Distribution Interest
For any interest in carrying National Gourmet products at your store, restaurant or event please contact our sales team at the following methods:
+1 (905) 858-3261
info@nationalgourmetfoods.comCareers
We’d love to have you join the National Gourmet team! If you are interested in working with our team please send an email with your resume to
Go to Our Careers Page to view our current open positions
Latest
News
We are pleased to announce that National Gourmet has received the Canadian Halal Food Certification.
Read more
We are excited to share that we have moved to a larger facility to serve you better, and to fulfill the high demand for our product. We can't thank our clients enough for trusting us.
Read more
Blog
Samira’s Kitchen Retail Fresh-Co Launch!October 6, 2023Introducing Samira’s Kitchen: Delicious Handmade Snacks for Your Next Get-Together
We’re excited to announce the launch of our latest retail product line of Samira’s Kitchen! Our Canadian-based company, located in Mississauga, is committed to creating high-quality, handmade snacks using the freshest ingredients, and we’re thrilled to introduce our latest offerings.
Our retail-ready 4-pack samosas with tamarind sauce, 12-pack falafel with tahini sauce, and 12-pack pakoras with tamarind sauce are perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re hosting a get-together with friends or looking for a quick and delicious snack to enjoy at home, Samira’s Kitchen has you covered.
Our samosas are available in three flavors – vegetable, beef, and chicken – and are packed with flavor and spices that will transport your taste buds to India. Each pack comes with four samosas and a serving of tangy tamarind sauce for dipping.
Our falafels are a Middle Eastern favorite, made with fresh herbs and spices, and are perfect for those following a vegetarian or vegan diet. Each pack contains 12 falafels and a serving of creamy tahini sauce for dipping.
Our pakoras are a crispy, crunchy snack that’s popular across South Asia. Packed with mixed vegetables and leafy greens, they’re a healthy alternative to traditional fried snacks. Each pack contains 12 pakoras and a serving of tangy tamarind sauce for dipping.
At Samira’s Kitchen, we take pride in our commitment to using the freshest, highest-quality ingredients in our handmade snacks. We also employ Canadians, supporting our local community and ensuring that our products are made with care and attention to detail.
We’re confident that you’ll love our new line of snacks, and we can’t wait to share them with you. So the next time you’re looking for a delicious, handmade snack, think Samira’s Kitchen. [...] Read more...
The New Canadian-made Samosa Brand… Samira’s KitchenSeptember 22, 2022Samosas… the ultimate comfort snack that are beloved by all. What can we say, the warm spices, the crunchy yet soft dough and best of all the delicious fillings makes samosas a go-to classic.
Let’s be real, with our busy schedules, and winter on its way – Canadians are looking for comfort food to warm our hearts and make life just a little bit easier with quick and delicious meals. What better way to do that then authentic premium samosas that are oven ready in 5-7 minutes.
Samira’s Kitchen is a new and fast-growing family owned, Canadian made brand that offers premium thick dough vegetable samosas which are exclusively sold in Costco’s in Ontario, Quebec, and Eastern Canada. Each box has 12 large samosas that retail for $12.99. These yummy samosas can be found in the refrigerated isle as they are handmade, packed fresh straight out of our Mississauga manufacturing plant and shipped ready for you.
As a family-owned business who loves ethnic cuisines we are proud to provide Canadians with authentic Canadian made products that are delicious, high quality and affordable. Try our brand today, and let us know what you think!
Happy Eating,
Ratib Okal
National Gourmet Inc President. [...] Read more...
Samosa & Pakora, Origin, Trend, and Why Canadians Love themDecember 21, 2021A samosa is a humble street snack packed with spicy goodness. It’s a well-travelled immigrant from Central Asia. The mixture of veggies or meat and subtle spices in a pastry triangle make it a satisfying dish.
Pakoras are simple cuisine packed with complex flavours. They are made by coating veggies in a spiced batter and then deep-frying them. Common ingredients include potato, spinach, onion, chilli pepper, paneer, cauliflower, or eggplant. Few pakora versions include a bit of chicken. Indian food has gained prominence in Canada after the 1960 era of immigration. The larger cities boast a wealth of Indian food such as curries, samosas, pakoras, naan bread, rice, etc.
