If Ganesha visited the Gourmet Bazaar on at Whispering Stones, he would walk out a very happy God. There is food everywhere you turn, and a dawning realisation about the variety and range of traditional fare.
Ponni rice, herbal rasam powder, palm sugar, bitter jamun honey, pickles, paapads and podis in all their glory are proudly set out. They are homemade and you meet the people who so lovingly made them.
Like Shanmughavalli and her sambandhi Meghala who are from Karaikudi and Salem respectively. They make herbal products. While there are scrubs for babies and unguents for hair and skin, it is the herbal rasam in a bowl that begs to be tried out. Delicious and if you want you can take some of the powder that went into making it. Shanmughavalli says it contains healing herbs and the rasam is perfect for that rainy day and its annoying attendants, coughs and colds.
Wellness is the theme of the bazaar and indeed from organic honey and wholesome breakfast cereals with real fruits to handmade chemical-free cosmetics, chocolates and cheese, there is wholesomeness everywhere. Taste world class artisanal cheese from Kodaikanal (made from themilk of happy cows, assures the lady at the stall) or millet-based muesli made right here in the city. Coimbatore’s home bakers and home cooks have turned out in good number. Brownies, chaats, non-alcoholic grape wine and phirni... unexpected treats pop out to surprise you at every corner.
In a quiet little quadrangle of green, Aditya Singh, a certified practitioner of Quigong (a 5000-year-old alternative healing technique) talks about good energy and bringing harmony and wellness to one’s mind and body without medicines and needles. There is a spa too with Tibetan prayer flags completing the ambience of meditative calm.
Ramesh Babu, an environmentalist, dispenses tea grown in his tiny garden of not more than 10 acres in Kotagiri. He says his tea garden is one of a kind in the world with unparalleled bio-diversity!
Some of the stalls offer to make up gift hampers of their products. In fact it is a perfect opportunity to stock up on gifts and get contact numbers with the festival season already underway. Garden accessories, handpainted wooden boxes, jewellery from (Urbanatii) and a collection of edibles that anyone should be happy to receive as a gift.
It is uplifting to see so much local produce. If only one could have more such gatherings of farmers, cooks, bakers and cheesemakers. Shikha Bagaria, one of the organisers, rolls her eyes. That will take a while, she says, but adds that the idea was to gather creative people who believe in the philosophy of sustainable, local and non-chemical. One can see that everywhere.
What Where and When
Gourmet Bazaar is on till 7.00 p.m. at Whispering Stones (Perks Arch Road)
There will also be live music and food counters serving desserts, Bao buns, parathas, brownies and more
Please note that not all the stalls accept cards
Entry fee is 70. There is ample parking.