Zzungry-Bangalore

 “Recipes from different parts of India, served to different parts of Bangalore.”

Subash Baliga, Sandeep Rana, and Ashish Kalya founders of the Bangalore-based venture Zzungry are bringing royalty to your plates at home. Zzungry is your answer to a food venture that not only delivers great food but also an experience- an experience of eating the best of Indian cuisine. Subash Baliga spoke to me about Zzungry and how they are planning adding a “zing to your food, and a zen to your hunger pangs!”

Subash has extensive experience in the restaurant sector and a passion for great food. Sandeep is an IHM & IIM graduate. Ashish has a BTech followed by a post-graduate degree from IIM. After a few years of corporate careers, they decided that their passion was in the food sector. During a chance encounter at a mutual friends place, the three of them got talking about this interest and the need for a value-based premium product line. “When it comes to food, people often do not give Indian cuisine its due. We see many places where there are 150 dishes on the menu and they all taste the same. There is a lot of art in Indian cuisine which is diluted greatly. When we started talking about creating a premium product line, we realized we need to create something which also heightens the experience of getting great Indian food. People often think they need to go to a fine dining place to get this experience. We decided to bring this pan Indian food experience to their homes.”

This team is extremely conscientious about the food they choose to give you. They pick and choose the finest of Indian cuisine which in their own words is “distinct, rich in culture and taste.” They are supported by Rajeev Bhadani, a graduate of the IHM with experience in Taj Mumbai, in executing these culinary ideas. Together they come up with an interesting menu every week, a “five-star” feast for that you truly deserve without all the extra costs.

“We plan weekly menus that are “pan Indian”. Each menu has starters, main course, accompaniments, and desserts. The starters and main course have both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. We are passionate about the food, and also about being consistent in all our preparations. Having a weekly menu helps us to achieve this. We have also found that from an operational point of view it helps us to be more structured and organized. The desserts that we offer are not you regular sweet treats, but premium desserts often not found in the usual menus. Customers have the option of ordering combo meals from a selection of combos we suggest.”

Their description of the menu and the thought behind it definitely piqued my interest and I took a quick peak at the Zzungry website to see the dishes they offer. I found options like “Mumbhara Paneer”, “Birbali Lambh Seekh”, “Noorjehani Kofta”, “Murg Kurchan”, “Dal Paratha Maghadi”, and “Anjeer ke Shahi Tukde”!! Most definitely a royal treat!

So how are people responding to this new concept? “A lot of people who have tried Zzungry have shared with us that at the outset they were very curious about the concept, but once they tasted the first morsel they realized the difference. We also hand wrote letters to the first 100 customers and they really appreciated the personal touch. The weekly menu sets us apart, in the sense, when people really like one of our dishes and recommend it someone; it is still available for them to try out.” Reviews talk not only about the delicious food but also how much of a value for money they are.

Subash shares that their plans ahead with Zzungry is to expand to every nook and corner of Bangalore,  giving people an opportunity to have access to quality food at affordable rates. “We are not a delivery company. We believe in building a sustainable framework for a food business which addresses the issues in this ecosystem. We have built a team of like-minded people who understand our passion. We are looking to add more people who share this passion with us.  Food is something where people rate you on a regular basis.  That means we have to be consistent with our product. The feedback that we get from our customers goes straight to the chefs, and changes are made accordingly. Our plans are to build a solid food company that understands its consumer base.”

Advice to people looking to start their own food venture? “This is a tough business. Getting the right team is very important to make this roller coaster ride exciting. Once you think of a food venture you have to ensure that there is never a compromise in quality. ”

Thank you, Subash and Zzungry for sharing your interesting journey with us.

Zzungry is a Bangalore-based venture which brings fine dining to your own home. Make sure to stop by their website to get your great Indian food experience. Do visit their Facebook page  to stay updated.

All Images Courtesy Of Zzungry

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