For years I have been telling friends that what the U.S. needs more than ANYTHING right now is an Indian fast-food chain. If I am going to be convinced by advertisers to slowly poison myself with grease then I would much rather do so

Puff puff…give

at the hands of a warm samosa than a burger and fries. And what about those long drives across America? When we pull up to a gas-and-go we currently have a choice between tired old Subway and toxic McDonalds. We can’t find a warm nan filled with paneer tikka anywhere. Recently the Indian restaurant chain “Hot Breads” announced that it was trying to spread some of its love around the U.S.

The Hot Breads chain has had great success in India, but the company is really hoping to put the hot in Hot Breads as it begins franchising in the United States.

“We have great plans of opening up Hot Breads here,” said M. Mahadevan, who first launched the Hot Bread chain in Chennai, India, in 1988. “We have a plan here for nice growth.”

With over 20 locations in India in cities such as Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi and Pondichery, two in Bangladesh, four in Nepal, one in Paris and about 40 in the Middle East, there is no reason to think Hot Breads won’t fly in the United States…

Hot Breads features bakery items such as croissants and pastries with an Indian twist. In India, Hot Breads is touted for its French baking traditions, but in the United States it is the connection with India, and its pastries filled with spicy vegetables and meat fillings, that have connected with the India American customers. [Link]

Now please don’t get me wrong. Looking at their menu you will see that this is just a baby step. The food they serve seems to be sort of an Indian-French hybrid. The Taj Mahal wasn’t built in a day however. If enough people eat this stuff then maybe an establishment like Kati Roll will decide to franchise as well. Just imagine a bouncer at every highway truck stop trying to fend off paneer lovers and keep the peace.

Mahadevan said that Hot Breads has scored as a brand that Indian Americans are familiar with from India. He added that it gives Indian Americans a sense of belonging here because they can visit a store, smell the curry and Desi coffee and be reminded of Hot Breads they have visited in India. [Link]

I’m sorry, did he just say “smell the curry?” Oh oh, he’s losing me. Pull me back in Mahadevan, pull me back.

According to Arun Dua, Hot Breads’ operations manager the plan is to change the bakery concept into more of a bakery café concept. This will include changing the menu to include popular lunch items such as chicken panini sandwiches. Hot Breads is also adding a chocolate menu and working on producing its own brand of gourmet Indian coffee.

“I like the concept of a company that is established and is coming to the U.S. and facing the challenge of coming to another country and making it successful,” he added. “I like the fact that we are in a business were we really have no competitors. No one else is doing what we are doing, the way we are doing it.” [Link]

It might not happen in my lifetime but I hope that my unborn obese children are able to enjoy drive-thru samosas someday.