Bonda angadi of Kumta ( snacks shop)

( Originally published on CLAY )

Nanda Ganapathi Nayk went to Mumbai  in search of job which was a trend in those days in the coastal areas of Karnataka such as Mangalore to Karwar . But all he could do is put up a small hotel and earned some money. He returned to his hometown Kumta in 70s continue to run the hotel business. But Kumta being small city with  small population and competition from existing hotel owners posed very tough challenges to him. He used a pulling four wheeler in the beginning   but slowly started renting out small rooms in the busy streets. Fried snacks were his main attractions and his name slowly started becoming part of Kumta  town. After running his business for few years on a four wheeled pulling cart he managed to get small room for his hotel. Customers grew in numbers as his snacks  started tasting better and better. More the customers , more the money but he had the tough challenge to balance his family needs and future prospectus of the hotel  business as well.  In his later stages of life that is in the 90s and 00s he saw stable business and his snacks and sweets  became part of  Kumta’s specialties.  People  used to line up in front of his nameless hotel for the hot snacks and Jilebis!  Such was the taste of the snacks and sweets!

 Dear reader , if you expected Nanda Ganapathi Nayk  became  super rich and has   chain of hotels  after reading first few lines then it is definitely not your fault! Such things happen in the cities where there are  more opportunities  , more customers , more exposure and more room to grow .  Nanda Ganapathi Nayk did not become a big  entrepreneur  but the taste of his snacks were rich enough to become part  of the town Kumta. When he died last year many in the town mourned .  Many thought that is the end of his hotel and 40 years of craftsmanship to bring out such a taste . But his brother Satish Ganapati Nayk and His son Srinivas Nayk coninued their family business of hotel in the same place. Many people in the town now feel the taste in the food has remained  the same .

Though Satish is educated he is continuing the brother’s  passion. He knows the art as he is involved in the business since his school age .  The  preparation work for the snacks starts around 11 am and hotel opens around 3 pm .  Bonda of Uttarakannada style is famous here  but he has many other tasty snacks  too. Hot samosas , two types of fried Bajjis  and the famous  Chattambade are ones not to be missed  . Tea and spiced milk ( Kashaya ) are also the part of the menu. Hotel is open till 8 pm in the night . So if you happen to visit Kumta definitely don’t miss trying some snacks here . Hotel is on right side of the old bus-stand road when going in to the city . If you cannot find  ask where the Satish Nayk’s bonda shop anyone   can guide you to his hotel.