Origin of Samosas and Pakoras
The origin of samosa lies thousands of miles away in the ancient empires that come up on the Iranian plateau at the dawn of civilization. Early medieval Persian texts have mentioned sanbosag (an early relative of samosa). Other historical accounts refer to sanbusag, sanbusak, and sanbusag. In Southeast Asia, samosa was introduced by Middle Eastern Chefs at the time of the Delhi Sultanate.
They are consumed by travelling merchants who could pack them easily in saddlebags and consume them on the move. In earlier days, individuals used to cook the samosas over the campfire and consume them as snacks during travel. Soon, this snack became a food fit for the king.
On the contrary, pakoras originated from the Indian subcontinent. However, it is now famous across South Asia – Nepal, Pakistan, India and Bengal and other parts of the world. Over the years, pakoras have undergone many changes but never failed to lose their brilliance.
The pakora word is derived from the Sanskrit word “pakvavata.” “Pakva” means cooked, whereas “vata” means cooked in lumps. Fritters and bhajis are synonyms of this fried snack.
Why Do Canadians Love these Family-friendly Dishes?
Canadians living in Vancouver and around the Commercial Drive consider Indian food good enough. They usually love pakoras and samosas. However, the biggest secret behind the popularity of these exotic food items is the diverse variety of fillings that caters to different tastes. These fillings can range from onions, meat, minced lamb, spinach, etc.
Samosas are easily available in all sizes, flavours and sizes at any Indian restaurant in Vancouver. Even most grocery chains in the Greater Toronto area carry them and stow them away in the freezer. Vegetable samosas have crispy pockets loaded with a mixture of potatoes, green peas, herbs, and spices.
Delightful pakoras in Canada make a satisfying meal. They are fried to crisp golden-brown and are full of fibre and proteins. The soulful mixture of pakora and chilli chutney has been an integral part of the everyday lives of the majority of people in Canada. Varieties of pakoras that you can savour in this part of the world include vegetable pakoras, paneer pakoras, chicken pakoras, etc.
Wrapping Up:
Samosa is one food that has travelled far and wide and left its footprint along the way. From Centra Asia to Libya to India, this stuffed triangle has got huge popularity. In Canada, samosa oozes with potato, meat or chicken. Pakoras are yummy fritters made with chickpea or gram flour.
They can be spiced with any number of spices. You can easily savour delightful veggie pakoras from any Indian Restaurant in Canada. Both these cuisines have glorious varieties. These delights also tick all the boxes of being yummy, affordable and quick to eat. So, if you ever visit Canada, do not forget to have a crispy bite of samosas and pakoras. [...] Read more...
Ethnic Food Trend in CanadaDecember 15, 2021Each province and city within that province brings its own one-of-a-kind cooking methods and styles. As the foreign-born population increases in Canada, so do the immense popularity and variety of ethnic foods. People living in Canada are use food as a catalyst to embrace diverse cultures.
Ethnic Food Trend in Canada is Rising High, Mainly Amongst Young Consumers
Yes, you have heard right. It’s due to globalization of food supplies, increasing count of refugees and immigrants, rise in overseas travel, and other factors. As per a 2017 survey, ethnic-inspired foods such as Chinese (63%), American (70%), Italian (73%) are most commonly consumed by Canadians. But over the years, spicy samosas, pakoras, meat pies, and chicken have become primary centrepieces.
One survey also found that 72% of consumers prefer ethnic meals to break the boredom of their regular food at home. The report also tells that Canadian people would be more likely to switch to restaurants instead of preparing meals at home. Today, chefs at restaurants and other eateries are building a new flavour profile using Canadian ingredients fused with ethnic flavours. This means there are incredibly sumptuous varieties of ethnic cuisines to pick as per your choice from no matter you go which part of the country.
The high demand and growth of ethnic foods are from the global-food awareness occurring in Canada. It means today, consumers are more educated about the meal they are having. They are looking for stronger flavour profiles.
