Yashoda Naidoo

Early life

Yashoda Devi Naidoo was on April 12, 1963 to Indian parents. Their lineage was routed to the Krishna District of the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. Her mother was a homemaker, and her father was a business man. The family moved to Africa on business where Yashoda was born. Yashoda completed her Bachelor of Commerce degree from University of Natal (now University of KwaZulu-Natal) in South Africa and received CPA qualification from the University of South Africa. She wanted to join medical school but had to join the accounting upon the advice of her mother for job assurance. She later did her master's as a Chartered Accountant.

Profile

After completing her education in South Africa, she moved to Florida, United States to work with Arthur Andersen. While she was working, she happened to visit her cousin in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She fell in love with the place and decided to move to Albuquerque. Having married to a vegetarian from New Mexico, who had well-established connections with Indian monks and gurus, their house had become a first stop for all the visiting gurus. Her role turned to a vegetarian cook from a corporate accountant. When she started serving the vegetarian community, she realized how liberating the cooking was. That inspired her to start and promote the spirit of vegetarianism. She started catering to the local spas, the Ayurvedic Institute, and yoga studios in Albuquerque. With in a short time, the effort was realized in the form of Annapurna's World vegetarian cafe.

Vegetarianism

Yashoda's Hindu lineage inspired her to heal people through healthy diet. Being a vegetarian by herself form childhood, Yashoda has committed to this spirit and used it to promote a healthy life. She promulgates the spirit of Hippocrates: "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food". She designed a unique menu for Annapurna's. Annapurna's serves healthy and natural diet and it is one of the two restaurants in New Mexico to serve the alternative eating options. Yashoda's business sagacity and her pledge to Ayurvedic principles are the motive forces behind her initiation of Annapurna's. Ayurvedic cooking forbids conventional eating habits and ingredients like meat, white sugar, alcoholic beverages, chilled/carbonated drinks, and canned/frigid vegetables and prescribes fresh, easy-to-digest organic foods. Being a promoter of Ayurveda, India’s 5,000-year-old medical science, Annapurna's serves appropriate diet and spice combinations designed to soothe the three predominant body constitutions called doshas in Ayurveda, whose constitution sustains welfare of the body and mind. Yashoda is committed to customer oriented service and states her cause as "educating, supporting, and motivating the customer to heal and pursue wellness from good food".

Annapurna's

Annapurna's has been a member of the green initiative since the first day of operations making it a place that not only cares for the physical health but also for the ecological well-being. Yashoda's initiative in dealing with alternatives taking into account allergies and major diseases continue to keep her efforts strong on a day-to-day basis. Annapurna's uses alternative grain flours in many of its menu items, providing a much needed alternative for people with wheat allergies and celiac disease. The breads made here are yeast-free to accommodate woman with candida issues. The dishes are meticulously kept free of nightshade vegetables to accommodate people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Recognition

Annapurna's earned recognition in its first year with a 3.5 star rating for 2002 - Albuquerque journal named her restaurant as one of the top 10 restaurants for 2002. 2003 Phoenix award, sponsored by New York Life, an award to a new business that overcome significant obstacles 2003 PNM/WESST Corp Rising Star award Named best vegetarian- Alibi Best of the city and best healthy dining - Albuquerque, the Magazine Best of Santa Fe - Santa Fe Reporter Top 50 Women owned businesses - New Mexico Business Weekly Best Vegetarian Award - 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012