Tiger Chef — Restaurant in Kerala

A Culinary Adventure with The Tiger Chef in Thekkady, India

During my recent visit to Thekkady, I had the privilege of spending two unforgettable hours with The Tiger Chef, Joshy, and his lovely wife, immersing myself in the heart of Kerala’s culinary traditions. This wasn’t just a cooking class – it was a celebration of culture, family, and the rich flavors of India.

Joshy’s charm and easygoing nature immediately made us feel at home as he guided us through the art of creating a traditional Kerala curry. From learning to grate fresh coconut to blending organic spices with precision, every step was a hands-on experience. We cooked with long beans, tuna, and chicken, each dish coming alive with vibrant colors and aromatic spices.

What made this experience even more special was its authenticity. Set in his local town, we were welcomed into Joshy’s family, getting a glimpse of their warmth and hospitality. Adding to the magic, we were treated to a parade celebrating a religious festival, which brought an extra layer of cultural immersion to our day.

Joshy’s expertise in balancing spices was truly remarkable, and he made the process approachable for everyone. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a beginner, his guidance ensures you’ll leave with a newfound appreciation for Indian cuisine and the confidence to recreate these dishes at home.

I can’t think of a better way to experience the culture and splendor of Kerala than through this unique culinary journey. If you find yourself in Thekkady, don’t miss the opportunity to cook, learn, and connect with The Tiger Chef and his wonderful family. It’s an experience that will stay with you long after the...

Joshy Joseph jokes that he calls himself the Tiger Chef because you are so unlikely to see a tiger at Peryiar Tiger Reserve he aims to make up for the disappointment by offering you a great cooking class experience. In the tiny open air space at the top of his house, the Tiger Chef took us through a range of recipes step by step. We learned how to cook Kerala Fish Curry, Thaw Grilled Chicken, Yellow Dal Fry and Beans Thoran. This was hands on cooking – not a demo. We even got to grate the coconut on the traditional old fashioned machine that his wife was still using. We learned about the importance of coconut oil and coconut milk in Keralan cooking and marvelled at the range of spices involved, each being carefully added in just the right quantity at just the right time to add sufficient flavour and heat to the dish.

A great experience and a fun evening - all the family participated. This was one of the highlights of our 3 week trip to Kerala - full itinerary on LovetoWander. The restaurant is temporarily closed whilst Tiger Chef searches for...

Today I had a cooking class with Joshy at “Tiger Chef” to cook a bean and fish curry. My expectations were exceeded: we were outside on the terrace, everything was clean, fresh, well prepared and Joshy has a lot of knowledge and talent. You can tell that he enjoys his job, that this restaurant is his passion and how much effort he puts into it. Unlike other cooking demonstrations, I was able to do a lot of cooking myself and had a lot of things explained to me. I also learned how to grate fresh coconut and how to make fresh coconut milk myself. Afterwards, of course, we ate and there were a few other dishes, like rice and dal, which Joshy had already prepared. Overall, I can only recommend this restaurant to everyone, definitely go there, the food is super tasty and fresh and prepared with a lot of love, the cooking course was a particularly great experience for me. Unfortunately I'm only here for a short time, otherwise I...