Shivani Dhamija is turning comfort food into a cultural connection on Canada’s East Coast.
As the founder of Shivani’s Kitchen, Dhamija has built a growing food business rooted in bringing Southeast Asian flavours, particularly Indian staples, to Halifax and across Nova Scotia. What began as a small effort to serve a homesick student community has evolved into a full-scale operation, now stocked in major retailers including Costco, Walmart and Sobeys.
Her journey started with a simple goal: to recreate the familiar.
After moving to Canada in 2011, Dhamija began by preparing food for Southeast Asian students in Halifax who were struggling to find ingredients and flavours from home.
“For me, listening closely to feedback from customers and online audience helps pick what I am going to venture into next,” says Dhamija.
For this spring and summer, it is ice cream inspired by Indian flavours and Dosa batter.
“My love language is food, and preparing food, having this business helps me share my love for food with others.”
In 2022, Dhamija launched her paneer line, initially producing just 200 pounds per week. Demand quickly surged.
Today, Shivani’s Kitchen supplies more than 5,000 pounds of paneer weekly to Costco, Sobeys, and distributors across Ontario.
“While it is an incredible feeling to be placed in stores, the real work is to stay on the shelves.”
Dhamija is grateful for the support that she has received and acknowledges the perseverance and grind it takes to negotiate a deal with some of the major retailers in the province.
“Immigration has greatly shaped the growing local tastes,” Dhamija says.
Interest in Southeast Asian cuisine continues to rise, not only among newcomers seeking familiarity but also among residents eager to explore new flavours.
“I got introduced to Southeast Asian food because of someone on my floor in residence cooked for me, now we’re roommates,” said David Brown. “We first tried Shivani’s Kitchen when we picked up paneer at Costco.”
Paneer remains one of the brand’s cornerstone products, both for its quality and its cultural significance.
“This helps me reduce the homesickness one morsel at a time,” said Rhea Narayan, who moved to Halifax in 2020.
Narayan said access to familiar ingredients has helped bridge the gap between home and her new life in Nova Scotia, where authentic options can be limited in large retail stores.
Dhamija’s reach now extends well beyond the South Asian community, with a growing customer base across the province and country.
The company is continuing its expansion this spring, with new products, including ice cream and dosa batter, expected to launch in Costco stores by early summer.
Separately, Dhamija has also been recognized on a national stage. She has been selected as one of the Top 75 finalists for the 2025 Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards, highlighting her impact as an entrepreneur and community builder.
For Dhamija, the recognition reflects the same values that built her business community: resilience and connection through food.
As tastes continue to evolve across Nova Scotia, Shivani’s Kitchen is helping shape the province’s culinary identity one product at a time.
