Pooja Spices, Pizza Plus & Hot Stuff Foods

Ranjan and Gita Chhibber are such an accommodating pair of shopkeepers they keep adding services to support their customers. Hot Stuff Foods is the newest extra they're offering, hot foods to go or eat in. But they started Pooja's Spices, named for their daughter, 21 years ago, to sell hard-to-find ingredients to the growing Indian community.

Ranjan had been working in New York selling Indian appliances. His travels brought him to the Washington area, "And I thought, I like this area better." Seeing a gap in the market for Indian food, they decided to open their own store. He and his wife have worked hard over the years, increasing their hours rather than whittling them back. Hard-to-find spices like black sesame seed, fenugreek and more are sold in manageable quantities in sealed packs. In the freezer are ready-made foods from the Udupi and Deep brands, like frozen Dal Puri, Matar Paneer, Samosas and several one-course dishes. There are also blocks of Paneer cheese. Ranjan says the Rasmalai sweet dumplings made from cottage cheese soaked in sweetened and thickened milk is some of the best he's ever eaten. He has a stock of Indian beers, including Kingfisher and the lesser known Flying Horse Lager, Taj Mahal and Haywards 5000. There's a small display of watches and bangles, and he's added a number of food products to please his growing Latino customers.

Pooja Spices, Pizza Plus & Hot Stuff Foods, 298 Sunset Park Dr, Herndon, 703 471 4378.

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