APART from its very delectable oranges, the one other food that has brought glory to Nagpur is inarguably the flavours of our very savoury, very exquisite Saoji ‘tadka’. So, if someone is eulogising Saoji as ‘famous all over the world - right from Nagpur to New Jersey’ and you are about to dismiss it as mere sloganeering or hyperbole, take a pause and a deep breath. For, that is absolutely true. And a glorious proof of it is Swapna and Neeraj Sagdeo’s ‘Nagpuri Saoji.’ Both IT professionals, settled in United States for some two decades now, the two missed their home town Nagpur, particularly the taste of authentic Nagpuri food. Their cravings forced them to take it upon themselves to bring the flavours of Nagpur to New Jersey. “It took us a few years to recreate the taste to our own satisfaction. Our friends here tried these dishes and would love what we prepared. They frequently asked us to start a business out of this,” says Swapna in a tête-à-tête with ‘The Hitavada’. As the couple started seriously pondering over the possibility of giving it a try, they started a Facebook page on July 4, 2016. As the word spread, many questions emerged. So, to satisfy the queries, the two thought of hosting a small backyard party. “A group of die-hard Saoji fans from North Jersey contacted us and wanted to come down for the event,” recalls Neeraj. It must have given the couple some jitters as not only were these people Saoji food fans who used to cook that type of food in their homes, but a few of them had even partnered with Saoji joints back in Nagpur. Finally, some 45 people, many of whom were total strangers, attended the event and also vouched for the authenticity of the Saoji taste.

 

 

 

“Over the last six years we have organised multiple cookouts. We have also been shipping across the United States,” says Neeraj. The couple opened their first restaurant in New Jersey in Dec 2021 and since there is no looking back. Their restaurant ‘Nagpuri Saoji’ has become a popular joint for all Saoji and Varhadi food lovers. “The journey has been full of exciting twists and turns. We have met thousands of fellow Nagpurians and Saoji lovers through this time and its always satisfying to hear encouraging words from them,” says Swapna. The growing reputation of their restaurant is such that celebrities like Avadhoot Gupte, Swapnil Bandodkar and Rahul Deshpande have visited them. Recently, Nagpur’s very own masterchef Vishnu Manohar in August visited them. “He spent almost a day with us, spoke to customers and also gave us some very valuable tips. It was a great experience,” recalls Swapna. For any dish, ingredients are but one of the crucial keys. Authentic Saoji food also has a lot to do with authentic masalas. “We procure spices from India of course but most of the raw material we use is from stores in US. The masalas are prepared in small quantities to maintain its freshness,” tells Swapna. So their customer base is primarily those who migrated from Vidarbha. To this Swapna says, initially only Indians visited but now people of different nationalities, who wish to try something different, also visit their restaurant.

 

“The Americans often say, the food is unlike anything they have tasted before. And though they do struggle to understand the spices, they do get hooked to the taste.” “Those from Nagpur rekindle their memories, others savour the taste of spicy food. Then again, to cater to different palettes we also offer Nagpuri style Butter Chicken, Paneer Butter Masala, Dal Tadka and different vegetarian Varhadi options as well,” Swapna says. The couple dreams of having the footprint of Nagpuri Saoji restaurant across the US. “We are expecting to open multiple storefronts over the next couple of years. We are actively working on providing franchising opportunities across major US cities,” Neeraj concludes.