About Sharmini’s Kitchen

My greatest desire through Sharmini’s Kitchen is to showcase cultural diversity and inclusion through the foods my team and I create, from my humble kitchen to yours.

Every dish I make tells a story. A story that is meant to be heard, read, tried and discovered. So grab your culinary passports out and get on that culinary journey with Sharmini’s Kitchen where you will experience extraordinary flavors, because a culinary adventure awaits you!

In order to get a better sense of what Sharmini’s Kitchen is all about, let’s go back to where it all began…

My journey and dream to have my own food and catering business began about 30 years ago when I started cooking Malaysian dishes in my humble college apartment for friends. Then 10 years later, after becoming a stay-at-home mom for a few years, I started making delicious made-from-scratch Christmas platters for my neighbors. I then started developing a keen interest in creating intricate, hand-made edible flowers, just like my beloved mother used to make. This led me to opportunities where I was a regularly featured vendor at various events, showcasing my edible creations and home-baked crafts.

There was a silence for what felt like an eternity – I became a single mom. Whilst trying to get back on my feet, with two tiny little humans to feed and care for, my desire and love for creating all things delicious never faded. Instead, it kept growing! Between those challenging times, I never gave up on my love for all things that involved food. I continued to design edible cakes, homemade sauces and donated them for fundraising and private events. I gave more than I received initially, but I truly believe that part of the process is to begin sharing your gifts with others and in due time, it really does come around full circle.

I then moved to Pennsylvania and decided to take my passion for food to initiate a formal establishment – Sharmini’s Kitchen.

On June 27, 2013 (in memory, dedication and celebration of my late Mother’s birthday), after 2 years of pursuing a vendor spot in Central Market located Downtown York, Pa, Sharmini’s Kitchen was born. My food was sold out within the hour, plus I received a perfect score for my health inspection – it was a tremendous feeling!

Owning a business means that you will go through various degrees of highs and lows. Some days are incredible, some are better than others and then there are days you just want to shut down and cry. But the truth is, it really is an incredible experience, almost like birthing a child. It is truly yours to nurture and grow, and the rewards are priceless…

The feeling of joy when a customer tells you how much they enjoyed their meal and how it uplifted them. The excitement when another customxer tries a meal from a different culture for the first time. The feeling of incredible accomplishment when a customer who has suffered from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) for years did not have to take her pills for the first time in years because the food was prepared with fresh ingredients and rejuvenated her instead of making her feel ill.

From a tiny little market to building a staffed business, Sharmini’s Kitchen has now grown into a catering company and teaching hub. With an entire team and a selective paid internship program for young graduates and HS students to provide them the opportunity to learn, conduct themselves in a professional manner, connect with the community, meet leaders, learn to run a business, master hard work and engage in team building.

Another poignant piece to the puzzle that speaks deeply to my heart and runs parallel with Sharmini’s Kitchen is my earnest desire to show other single moms like me that all things are possible. With a little push, an exorbitant amount of hard work and an infinity amount of faith, anything is possible. I am proof of it. Life has a way of rewarding hard work – it always does. Gifts are meant to be shared, and I strive to share my gifts of cooking and baking with each of you.

Your partnership with Sharmini’s Kitchen extends further than a delicious meal. It creates ripples of renewed hope to bring positive change in people’s lives. Sharmini’s Kitchen has and continues to change lives and brings people from all walks of life together through the harmony of food.