Sea, sand, surf and Baby’s oyster fry

If the five-star and seven-star are ambiances to die for, here’s something to live for… a home by the sea.

Allow the wind to blow in your face, enjoy the sun, the sea and the surf as you dig into Baby’s very homely meals. Now if you’re wondering who in the world Baby is, head straight to KRB Homely Foods on North Beach Road in Cherai. The ambience unfolding before your eyes is breathtaking. There’s the whole wide expanse of the Arabian Sea to the left and a humble eatery to the right where the “Baby” of K.R.B matters.

If you’re left puzzled for answers, here’s a fact file for you. KRB Homely Foods is a home and an eatery too. It’s K.R.Baby’s home. It was just a humble abode quite some time ago. Later a big boat (kettuvallom) popped up where people could sit around at four to five tables and heartily eat the delicious dishes Baby would come up with. Then Baby came up with the name “kaliyodam” for his joint. All these are reasons good enough to lure you to KRB.

Fresh from the sea and Backwaters. That’s Baby’s raw material. Koonthal (squid), kakka (shell fish), crab and several fish varieties are treated to Baby’s special touch and served. There are fish dishes aplenty to go with appam, chappathi and pathiri and chicken for those averse to fish.

However, KRB’s specialty is its “muringa irachi” or oyster meat. It’s truly special in that you don’t get it every day. But KRB is one of the very few places in Ernakulam district where the dish is prepared and served.

Baby has his special muringa irachi recipe wherein pepper rules the roost. Though it’s dry, it’s a swell combination with appam and pathiri.

Now comes a word of caution. If you are a stickler for cleanliness and sanitized food, the oyster dish is certainly not yours to taste. At times, you are likely to feel the hint of fine sand with the oysters. This does not mean you get a mouthful of sand. But for those who crib and come up with “chee-chee”, muringa irachi would be on your apartheid food list.

There’s more on KRB’s lip smacking menu. Its Pearl Spot (karimeen), crab and mussels are iconic. Baby is basically a complete angler, which explains why he buys only fresh fish. He does not have to touch a fish to feel if it’s fresh. Just a gaze is enough. It’s therefore no small wonder that KRB has been riding high on a spotless reputation for the past 12 years.

Head to KRB for a gourmet meal. It will not disappoint. What better combination than sea breeze and sea food? Kaliyodam can seat 65 at a time. If it’s sunny, you can sit outside and dine. The mood is best when it drizzles.

How to make muringa irachi?

Clean the oysters and cook them with salt

Sauté big onions and masalas in coconut oil

Use more of pepper powder

When onions are almost brown, add oysters and keep on stirring till the water dries up. Stir again till they get fried.