My home town Calicut lies between the mountainous Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea on the South Western tip of the Indian peninsula - the beautiful Malabar plain in Kerala. Arab traders came here in the 4th century. With the advent of Islam, these seafarers brought their faith with their trade. Malabar Muslims are known as Mappilas. Their cuisine has Arab, European and Persian influences, and uses fresh local ingredients. This is my culinary heritage.