For us here at Homegrown, a good amount of our day is spent thinking of food, where to order in from, and arguing about which place does it better but in the end there’s little that beats a good ol’ dabba filled with home food. The second a fellow co-worker complains about being bored of ghar ka khaana, you can bet that there’ll be a good amount of us volunteering to eat their food. As an outsider in a city that’s only just begun to feel a little like home, the rise of home chefs in the city is a movement I’m definitely here for. The glorious age of the Internet has only made it easier to get the word out and our latest discovery just so happens to be Kasos—a home chef who specializes in food from Assam and Kerala.
“I’m from Assam and I married a Malyali from Kerala, so I’ve had a few years to specialize in both. The idea for Kasos stemmed from the fact that I’d end up cooking for my friend’s birthdays or anniversaries, and it was always appreciated,” says Kasturi Barua, the woman behind Kasos. She continues, laughing, “Our logo is a turtle because that’s what Kaso means in Assamese. It was what all my friends called me back in school.” Her menu is simple and sticks to a basic curry and rice combination.
“Nearly every item on the menu goes really well with steamed rice, like Malai Chicken (chicken in a yoghurt and cashew gravy) or Boror Tenga (lentil fritters in a light, sour gravy) which is an Assamese staple. The Mutton Stew is best with appam or dosa but I don’t make that as yet, perhaps in the future,” says Kasturi. Considering she only started in October, around Diwali, we’re thrilled she’s already making additions to her menu—namely the Smoked Pork—that is quickly becoming one of her most popular items to order.
Certain ingredients are even sourced specifically from Assam, such as the Bamboo Shoot and Black Sesame as Kasturi says the produce here in Mumbai varies from the kind she gets in Assam. Priced decently between INR 100 to INR 400, all you have to do to change up your office lunch routine is order a day in advance and it’ll be delivered to you, across Mumbai.
P.S. Keep a look out for her awaited dessert menu...although that might be a while. She’s looking at incorporating Chakka Payasam (jackfruit porridge) and a few sweets from Assam into it.
To place an order, call or WhatsApp Kasturi on +91 9820627449. You can even reach out to her via Kasos’ Facebook page or her own Instagrm account.
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