For Yashoda Naidoo, owner of Annapurna Ayurvedic Cuisine and Chai House, Ayurveda is not only a diet, it's a philosophy.
Ayurveda is based on the medical science of India, which dates back over 1000 years, Naidoo said. Its purpose is to provide balance by nourishing the body and soul with vegetarian foods that are easy to digest, she said.
Ayurveda is widely practiced in India, and Naidoo strives to keep that tradition alive at her restaurant.
"Other Indian restaurants have developed food to match the taste buds of Americans by adding meat and making the food hot or spicy," Naidoo said. "We stay away from that here and give you the real thing."
According to the Ayurveda tradition, sattvic, or pure food, is needed to heal and maintain the body. Sattvic must incorporate the six tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, astringent and pungent in every meal.
All of the menu items are made from scratch on a daily basis and only locally grown, organic produce is used, Naidoo said. The menu changes according to the season, temperature and planetary aspects, she added.
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In addition to its San Mateo location, Annapurna opened a second restaurant last July on the corner of Yale and Silver.
"We considered this location because 70 percent of our customers are from this area," Naidoo said.
Annapurna caters to the herbivores of the University area, who have a limited number of choices when it comes to vegetarian restaurants.
"They (Annapurna) are a lot more mindful about what it means to be a vegetarian," Rachel Gibbs, a senior at UNM, said.
Gibbs said other restaurants tend to be careless about mixing animal products into their vegetarian and vegan dishes.
Annapurna disproves the myth that vegetarian foods lack protein by using ingredients such as mung beans, tofu and urad dal in the food.
The most popular item on the menu, masala dosa, is a breakfast dish packed with protein, Naidoo said. Masala dosa is a crepe made of rice and urad dal, filled with a spicy vegetable mix and served with sambhar, a soup, and coconut chutney.
"Masala dosa is to India what the breakfast burrito is to New Mexico," Naidoo said.
"It is a traditional breakfast item because it is very light, wheat-free and easy to digest."
Along with vegetarian dishes, Annapurna serves a variety of teas and juices. Their chai tea, made with either soy or milk, is incomparable to any other chai in town. It is made from scratch with the proper spices, rather than the pre-made mixture that most coffee houses use.
One thing you won't find in your beverage at Annapurna is ice. According to the Ayurvedic tradition, drinks should only be served at room temperature or warmer to promote digestion.
In addition to traditional food, Annapurna provides a taste of Indian culture. The restaurant is filled with pamphlets and boards explaining the Ayurvedic tradition. Annapurna also sells imports from India such as incense, teas, candles and clothing.
The atmosphere of Annapurna is warm and friendly and the aroma of sweet incense and chai spices are an olfactory delight.
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