Keralas Ways

It must be so boring living in Indian, just eating curry all the time. I mean there are different kinds of curry – some with coconut milk, some with spinach, and different meats; but at the end of the day it’s all just curry. And samosas, they’re good too – curry inside pastry and fried, and really I cannot get enough naan (to mop up the curry). Otherwise though Indian food is all the same.

Yeah, nah…

Growing up in a small country town in the eighties and early nineties I was similarly across Chinese food. Spring rolls were the best way of eating vegetables; marinated in MSG, wrapped in pastry and deep fried. Fried rice was the bomb with its plasticky shrimp and cubes of bacon. Not to mention the pinnacle of Chinese cuisine – Lemon chicken – deep fried chicken breast coated in a sticky lemon sauce.

I’m pleased to say that today we have embraced the cuisines of China and South-east Asia, and most people can describe and appreciate the differences in the styles of cooking from different areas. That sticky lemon chicken still exists on menus throughout the country but so do dumplings (one of the best things ever created if you ask me ), traditional soups, and a vast array of foods that haven’t been particularly ‘westernised’. As a general rule though, we aren’t there yet with food from India – we are still inclined to think that India is just about curry.

That is why I am so excited about Keralas Ways.

On a frosty night last week I followed the buzz of lights and  excitement down a laneway in Fitzroy to have a sneak peek of the Keralas Ways dinner series at the media launch.

Mischa Tropp has been experimenting with food from Southern India for some time with his pop-up restaurant Kerala. About a year ago, he got his friend Laura Neville involved, a celebrated chef who didn’t think she liked Indian food. Laura’s mind was changed after tasting food inspired by Kerala in Southern India, the area Mischa’s mother is from. What has evolved is a fine dining menu with a definite nod to the food from Kerala but with a vibrant and creative twist. We tried a small section of the dishes from the degustation and saw the love that is going into this wonderful project. 

The next step is for them to go there. Bernard Winter has jumped on board to film Mischa and Laura on their journey and exploration of Indian food. As it turns out there is a whole lot more to it than tikka masala* 😉   In the documentary, Mischa and Laura will be meeting the people of Kerala and learning about the way they farm and prepare food, immersing themselves in the culture of this exquisite part of the world.

If you can’t wait until the documentary is produced, you have the chance to learn more about, and try this gorgeous fresh and playful food at the Keralas Ways Seafood and Coconut 8 course degustation. The pop-up will be held at the the chameleonic event space, The Baron Said in Fitzroy for 4 nights only.  All proceeds from the dinners will help fund the documentary and there will also be an opportunity to donate via Kickstarter in the coming weeks.

Who knows, in a few years time we might be choosing between Telugu, Kerala or Maharashtrian food instead of just a generic idea of Indian. I do hope so.

Here’s the stuff you need to know:

Keralas Ways

A Seafood & Coconut Degustation – 8 courses of progressive South Indian for $85 per person

Cash beer and wine list available on the night. (Do try the excellent Pilsner from Hawkers Beer)

All funds raised will be used to get Keralas Ways to India.

Running over 4 nights, 11-14th of September. There will be strictly limited tickets available so get in quick.

Start  6.30pm for approximately 10pm finish.

You can buy tickets here.

*Extra points for you if you got my QI reference

Disclosure: I attended the Media preview of Keralas Ways as a guest. All ideas and opinions remain my own.