Housewife scores with Koli takeaways

A small room on the fifth floor of a co-operative housing society at Mahim Causeway cooks up some of the best and most affordable homemade Koli seafood in the city.

Run by a housewife Manisha Dhanu, the venture took shape three years ago. Ashok, her husband, used to take packed lunch to work. “During lunch break, we used to sit together to eat. My colleagues used to relish the food I would get,” recollects Ashok.

As time passed, his colleagues suggested that Manisha consider cooking as a business opportunity. Taking the advice seriously, the Dhanus started a small catering venture of homemade Koli food.

Kolambhi Bhat (prawns rice), Mushi Kheema, stuffed Pomfret and Bombil Curry are Manisha’s  specialty dishes. Her simple recipe is what makes her dishes so popular. “I don’t use fancy equipment or techniques to cook. The only thing that is different is the masala I use in the food. Nobody can make this kind of masala, as everything is prepared at home,” says Manisha.

Though Manisha does share her recipe of prawn rice with relatives, theirs doesn’t turn out like anything she cooks. “This is because of the masala, and the proportion that goes in the dish,” she adds.

The costliest dish on her menu is prawn rice and stuffed pomfret, priced at Rs125. The menu comprises 16 dishes, ranging in cost from Rs40 to Rs125. The Dhanus take home delivery orders only till Mahim, Matunga and Dadar, that too in the evening when Ashok gets home from work. Otherwise, customers need to come to her residence to collect the parcel.

Ashok says, “At times, customers ask us if they can eat here. But, we have to tell them it’s our home.”

The order needs to be placed a day in advance and Manisha goes shopping for fresh fish herself. Her helpers are her two daughters, Sudaivi and Shubhada, who are keen to step into their mother’s shoes.

The only time the Dhanus have increased rates is when the price of fish increased or when vegetable prices had gone up.

Otherwise, the family prefers to keep the prices of their dishes nominal. “My daughters’ friends tell me that with the kind of quantity I serve, I should increase the prices,” Manisha serves.

But, the Dhanus have consciously kept prices in check as their main aim is to provide satisfaction to their customers. “All we want to see is a smile on our customers’ faces. That is far greater than any amount,” Ashok says with a smile.

Manisha played a perfect host to us too, when she served us her specialty dishes — prawn rice, Mushi kheema and fried prawns.

Non-oily, simple and scrumptious.

Koli food is known for being spicy. So, at times, Manisha gets requests to go easy on the chillies or the oil.

On days when there are no orders, Manisha experiments with recipes. “The other day, I made egg rice and it turned out pretty well. Now, egg rice, too, is part of our menu” says Manisha.

The Dhanus are thinking of starting a restaurant to cater to a larger number of people. “If we find a good property at Dadar, we’ll start a small restaurant soon,” Ashok says.

To place orders, call Manisha Dhanu on 97696 61537/ 99872 08333.