The next time you walk down Lower Chawl, forget about the electrical shops. Step into Saria Stove Depot for the finest range of kitchen utensils, light kitchen equipment and tableware. It’s an old establishment, started 65 years ago by Mr. Fida Ali. And as the name suggests Mr. Ali used to sell Swedish petromax stoves.

But that was a long time ago. Now his son Shabbir Saria and grandson Ali manage the place. Ask any restaurant, hotel, caterer or for that matter catering institute and they will tell you that the products at Saria are undoubtedly the best.

“I have dealt with all the greats in the htoel industry. Not just the present day chefs and owners but even the old timers like Thangam Philip and her predecessor Belfield Smith. We try to cater to everyone’s needs. And if something is not available off the shelf, they we have it made for the customer. We don’t have a factory, we merely outsource all our requirements.” At Sarias’ you can buy everything you need to set up a kitchen. Let’s see, there are copper bottom pans, spice boxes, spoons and servers, crockery, cake tins, jelly moulds, cake coolers, woks, colanders, serving dishes, trays, fondue sets, sizzler trays (which is a popular item), egg beaters, graters, rolling pins, chopping boards, baking trays, peelers, kitchen knives, tableware (spoons, forks, knives), salt and pepper shakers, menu holders, even cocktail stirrers and toothpicks. Prices vary, depending on the product, size and of course the quantity.

Most people think the store only sells wholesale. But in fact, it sells retail at wholesale prices. So you won’t just find hoteliers browsing around but regular shoppers as well.

“Until some time ago they had a virtual monopoly in the market. But now there are a lot more players. But we have managed to keep our reputation and we still have clients that have been patronising us for decades. Thankfully for us, that has not changed.”

Saria Stove Depot, 26, Lohar Chawl,
Mumbai 400 002. Tel: 022 2208 2314
E-mail: sariastove@hotmail.com