Vanilla County

At the old Mavady Estate Bungalow, near Vagamon, Christmas carries the scent of caramel, spice, and old planter traditions. This Dutch-style heritage home, now known as Vanilla County, belongs to fifth-generation planter Mathew Vallikappen, whose kitchen comes alive each season with the making of the Planter’s Fruit Cake. The recipe traces its roots to Mathew’s maternal grandmother, Chinnamma Dominic, a gifted cook who perfected her version of the English-style fruit cake in another part of...

Beyond the shaded verandahs and spice-scented kitchens of Vanilla County lies a different rhythm. A quieter one. It begins a short drive...

In a world that never stops moving, where speed is often mistaken for success, I’ve come to see that slowing down is one of the greatest...