Cradled within the lofty inexperienced Himalayas, Srinagar is thought for its scenic magnificence, the picturesque Dal Lake, and the breathtaking mountain views. Rising up on this hilly city, Azmat Ali Mir has at all times been fascinated by the enchanting fantastic thing about her homeland and its wealthy tradition.

At a time when her friends needed to develop into princesses, Azmat’s childhood fantasy was to develop into a journey journalist or personal a caravan meals truck and go across the metropolis serving grilled scorching canine. As an alternative of watching cartoons, she would spend her day watching meals channels, enriching her information of Kashmiri delights.

However this fantasy received misplaced as she grew up. Azmat turned a pc science engineer and moved to Bengaluru in 2018.

Quick ahead to 2023, 30-year-old Azmat is now fulfilling her childhood dream with an eatery that gives genuine Kashmiri meals that continues to be packed all through the week with foodies. We sat down along with her to hint her journey of opening a Kashmiri restaurant in Bengaluru.

A actuality examine

Earlier than transferring to Bengaluru, Azmat was married right into a non-Kashmiri household. She immensely missed her residence and every part related to it, particularly its native meals and language.

Within the quest to be in contact along with her roots, she began on the lookout for eating places that supplied Kashmiri meals within the metropolis. “I visited a couple of locations that claimed to serve conventional meals however I might come again very disenchanted. It was nothing near what the actual Kashmiri meals was about,” she tells The Higher India.

“Many of the eating places claimed to serve Wazwan which requires a extremely expert meals preparation type. For those who miss out on one step, it is not going to style the identical. Gushtabae yakhein and ristae are two complicated dishes to cook dinner. On this, meat needs to be pounded on a heavy stone slab utilizing a walnut wooden hammer. It’s a labour-intensive course of. Folks right here use grinders which break the meat and the feel left is that of a kofta slightly than a sausage,” she explains.

“Apart from this, if I discuss Kashmiri pulao, individuals right here serve it with pineapples and cherries. Whereas an actual Kashmiri pulao is cooked in a bone marrow inventory that provides it a savoury style. It’s then topped with dry fruits and nuts, not pineapples and cherries! What damage me most was that individuals right here didn’t want to make any effort to know the genuine methodology of preparation,” says Azmat.

When Kashmiris unite exterior of Kashmir

In the meantime, there was no aid to Azmat’s eager for her homeland. So, in 2019, she determined to meet up with her school mates who have been settled within the metropolis. “I created a WhatsApp group however an hour later, 200 individuals joined the group. Later, this quantity grew a lot greater than what I anticipated. I ended up internet hosting a ticketed occasion for 1,000 individuals,” she provides.

For this, Azmat not solely sourced spices from Kashmir but in addition conventional bands, comedians, singers, poets, and cooks referred to as Wazas from her marriage ceremony. “It was a large success. It was the primary time Kashmiris received collectively exterior Kashmir,” she says with delight.

Taking this as a chance and an try and do her bit in order that her area’s meals is represented in an actual genuine method, Azmat launched Sarposh. The eatery presents a variety of genuine Kashmiri delights from the multi-course meal Wazwan that contains tabak maaz, methi maaz, seekh kabab, rogan josh, gushtabae yakhein, ristae, marchewangan kormeh, to kong kahwae, and extra.

To make sure the meals is ready in a standard method, Azmat has employed 15 skilled Wazas from Kashmir and will get spices like cumin from Gurez, Kashmiri purple chillies from Pulwama, saffron from Pampore, apricots from Ladakh, and walnuts from the properties of her group members.

Organising a small Kashmir in Bengaluru

In addition to meals, Azmat tried to provide a homely vibe with Sarposh’s ambiance. Arrange on a 3,500 sq. toes space, the eatery imitates an extension of her Srinagar residence. “We have now given cosy areas, a carpeted flooring seating space, and a lounge space to loosen up. One shouldn’t really feel that they’re strolling right into a restaurant, however slightly strolling right into a lounge of a Kashmiri residence,” she provides.

The eatery has additionally included conventional craft gadgets like walnut wooden, papier mache, pashmina, and pottery, into the decor of the house. 

In the present day, her 70-seater eatery stays full of 100% occupancy in a number of rotations. However this feat was not as straightforward.

Trying again to the difficult part of her entrepreneurial journey, Azmat says, “In 2019, I give up my job to dedicate myself to establishing this restaurant. However quickly Article 370 was revoked and my group received caught in Kashmir. I misplaced contact with my group together with all the cash that I used to kick off the eatery,” she says.

Just a few months later, when Azmat received in contact along with her group, she once more invested hefty quantities to restart the work. “However as quickly as we have been about to announce our launch, the COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdown was introduced. With out a single day in operation, our place was shut. I wasn’t positive what to do anymore,” she provides.

Heartbroken Azmat went to her dad and mom in Srinagar. “By this time, we had exhausted all our funds. I had accepted my failure and went again residence. Nonetheless, my dad and mom inspired me to not surrender due to monetary constraints. I gave myself one other two months and determined that if any person doesn’t stroll in now then I’ll shut it although it might be a really arduous resolution,” she provides.

As quickly as individuals adjusted to the brand new regular, Azmat’s place additionally began welcoming diners in massive numbers. “And since then, there was no wanting again,” she smiles.

“I might have by no means in my wildest desires imagined that my life would take this flip. Not everyone will get such a chance. Many individuals get up within the morning with none enthusiasm for his or her work. I’m so grateful that lastly, I’m doing one thing I’m genuinely keen about,” says Azmat.

Edited by Padmashree Pande. All photographs: Sarposh (Instagram)