Our Story
Khao (खाओ // کھاؤ) means eat! A common saying in a Hindi or Urdu-speaking household, often by parents to their kids, urging them to eat a plateful of delicious food in front of them. While the kids (including the one writing this now), begrudgingly eat their food, without realizing the generations of stories behind it. Only now as an adult have I realized how much food and flavor matters, and how it connects people to their culture, especially when living in diaspora.
Our brand brings that emotion to food that originates in communities that live along the Indian Ocean, both in and outside of India, encompassing cuisine from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand (for now!). The ocean has long been used for trade, and spices have been exchanged among so many cultures for thousands of years, whether by force or otherwise – cinnamon from Sri Lanka, nutmeg from Indonesia, pepper from South India… The ocean carries stories of cultural exchange and fusion that have allowed cultures to adapt and use ingredients available to them today, creating a huge flavor explosion, specifically in the Indian Ocean.
With a focus on fresh local ingredients available in the Netherlands, paired with spices and herbs that originate in the Indian Ocean, this food is by no means “authentic”, but what does that mean anyway? Every household cooks food in their own unique way. With modern colonially-drawn borders that have separated people belonging to the same culture, food is a source of shared identity that crosses human-made boundaries, while regional variations add a flair that makes every recipe unique - a pinch more of turmeric, a dash less pepper - everyone cooks food in a way that feels natural to themself.
We focus on bringing food together to create unusual combinations that somehow work, and making connections between common flavors and spices that are shared between countries or regions, while also thinking of ways that present these new flavors in ways that may be familiar to the Dutch palette, without sacrificing the essence of the dish.
My story
Hi! I’m Anirudh. I came up with the idea for Khao when living away from my home (Bangalore, India), in the United States. I have always been passionate about cooking, but my longing to eat food that I grew up with, forced me to learn those recipes.
With the knowledge of the recipes of my families (Bengali and Punjabi), along with the recipes from Bangalore (I mostly grew up eating Kannadiga, Mangalorean, Kerala, and Tamilian food), I would always think of ways that these could be combined, and maybe created easily in countries where fresh spices and herbs like those found in India are not as easily accessible. Moreover, if someone didn’t grow up eating these foods and goes to an Asian store, they may be lost on how to use the spices that are available. Measurements in recipes only get you so far - these things have to be measured with the heart, not with a spoon.
I came up with the idea to create pre-made mixes that create a base for you to build on and make your own - and that is the origin of Khao Foods. After spending 10 years away from home, I returned for a few months to make my big move to Europe, to the Netherlands! Here, in my new home, I would like to give you a small preview into my world :)
I also will host cooking classes, pop ups, and supper clubs. Stay tuned via the email list or Instagram for updates!