Have you heard about the uniquely named Ezhuthani cake which is a speciality at Kundara, Kollam? Finance Minister Thomas Isaac has turned a big fan of this delicious cake made with simple ingredients. He even paid tribute to this iconic cake through an extensive post on his Facebook page.
Explaining the recipe of the Ezhuthani cake, the minister wrote, "There are no ingredients other than the all-purpose flour, eggs, and sugar in it. These three are mixed into a batter without adding even a drop of water. The batter is shaped into small cakes in moulds and then cooked in coconut oil.
This wouldn't become stale for weeks as water is not added. Around 5000 cakes are sold on a daily basis. Tea and the cake is the best combination. It is a common sight when people, travelling in cars, stop by to pack 10-20 cakes. Those who travel to the Gulf usually carry a big packet of Ezhuthani cakes with them."
The eatery, run by Abdul Raheem, was opened by his father. He had served in the army during the World War II. The eatery, opened in 1948 after Raheem's father returned from the army, functioned in a two shop space. The cake is being sold here since then. Besides the Ezhuthani cake, many other snacks were served during that time. However, now, the cake is the only snack available. Delicious mutton curry is served with porottha, idiyappam, appam, and dosa. A quantal of all-purpose flour is required every day to prepare the cakes and other dishes. The mutton curry would be cooked according to the amount of the all purpose flour that is used.
Now the eatery has been expanded to a six shop space. However, Abdul Raheem would only open the two doors like in the old days when his father used to run the eatery. There is not even a name board outside the shop. But foodies keep thronging this place to try out the famous Ezhuthani cake. Rows of cars could be seen parked in front of the eatery all the time. Now, a few additional halls too are arranged inside to make room for all the customers.
The porottha, mutton curry and other dishes that are cooked would be finished on the same day itself. As there won't be any leftovers there isn't a fridge or cold storage in the eatery. Minister Thomas Isaac stopped by the eatery to try out the Ezhuthani cake, while on his way to a convention in Kundara. Abdul Raheem too had reached to welcome the minister. He told that all the prominent political leaders were regulars at his eatery. It was Abdul Raheem himself who revealed the 'secret' recipe of the cake to Thomas Isaac. Not just the Ezhuthani cake, people would even pack their delicious mutton curry to the Gulf. When the minister asked him why he wasn't adding a modern look to the eatery which is more than seventy years old, Abdul Raheem said that tidiness, delicious food, and tradition were their signature and people rush in just to taste their food.