From The Hearth

FROM THE HEARTH Lathika George, acclaimed author of The Suriani Kitchen, takes a walk down memory lane and has advice for young brides, in this exclusive interview

- Rheanna Mathews

One never fully realises the heritage imbued in the food we eat - the history behind every spoonful. Kerala, historically known for its port cities and its confluence of cultures, is a veritable melting pot.

The Syrian Christians are a large portion of this mélange of peoples and cultures. And like all else here, where everything is inspired by other influences, over the centuries these Suriani Christians too developed a cuisine unique to themselves, but replete with hints of the culture, history and the peoples with whom they evolved.

Several years ago, Lathika George put down in writing the delicious recipes of her community, along with reminiscences of her childhood and the stories that invariably accompany any dialogue about food. The Suriani Kitchen, published in 2009 by Westland, garnered widespread acclaim. Lathika is now working on her second book.

The Suriani Kitchen has received widespread praise. Home cooks swear by it, restaurateurs laud it, and publishers clamour for more. Did this response take you by surprise, or was it expected?

Yes, I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful response; I never expected a book about the cuisine and culture of a little known community to be so well received. When I was writing, I wasn't sure who my readers would be, so that was another surprise – it was appreciated by professional chefs and eager young home cooks to food bloggers and television show cooks.

Why a cookbook?

I had never considered writing a cookbook, but I guess you never know what life's going to throw your way. A chance meeting with a publisher in New York who was curious about Kerala's Syrian Christians ended with a book contract. It has been an amazing and enriching experience, I enjoyed every minute of the writing process.

What went into the making of The Suriani Kitchen?