Making Indian Cuisine the Deolicious Way

Fresh ingredients, handcrafted blends, and variety are what Malavika Deo says make her food different. Malavika is the founder and owner of Deolicious LLC in Holladay, Utah. Each of the dishes offered in her vast menu of Indian cuisine are made fresh, with her spice blends or “masalas” roasted and ground by hand.

“I offer regional Indian food rather than what is typically offered by Indian restaurants,” she says. “The variety I offer to meet the needs of vegan, vegetarian and nonvegetarian dishes sets me apart.”

Deolicious is one of three member businesses of the Women’s Business Center of Utah (WBCUtah) to receive a grant of $1,000 from Cyprus Credit Union in 2024.

When Malavika got her business license in 2019, she initially started Deolicious as a hobby.

“I started with practically no previous business experience, but I was passionate about making my special spice blends and meal prep business. So, I looked for advisors at the Women’s Business Center of Utah.”

Although Malavika was already confident in her food, she built her confidence as a business owner by participating in weekly advising and training sessions (including WBCUtah’s free, five-week Minding My Own Business course), graduated from Westminster University’s Banking on Women™ program, and was on World Trade Center^® Utah’s panel for the 2023 International Women’s Day Celebration. Malavika also has advice for women who would like to start businesses of their own.

“Create a good business plan. Seek assistance from Women’s Business Center of Utah and the Utah Small Business Development Center in order to know what first steps need to be taken and what needs to follow going forward. The chamber of commerce is a great place to network with other business owners and find collaborations where possible. I got the suggestion of connecting with the Utah Women’s Business Center while attending the chamber’s holiday open house in 2019.”

Find Deolicious on Instagram to learn more (@deolicious_foods).