Small Boutique with a Huge Dutch Colonial Personality

(To open the embedded Facebook posts fully for the recipes and details, just click on the date/time under the heading Food and Travel Secrets.)

As we headed back to Fort Kochi, we couldn’t miss a return visit to the charming Eighth Bastion Hotel. Set in a quiet part of the old colonial quarter of Fort Kochi on Dutch Cemetery Road, this lovely small boutique hotel has captured the essence of Fort Kochi’s colonial Dutch Heritage.

Headed up by GM Johny Peter, the small team at Eighth Bastion sets a high standard of excellence in hospitality.

We were delighted have a room up on the third floor again, with it’s great sea-looking balconies and wonderful shared sitting area which at this quiet time of the year was all ours!!

Breakfast at Eighth Bastion

East Indies Restaurant

A highlight of any stay at Eighth Bastion is dining at East Indies Restaurant and enjoying the superb the colonial Dutch fusion menu.

Behind the Scenes in the East Indies Restaurant

What a treat it was when Sous Chef Shinto invited me into the East Indies kitchen to learn the recipes behind the deliciousness. It was an amazing experience to see the creativity behind the partnering of different cuisines and ingredients in dishes that are nicely familiar but at the same time uniquely novel. As French, South East Asian, Dutch and Indian flavours and techniques all came together the culinary team created wonderful dishes all plated beautifully with incredible care and dedication.

As Chef Shinto passionately described each dish on the menu it was difficult to choose just a few for my lunch. But there were some that were just so intriguing, that I knew I must try!

Chemmeen Manga Pollichathu (Prawns and Mango in Banana Leaf )

Shrimp Sausage

Tuna Ikan

Vipen Crab Cake

Once we’d tasted the food at East Indies Restaurant it was hard to eat anywhere else! Even if you aren’t staying at Eighth Bastion, it’s well worth a visit!

Sadly all the wonderful Dutch fusion deliciousness came to an end….until next time!

Do take a look at last year’s article for more Eighth Bastion experiences.

And to find out more about Eighth Bastion, seasonal prices, weather, packages, facilities or itinerary ideas, get in touch with Roshini via email and let her know you’ve been reading  my Food and Travel Secrets. Roshini is so very lovely and helpful even if you’re just at the I’m interested stage.