Surmai thaali

There's something about hailing from the Konkan coast, and being a crazy, seafood lover - the association is never far-fetched. Those from this region, who've had the good fortune of witnessing their grandmothers pound spices and coconut on the traditional stone grinder, will still have an impassioned, mouth-watering memory of the fish curries they'd make with the ground masalas. It's with this anticipation and desire to revisit the meals cooked in my grandma's kitchen in Kundapura, Karnataka, that I usually make a dash to any Mangalorean restaurant.