Keeping with tradition

Loyal customers enjoy the flavours at Cuisine of India

Ajay Uppal is the owner and chef at Cuisine of India restaurant in Castlegar, B.C. — Photo courtesy Ajay Uppal

As owner and chef at the popular Cuisine of India restaurant in Castlegar, B.C., Ajay Uppal sticks to traditional recipes—and his customers approve, voting the restaurant Castlegar's favourite ethnic eatery in the 2013 Kootenay Business Best Places to Eat and Drink Awards. We spoke to Ajay's wife, Paramjeet (known as Pam), who manages the restaurant and provided us with answers to our questions.

Where did Ajay get his training and experience?

He started cooking at the age of 17, and started his cooking career in Seattle, where he worked for 10 or 12 years. After that he spent a few years in Vancouver before opening this restaurant in Castlegar.

Does Ajay have a favourite cookbook, or a place where he finds inspiration for his cooking?

Ajay cooks traditional dishes for the restaurant. It’s important that our customers get the flavours they expect when they order food here. He doesn’t go online. He got good training in Seattle and brought the skills and recipes here.

Which dish do you consider Ajay’s signature?

Butter chicken, lamb curry and tandoori fish are the most popular items on the menu, so I think those would be his signature dishes.