Quiz competition, food trail mark Kovai Gethu Day celebrations

Coimbatore: Only when there is no food for the mind, one should feed one’s stomach, says a verse from the ancient Tamil didactic text Thirukkural. But the Kovai Gethu Day celebrations on Saturday ensured there was food both for the mind and stomach. A quiz competition on Coimbatore, followed by a food trail that started on Vysial Street and ended in in Town Hall, covering localities in between, left both the minds and the tummies filled.
The TOI Gethu Open Quiz held at SNR Auditorium in the city saw more than 180 teams of two participants each. The quiz was anchored by representatives of the Coimbatore Quiz Circle (CQC). N Senthil Kumar, CQC’s secretary, said they had been conducting quiz programmes themed around the district for more than a decade. “This time, we decided to make the quiz contemporary so that it appeals to young minds. While the answers are the same, we made the questions different. We also included questions about people, establishments from the city and what is happening in the city now.” Vishnu Santhosh and Hariharan S emerged winners in the quiz, while Shiva and Arjun were the first runners-up. The second runners-up were R J Dharun and R K Rohit. The three teams received cash prizes.

In the evening, a food walk started in R R Chinna Bonda Kadai on Patakkara Ayyasamy Kovil Street off Vysial Street and culminated at Sri Balaaji and Co. Bakers in Town Hall. The walk was curated by artist V Jeevananthan and food enthusiast R Venugopal. Around 20 people, who had gathered to experience street food in some of the oldest residential localities of the city, started their walk savouring desserts, gasa gasa halwa and doodh peda from R R Chinna Bonda Kadai. The group moved on to have ‘pappurotta’, a delicacy made by cutting an appam to pieces and sautéing it in oil and dhal, from Vasavi Coffee Bar and canteen. The dish is available only on Vysial Street, said Jeevananthan.

The group then proceeded to Karur Ranganathan Garam Stall on Vysial Street to taste thattu murukku garam set. The snack is a sandwich of two flat round murukkus with a chutney and a salad of sorts in between. The next stop was Kandhan Pani Puri Stall on Karuppa Gounder Street. Started in 1960, the outlet is one of the shops to offer north Indian chaat items such as panipuri and masala puri to the city. Kandasamy C, the owner of the shop, said he learned the dishes form a friend from north India.

What starts with a dessert does end with a dessert - the final stop was at Sri Balaaji and Co Bakery opposite the Victoria Town Hall. The bakery is known for its bar cakes, Japanese cakes and ghee cookies.