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Naan bakery brings taste of Pakistan to central Minnesota
Business The Associated Press · St. Joseph, Minn. · Nov 28, 2015
Tahir Sandhu puts a fresh tray of naan into the oven at Artisan Naan Bakery in St. Joseph, Minn. Dave Schwarz | The St. Cloud Times via AP
At first, Gwen Williams didn't understand her husband's frustration with American-made naan bread.
"It was to the point that he'd be ticked off that we were eating it," said Williams, who grew up in Coon Rapids.
But once Williams visited her husband Tahir Sandhu's hometown in the Punjabi region of Pakistan in 2004, she understood the complaint.
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"It was like 'Oh OK, now I know what you're talking about,'" said Williams, who would later live in Pakistan with Sandhu for 10 months. "There's a big difference between fresh naan and the frozen naan we were buying here."
When they returned to the U.S., Williams and Sandhu learned how to make the flatbread of flour, yeast, sugar, eggs and milk. After getting rave reviews from Pakistani immigrants, they started selling naan at local farmers markets.
The farmers market business blossomed into their own commercial bakery called Artisan Naan Bakery -- located inside the Minnesota Street Market Co-Op at 27 Minnesota St. W. It opened a year ago and makes several hundred loaves of naan a day for grocery stores, restaurants and retail sales across the state. They still run farmers market stands and were part of a CSA this past summer.
Their retail window is open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekdays.
Trays of freshly-baked naan cool before being packaged at Artisan Naan Bakery in St. Joseph, Minn. Dave Schwarz | The St. Cloud Times via AP
"Being made fresh really sets it apart," Sandhu told the St. Cloud Times. "We send out our naan the day they are made. And people who come up to our window to buy it can see it being made fresh."
While the 4-ounce naans are a bit smaller than traditional Pakistani versions, the bakery makes plain sesame and garlic-flavored versions like Sandhu grew up eating.
Artisan Naan Bakery also puts its own twist on the flatbread with flavored naans, including several popular versions featuring dried fruit.
"Naan bakery brings taste of Pakistan to central Minnesota | Minnesota Public Radio News"
@django @Akheilos @Shamain @Mr.Meap @Ray_of_Hope
Business The Associated Press · St. Joseph, Minn. · Nov 28, 2015
Tahir Sandhu puts a fresh tray of naan into the oven at Artisan Naan Bakery in St. Joseph, Minn. Dave Schwarz | The St. Cloud Times via AP
At first, Gwen Williams didn't understand her husband's frustration with American-made naan bread.
"It was to the point that he'd be ticked off that we were eating it," said Williams, who grew up in Coon Rapids.
But once Williams visited her husband Tahir Sandhu's hometown in the Punjabi region of Pakistan in 2004, she understood the complaint.
Sponsor
"It was like 'Oh OK, now I know what you're talking about,'" said Williams, who would later live in Pakistan with Sandhu for 10 months. "There's a big difference between fresh naan and the frozen naan we were buying here."
When they returned to the U.S., Williams and Sandhu learned how to make the flatbread of flour, yeast, sugar, eggs and milk. After getting rave reviews from Pakistani immigrants, they started selling naan at local farmers markets.
The farmers market business blossomed into their own commercial bakery called Artisan Naan Bakery -- located inside the Minnesota Street Market Co-Op at 27 Minnesota St. W. It opened a year ago and makes several hundred loaves of naan a day for grocery stores, restaurants and retail sales across the state. They still run farmers market stands and were part of a CSA this past summer.
Their retail window is open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekdays.
Trays of freshly-baked naan cool before being packaged at Artisan Naan Bakery in St. Joseph, Minn. Dave Schwarz | The St. Cloud Times via AP
"Being made fresh really sets it apart," Sandhu told the St. Cloud Times. "We send out our naan the day they are made. And people who come up to our window to buy it can see it being made fresh."
While the 4-ounce naans are a bit smaller than traditional Pakistani versions, the bakery makes plain sesame and garlic-flavored versions like Sandhu grew up eating.
Artisan Naan Bakery also puts its own twist on the flatbread with flavored naans, including several popular versions featuring dried fruit.
"Naan bakery brings taste of Pakistan to central Minnesota | Minnesota Public Radio News"
@django @Akheilos @Shamain @Mr.Meap @Ray_of_Hope
