Energy crisis forces Indian restaurants to adapt

Restaurants large and small in India are in dire straits due to the Middle East wars. “Overnight, you go from making a lot of money to losing a lot of money.'' Kitchens in India run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). About 60 percent of India's cooking gas is primarily supplied through the Strait of Hormuz. However, imports have slowed due to conflicts in the Middle East, leading to panic buying of gas cylinders in India. Two years ago, Sakshi Joshi opened a small food stall in western India selling momos, steamed dumplings filled with meat and vegetables. Joshi said her family opposed the idea because they didn't think it was a respectable job for a woman. “I loved Mexican food and I loved India.” Bart Muller is a Maryland native who fell in love with India during a study abroad program. “I wanted to come back to India and spend some time here, and this was the way to do it.” So in 2012, he opened California Burrito in Bangalore. Currently, we have over 130 locations across India. “We have burritos, salads, rice bowls, etc. It's not exactly fusion, but we try to take inspiration from that to suit the way Indians cook.” But now, with little to no access to cooking gas, both businesses are pivoting to survive. Joshi closed his food stall for more than a week to learn how to cook using wood and coal. She also had to change the menu. Unlike Joshi, California Burrito had some gas in reserve when the war began. But to keep its doors open, the company spent more than $100,000 purchasing electric induction stoves and fryers. “We were quick, so we placed orders before other people did. We got approval for electrification. Stores that needed increased capacity from an electrical load standpoint, we got that done.” This allowed the company to keep the menu the same. “Products that are currently being cooked with electricity are fajita vegetables and paneer, and barbecue chicken grilled on an electric grill. The big difference with this electrification is that the batch sizes are much smaller, which means you have to cook more frequently.” California Burrito plans to integrate some gas again when gas becomes available. “Frankly, power is not very reliable. It's not always there. So LPG was the most reliable method. I think this war was a big wake-up call for Indians about the role that LPG plays in our daily lives,” Joshi said as he ditched firewood and returned to gas.