Shuchi Mittal Naidoo: Mini Meals with Big Flavor

Posted in Culinary | 1 comment

Shuchi Naidoo is a name you may want to familiarize yourself with, as the former banker is turning heads with 29calories, an Indian tapas concept brought home. Indian food commonly invokes images of large servings filled with rich, buttery entrees followed by a post-meal laziness. But this entrepreneur is hoping to change that perception with bite-size servings, hand-picked healthy ingredients, and creative fusion recipes.

What makes this concept especially unique is that Shuchi manages to embed her other passions of home-cooking and photography into creating an unforgettable evening. The idea is a “mobile private kitchen” with customized service offerings including in-home tasting parties, collaborative events, or private dining. The in-home tasting party is a chance for foodies to visit her NYC home with stunning views of the Brooklyn Bridge as she prepares mouth-watering treats and guests mingle with other like-minded individuals.

The collaborative events are geared towards small businesses while private dining is attractive to smaller groups that want a more intimate gathering. She also allows patrons to get in on the fun and help cook the meal while providing secret tips and recipes. The avid photographer in Shuchi helps her memorialize each event for patrons and the public to view on her blog.

A true self-made entrepreneur, she is an inspiration to many hoping to crack the tough business of food. With no formal culinary training, Shuchi followed her passion in creating a niche market within a well-established industry. This passion was borne from an unwavering enthusiasm expressed by her mother who cooked for “home-food-starved” children. She realized at a young age that it was not only the food itself but the presentation of the evening that turned cooking into art. Having spent time in India, Singapore, Hong Kong, and now NYC, she tries to put a bit of each culture into her creation, spotlighting Indian cuisine under a new light.

Shuchi Naidoo has a vision of meals being more than just an individual preparing food, and 29calories is the execution of that vision. Visit her blog at www.29calories.com for more information on the concept and upcoming events.