table, a comfortable ambience around us and Subash there to make the experience that little bit warmer, it feels less like going out to eat and more like visiting an old favourite. Thank you East India Café 🙏