Canadians Also Love Pre-packaged Ethnic-inspired Meals and Ethnic Food Kits
Their biggest benefit is they just need heating and are easily portable. Furthermore, it also seems that the Canadian residents are also interested in trying food offering that combines flavours from diverse areas and countries. In fact, many food brands are now looking to provide delicious snacks or prepared meals with ethnic foods.
Most food manufacturers mix ethnic-inspired flavours into their meal offerings in seasonings, pre-prepared or semi-prepared meals, sauces, and sides. Foreign-born people are also likely to experiment with meals across different cultures rather than their own food.
81% of people prefer to create ethnic foods from scratch and watch foreign brands as authentic. When asked what ethnic food offerings they would like to try, they said – foods that blend flavours from diverse regions or countries.
Wrapping Up:
As you know, Canada is an ethnically-diverse country. The increasing Canadian population led by immigration has affected many aspects of Canadian culture. Food is no exception. Thanks to the changing demographics and enhanced demand of consumers for more amazing flavours.
An increase in diverse culture plays a major role in the ethnic trends we see today. One of the great things about the multi-culturalism in Canada is that you can enjoy authentic food across the globe. Nowadays, Canadian people are also ready to discover other diverse cultures via ethnic foods. It also seems that the ethnic flavours trend will not go easily soon – either in-home or restaurants. [...] Read more...
Know All About Meat Pie and Swedish PieDecember 1, 2021The pastry is usually baked or fried at sufficient temperature to generate a Maillard reaction. With an oozing centre and crunchy outside, meat pies are rich in calories and protein.
But, on the contrary to that, Swedish Pie is a sumptuous Swedish food dessert that gives you an ultimate pie experience. There are many Swedish pies, but it’s worth choosing those with low fat and low calories. This post will discover all the essential things about meat and Swedish pies.
Australian Meat Pies
Amongst the different kinds of meat pies across the globe, the most famous one is an Australian meat pie. This wonderful Australian dish can be easily found in restaurants and bakeries throughout the country.
The traditional meat pie in Australia includes beef inside it, and cooked it turns golden brown. Australian meat pies usually consist of pieces of veggies and meat.
The biggest difference between British and Aussie meat pie is their “size.” Australian meat pies are tiny enough to fit in the palm easily. Therefore, they are usually called “pocket pies.”
Types of Australian Meat Pies
Below are the different kinds of meat pies:
a) Pot Pie
Australian pot pies differ between states and pubs. The most common ingredients used include beef, mushroom or gravy soup or chopped veggies.
b) Chunky Beef Pie
This classic Australian meat pie consists of rich beef filling and golden crust on the outside.
c) Shepherd’s Pie
A shepherd’s pie or cottage pie is a casserole with a layer of veggies and cooked meat topped with mashed potatoes. It is hearty and healthy too. It’s a meal perfect for the entire family.
d) Swedish Pies
If you have never tried Swedish pies before, you are missing out a lot. Its preparation time is less because there is no base crust and top crust is a very easy pastry recipe.
Types of Swedish Pies
Below are the different kinds of Swedish pies:
a) Swedish Apple Pie
The Swedish apple pie is also very delicious to consume. The dessert is loaded with fresh soft apples and spices like cinnamon. The apples used can be Cortland, Granny Smith, Bramley, Gala, etc.
It is typically served with cheddar cheese, ice cream and whipped cream. Swedish apple pie can also be made dairy-free, vegan and gluten-free.
b) Swedish Cheese Pie
Swedish cheese pie is a classic and conventional Swedish dish. It is delicious, nutty and creamy. It makes a rich meal. This pie can be served as the primary course in tiny slices as an appetizer or a filling salad. There are tons of variations of Swedish cheese pie, but the primary ingredients are always the same.
c) Swedish Meat Pies
Swedish meat pies taste much better when they are not piping hot. Their portability feature makes them superb make-ahead party food.
Wrapping Up:
Aussies love meat pies so much that they are fond of serving this delicacy during picnics with friends and cricket matches. One of the good things about these pies is that there are various flavours available. Swedish pies are also ultra-delicious. They can be stored at room temperature for 2 to 3 days or in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. [...] Read more...
Our
Certifications
