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

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

含羞草研究社淲e opened on Sunday (Nov. 12) 含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淚 have a lot of clients in Salmon Arm who I bring, a lot of hospitality cooks and food service people too,含羞草研究社� said Gupta. 含羞草研究社淪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含羞草研究社檚 a large Indian community growing in Salmon Arm as well. So I thought this would be perfect.含羞草研究社�

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.

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

含羞草研究社淪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.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淎nd my wife is a really good cook,含羞草研究社� said Gupta.

The couple含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 been finding locals very knowledgeable and appreciative of regional Indian cuisines.

含羞草研究社淪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 含羞草研究社� it含羞草研究社檚 really wonderful,含羞草研究社� said Gupta. 含羞草研究社淎 lot of people actually cook Indian food! A lot of people have even taken courses on how to cook Indian food.

含羞草研究社淎 steady stream of guests have come in and said we含羞草研究社檙e so glad you含羞草研究社檙e open. Now we don含羞草研究社檛 have to go to Kamloops or Kelowna to hunt for some of the Indian spices or Indian products, so that含羞草研究社檚 really good.含羞草研究社�

That type of interaction has been steady, further supporting the couple含羞草研究社檚 decision to relocate to Salmon Arm.

含羞草研究社淭his is what含羞草研究社檚 missing in big cities like Vancouver and Burnaby 含羞草研究社� it含羞草研究社檚 a very community feel,含羞草研究社� said Gupta. 含羞草研究社淧eople are very supportive. Neighbours come and welcome me to the neighbourhood含羞草研究社� It feels very good to be welcome in a new community.含羞草研究社�

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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