Through one job Rajula Gupta got a taste of Salmon Arm and now, through another, he is helping to broaden the community害羞草研究所檚 taste for the foods of India.

Gupta and spouse Madhu Oza recently opened their new business, Foods of India, at 122 Lakeshore Drive.

害羞草研究所淲e opened on Sunday (Nov. 12) 害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淚 have a lot of clients in Salmon Arm who I bring, a lot of hospitality cooks and food service people too,害羞草研究所� said Gupta. 害羞草研究所淪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 there害羞草研究所檚 a large Indian community growing in Salmon Arm as well. So I thought this would be perfect.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淭his is just the first shipment害羞草研究所�,害羞草研究所� said Gupta. 害羞草研究所淩ight now the shelves are pretty empty but there害羞草研究所檚 a lot more coming. The idea is to make it a one-stop shop for all Indian ethnic, ready to eat 害羞草研究所� spices, desserts, cookies, whatever you fancy.

害羞草研究所淪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.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淎nd my wife is a really good cook,害羞草研究所� said Gupta.

The couple害羞草研究所檚 shared culinary knowledge is another thing customers can take advantage of when perusing Foods of India looking for the right ingredients. However, Gupta said he害羞草研究所檚 been finding locals very knowledgeable and appreciative of regional Indian cuisines.

害羞草研究所淪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 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 really wonderful,害羞草研究所� said Gupta. 害羞草研究所淎 lot of people actually cook Indian food! A lot of people have even taken courses on how to cook Indian food.

害羞草研究所淎 steady stream of guests have come in and said we害羞草研究所檙e so glad you害羞草研究所檙e open. Now we don害羞草研究所檛 have to go to Kamloops or Kelowna to hunt for some of the Indian spices or Indian products, so that害羞草研究所檚 really good.害羞草研究所�

That type of interaction has been steady, further supporting the couple害羞草研究所檚 decision to relocate to Salmon Arm.

害羞草研究所淭his is what害羞草研究所檚 missing in big cities like Vancouver and Burnaby 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 a very community feel,害羞草研究所� said Gupta. 害羞草研究所淧eople are very supportive. Neighbours come and welcome me to the neighbourhood害羞草研究所� It feels very good to be welcome in a new community.害羞草研究所�

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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