The food stall belongs to three cooks, all in their twenties, who offer a humble prayer at the start and finish of each business day.
Their prayers are a request for the success of their small business that began operations on Feb 10, and for their ability to continue feeding more hungry and homeless people in their area.
Before Nabindran Borah, Sanjay Jayashankar and Duncan Nages Scully opened their food stall, they were working at a restaurant called The Spice Kitchen.
However, the lockdown imposed in January due to the Covid-19 pandemic badly affected business. The trio not only had to take pay cuts and were only needed in the restaurant’s kitchen on three days of the week.
Desperate for a way to supplement their meagre incomes, the three friends took a leap of faith and opened what they call Quarantine Home Food.
Quarantine Home Food is not your ordinary Indian food stall. Sanjay, 28, tells FMT that he and his friends wanted to help ease the financial burden of many who lost their jobs because of the pandemic.
“Many aren’t able to afford full meals, let alone pay for additional delivery charges when ordering online.
“That’s why the price of our food is one of the cheapest in Penang. Delivery is even free for customers who live within a 10km radius.”
And, they weren’t kidding when they said you’d pay rock-bottom prices for a truly satisfying traditional home-cooked Indian meal.
Meals go for as low as RM4.50 and is capped off at RM6, a real bargain since portions are generous whether it’s the meat or vegetarian dishes you pick.
“People come back for the taste of our food and for the price as currently it’s the lowest in Penang,” Sanjay says, flashing a wide grin.
Duncan may be the youngest of the three at 21 years old, but his signature dish – sambal chicken – is cooked with the flair of a seasoned cook.
“I learnt this recipe from my grandfather and it’s a village-style dish because he taught me how to cook it when we were living in a village,” says Duncan, highlighting the dish’s sweet, sour and spicy flavours.
But if you’re craving something even spicier, have a go at Nabindran’s special pepper chicken, yet another crowd-pleaser.
“I worked in Singapore once and opened my own restaurant six years ago in my old town at Sungai Petani called Spices of Penang,” Nabindran, 24, says, explaining that the restaurant has since closed shop.
The extra special aspect of the trio’s business besides the great-tasting food at super affordable prices, is that they end each working day with delivering free meals to the needy.
There is no such thing as leftovers at this food stall. Instead of storing portions of unfinished food in the freezer for re-sale the next day, the trio cook up a huge pot of warm rice and pack all the leftover food so it can be gifted to the needy.
However, before setting off to feed the hungry, they end their day exactly how they started it – by spraying holy water around their kitchen and lighting camphor as a gesture of thanks for the beautiful day they had.
“These prayers are performed as a sign of respect for the food, for our guests, the kitchen and all that we’re involved with,” Sanjay explains.
Although entering the competitive food and beverage business so early in their careers, Duncan, Sanjay and Nabindran have hearts of gold and have touched so many lives already with their acts of charity.
If you’re keen on helping these young men make a success of their business and continue to feed the hungry, drop by at the Sungai Pinang Food Court or order online through WhatsApp.
Quarantine Home Food
Lebuh Sungai Pinang Jelutong
11600, George Town
Operating hours: Daily: 12pm-3.30pm; 7pm-9.30pm
Contact: Sanjay at 017-460 3672