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HIMALAYA GOURMET

MASALAS * CHUTNEYS * PICKLES * DIPS. Flavors of India for the health conscious...

Upon landing in Montreal with a graduate certificate in French Literature, working for bank of Montreal, overwhelmed with the new culture, I realized I wanted to do some more creative work. Visiting some gift store one fine Sunday afternoon in Point Claire, Quebec, it clearly dawned on me of a niche to be filled in Indian cooking. After a year of research of my own, I founded Himalaya Gourmet Sauces Inc. in 1989.

From the initial four basic products, our line has now extended to sixteen different masalas (cooking pastes), chutneys, pickles (hot relishes) and dips. As quality of our products is our main concern, we keep our sales volume manageable. We love our work and help those who enjoy to cook and experiment with Indian cuisine. Our ultimate goal is our clients satisfaction.

Living in Montreal most of my adult life and presently in Ontario, I have always enjoyed meeting with people. My passion for cooking and entertaining never seems to end. Having developed all the Himalaya Gourmet products, I love to explain to enthusiasts of Indian cuisine how to use them in preparations of some well known dishes.

My background in French literature helped me with bilingualism in Canada and in creating bilingual labels and recipes together with nutritional facts, a requirement presently in effect. Hence the magnificent recipe found on each jar.

As a culinary artist at heart, with a background in recipe development, menu planning, and quality standards I was inspired to write yet another cook book on regional delicacies saving your precious time and clutter in kitchen and ensuring your finished dish exudes quality. My latest edition (2007) Cook Book, Himalaya Gourmet Kitchen Secrets for ease in cooking with our products, features recipes on Vegetarian, Non Vegetarian and Sea Food dishes. Keeping it easy and simple to prepare with ingredients that can be found in local markets.

Taking business courses to update my skills since 1980 and recently trying to be computer literate, my most recent challenging course was in e-commerce and web design. It helped me to design my web site www.himalayagourmet.com.

Being in food business, has prompted me in taking a course at the Guelph Food Institute in food preparation & hygiene and have participated in some government sponsored food related courses. Setting up a new kitchen in Cambridge, Ontario has been a difficult and costly task. The exhaust hood, with a gas stove, an electric kettle, etc.

Good taste and good presentation are my credo which I try to project at my booth with a simple but constant attractive changes to it. All Himalaya Products are prepared with cider vinegar, pure canola oil, lemon juice and tamarind paste. Chutneys are made with sugar, honey and cider vinegar. All these are salt and additives free. Each batch is recorded for Ph and Temperature in a special log book.

Having participated in shows since 1990, I can relate to people and be patient and tolerant in trying situations. Our many satisfied repeat customers, who come to purchase Himalaya Gourmet products at several locations, in Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver are very appreciative of our dedication. Practice makes things perfect. We shall always strive to bring the best Canadian product to the ever increasing appeal for Indian cuisine.

Promoting our products in Canada and frequent visits to India has kept me abreast of novel cooking ideas. This hard work and perseverance, I hope, makes me a source of inspiration to my sons.

My future project starting in late December 2010 is to conduct Gourmet Club tours of minimum of 12 participants, to Goa, India where we shall take turns to prepare our meal of the day, visit local markets, temples, beaches, etc. Contact us for details.