TORONTO: My passion for doing something with food started when I would see my parents doing mass cooking on various occasions in our community and city.
When I moved to Canada (Milton), I felt that I could contribute to charity in a meaningful way just not by donating but also working towards earning money for charity. That’s how my food business began.
I started as a small-time home chef. I love to call myself as a “passionate caterer” because I am a home financing advisor with one of the top banks and my work is very intense. But my passion for catering to parties has been the reason for my happiness and cheerfulness. After paying for raw materials, whatever I make from catering goes to some meaningful charity.
I started my catering service in June 2019, but things changed when COVID-19 hit. But I found this service to be more in demand during the early pandemic period when people were stuck at one place and eating own family cooked food.
When they got bored with eating one variety of home-made food, these people needed a change. That’s when I started catering to individuals and families, instead of parties. I brought down the price and started take small orders to keep the momentum going. I did Rajasthani Thalis and South Indian Thalis, and people would wait in queues to get their packets.
My catering service was extremely successful, and people are waiting for me to do it again.
I find great pleasure in making Diwali savouries and sweets – pinnis and ladus (sweet balls) of various kinds. My most popular ladus are pregnancy ladus and post-partum ladus. Thanks to the winter season, my Ayurvedic ladus are also much in demand.
I am a vegetarian caterer and provide all cuisines. My mission is to serve people with the kind of food and sweets that stir nostalgia in them and bring back memories of food back in India. In the process, I also help the less privileged with the funds that I earn.
ALSO BY USHA RAJA: Why Khandvi is such a delicious Gujarati delicacy
Nice to see you doing Usha what you love to do the most. I vouch for the taste of food cooked by you. You served us delicious Kandvi and chat and many other items. I can still feel the taste.
Good Job Usha👍
great work 👍🏼Keep it up Ushaji