Through one job Rajula Gupta got a taste of Salmon Arm and now, through another, he is helping to broaden the community91裸聊视频檚 taste for the foods of India.
Gupta and spouse Madhu Oza recently opened their new business, Foods of India, at 122 Lakeshore Drive.
91裸聊视频淲e opened on Sunday (Nov. 12) 91裸聊视频� on Diwali, said Gupta, explaining Diwali is considered to be a very auspicious day to open any new business.
The couple moved from Burnaby to Salmon Arm about a month ago, though Gupta had been coming to the community for his other job, as a licenced recruiter for foreign workers.
91裸聊视频淚 have a lot of clients in Salmon Arm who I bring, a lot of hospitality cooks and food service people too,91裸聊视频� said Gupta. 91裸聊视频淪o my clients are the ones who brought me here, and I fell in love with the place. And I noticed that there is no Indian grocery store here and the locals love Indian food and there91裸聊视频檚 a large Indian community growing in Salmon Arm as well. So I thought this would be perfect.91裸聊视频�
The shelves and coolers within the business include a wide range of rice and legumes, sauces, snack foods, pre-packaged meals, teas, as well as a wall of numerous spices.
91裸聊视频淭his is just the first shipment91裸聊视频�,91裸聊视频� said Gupta. 91裸聊视频淩ight now the shelves are pretty empty but there91裸聊视频檚 a lot more coming. The idea is to make it a one-stop shop for all Indian ethnic, ready to eat 91裸聊视频� spices, desserts, cookies, whatever you fancy.
91裸聊视频淪tage 2 is we want to work with Zest (Commercial Food Hub) for ready-to-eat meals as well. So you come in and you feel like a butter chicken today, you can buy a little take out butter chicken and rice meal.91裸聊视频�
Gupta said he and Madhu would prepare the meals, and that in addition to being a qualified tea taster, he has run restaurants in Vancouver and has been in the food business pretty much his whole life.
91裸聊视频淎nd my wife is a really good cook,91裸聊视频� said Gupta.
The couple91裸聊视频檚 shared culinary knowledge is another thing customers can take advantage of when perusing Foods of India looking for the right ingredients. However, Gupta said he91裸聊视频檚 been finding locals very knowledgeable and appreciative of regional Indian cuisines.
91裸聊视频淪ince I opened my doors, 90 per cent of my customers are local Canadians and they have a great knowledge of Indian spices and Indian foods 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 really wonderful,91裸聊视频� said Gupta. 91裸聊视频淎 lot of people actually cook Indian food! A lot of people have even taken courses on how to cook Indian food.
91裸聊视频淎 steady stream of guests have come in and said we91裸聊视频檙e so glad you91裸聊视频檙e open. Now we don91裸聊视频檛 have to go to Kamloops or Kelowna to hunt for some of the Indian spices or Indian products, so that91裸聊视频檚 really good.91裸聊视频�
That type of interaction has been steady, further supporting the couple91裸聊视频檚 decision to relocate to Salmon Arm.
91裸聊视频淭his is what91裸聊视频檚 missing in big cities like Vancouver and Burnaby 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 a very community feel,91裸聊视频� said Gupta. 91裸聊视频淧eople are very supportive. Neighbours come and welcome me to the neighbourhood91裸聊视频� It feels very good to be welcome in a new community.91裸聊视频�
Foods of India is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Read more: Salmon Arm Cricket Club looks to form Interior B.C. league
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