Sipping a cup of steaming tea along with some masala vadai and hand- ground spicy coconut chutney is definitely the most luring thing for all South Indian foodies especially Coimbatoreans, who are hardcore Vadai -Bonda -bajji lovers.
And, it all gets crazy, when the dark clouds pop up indicating rain making people of this city search for Vadai shops rather than making their way home sooner.
Be it an onion bajji or a mirchi bajji, pressing the bajji's tight against the newspapers to pull off the excess oil, is an art practiced by our foodies, for sure. This art just not removes the excess oil but also the calorie conscious thing among the foodies.
Though the doctors might say a big ‘No to bajji & Vadais', however it looks like the ardent bajji and bonda lovers pay no heed to such advices. For whom it’s “The day is done.. with a piping hot tea and a masala vadai’. And, of course, ‘Happiness is all about eating good food’
Catering to the taste buds of vadai lovers for the past 30 years, "Kumar Swami Stall" has been the ever hottest place for authentic Vadais bajji and Bonda in the city. And, over the years this small outlet situated in in the lane between the Iyer & Co bakery and State Bank of India, RS Puram has become the junction for all vadai lovers.
"This is the cleanest Vadai stall I have ever seen in the city. While most of the vadai shops serve kara chutney, here the hand-ground coconut chutney is the highlight" shares Sudarshan, who has become a regular customer of Kumar Swami stall.
Not just Sudarshan but almost all of the customers talk about the cleanliness and the invigorating taste at this stall owned by Ravikumar whose passion is to serve quality and taste to the people. And, maybe that's the outlet is thronged by people and surprisingly no ‘littering’ can be spotted.
Here's what Ravikumar, the owner cum chef of this most sought-after food outlet shares with us, ‘Food is God and Cleanliness is my mantra. So everyday, it's only after a clean bath and a soulful prayer, I lit the stove. People believe that the food here is prepared with utmost care and quality, so I ensure to honor their trust" said Kumar, with hands coated with bajji batter.
The stall starts as early as 6 in the morning to serving fresh vadais, bondas and tea which goes up to 7.30 in the evening. Every shade of the day has a different kind of vada to taste at Kumar’s outlet.
If you are there in the mornings, you get Keera Vadai (vadai made out of different greens) and Ulundhu Vadai with tea. For noon it’s tue sizzling Mirchi bajji and for the evenings the sinful Aloo Bonda, all accompanied with thick hand ground coconut chutney, the real culprit that makes the customers forget about calories completely.
“I am his regular customer from the day he started in the year 1980, the taste of his food and tea has been the same from the first time. It’s like, if I don’t eat here, I feel I am still hungry and even if I am filled up to the brim, I have to eat here.” as quoted by Srinivas, one of the regular customers at the stall.
‘I love the vadais’ here, it doesn’t ooze oil at all. And, that’s why I buy it for my family too. Though they don’t come to the outlet they would be waiting for the parcel’, said Sathish, an executive who stops by the stall to gulp the noon Ulundhu Vadai and a cup of tea.
“No, I don’t want to venture into any other food items, as I only know what I make, this gives me happiness and enough earnings to support my family. And I want to continue serving the people who love my food, it gives me great joy and content to see them enjoy what I prepare.” as quoted by the owner Ravi Kumar, also known as Swamiji by his loyal customers.
All the way through the interview, Kumar was busy dipping the aloo mix in the batter and dropping them in sizzling oil, all at ease! So, if you are at RS Puram don’t miss to indulge with some refreshing tea and crispy vadais’ made by the City’s authentic vadai expert, Ravi Kumar aka Swamiji in RS puram.