A plate of piping hot bajjis or samosas does not seem compete, if a cup of coffee or tea does not go with it.
However, not many street food stalls and small outlets understand this. Mak ‘n’ Bajji shop at Nalla Thambi Street in Triplicane is one of the few that do.
The intoxicating aroma of the Kumbakonam filter coffee being brewed at one corner of the shop gets customers, who have come for a parcel of bajjis, to order a cuppa.
Run by M.A. Kaliesraj and K. Selvarani, the shop started as a franchisee of Grand Sweets and Snacks, Adyar from the ground floor of the couple’s house. A month ago, they added a new section in the shop selling bajjis and other snacks prepared from their kitchen. Special keera vadai , potato bonda , chilli bajji , bread pakodas and samosas are some of the snacks sold from 3.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Each of them is priced at Rs. 10.
“In keeping with the preference of most Triplicane residents, the snacks and the chutneys are garlic-free,” says Kaliesraj, a long-time resident of the area who closed his departmental shop to focus on the food business. Going by the number of bajjis sold a day (nearly 600), the couple must be happy.
K. Rudrani and S. Neelakantan, residents of Car Street buy bondas from here. “They are cooked well and reasonably priced. Moreover, as we are old, it is difficult for us to make them at home, so we buy them here,” says Rudrani.
The duo will be introducing idli and dosa batter, adai mav along with accompaniments such as sambar , panner butter masala , palak paneer , veg kurma and mushroom gravy soon. “We are targeting office goers who find it time-consuming to prepare an accompaniment for the main course,” says Kaliesraj.
The shop is located at No. 30, New No 58, Nalla Thambi Street, Triplicane. To order, call 9790878377.
