Why Start an Indian Restaurant in Amsterdam?
For Anand and Foram, Amsterdam feels like home. They believe the city offers a unique blend of culture and beauty, something they also hope to reflect with their restaurant, Miri Mary. The vibrant De Pijp neighborhood, where the restaurant is located, is a cultural melting pot—making it the perfect spot to introduce their vision.
With Miri Mary, Anand and Foram aim to break the stereotype that Indian cuisine is all about curries and butter chicken. Their menu includes a carefully curated selection of cocktails, each inspired by distinct Indian flavors, which might surprise many who aren’t familiar with the diversity of Indian cuisine.
Favorite Dishes at Miri Mary
Foram, a lifelong vegetarian, faces a moral dilemma when it comes to serving meat-based dishes, but she’s deeply passionate about the vegetarian offerings at Miri Mary. One of her favorite dishes is the Eggplant and Tomato Arancini, an adaptation of an age-old dish from western India, reimagined in the form of Italian arancini. Another favorite is the Jackfruit and Cheese Empanada, inspired by the traditional Gujarati dish called “ghoogra,” which varies from savory to sweet in Indian households. At Miri Mary, it’s crafted in the form of an empanada, a unique fusion of flavors.
Anand, on the other hand, enjoys the Prawn Canapés. This dish draws inspiration from the coastal city of Mangalore, where prawns are a local specialty. The canapé format makes it an easy-to-eat yet flavorful delight. Miri Mary’s signature sharing plates are inspired by generations-old recipes from Indian mothers and grandmothers—dishes that, despite their deliciousness, remain largely absent from commercial restaurants in India.
Biggest Challenges and Lessons Learned
When asked about their challenges, Foram is quick to dismiss any notion of regret. “There have been learnings, for sure, but no regrets, never.” Both Anand and Foram take immense pride in the fact that they took the leap—leaving behind successful careers to pursue a passion project, even when many might have found it too risky.
Just as they were preparing to open Miri Mary, Anand and Foram received life-changing news: they were expecting a baby. Opening a new restaurant is no small feat, but doing so while preparing for the arrival of their daughter Nyra made 2022 a year of both challenge and reward.
In the end, Anand and Foram didn’t just give birth to a restaurant—they welcomed two new additions to their family: Miri Mary and baby Nyra.
