'Bearys Supermarket' in Toronto set to take authentic Mangalorean flavors to Canada
Mississauga: Mangaloreans in Canada now have a reason to rejoice as Bearys Supermarket opens its doors, becoming the first store of its kind in the country. This new venture brings authentic Dakshina Kannada and Karnataka flavours to the growing community of people longing for a taste of home. The supermarket is not just a place to buy groceries but a space where Mangaloreans can reconnect with their roots through food.
Understanding the struggles of finding traditional ingredients and delicacies in international markets, the founders of Bearys Supermarket have created a one-stop shop where customers can get everything from essential cooking ingredients to freshly prepared authentic Mangalorean cuisine. The store will serve popular dishes like Mangalore-style curries, sukka, pulimunchi, and kori roti, allowing customers to enjoy home-style meals without having to cook.
Apart from full-course meals, the supermarket will offer a wide range of Mangalorean snacks, which are usually difficult to find outside India. Delicacies like goli baje, Mangalore buns, pathrode, neer dosa, khara roti, banana fry, and many other traditional favourites will now be available. These dishes, which hold a special place in the hearts of Mangaloreans, will bring comfort to those missing the familiar taste of home.
Bearys Supermarket will not only cater to the Mangalorean community but also introduce Canadians to the unique and rich flavours of coastal Karnataka. The store will have a variety of spices, ready-to-eat snacks, and essential ingredients sourced directly from the region. This will help customers recreate the same flavours in their own kitchens.
The idea behind Bearys Supermarket goes beyond just business. It is meant to be a cultural hub where people can come together, share stories, and celebrate their heritage. Food has always been an important part of Mangalorean identity, and the founders of this store want to ensure that no one in Canada has to miss out on the taste of their homeland.
Bearys Supermarket has been founded by three individuals who share a deep passion for their roots—Hafeez Abdul Kader, son of Mohammed Haneef from Kachman House; Muneer Ahamad, son of Hussain from Yerchiro Uchaka, Kudroli; and Hashim Ashraf, son of Dr. Ashraf from Kudroli. They realised that Mangaloreans and Karnataka natives in Canada faced challenges in getting authentic ingredients and food. This led them to start Bearys Supermarket, ensuring that people could easily access both traditional groceries and ready-made food. With their expertise in business, food, and customer service, they have created a store that is not just a marketplace but also a home away from home for the Mangalorean community.
The name 'Bearys' was chosen to reflect the identity and heritage of the Beary community, an ethnic Muslim group from the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi regions of Karnataka. The Beary people have a distinct cultural and linguistic history, speaking Beary Bashe, a language that combines elements of Tulu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Arabic. By naming the supermarket Bearys, the founders wanted to honour their origins while welcoming all Mangaloreans and Karnataka natives to experience the flavours of their homeland in Canada.
The launch of Bearys Supermarket is also a significant milestone for the Beary community in Canada. Over the years, the community has grown steadily, leading to the formation of the Bearys Association of Canada. This organisation works towards preserving and promoting Beary language, art, and culture, ensuring that future generations stay connected to their roots. Through various initiatives, the association has been striving to create a strong sense of identity and unity among the Beary people in Canada.
The grand opening of Bearys Supermarket is scheduled for February 1, 2025, in Mississauga, Toronto. With this, Mangaloreans in Canada will finally have a dedicated store where they can shop for traditional groceries, enjoy fresh Mangalorean meals, and find comfort in the familiar flavours of home.
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Congress using hijab issue to pacify minority anger, alleges Karnataka LoP R Ashoka
Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka has accused the Congress government of using the hijab issue to placate what he described as discontent among minority voters after the Davanagere by-election.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Ashoka alleged that the state government, instead of addressing issues such as price rise, corruption, farmers’ distress and law and order, was attempting to retain its minority vote base by reviving the hijab issue.
Referring to the 2022 dress code introduced by the BJP government, which prohibited hijab in schools and colleges, Ashoka said the Karnataka High Court had upheld the policy and emphasised the importance of discipline in educational institutions.
He questioned the Congress government’s move to revisit the issue and asked whether setting aside the court-backed policy to benefit one community could be described as secularism.
Ashoka further alleged that while the government was willing to permit hijab, it continued to prohibit saffron shawls.
He accused the government of dividing students on religious lines rather than treating schools and colleges as spaces of equality.
Drawing a comparison with Mamata Banerjee’s government in West Bengal, Ashoka claimed that excessive appeasement politics had harmed the state and warned that the Congress in Karnataka could face a similar political response.
He said voters in Karnataka would teach the Congress a lesson for what he termed “vote-bank politics” and for compromising constitutional and judicial principles.
