Joey’s Kitchen

Known for adding sizzle and oomph to the ramp,model Joey Matthews is now busy mixing egg whites for appam batter and stuffing prawns in dosas.

Known for adding sizzle and oomph to the ramp,model Joey Matthews is now busy mixing egg whites for appam batter and stuffing prawns in dosas. The leggy model,who has set up her first food counter,Kerala Express,at Epicuria,a food court at the Nehru Place metro station,talks about her passion for food and staring at customers eating Malabar parathas

Why did you decide to come up with a food counter?

I have been passionate about food for almost 10 years,but I discovered my love for it while I was hosting Love Bites on NDTV Good Times. The idea was to open an Italian/Continental restaurant but I realised that I would need a financier,which would be difficult. So,I

decided to prove myself by indulging in my soul food home-cooked Mallu food. When I first came to Delhi in 1996,there were these tiny places serving Mallu food,and I have realised that there is still a market for it.

What are the authentic Kerala delicacies on your menu?

Its a food counter,so the menu is not pages long. I have basics such as appam and chicken stew,Malabar parathas and Malabar rolls. Then,I do some specials such as fish thali,vegetarian thali and keema and prawn dosas. I mostly concentrate on the non-vegetarian aspect of Mallu food. You will find all kinds of powders and chutneys at the counter,stuff that you will find in my kitchen too.

The counter has a celebrity name attached. Dont you think thats the prime reason people might be interested in eating at Kerala Express?

Maybe the first time they come to the counter,yes. But they will come back only if the food and the flavours excite them. After all,everyones spending money on this food.

How taxing has managing a food counter been?

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I spend 12 hours at the counter,cooking at times even though I have four cooks from Kerala. I need to make sure that the standards are maintained. Its been quite hectic but then,I am not about eating,I am all about feeding. I spend my days here because people have questions about the cuisine and I like to tell them all about it. I stare at everyone eating my food. (laughs)

What does the family have to say about the food?

Unfortunately,they dont live in Delhi and havent tasted it yet. But mum keeps giving a lot of advice on how to make appams,what to add in the tomato chutney and how to make the vegetarian thali exciting.

What are your future plans around food?

Im going to open more such food counters,and then hopefully a restaurant serving Italian food.

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