Kerala Catres

Down here in Vadakara Bazar, things are always moving fast. We started Kerala Catres to handle the food needs of people around this part of Kozhikode. The market area is always noisy with people buying things and trucks unloading, so it’s a lively place to work. Our kitchen is tucked away in the back, and that is where most of the action happens. We spend a lot of time preparing the masalas and getting the rice ready for the afternoon rush. It gets quite crowded in the bazar, so moving our equipment around can be a real challenge some days. The staff here are locals who have been with us for a long time. They know how to handle the big rush during the festival seasons. We don't have a corporate style at all; it's just a bunch of us working to make sure the food is cooked right. Sometimes we stay late into the night cleaning up after a big order. It’s a lot of physical labor, standing over the big stoves and packing containers. We have a regular routine that starts with getting fresh supplies from the market vendors nearby. It's nice being right in the middle of the bazar because we see everyone passing by. We don't bother with fancy brochures or anything like that. People know where we are if they need us for a function at their home. It is just basic work done by real people.