Richland mom blends spices and cultures
When Priya Osuri couldn’t persuade her mom to open a restaurant, she instead decided to translate mom’s cooking into spice blends she could sell to grocery stores and online.
Ms. Osuri had been pondering this business for more than 10 years, wanting to share dishes such as her mom’s chicken curry with coconut rice.
But it wasn’t until 2014 that Ms. Osuri actually left her career in sales and marketing with the medical diagnostic industry to follow her passion for sharing her knowledge about Indian cuisine.
The earliest iteration of Anar Gourmet Foods focused on online sales, but now Ms. Osuri is gaining a following at local stores. McGinnis Sisters, Naturally Soergel’s and Eden’s Market sell her spice blends, and she is in discussions with other grocers.
She’s also taking her food directly to the public with local appearances, including a recipe demo and tasting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 8, at McGinnis Sisters in Adams and a class titled “Take the Mystery Out of Indian Cooking” at 7 p.m. Nov. 2, at McGinnis Sisters in Monroeville. The Oct. 8 demo and tasting will be held inside the store for passing customers. The Nov. 2 class is free, but call 412-8587000, ext. 7, for a reservation. At the class, Ms. Osuri will demonstrate how to prepare chicken tikka masala, keema with peas, and potato and egg fry.
She sells spice packets, plus packets for chicken, beef-and-mushroom, lamb and chickpea curries. She also sells spicy chicken marinade and South Indian curry powder that can be used generically in any recipe calling for curry powder.
Indian dishes often require as many as 10 to 15 different spices, added in different steps in order to layer flavors, Ms. Osuri said. She removes some of the complexity by combining certain spices and simplifying the steps for home cooks.
Typically, it takes Ms. Osuri about six months to create a new spice recipe. Her husband, Glenn Gershon, who also works in medical diagnostics, has translated his research and development experience into a step-by-step process for recipe development. At the end of the process, she prepares two dishes — one the old-fashioned way using individual spices, and the other using her newly created spice blend. If he cannot tell the difference between the two, she knows she has a spice blend ready for sale.
Fish marinade and beef biryani are the next products in the testing phase, she said.
Ms. Osuri and her family live in Richland, and she prepares her spice packets in rented space at La Dorita’s commercial kitchen in Sharpsburg. Anar Gourmet Foods is named for the couple’s 7year-old son, Rana. His name means “prince,” but when you reverse the letters to spell “Anar,” the business name means “pomegranate,” which is a symbol of “fertility, abundance and prosperity,” Ms. Osuri said, noting the name conveys the sense of desiring to bless her customers.
For more information: anargourmetfoods.com.
Vote for Burgh Bites
At press time, the Burgh Bites food truck was in seventh place in the Thomas’ English Muffins “Breakfast Battle” competition. Online voting continues through Oct. 16 with elimination rounds set each Sunday. Burgh Bites owner Ricci Minella gets a cash prize if he wins, but everyone who casts a vote online also is entered into a drawing for a $5,000 cash prize. Voters can cast a ballot once each day. thomasbreakfastbattle.com (look for Burgh Bites’ “Sunrise BLT”).
Bavarian bashes
Autumnfest: Oktoberfest Weekend: German food, Bavarian games, beer tastings, live music, chairlift rides, kids’ activities, artisan fair. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Free admission; $5 per car parking. 7springs.com.
Oktoberfest: 90th anniversary celebration for Providence Heights Alpha School with food, drinks, bounce house, face painting, balloon artist, raffles. 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Providence Heights Alpha School in McCandless. Free admission. alphaschool.org.
Oktoberfest Rooftop Party: German fare from The Commoner, steins of beer, live music, gingerbread heart necklaces, contests. 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Biergarten, Hotel Monaco, William Penn Place, Downtown. $25 online; $30 at the door. eventbrite.com (search on “Biergarten”).
British bashes
Fall Fantasy High Tea: Six-course tea. 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at McGinnis Sisters Monroeville. $30; reservations required. 412-858-7000, ext. 7.
Edwardian Social: Ice cream social, vintage car show, period dancing, live music, pie-baking contest; come dressed in period clothing. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Pavilion at Avonworth Community Park. Free. edwardiansocial.com.
Classes/workshops
Plates & Pours Tasting Classes: Intimate experience showcasing four courses paired with wine, cider and specialty cocktails. 8 p.m. Thursday and Oct. 27 at Six Penn Kitchen, Downtown. Thursday’s menu features sage tortellini filled with butternut squash mousse, bacon braised kale stew, smoked pork tenderloin and caramel apple torte; October’s menu also features fall specialties. $45. Reservations: 412-566-7366.
Beyond the Menu with Nic DiCio:
The owner of Reyna Foods, Pittsburgh’s first Mexican grocery store, shares his perspective on Pittsburgh’s changing food scene. 3 p.m. Sunday at Smallman Galley, Strip District. Come early for brunch if desired. Presentation is free, but reservations are required. eventbrite.com (search on “DiCio”).
Walks
Mushroom walks: All walks take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Townsend Park, Murrysville; Oct. 15, Deer Lakes Park, Tarentum; Oct. 22, Hartwood Acres, Hampton. Free. wpamushroomclub.org.
Contest
Kontos Kids Back-toSchool Recipe Contest: Enter your recipe for a creative lunch or after-school snack using at least one Kontos product and you could win a Kontos food basket valued at $150. Submit recipe with photo before Sunday and use #KontosKids when sharing. facebook.com/Kontosfoods.