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I say '2mayto.' You say '2mato.' |
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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Thursday, 05 April 2007 |
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 You might say tomato and I might say tamahto, but Angela Ramdass says 2mayto 2mato. That’s the name of the 44-year-old’s new Fort Collins business.
And rightfully so, considering tomatoes are the main ingredient in her signature choka.
“Choka is an appetizer in Trinidad and Tobago,” Ramdass said. “It’s made with fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic, cumin and peppers. I use my mom’s recipe from when I was growing up in Trinidad.”
Ramdass moved to New York from the tiny Caribbean island at 18. A few years ago, she moved to northern Colorado, where she started selling her choka at farmers markets.
Angela’s Original Fire Roasted Tomato Choka and Angela’s Original Fire Roasted Biagan Choka is sold in four heat levels: Island Mild, Sabita Spicy, T&T Dynamite and Death by Choka. The peppers are imported from Trinidad each week.
Her new shop at 2601 S. Lemay in Fort Collins has a full kitchen and a retail shop in the front. From there she makes her choka, which is similar to salsa, and also offers two menu items for takeout. These authentic Trinidad Indian and Creole dishes change daily and descriptions can be found at www.2mayto2mato.com.
Ramdass sells her products at farmers markets throughout the summer.
She’s also pushing to get retailers and restaurants to carry them.One issue though, is the products don’t have a long shelf life because there are no preservatives. So far, her products are sold at 7-Eleven at Trilby and Colo. 287 and at the Bread Board Bakery and Café at 2820 10th St. in Greeley.
Ramdass hopes to one day be able to walk into any grocery store and find her products on the shelf. Though it’s a long process, she is happy to bring traditional Trinidad food to the area.
“The thing that brought me to America is I love meeting different people from different cultures and trying different foods,” Ramdass said. “If you don’t try something you don’t know what you are missing. I wish people would be brave enough to try new things.”
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WHERE TO GO
2mayto 2mato is open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. For more information, call 282.6944.
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VITAL STATS
Name: Angela Ramdass, 44, of Fort Collins
Company: 2mayto 2mato
Title: owner
How long have you worked there: Opened Feb. 23, but started selling choka at farmers markets last May.
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IN HER WORDS
What makes you get out of bed in the morning?
Introducing people to new food ideas I have eaten all my life.
Things that impress you?
How nice and friendly our customers are and the fact they want to see a “locally owned” business succeed.
Things that don’t?
People who peek in our window and never come in and give us a chance.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you do?
I have another business, Small Business Services and Solutions, which I do bookkeeping/payroll for about 20 businesses. I would probably just be doing that.
What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done while at work?
When Harrison Ford came into Lynn’s Café in New York — I was a waitress there. He ordered hot black coffee from me, and I was so excited I asked if he wanted his coffee hot or cold and with milk?
The smartest?
Started my own business about six years ago and found a price point of $4.95 for this restaurant.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever done to make money?
Hand out flyers in front of a night club in London.
What’s one thing about your job you would do, even if you weren’t paid to do it?
Make fresh and good tasting food!
Name one thing in your life that really prepared you for your job.
Working for the retail/restaurant industry in New York City.
Family?
I finally have one of my sisters here: Ria is here with her husband Morgan, and they have 3 kids (all boys) Anthony, Stephan and Alec. Ria and her family came up here to work and invest in the store. I also have my nephew Sean here and he is currently attending Front Range Community College.
What Web sites do you have bookmarked?
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