TUN-DU-REE Celebrates Four Years of Demystifying Indian Cuisine

TAMPA, Fla., June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Four years ago, Naval aviator Patty Bhavahung hung up his pilot's cap to start an Indian fast casual dining concept called TUN-DU-REE. The name is a phonetic spelling of tandoori and it is emblematic of Pat's simple goal: to demystify traditional Indian cuisine, making it more accessible and affordable without compromising quality. He gathered family recipes with an emphasis on authenticity, bought a vending trailer, and started TUN-DU-REE.

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"A lot of people told me that I was crazy when I started," Pat says, "or said I needed to adapt my concept to the American consumer. But I trusted my gut and that my customers wouldn't want anything other than a true product, called by its name." The success of the TUN-DU-REE trailer and now two locations in South Tampa shows that customers seem to agree.

TUN-DU-REE is thanking their customers with a fourth anniversary celebration, kicking off on Saturday, June 11th with the Triple Tikka Challenge. The "3TC" is a special event where challengers try to eat three servings of TUN-DU-REE's signature Chicken Tikka Masala at the "Crazy Hot" spice level in thirty minutes. TUN-DU-REE will also offer discounted prices on its four curries for the duration of the anniversary celebration.

Next for TUN-DU-REE is expansion. Pat says he put two stores so close to each other to test TUN-DU-REE's mettle as a franchise concept. "We built TUN-DU-REE for scalability on a hub-and-spoke model. We plan to have 10 locations in Central Florida within three years, and 20 in Florida within five years. Long-term, we want a TUN-DU-REE on every corner, to provide diners who need quick service with a choice other than burgers, fried chicken, sub sandwiches, tacos, and pizza."

A host of Indian fast casual concepts have appeared recently, but people around TUN-DU-REE think it sets itself apart from the crowd. "We were drawn to TUN-DU-REE because its product integrity is unique in fast casual dining. It's slow-cooked quick service," says Dylan Johnson of elham&tull, TUN-DU-REE's Marketing and PR agency. "It's different from the other Indian fast casual concepts that have shown up because TUN-DU-REE doesn't do Americanized Indian food. It's authentic Indian food, in a comfortable, fast-casual setting."

TUN-DU-REE has locations at 1506 West Kennedy Boulevard and 3409 West Bay to Bay. Franchise inquirers can email [email protected] or call elham&tull co. at (813) 421-5245.

SOURCE elham&tull co.