Akshay Paatram

Shashikant Bhojraj  Anurupa Maheshwari , and Susan Jensen

Midtown Farmers Market

Akshay Paatram might be a bit difficult to say or remember, but all you need to know is that it means bountiful vessel and from that vessel comes a never ending supply of the most delicious vegetarian food. The full inspiring story comes from Sanskrit and can be read on the Akshay Patraam Facebook page. 

Husband and wife duo, Anu and Shashi, met Susan back in 2002 when they ran Gopal at the University of Minnesota.  It was a kitchen that welcomed all and was priced based on one’s ability to pay. By 2008, they had combined their life philosophies with their cooking to create Akshay Paatram and started serving food at local farmer’s markets. 

This year marks their fourth year at the Midtown Farmer’s Saturday Market where they enjoy the comradery of the vendors, the progressive neighborhood clientele and the support they receive from the Corcoran Neighborhood Organization.  They believe they can make the world a little better by introducing people to new and tasty vegetarian food which is healthy, less damaging to the earth, and created without hurting any of god’s creatures.  Most of their menu is Indian, but may include other International dishes such as a Mediterranean couscous salad or eggplant paneer with brown rice which is a crowd favorite. Their most popular items are samosas, little fried pockets filled with spiced potato and vegetables, and pakoras which are battered, deep fried vegetables. With these they just may change perceptions about vegan/vegetarian food, one customer at a time.

If you have never tried Indian or vegetarian food, Akshay Paatram should not be overlooked.  You can try a sample and go from there. Many customers cannot believe the amount of flavor in these dishes and actually say they could be a vegetarian if everything tasted so good!

When I told them that I love their samosas, Shashi replied that it’s the secret ingredient that makes them so good – love!  They really must love it as the team is up at 2am on Farmer’s market mornings to prepare fresh food for the day.  The idea is to promote peace, love and plentifulness or as Shashi would say, “a happy palate makes a happy planet”!