Home comforts makes Spice Rack a favourite
“OUR FOOD will remind you of home”, a takeaway has said in a bid to become Wokingham’s first Curry King.
Earlier this month, Wokingham.Today asked for readers’ help to find the tastiest curry house across Wokingham borough.
One of the first to be nominated is Spice Rack, a family-run takeaway specialising in home-made, vegetarian cuisine in Calcot but with a strong following in Wokingham borough.
Launched in 2019, it offers South Indian food, and is managed by Ramya Giri and her husband.
“[Spice Rack] came about from a passion to let people know that Indian cuisine isn’t all about curry,” Ms Giri said. “There are so many other dishes that people can eat, particularly from a vegetarian menu, like lentil burgers for example.”
She said her family frequents vegan markets in Woodley and Wokingham and regularly support a range of charity and school events.
“We’ve done fairs in schools around Christmas and in the summer holidays, as well as a fundraiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind,” she explained.
When Spice Rack launched, Ms Giri said it was the only vegetarian Indian restaurant in Reading.
“We didn’t have anything like it,” the owner added. “There are people who prefer vegetarian-only and it can sometimes be difficult trying to find something that suits your requirements.”
Now, she is hoping Spice Rack will become Wokingham’s next Curry King based on the relationship it has with its customers.
“We are quite unparalleled in the taste and variety of food we provide,” Ms Giri explained. “Everything is customisable and we are very person-centred in our approach.”
She said alongside offering a range of vegan and vegetarian options, Spice Rack takes extra measures to offer gluten-free dishes on request.
“It’s all been very welcomed and appreciated by our clients,” she said.
“One person even said our food feels like home which is a real credit and was very moving to read, because we are really happy to reach somebody on that level.”
Ms Giri has since thanked readers for their nomination in the Curry King competition too, adding: “We’re grateful for all the support we’ve had during the pandemic.
“We’ve had a lot of engagement from our clients who have supported us, and keep an eye out for us at the upcoming markets.”
Anjan Ranganathan, one of the people who nominated Spice Rack, said it was his favourite, while Sanjay Purushothaman said: “They go to great lengths to provide an authentic taste of food from South India. It’s also vegan friendly.”
Wokingham.Today is asking readers to continue nominating their favourite places to dine out.
Send us a message on Facebook or email news@ wokingham.today to tell us about your top curry house and why you think it deserves to be Wokingham’s Curry King.
The winner will be crowned following a series of knock-out votes on social media.