A guest from Germany said something last month that stuck with me. She was eating a simple lunch — rice, sambar, thoran, and fish curry. She put her spoon down and said, “Everything tastes like the water here.” I think she meant the coconut and the fish, the freshness. But maybe she also meant the lake itself, the way it seeps into everything we grow and cook.

Honestly, that’s the whole point of a Marari beach stay here. Not just the sand or the sun. The food that comes from the ground and the water around us.

What food can you expect at Marari beach stay?

Home-style Kerala food. That’s what we call it. Meals prepared at the homestay kitchen, nothing fancy, nothing plated like a restaurant. Rice, fish, vegetables, coconut. The same things we’ve eaten here for generations.

The kitchen runs on the rhythm of the island. Morning means grinding fresh coconut for chutney. By late morning, the fish arrives — small boats bring it from the lake, still wet and silver. The cook knows which fish is best that day. She decides the curry, not a menu.

You’ll find things on your plate that you might not know. A stir-fry of banana flower. A curry made with raw mango. A dal that uses coconut milk instead of water. Some guests disagree with the spice levels, and that’s fair. I always say, ask for less chilli. We adjust.

But the taste of coconut oil, mustard seeds crackling, curry leaves fresh off the tree — that doesn’t change. That’s the taste of a Marari beach stay.

What does a typical meal look like here?

Lunch is the main meal. It comes on a banana leaf if you want it that way. Rice in the middle, then small mounds of each dish around it. Sambar, thoran (stir-fried vegetables with coconut), a dry fish fry or a fish curry, papad, and pickle. Sometimes a vegetable stew, sometimes a coconut-based curry with pumpkin or okra.

I’m probably biased, but the fish curry is the thing. Made with raw mango or kokum, lots of ginger and green chilli. It’s not thick like a gravy. It’s runny, sour, sharp. You mix it with rice and eat with your hand. That’s the only way.

Dinner is lighter. Usually a parotta or chapati with a vegetable curry and some leftover fish. Or just rice and a simple dal. Nothing heavy. You don’t want a full stomach before sleeping with the lake sounds outside.

Most people skip dessert, but when we have it, it’s payasam — a sweet pudding made with coconut milk, jaggery, and rice or vermicelli. Served warm, not cold.

What’s breakfast like on the island?

Breakfast is the quietest meal. The lake is still, mist on the paddy fields. You sit on the veranda, and the cook brings out appam or puttu with kadala curry. Appam is like a soft, lacy pancake made from fermented rice batter. Puttu is steamed rice flour and coconut, shaped like a cylinder.

The kadala curry is black chickpeas cooked in coconut milk and spices. It’s thick, earthy, a little sweet from the coconut. You dip the appam in it, or crumble the puttu and mix it in.

Sometimes we serve idli with sambar. Sometimes a simple banana and a cup of chai. No eggs and toast here. That’s not what a Marari beach stay is about.

One thing I always tell guests — the toddy shops near Marari beach open by 10am. They sell fresh coconut toddy, slightly sour and fizzy. Most people don’t know that. It’s not in the guidebooks.

Typical Dishes at Evaan’s Casa

Frequently Asked Questions About Marari beach stay

How far is Marari beach from Evaan’s Casa?

About 20 minutes by boat to the mainland, then a 15-minute autorickshaw ride. Or you can take a bicycle from the jetty — 40 minutes through the paddy fields and small villages. I prefer the bike.

Is it safe to stay on an island with kids?

Yes. The water around the house is shallow near the steps, and the veranda is fenced. Kids love the boat ride and the open space. Just watch them near the edge. The same rules as any water.

What should I bring for a Marari beach stay?

Mosquito repellent. Light cotton clothes. A torch if you plan to walk after dark — the island has no streetlights. And a book for the veranda. There’s no TV in the rooms.

Is WiFi available at the homestay?

Yes, we have a connection. But it’s slow during monsoon because of the rain. Some guests like that. Others get frustrated. If you need to work, bring a hotspot as backup.

Look, here’s the thing. A Marari beach stay at Evaan’s Casa is not about luxury. It’s about eating fish that was in the lake this morning, sitting on a veranda that hangs over the water, and hearing the boat engines start at dawn. The food is part of that quiet. It’s simple because the place is simple. That’s the comfort.

I remember one guest who stayed for five days. On the last evening, he said, “I don’t want to eat in a restaurant again. I just want to eat here.” That’s the best review I can think of.

Come if you want to eat real Kerala food. Come if you want to slow down. The boats run all day. The kitchen is always open. And the lake is waiting.

You can find us at Evaan’s Casa — no roads, just water.