The proud owners of the newly launched restaurant, Uncle’s Kitchen - Arnold Joseph Xavier and Tina Xavier. (Morung Photo)
Yupangnenla Longkumer
Morung Express Feature
Dimapur | September 26
For those who love kebabs, biryani, rolls, meat balls and of course mouth watering chicken soup and noodles, Uncle’s Kitchen is the perfect place to drop in and the best part is the restaurant stays open till 8:00 pm to 8:30 pm. The menu has variety and the prices are affordable and yes, the food quantity is pleasing to the eyes.
The new food joint is located along the Circular Road in Dimapur and is run by a couple - Arnold Joseph Xavier and Tina Xavier, who were teachers but they left their teaching profession to pursue their passion. “…we wanted to do something different. She is passionate about cooking so am I,” said Xavier.
It is not just the deliciously made food but the secret ingredients that makes people to come back for more is their warm hospitality and their cute cuddly 3-year-old granddaughter Zoe. Guess it is just like what Ping said to his son Po in Kungfu Panda– “The secret ingredient of my secret ingredient soup is . . . nothing. There is no secret ingredient! To make something special you just have to believe it’s special.”
Also, something unusual about the restaurant is the kitchen is open for everyone to see and when asked about it, Xavier responded: “We don’t want to hide anything from our customers. Our kitchen is open to all so that people can see what we are doing.”
The humble couple said all throughout their life they have been serving people by imparting knowledge in the classrooms and even now they want to continue with the trait by serving the best food they can cook. “We did not start this with profit in mind. We want to serve the best and bring closeness among the people because serving people is serving God.”
The restaurant is hardly a month old (it was launched on Xavier’s birthday i.e August 27, 2012) but it has a good number of customers. The couple disclosed that people from Kohima came down to taste the infamous Uncle’s Kitchen’s beef rolls. Xavier said a friend suggested of advertising the restaurant on the papers but his response was “if our food is good, the word will spread.”
However, their joy was short-lived by a ‘demand letter’. The couple said they were shocked when they received it and told the ‘demand letter’ guys that they have just started the business and they are not in a position to fulfill their demand. Guess this is one reason why entrepreneurs get discouraged.
The couple too mentioned about “a special” customer who came and ate silently for days but later they found out that he has posted about Uncle’s Kitchen on NOOBS (Nagaland Open Online Barter or Sell), recommending people to drop in and fill their tummy. “Some people do good things without letting others know,” Xavier said.
Tina also said that they try their best to satisfy their customers and enjoy the food. Of which Ottilia, their daughter said money alone is not everything but it is the customers, their love and affection towards us.
