Vasco Da Gama , when he landed in Kappad Beach , north of Calicut in 1498, changed the course of history as well as food of Indian subcontinent forever. Even before that the Malabar coast was a hot bed of trade with the Chinese, Arabs Egyptians & Malays . So it should be no surprise the Malabar cuisine is so rich and it is imperative that I start with coastal food odyssey with the capital of Zamorins - Kozhikode. The mini marathon was as follows. 1)Koonthal ( Squid)Biriyani & Kada Porichathu ( Fried Quail)at Rahmath - While Beef Biriyani is the crowd favorite, I fancy the seafood ones more interesting. The delicately spiced Kaima rice & the melt in mouth squids are a nice jugalbandi with the trio of Raita, lime Pickle and coconut chutney. 2)Meen Pathiri ( Fish Pathiri) at Zains- Steamed Rice Bread stuffed with fried Pomfret flesh 3)Gazillion Aluvas ( Halwa) at Mittayi Theruvu ( Sweet Meat Street)- Halwas I'm every flavor from tender coconut to pineapple to even pomegranate and grapes 4) Ice Orathi at Beach - Calicut's version of Ais Kacang with pickles, Beets, peanuts, roasted bengal gram and tooty frooty 5) Ari Kadukka ( Stuffed Mussels ) & Spiced Quail eggs at the Beach 6) Kalanthan Fruit Shop's Sharjah Shake ,supposedly the inventor of the malt based banana and peanut milkshake 7) Chicken Pav at Zains Not how remarkably different the food is from that of Kochi or Mangaluru . A melting pot of cultures which has resulted in the wondrous cuisine of Malabar. No it is not molee or Mappas or Parantha! #foodloose #kozhikode #foodwalk #foodporn #foodgasm #malabar #calicut #biriyani #arikadukka #meen #pathiri #ice #orathi #kadukka #mussels #koonthal #squid #sharjahshake #kalanthan #mittayitheruvu (at Calicut, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ-TqFsl9yV/?igshid=vsl0h6yzkvwr