WORCESTER — A new eatery offering Indian-fare has recently opened in Worcester Public Market.

Called Namaste Woo, the booth offers samosas, loaded naan, mixed vegetable paratha and other Indian specialties.

Shrewsbury resident Pooja Vishal heads up the operation, as well as an online business she started in 2018 called Urban Spice World, where she sells prepackaged, organic meal kits inspired by her late mother’s cooking. 

“Back in India, I belonged to a very foodie family and my mom has always been pampering us with lots of delicacies each day,” said Vishal. Later adding, “These meals are completely authentic, ancient, grand mom kind of recipes; that’s something I learned from my mom.”

Vishal prepares all her food in the Worcester Regional Food Hub’s kitchens. The Food Hub is a culinary business incubator which recruits local food entrepreneurs in order to increase access to local, nutritious food to Worcester residents.  

Vishal credits the hub’s director, Shon Rainford, with helping her get her businesses off the ground. 

“I met Shon from the Worcester Regional Food Hub,” said Vishal, who is a member of the Food Hub. “He helped me get all my licenses in place and get started off.”

Initially, Vishal began selling her meal kits to local farmers markets, then she took Urban Spice World online and last September she held the grand opening of Namaste Woo.  At the Worcester Public Market, Vishal’s kits are not sold at her eatery, but rather, at The Market Pantry. 

According to Vishal, her most popular meal kits come from opposite ends of the spectrum. One of the best sellers is masala khichidi, a palatable meal that’s easy on the stomach made with mixed lentils, quinoa and basmati rice, and the other popular kit is biryani an exotic flavored rice that comes from India.

For more on Urban Spice World and Namaste Woo please go to: https://urbanspiceworld.com/ and https://www.namastewoo.com/.