Botanist Brings Indian Food to Brazil After Family Crisis

A health emergency and job loss pushed a Nagpur couple to discover their calling halfway around the world.

Deepali Bavaskar, a botanist, and her husband Vijay, a pharmaceutical executive, moved to Brazil in 1998 with no plans to open a restaurant. That changed in 2009 when Vijay suffered a cardiac arrest and lost his job. The family needed a new path forward.

Their first catering gig came through the India Trade Promotion Organisation, feeding 150 Indian business delegates at a trade fair. The food was a hit, but the real breakthrough happened in 2011 when 50 visiting Indian artists raved about their cooking all the way to the Indian embassy.

Word spread fast. In 2012, a delegation from India's Prime Minister's Office requested their catering for the Rio+20 international conference in Rio de Janeiro. The couple knew they were onto something special.

They launched Samosa & Company in São Paulo, but adapting Indian recipes for Brazilian taste buds presented real challenges. Deepali had to reduce the spice levels without losing the authentic flavors that made the dishes special.

The toughest items to perfect were dosa and idli. Finding the right ingredients in Brazil seemed impossible at first, but Deepali's background in botany helped her improvise while keeping the dishes true to their roots.

Why This Inspires

The Bavaskars turned a personal crisis into an opportunity to share their culture. Their restaurant doesn't just serve food; it bridges two continents and introduces Brazilians to the warmth of Indian hospitality.

What started as a survival plan became a cultural exchange that's fed everyone from curious São Paulo residents to visiting dignitaries.

Today, Samosa & Company stands as proof that sometimes our biggest setbacks lead us exactly where we're meant to be.