“I have loved cooking since childhood,” begins Ranitha Shabu, whose light palappams and mouth-watering kozhukattas are also a visual treat. But being a food entrepreneur wasn’t this Kochi native’s initial calling. “I began to experiment with more dishes after I gave birth to my son, Gokul, who seems happier when he sees new types of food on the table. I have tried out many recipes in the bargain,” she says.
Even though Ranitha and her husband, Shabu, were working full time, it was difficult for them to make ends meet. While she worked as a secretary at a milk society production unit in Kochi, Kerala, her husband worked for a tyre company as a foreman.
Ranitha tells The Better India how her chance endeavour now helps her support her family.
An appam venture
It was in the year 2005 that Ranitha first received an order for 100 idlis. “We live near the Resmi Arts and Sports club. One day, students from the club were going for a trip and they needed idlis for their…