Simplicity Coimbatore ,Put Kadalai
If you need motivation to step out for a walk there’s something that you may find tempting. It’s the charming new eatery that’s been creating quite a bit of buzz in the past few weeks called Put kadalai. Most of you will agree with me that the name alone is worth a visit. I was out of town when I first saw the Put kadalai post on my instagram feed.
The thought that came to mind was that the name was a play on pottu kadalai(the vernacular name for fried bengal gram).It was only after seeing a few more posts with couples talking about “putting kadalai” did I even equate it to the vernacular term “kadalai podarathu”. The partners say that the name has generated a lot of curiosity,some even wondering if it was a take on the Kerala delicacy puttu and kadalai curry.
For those who want a bit of trivia on that,the term supposedly originated on the beaches of Chennai when the sundal vendors would badger couples on the beach until they bought a packet of sundal (boiled and seasoned lentils). So the activity of spending time together romantically got loosely termed as ‘kadalai poduvathu’. The literal translation in English (Put Kadalai) by the partners Senthil Kumar , Vidhya, Nisha and Harishvara Venkat has seemed to have caught on with the people of Coimbatore. Their definition of the term is, ”the art of engaging in a fun conversation with someone you like “. I like the sound of that because it doesn’t limit the term to couples only.
When I did visit the place it looked a lot bigger than what I expected it to be. The space had been made good use of and could comfortably seat about 20- 25 people at a time.Both Harish and Senthil were at the shop busy with individual chores.Nisha at her cheerful best was at the counter taking in the multitude of orders coming her way. While we waited in line to place our order,it gave me the leisure to look around this aesthetically pleasing venue.
The large trees were used to advantage and enhanced with string lights. Art work featuring peanuts and earthy elements adorn available wall space.There is even a padded sleeve for the broad tree branch to ensure that patrons don’t bump their heads.
The menu has on offer peanuts in almost all conceivable avatars. I love peanuts in most savoury dishes so this was truly my kind of snack ! Boiled, roasted, in a sundal ,as a spread etc. Since we were craving something savoury we settled on salted boiled peanuts, roasted peanuts with a chatpata masala, the bunny chow with minced meat and green tea. The bunny chow came highly recommended and did not disappoint in the least. Loaded with a flavourful filling , the highlight was undoubtedly the crunchy peanut topping.
The boiled and roasted peanuts also tasted good and were well presented both in terms of hygiene and the manner in which it was served. Stainless steel cutlery is kept on every table for diners to help themselves.Don’t miss the coconut shell containers and the obvious thought process to avoid the use of plastic ! When we needed an extra spoon,the server brought it to us carefully wrapped in a napkin. If the partners have managed to instill a strong sense of hygiene standards with their staff, kudos to them.
When we were placing our order I noticed that the peanuts were of different sizes.When I asked Nisha about it, she explained that they source the bold variety from Gujarat for the recipes which require roasting.The smaller peanuts are from Andhra Pradesh and the whole ones with shell are sourced closer to home, from Pollachi. All the recipes are their own although the sweet stuff is made at a partnership kitchen.
Harish tells me that they are extending their kitchen in order to add a few more wholesome items to their kadalai menu.They plan to open shop from 6.30 am so that the morning walkers can avail of the delicious fresh fruit and vegetable drink options among other things. On offer are a couple of new additions as part of their ‘world cup menu’. The partners are enthusiastic with the response and seem to be brimming with ideas.What was originally conceptualised as a petty shop to sell boiled and flavoured kadalai has manifested into a quaint little eatery which offers easy access to those looking for a quick and healthy snack. The fact that it’s located next to the walking path is an added advantage.
The seating upstairs offers an elevated view of the Race Course through the foliage of the neem tree.The bar stools with it’s long bench extends an atmosphere where one could just relax and munch on the kadalai in peace.
Food joints which allow people to enjoy the vibe irrespective of their age,is a rarity. It was nice to see elderly gentlemen fitting in just as easily as did the young and the restless! I was happy to head back home with my paper cone of roasted kadalai and thoughts of an evening well spent at Put Kadalai.
Location
# 283, Race Course Rd, Race Course,
Coimbatore, 641018
Phone: 98432 13551
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