Xavier chettan's quaint eatery in Ernakulam, sheltered with just some advertisement boards near the BSNL tower between Mathumoola and Palatra bypass on the MC Road, offers the one of the most delicious parotta beef combos in town.
Though it is a bit difficult to spot this eatery from the main road, one wouldn't easily forget the route once they have tasted the soft, flaky porotta and the delicious beef curry served, or rather packed, generously by Xavier chettan.
As you enter the gate, a small vegetable garden with yam plants grown in sacks welcomes you. Xavier chettan prepares his signature parotta and beef combo in the kitchen adjoining his house. The beef which is already half cooked is transferred into a vessel over the stove and is cooked to perfection. Balls of parotta dough are stored in the fridge which Xavier chettan takes out, rolls, waves in the air, and cooks as per order.
Within half an hour, the winning combination of parotta and beef curry is ready in Xavier chettan's kitchen. There is even a unique way in which he packs the food. A porotto is placed first and some curry is served on top of it. The layer is repeated until the entire order is packed.
"I only take orders for takeaways as there isn't space here for people to sit down and enjoy the food, after I gave away my land for constructing the road. This little space cannot accommodate lots of people. Besides, I alone am here to manage everything," explains Xavier chettan.