One of the best ways to understand a culture is through its food. Home catering service Samaas aims to do just this by offering regional home-cooked food prepared by expert home chefs, straight from their kitchens to your doorstep
The best culinary experiences need not necessarily emerge from eating at a five-star restaurant but you can also enjoy a memorable meal with home-made food from your mother’s hand-me-down recipes, food served at a homestay or offered to you from the kitchens of a highway dhaba.
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Realising this fact, strategy consultant and avid foodie Tanmay Degwekar (29) started Samaas in September, a service to help people experience ‘Culture Through Food’ (their tagline). Samaas offers various cuisines prepared by home-cooks across Mumbai and ensures that one is able to try various regional specialties from home as well as traditional recipes that have survived over time (they don’t alter traditional recipes and don’t pre-cook food).
Regional potluck
“The idea surfaced a few months back; we felt it would be interesting to offer home food for a greater cultural exchange among cultures. The food is not prepared at a commercial kitchen but in homes of chefs, including Mrs Bagchi (for Bengali food) and Mrs Nayan (for Malvani food). It ensures the home cooks get a boost. Plus, we also have a daily menu where select specials are posted,” says Degwekar, who runs Samaas with his wife from Vile Parle.
The name Samaas refers to harmony or elements coming together, which is apt for a venture like this. At present, they offer multi-course and diverse Bengali preparations, seafood-centric Malvani cuisine as well as vegetarian Puneri cuisine from the priestly communities of the city. They are keen to add more cuisines to their line-up soon.
Menu magic
Some of the dishes on offer include Bengali Mochar Chingri Chop, Shukto or mixed vegetables, Chutneycha Bangda, Kolambi Pulao, Alu Wadi, Tangy and Spicy Salmon Curry.u00a0They require at least two hours to deliver the order and at present, free home delivery is available from Bandra to Andheri. For party orders (orders above '2,000) Samaas will deliver across Mumbai.