Mezban - a fine example of Kozhikode's hospitality

Kozhikode is all about food and hospitality. Though the city has transformed itself beyond recognition, there are still remnants of good old times spent and the food served with a lot of love.

If one were to draw pictures of a Kozhikode that throbbed with life three decades ago, there would surely be a landmark structure on Mavoor Road called Asma Tower.

It was this tourist home set up by Malappuram-based builder Varikodan Abu Haji that later became Asma Tower. It started off with a vegetarian restaurant. Soon enough, it turned into a multi-cuisine set up, serving Chinese dishes due to the ever increasing demand for them.

Things underwent a sea change in the late 90s when Abu Haji’s elder son Hashim took over as head of the Varikodan Group and his younger son V K Muhammad took charge of Asma Tower.

The takeover completed, Asma Tower renamed its restaurant to Mezban, the plush place that it is today. Mezban means host in Persian. Ever since, Mezban Restaurant has lived up to its name. Apart from playing the perfect host, the joint has been serving the choicest food to the rich accompaniment of a great deal of goodwill and love.

Mezban, a confluence of flavors

Mezban is one of Kozhikode’s 'Fine Dine' food joints serving South Indian, North Indian, Arabic, Chinese and East Asian cuisine, and of course the signature Malabari!

Mezban’s name will surely be etched in Kozhikode’s culinary history with its experiment in initiating and organizing food festivals. Business never takes a pause here, for it’s a steady and at times hectic flow of foodies waiting to dig into the pure Kozhikodan Biryani that’s served here. Traditional fish, chicken, mutton and beef are Mezban’s special items.

Mezban’s flavors come from its traditional kitchens where the best of food gets cooked in a mix of kanthari chillies, curry leaves, shallots, mango ginger and freshly ground turmeric. Fish curry rice, veg curry rice and matka biryani are other specials.

The place also boasts of a peaceful ambiance with its all-white interiors and furniture adding to the aesthetics.

Food fests

The food fests that Mezban holds are a hit among the foodies in the region. The lastest one was the high-on-taste Kumarakom to Kuttanad combo food fest. The chefs at Mezban whipped up an array of Syrian Christian Recipes from the central Kerala. The specialty of the fest was the deadly combos it served: Idi irachi (fried beef) with idi chakka (tender jackfruit), pothirachi-(beef) koorka (Chinese potato) stir fry. The menu also included the signature dishes of Kottyam - varieties of duck mappas, Kuttanadan duck roast, dishes with prawns, pearl spot, chemmeen kizhi, karimeen pollichathu, karimeen-koorkka vattichathu, karimeen mappas, clam theeyal, clam roast, prawn-shallots roast, pepper mutton roast, Suriyani mutton stew, Kanambu-Kalpakavadi moley, palappam, kallappam, kappa-fish curry, colacasia-beef.

The fest was steered by Sreenath, concept chef of Mezban Restaurant.

Breakfast buffet

Mezban’s breakfast buffet is a rich spread of North Indian, South Indian and Continental cuisine. Sunday’s breakfast buffet just rocks. There’s everything from veg to non-veg here on that day to liven up the culinary spirits. Mezban sees to it that Sundays are truly 'hot'. The best of South India is served here right from the Malayali favourites of Idli-vada-chutney-sambar, puttu and kadala, idiappam and mutton stew, upma and porotta and fish curry.

There’s North India on a platter here with chana-batura, puri-bajji, paneer-paratha and aloo-paratha leading the list.

Move on to the Continental and you’re accosted by a delicious spread of sausages, different varieties of bread, specially ordered egg delicacies, flakes, fresh fruit juices and paratha dishes. These can be topped up with fresh fruits, juices, fruit cuts, fruit shakes and of course, tea and coffee.

Iftar specials

Mezban is also known for their Iftar menu. During the holy month of Ramadan/Ramzan, the restaurant comes up with several specials: fresh juice, fruit cuts, veg and non-vegitarian snacks, unnakkaya, chattipathiri, irachipathiri, kozhipathiri, samosa and very traditional Malabari dishes.

The hotel also arranges door-delivery of Iftar kits.

For details contact: 0495 4041222, 8594088000.