Indian fare featured at convenience store

It’s rare to find Indian cuisine in the Flathead Valley, but authentic dishes are available in an unlikely location: the Conoco gas station at 1090 N Meridian Road in Kalispell.

Jasbir Kaur recently started serving up her family recipes at the convenience store.

Her menu is simple. Kaur offers two chicken dishes — butter chicken with rice and curry chicken with rice or naan. She also makes samosas, a pastry with a potato filling, and lassis, a beverage similar to a smoothie.

“People love samosas,” said Muskan Sohi, Kaur’s daughter.

The family, along with Sohi’s father, Rangit Singh Sohi, moved to the Flathead from Washington approximately six months ago. Sohi said they have a lot of relatives in Montana, so they decided to relocate closer to their family.

One big change wasn’t enough for Kaur, who decided to take a stab at commercial cooking once the family got settled in Kalispell.

“She just wanted to start and try [to see] if people would like it here,” Sohi recalled. The reviews have been more than favorable. “People love it.”

Kaur’s culinary background is limited to her family kitchen, but it’s a hobby she loves, according to her daughter.

“My mom is happy,” Sohi observed. “She loves making food…She can cook all day long.”

“My mom is a really good cook,” Sohi added.

Those who frequent the gas station seem to share Sohi’s enthusiasm for Kaur’s culinary skills.

“They’re glad we’re here,” Sohi said of the family’s customers. Kaur has already amassed a loyal following among diners who stop by for lunch on a daily or near-daily basis.

Sohi said the chicken dishes are Kaur’s most popular items, although there’s also a lot of appreciation for samosas as a vegetarian option.

Mango lassis are growing in popularity, too, even though they are a less familiar option to some customers. Kaur makes her lassis with mango and yogurt, and they’re her daughter’s favorite of the items available at the convenience store.

“I love mango lassis,” Sohi gushed. “There are few days I don’t drink it.”

Sohi said Kaur’s cooking style comes from the Punjabi tradition, derived from the northwestern region of India on the border with Pakistan. Punjabi food is known for being rich and buttery. Vegetarian and meat dishes are common throughout the region.

“It’s based on a part of the culture,” Sohi explained, adding that Punjabi-style cuisine has become especially popular outside of India.

Right now, Kaur is the only one taking care of all the cooking needs at the convenience store. Sohi said she doesn’t have any plans at this time to expand or add on more helpers. Sohi admitted she hasn’t inherited her mother’s talents in the kitchen.

However, she said the family is thinking about branching out into other dishes, but they haven’t determined what those might be. “We’re still wanting to see what else people like,” Sohi said.

“This is a whole new experience for us,” she added. “Right now, we’re happy here.”

Kal’s Food Store, which serves Kaur’s dishes, is located at 1090 N Meridian, Kalispell, 59901.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at 406-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.