Golden brown deep fried crispy banana fritter with a cup of steaming tea in the evening after a tiresome monotonous day at work is rejuvenating. The banana fry in Radha’s ‘thattukada ‘(a small shop on the street) at Kowdiar brings the customers golden memories of homemade Ethakkappam.

Banana fry is one of the most popular snacks often prepared in households in Asian countries like India, Indonesia and China. In India, it is especially popular in Kerala. Sixty five year old Radha has been making 150 banana fries everyday for the past 20 years.

“Initially I used to sell cutlets and other snacks. I couldn’t manage the cost. People always want something ‘big’. That's when I thought of making banana fry.”

The regulars are happy with the quality and quantity of this lipsmaking banana fries that Radha makes. “It is worth having a stomach full banana fry with hot tea for 5 rupees,” says Karthik from Blue Star Air-conditioning.  

Radha uses fresh coconut oil to fry banana fritters every day. “I do not like selling stale food in my shop. Every day I take a new packet of coconut oil to fry bananas. This oil is later used to fry papad and fish for lunch,” smiles Radha.

Radha’s thattukada offers Dosa, Rasa Vada, Papad and Sambar for breakfast, Meals with Fish Curry and Fish Fry for lunch and Banana Fry and Tea in the evening. Load workers, painters, petrol pump staff and bank employees are the usual customers here. 

“I never had time to notice my customers. Whoever comes here asks me for food calling me ‘ammachi’ or ‘chechi’. I consider them as my children and serve them food. The one who drank tea from here just now is a film star,” chuckles Radha.

Three children and a drunkard husband were the responsibility of Radha when she started this shop near the road 20 years back. Now she proudly points at her daughter and son-in-law who help her in the shop and says, “I take care of my family with the income I get from this tea shop. I wish to have a shop of my own but what to do we cannot afford.”