Toddy shops were once taboo for the upper-strata of society, and were visited mainly by the common folk. Now, times have changed and Kuttanadu’s toddy shops are becoming the favourite place for families belonging to the upper strata of society.
Affluent families come here in scores to get a first hand experience of the delicious food served in an atmosphere that blends well with nature.
Toddy shops in Kuttanadu woo families of customers with a variety of tasty dishes that range from river fish to duck curry. All the toddy shops have set up a special zone or huts, eyeing families who desire privacy.
Along with the mouth-watering dishes, the customers are provided with ‘madhurakallu’ (sweet toddy) to quench their thirst. The people who are associated with these toddy shops cite a lot of reasons for the current trend, foremost among which is the freshness of the food they serve.
According to Manu, who is associated with a toddy shop at Valady, “Customers get to select the size of the ‘Varal’ fish which is to be fried and served to them. If we go to a conventional hotel, we will not get such fresh food”.
River fish are brought to toddy shops by boat on a daily basis and the quality is far superior to that of chemically treated fish which is commonly available. Another speciality is the presence of native cooks, who are well-versed with the traditional cuisine of Kerala, he adds.
“The new generation may not be interested in toddy. But they are definitely interested in the food we serve them”,says Rajan Kutty who manages a toddy shop at Kumaramkari.
According to Babuji who is the owner of a well known toddy shop at Kunnamkari, even NRI families are part of their customer list. His toddy shop is especially popular in flood season as it is situated in a platform on water.