Square One Talents ( A boutique place for homemade treats and bakes)

 So my sandals gave up on me after our long train journey and a very tiring day during the wedding that I attended a month back. It gave way while walking to and fro from the wedding venue to the reception hall. I had to buy myself a new pair which I had been procrastinating even after returning home from the wedding. (We had to travel almost three hours to reach our destination and another three to return)

Finally when my sister asked me if I had any pending things to do before I left (after my usual stint in Thiruvananthapuram) and that she was sort of free from work for the day, I thought alright might as well go shopping for a new pair. She took me to a couple of places...I got mine at the first shop itself as I am extremely focussed about my shopping and do not like to waste time or money buying things that I do not require. But leave me at a place to browse through household things...and there I am totally lost like a kid in toyland! More than the buying, I like to browse through things that I haven't seen or heard of.

Thus in the midst of all our shopping, we stopped for our coffee break and she took me to this joint right at the road side in Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram(ideally located near St. Mary's school) Loved the overall ambiance and display.

 It's a baker's wonderland!!!

 I love these traditional things Vattayappam (recipe is on my blog). I did have a Kozhakatta/sweet rice dumpling. It was served cold. We did request the young chap at the counter to heat it up and serve which he diligently did.

 The pic above has their menu on display for the day. I think as and when the stuff gets exhausted, they change/remove the boards. While we were there and even after leaving, the place, it was streaming in with folks collecting their birthday cakes, picking up stuff after work, for their family or one for the road. I saw many elderly ladies come and buy the products or sit there alone and have one or two snacks.

 I thoroughly enjoyed the vibrant feel with well dressed ladies at the counter with almost well manicured hands and neatly tied up hair buns. My sister did tell me she has understood that they were those from a family of Cnaanites.

 I have come across one or two Cnaananite friends during my masters and they certainly look a bit different from the other Malayali Christians.  http://history-world.org/canaanite_culture_and_religion.htm

 This board cannot be missed. Quite visible from the roadside. It is a shop exclusive for home bakes and treats run by women. Talking about women, it was sad to see one of the girls at the counter with one of those battery operated?!! insect bats almost electrocuting the troublesome tiny beasts. I know they can be quite nasty if they fall into one of our orders so do appreciate her Samaritan work! Customers can be nastier if they saw an insect in and around the place. I have heard and read of many a cockroach tale in some of the joints where I live.

 That's my order which was later heated so that I could enjoy it better. It was really tasty!

 I did pick two but did not enjoy it that much. It's very homemade!

 I love these jars!!! Would love to stock my home with such spice/cookie jars!!! and sit there and play "Shop Shop" with the simple treats that I bake at home. I still don't know why childhood games were always repeated twice "Teacher teacher" "Ghost ghost" ha ha!!!

 If you are in the capital city of Kerala and want to pick up a cake, this might be a good choice if you are travelling by. My sis did inform me that they have this tailoring unit or applique shop as well :- located quite close by https://www.facebook.com/SquareOneTalents I am yet to explore that!

 I did not taste this but I could only guess the taste and I was salivating indeed while clicking! Pricey for the quantity...perhaps in Trivandrum standards, Yes! But they were flying off the shelf!

 Those are the appams/hoppers that accompany the stew.

I had a good time with my sister. We rarely bond as we are of different wavelengths! I try my best to fit into her space, routine and timing... but...this was one of those rare occasions where we went out and did some stuff together. I appreciate the effort and time she made and do value the moment!

It was kind of her to take me to a few places that she haunts and thought I would be interested. I am grateful as always. Will cherish it!

 

I understand there is a parlour/saloon as well right above their bakery. Perhaps I will give them a go the next visit.