Theenmura returns to KCK Chennai, loaded with duck mappas, Kerala plum cake and nostalgia

Chef Regi Mathew was 9 erstwhile helium was archetypal introduced to theenmura astatine a wedding successful Pala, Kottayam. He specifically remembers the barroom and vino that was served. “But my parent took distant the wine,” helium laughs. Decades later, past year, the cook introduced this celebratory Christian feast from Kerala astatine his edifice Kappa Chakka Kandhari. Given its success, theenmura is backmost for its 2nd stint.

We brave the rains and flooded roads to tuck into a six-course paper featuring astir 18 dishes. We are not the lone ones.

The repast begins with a portion of barroom and homemade non-alcoholic vino — the festive operation that heralds the opening of the Christmas season. The barroom — neatly wrapped successful food insubstantial — is from an aged bakery successful Pala. This is followed by a chickenhearted cutlet, crisp, with delicate flavours of ginger and curry leaf. The fluffy accepted wood-oven baked borma breadstuff (sourced from Thrissur), with chickenhearted roast is an instant favourite. The sweetness of the breadstuff offsets the vigor from the capsicum successful the chicken. This is besides 1 of Regi’s favourites. “During my graduation days successful Pala, the hostel would service this each Sunday,” helium says.

The repast features grilled king prawns, which whitethorn not beryllium a fixture successful accepted menus. “It differs from portion to region. For example, radical from Thrissur besides see pork,” Regi explains. The avalanche of nutrient continues with duck mappas, mutton stew, pulissery, thoran, appam, shards of poppadom that look similar confetti, and beef fry. The meen vattichathu, a look that Regi borrowed from his parent is simply a comfortingly spicy, tangy food curry that is cooked and stored successful an earthen cookware overnight allowing flavours to seep in.

We determination connected to a trio of dessert and get acquainted with churuttu, achromatic halwa, and the prime of the lot: paniyum pazhavum — an unpretentious but fulfilling operation of humble banana topped with grated coconut soaked successful paani (syrup made of thenar sap).

Theenmura was a signifier that was fading away, says Regi. But helium is pleased to announcement its revival. “I had guests successful Chatti (his edifice successful New York), who said that they prepared theenmura by pursuing my reel,” helium smiles.

Reacquaint yourself with the elaborate accepted repast earlier Regi takes it to New York to present America to the pleasance of reddish food curry, appams and stew for Christmas.

Theenmura is connected astatine Kappa Chakka Kandhari successful Chennai (10, Haddows Road, Nungambakkam) and Bengaluru till December 14. Priced astatine ₹1,690 positive taxes. For reservations, telephone 9858591010.