Through one job Rajula Gupta got a taste of Salmon Arm and now, through another, he is helping to broaden the community香蕉视频直播檚 taste for the foods of India.

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

香蕉视频直播淲e opened on Sunday (Nov. 12) 香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淚 have a lot of clients in Salmon Arm who I bring, a lot of hospitality cooks and food service people too,香蕉视频直播� said Gupta. 香蕉视频直播淪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香蕉视频直播檚 a large Indian community growing in Salmon Arm as well. So I thought this would be perfect.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淭his is just the first shipment香蕉视频直播�,香蕉视频直播� said Gupta. 香蕉视频直播淩ight now the shelves are pretty empty but there香蕉视频直播檚 a lot more coming. The idea is to make it a one-stop shop for all Indian ethnic, ready to eat 香蕉视频直播� spices, desserts, cookies, whatever you fancy.

香蕉视频直播淪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.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淎nd my wife is a really good cook,香蕉视频直播� said Gupta.

The couple香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 been finding locals very knowledgeable and appreciative of regional Indian cuisines.

香蕉视频直播淪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 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 really wonderful,香蕉视频直播� said Gupta. 香蕉视频直播淎 lot of people actually cook Indian food! A lot of people have even taken courses on how to cook Indian food.

香蕉视频直播淎 steady stream of guests have come in and said we香蕉视频直播檙e so glad you香蕉视频直播檙e open. Now we don香蕉视频直播檛 have to go to Kamloops or Kelowna to hunt for some of the Indian spices or Indian products, so that香蕉视频直播檚 really good.香蕉视频直播�

That type of interaction has been steady, further supporting the couple香蕉视频直播檚 decision to relocate to Salmon Arm.

香蕉视频直播淭his is what香蕉视频直播檚 missing in big cities like Vancouver and Burnaby 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 a very community feel,香蕉视频直播� said Gupta. 香蕉视频直播淧eople are very supportive. Neighbours come and welcome me to the neighbourhood香蕉视频直播� It feels very good to be welcome in a new community.香蕉视频直播�

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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