Deli India - A Traditional Delicatessen With New Ideas
 Deli India, an Indian delicatessen and teashop situated in Brighton’s North Laine, is celebrating its first month in business. A new concept in Brighton, Deli India provides authentic, freshly prepared Indian meals and snacks, accompanied by teas and drinks to suit all tastes.
Whilst Indian restaurants and takeaways are in plentiful supply, the owners of Deli India were aware that it was difficult to find Indian food in Brighton that met three important criteria: to taste great, to be made from traditional Indian ingredients and recipes, and perhaps most importantly, to be healthy.
“Curry is an extremely tasty and popular food,” Farida Pathan, co-owner of Deli India said. “But it is a shame when people think that the dishes they are eating, which are often packed with artificial colours and flavours and swimming in grease, are the same as those that Indian people eat in their own home. Our aim is to show that Indian food does not have to be an unhealthy indulgence – if prepared in the right way a curry can be as healthy as it is delicious.”
 As well as the range of meat and vegetarian curries, customers can order wraps, savoury snacks, dips and soups, all available to eat in or take away. Those with a sweet tooth can try the delightful Indian halwa and melt-in-the-mouth biscuits, such as naan khataay (Indian shortbread). Their speciality - thalis - are proving very popular. A selection of curries and savouries in metal pots and served on a tray, they allow you to try a bit of everything. (Pictured - Gujarati vegetable curry, chickpea curry, dhal, vegetable samosa, bhajis, rice, chapatti and two dips made on the premises - yoghurt, cucumber & chilli and spicy tomato sauce.)
Another aim of Deli India is to offer an alternative to the coffee store chains as a place to meet and enjoy a drink. “As the British drink more than two cups of tea for every one of coffee, we want to give tea drinkers the same level of choice and quality that coffee drinkers experience,” said Farida. With this in mind, 99 different types of tea are available, from the traditional Darjeeling and English breakfast, to vanilla chai latte and natural fruit teas made with real fruit pieces.
Although breaking from the norm in some areas, Deli India still offers the best features of a traditional delicatessen; the shelves are crammed with produce and ingredients including a wide range of spices, chutneys and oils. Recipes and advice are available for those who would like to recreate the mouth-watering dishes available in-store in their own homes.
Deli India, 81 Trafalgar Street,
Brighton - 01273 699985
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