Lazy Retreats | Kochi’s own Pappadavada
Kochi: The humble Pappadavada, which has been a ubiquitous evening snack on the shelves of local ‘thattukadas’ across Kerala, may have perhaps never 'imagined' that one day it would be glorified as a brand name in Kochi.
The fate of pappadavada drastically changed when it caught the attention of Minu Pauline, an ex-employee of Citibank. Minu, who had been searching a unique name for her dream project, found the name catchy. Call it serendipity if you like, or maybe love after many bites, but pappadavada was elevated to a new status. Minu christened her food joint, “Pappadavada adhava oru nadan chaayakkada” or simply, Pappadavada.
The new avatar of the traditional chayakkada, which has almost become a relic, is to start selling hot tea and crispy pappadavadas along with other snacks at M G Road, near Shenoys Junction, Kochi from 11 September. The restaurant would be inaugurated at 5.30 pm. Once open, services would be available from 8.30 am to 1.00 am every day. Not only snacks, but also meals are available here, that too for a pocket-friendly price. What makes Pappadavada a unique food joint is its ethnic food combos and pricing.
It would have combos like puttu & naadan chicken curry, kappa & meen curry, kanji & payaru, idiyappam & kadala curry, thalppakettu kozhi biriyani, a Tamil Nadu-based biriyani, which is the signature dish of the restaurant, and lots more. Non-veg items will be available after noon.
The exciting part is that you can walk into Pappadavada even with Rs 4, because there will be something here for you to buy with that amount. Prices start from Rs 4 and goes up to Rs 10 for tea/coffee & snacks and Rs 20 to Rs 55 for combo meals and Rs 75 for Thalppakettu kozhi biriyani. You would also have fish combos, veg combos, chicken combos, beef combos and breakfast combos.
Now, let us take a virtual tour to Pappadavada. According to the owner, the restaurant would have an ambience that reminds one of a bygone era, spiced up with a chic attitude. The room, with standing tables, are to be furnished in local Kerala style. Old South Indian movie posters would adorn the walls to remind one of the good old chayakkada. There would also be a big blackboard with the menu and prices, a throwback to olden times when you could walk into a chayakkada with a few coins and enjoy a hot tea with snacks and then idle away time in the company of like-minded people. In a nutshell, the joint would be a new generation chayakkada. So, now you have a very good reason to call an early end to your hectic schedule on September 11, collect your friends and have a pappadavada. Maybe, if you are lucky enough, you might catch someone reading the newspaper aloud for others while the radio blares old Malayalam songs in the background!
The 'Vada' has already started spreading its aroma on Facebook and now has more than 3500 likes. Now let’s sign in and give it a 'Like'- not in FB, but by walking straight into the restaurant. Get crunching….