A NOTE ON KERALA CUISINE

Kerala has a distinctive cuisine, very unusual and different from the rest of India. Cooking in Kerala is all about discoveries, aromas and colours. Kerala cuisine is aromatic and spiced tastefully, offers several gastronomic opportunities to those willing to experiment with the local cuisine. One enriched with exotic tropical fruits, vegetables, cereals, and herbs, garnished with the unmistakable aroma of pepper, cardamom chillies and cloves. A holistic and natural cuisine that follows the tenets of Ayurveda, mildly flavoured, gently cooked and with a certain genteel delicacy on the stomach. In short, it's a cuisine that's truly in harmony with the divine!

ABOUT COOKING HOLIDAY

Learn to create a wide range of dishes from one of the intriguing cuisines of the world, in a relaxing environment where you will meet others who share your passion for food and for life. During this tour, you will be introduced to different preparations of rice, vegetable dishes, the use of coconut in food and the preparation of a Keralan festive lunch or dinner. All of the recipes of the food prepared during the classes will be provided alongside, will also help you to make detailed flow charts outlining the cooking processes. Our Keralan Cooking tour is not just about being in the kitchen. You will also explore the spirit of the region and its people, with a range of captivating excursions that will be inspiring and relaxing. This is an exclusive tour that will give you hands-on experience and a pleasant holiday.

DAY 01 – ARRIVAL TRANSFER TO COCHIN
Welcomed by our representative at the airport and you will be transfer to your hotel. A port town since early centuries, Cochin, also known as the spice coast of India, attracted traders and invaders from the world over. Needless to say, Cochin offers you some fascinating snippets of history and culture.

Spend half day at home of Nimmy & Paul. Nimmy, a professional cookery instructor for more than 20 years and her stockbroker husband Paul offers food and hospitality to foreign guests. Nimmy and Paul belong to traditional Syrian Christian community in Kerala. In keeping with the tradition of their families they enjoy having guests and serving good food. There will be one cookery session in afternoon with a traditional vegetarian meal. It offers on opportunity to participate and learn the typical Travancore Vegetarian Food. Overnight at the Hotel
(Vehicle with driver at disposal)

DAY 02 – COCHIN – KOTHAMANGALAM
Drive to Kothamangalam, a beautiful and tranquil tropical Eden garden surrounded by misty mountains. All through the border flow the Periyar with its Medicinal currents. The enchanting beauty of the lush green vegetation along with the palm-fringed areas of land and emerald green paddy fields will literally conquer your heart the moment you reach here. Afternoon participate in cookery demonstrations involving authentic Kerala cuisine. The one and only service of this kind in an around – that could conquer the hearts of all with its lip smacking experience. To add splendor to the plates Daisy impart the  basics and methods of preparing the cuisine to the guests  through live demonstration by veteran specialist in Kerala style Christian dishes, the hostess Mrs. Daisy Jose herself. The style of cooking she has inherited from her parents who hailed from an aristocratic Christian family adds to the thrilling taste of the items. Overnight at the Homestead
(Vehicle with driver at disposal)

DAY 03 – KOTHAMANGALAM – PERIYAR
Drive to Periyar an area known for its undulating hills, spice plantations, and elephant sightings. One of the 27 tiger reserves in India, the Periyar valley in Thekkady is the oldest. You could go on a spice plantation tour today where you will be enticed by not only the aroma of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, pepper and nutmeg but will also get to know how they are grown, harvested and processed before they reach the supermarkets. Visiting Cardamom hills and pepper area, which produces huge cardamom, pepper and coffee.

In the evening you can experience a common cookery demonstration. You get to see for yourself how the dishes are so carefully made. You can also try your hand with the earthenware pots and pans and make your own variation of the Kerala savouries. The Kerala appam, avial, etc. have a very exotic flavour. The method of preparation is so different that it makes Kerala cuisine very distinct and liked by all. Overnight at the Hotel
(Vehicle with driver at disposal)

DAY 04 – PERIYAR – ALLEPPEY
Drive to Alleppey, on arrival embarks on your private houseboat and cruise on the Backwaters, a splendid area full of canals, lakes and coves. Your houseboats or ‘Kettuvalloms’ are luxurious boats with well-appointed bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms. The locals’ travel in canoes and you will find vegetable sellers, fishermen and other traders bringing household goods, door to door in small wooden boats. As you cruise along the backwaters you can ask your captain to stop at villages, paddy fields and other places, enroute. Overnight on board.
(Vehicle with driver at disposal)

DAY 05 – ALLEPPEY – MARARI  (25 Km/ ½ h)
Drive to the picturesque fishermen’s village of Mararikulam and check into your resort. Tucked away inside quiet and lush coconut groves the resorts set by the pristine white sand beaches of the Marari offer you unparalleled quite in astoundingly beautiful settings. Overnight at the Resort
(Vehicle with driver for transfer)

DAY 06 – MARARI
Visit the Organic farm at Marari. Most of the greens, fruits and vegetables for the restaurants come from this organic garden, across the lane. Practice water harvesting and Marari Beach is a chemical-free zone where only natural oils and local remedies are used for pest control. Vermiculture and composting keep the soil fertile, both in the organic farm and on the grounds. In fact, you can not only see these activities at work, you can even participate! Help pick some seasonal fruit or even plant a tree or two. Overnight at theResort
(No Vehicle)

DAY 07 – DEPARTURE TRANSFER TO COCHIN AIRPORT (95 km / 2 ½ h)
Today you will be transfer to Cochin airport for onward flight.
(Vehicle with driver for transfer)

TOUR ACCOMMODATION INFO:

PLACE	NO. OF. NIGHTS	HOTELS
COCHIN	01	BRUNTON BOATARD
KOTHAMANGALAM	01	MUNDACKAL ESTATE BUNGALOW
PERIYAR	01	SPICE VILLAGE
HOUSEBOAT	01	MUTHOOT RIVER ESCAPES
MARARI	02	MARARI BEACH RESORT

TOUR PRICE – UKP Per Person

PRICE IN  UKP / TWIN SHARING BASIS PER PERSON
ROOMS CATEGORY	01 OCT 10 TO 19 DEC 10 & 16 TO 30 JAN 11 & 01 TO 31 MAR 11	01 MAY 11 TO 30 SEP 11
TWIN SHARING	UKP 710	UKP 495
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT	UKP 555	UKP 325

 

INCLUSION:

• Accommodation in a double sharing room at listed hotels or equivalent
• Daily breakfast at all the hotels
• All meals at Mundackal Estate Bungalow
• Transfers/transportation by AC car as per itinerary
• 01 night on AC Houseboat on full-board basis (cruise: Alleppey round trip
• All Cookery demonstration as per the itinerary
• Spice Plantation tour in Periyar
• All applicable taxes

EXCLUSION:

• Lunch and dinner except those listed in above inclusions
• Compulsory Christmas and new year eve’s supplement
• Guide charges & camera charges, if any
• Expenses of personal nature such as laundry, telephones, etc
• International / inland flight charges
• All other than those listed in above inclusions

TOUR CANCELLATION POLICY:

• Before 30 Days before the first day of the tour - 100%
• 29-15 Days before the first day of the tour - 40%
• 14-7 Days before the first day of the tour 55%
• Less than 7 Days before the firs