Kalavara-The Family Restaurant @Thiruvananthapuram

 So the clock's ticking for Cinderella (C'est moi!) to return. It had been a nice and longer stay this time round. Got invited to family meals and reciprocated as well! Duties done diligently! The clock's almost reminding me that it's time to shut shop and head home where my heart is.

So once again it was sibling time...and a pending one! I had a couple of last minute errands to run-to replenish my stock of beads for my jewellery. Usually I am on my own which I enjoy the most as I always feel guilty when I tag someone along with me. I do take a lot of time filtering through the stock and new arrivals/ new bling in town and get panic attacks if I have to keep somebody waiting for me.

I have my shady joints (read bead shops) that I haunt on my own. It is one of my Me Times!!! Well this time round I dragged my sibling along and we did spent one of those very rare girlie times together. But before we did that, we had to satisfy our hunger...not because we were really hungry...Oh well! just because our cell phones reminded us it was Lunch Time!!! Funny that we both didn't have our watches on...Oh I gave up on my watch years ago...just because the last watch which my brother presented me died several deaths, gave it several times for repair but in vain and gradually donning a watch became a forgotten tale!!! Must get one and resume that habit!

 I thought she and I could just spend time lunching and chatting in an ambiance meant for such things.
She knows my taste in food and cited various places but finally we didn't want to drive around too far in this heat and chose a place within our radius.

Kalavara, is not new to me! Infact the Kalavara I know which was earlier located elsewhere deeper within the hustle and bustle of the city back in the 80s was one of my favourites. I must have had the best burgers and fries there and I learnt what a chopsuey was all about over here. American chopsuey!

It was a meeting point of many of us friends and do keep in mind that we lived in a time when there were no cell phones and technology wasn't this developed. We were deprived of so much back then but we were always on time and it was very rare that miscommunication would happen or a date didn't turn up!
On a funnier note, I did suggest this place to the husband as well during one of our dates and he still teases me about it! Did we kiss there...perhaps!!! I couldn't remember now with age why it was so funny for him to tease me as such!

So returning to a newer version of the same place (I am assuming) was refreshing! I do not know if it is ideally located...but it is located in one of the poshest venues of Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala, a South Indian state. In my eyes, it is a place tucked away in a boutique area in Jawahar Nagar- Kowdiar, a little away from the main road yet very close to the main road.

So that's where my sis took me. I just wanted to do lunch hence didn't do much research on the menu card. Both of us ordered a veg meal each with our preferences for sides. This is what both of us got along with our Kerala red rice and Papad-a meal amounted to Rs.90/- whether it was worth the amount in comparison to places I have eaten...No! Such meals can go in for Rs.60 to Rs75 max!!! But definitely not Rs. 90/- It was not even served warm! I mean these sides!

But then again, I think the venue demands this price!!! It is such a posh area with a Tennis Club right across, A Fab India outlet and the works! I know there are a couple of offices in and around because while we were seated, many office goers did stream in ; it was also a meeting point of many elderly folks. And the entry door always swung in and out! So that itself is a superb sign that they are doing well!

Taste wise Yes, it had the true spirit of home and were authentic in flavour and appearance. I did ask for a refill of the avial and Kovakkai/Ivy gourd fry. They were just too Yumm!!!

I live just around the corner and I never knew about this joint. I remember visiting a friend who works close by on another occasion a couple of years ago and we were hunting high and low for a place to have such a meal for lunch as the husband always prefers having such meals during lunch but my friend never cited this...so friend if ever you do read this buddy, this is just a hop, skip and a jump away from where you work. I know you go home for lunch! We should do an encore with you here one of these days or the next time I visit.

 So that's the variety one gets for a veg meal. Remember many other dishes are also available on the menu. I do have the pamphlet here somewhere and will update this post after finding where I have misplaced the paper.
Starting with the white buttermilk going clockwise there's rasam, dal/lentil curry, sambhar, kovakkai fry, avial and Katta chamandhi. In the centre is the dessert which is semiya payasam!

 That's my masala omelette that I ordered to go along with my veg meal and my sister ordered her netholi/anchovy fry. She says elsewhere the quantity is more. I do not want to argue or make a point on that as I am allergic to fish and am in no position to judge that! My omelette was around Rs. 40/- and her netholi was Rs. 90/-

 Even though I am allergic to fish, I do like the look of this fish whenever it is presented. It is also something that my husband enjoys but as I do not or can't prepare them owing to my allergies, he has them with his mom or with other family members who know his tastes and my allergies towards cooking fish. I also love seeing the Peera version of this.

My mother used to prepare them for the family in the traditional style in clay vessels/manchatties. One could see the kodumPuli (Kokum) that would punctuate the green netholi peera!!!

Do enjoy this Malayalam song from the movie "Natholi Oru Cheriya Meen Alla" which literally means An Anchovy is not a small fish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwgRCmi8RJE

As it was hot, both of us had a lime juice each which was around rs. 20/-
Our bill for the two of us was close to 350 plus. There is Karingalli vellam served at the table. It is a herbal drink, almost pinkish in colour which is served hot in many hotels in Kerala. There are many homes as well which make this decoction to quench the thirst. Do google for other details!

The service was not up to par, all the servers looked devastated and lost! Even the cashier found it difficult to smile. Maybe it is the summer heat that got to them or the pressure of work or the lunch time rush? But I literally felt like drawing smileys and turning most of their downward frowns to upward curvy happy, smiley faces!
Some guy who seemed like the owner or the main guy was able to bring about a bit of a "butt on fire" attitude with the service...but overall the service seemed quite pathetic! I guess if he is not around, the service would be more pathetic!!! I am positive if my memory serves  right, this wasn't the case back in the eighties!!!

My sister did tell me that she had brought my late father here on several occasions! I could just picture my father enjoying a meal!!!