above: The Quazis find most Indian food in Fairfield County to be very heavy—not like the lighter, nuritious meals they grew up eating. They want to share that authentic cuisine with others
A New Canaan Couple transforms dishes from their Bengali-inspired restaurant into a frozen food line
Starting with a Dream
With a lifelong love of fine cuisine and travel, Tanjina and Sharf Quazi often found themselves dreaming of turning their passion for taste and adventure into something tangible. Both came to the United States from Bangladesh for college, but it wasn’t until they returned home after graduation that they met. The duo found themselves wanting to come back west and had their sights set on Fairfield County. Almost instantly, they fell in love with New Canaan’s quaint small-town vibe, the incredible school system and the close-knit community.
While adjusting to their new life here in Southern Connecticut, the Quazi’s often found themselves yearning for authentic Asian food, similar to what they had eaten growing up. “The Indian food here is delicious, but it’s generally much heavier,” says Tanjina. Realizing that what they were looking for didn’t exist locally, they began to talk about how to make their dream a reality. “Our goal was to be able to create food that was lighter, tasted delicious and also included superfoods like turmeric and ginger that have numerous health benefits,” says Tanjina.
Opening with a Bang
In 2020, the Quazis opened their very first Asian/Indian fusion eatery called Bang in the Westchester Mall. Drawing from their experience with various foods from around the world and incorporating family recipes from their grandparents, they created a menu filled with wraps, bowls, sides, desserts and smoothies—all containing the exact tastes that they had been missing. The dishes were made free of antibiotics, nuts and GMOs, and with grass-fed meat. While the timing of Bang’s initial opening came with some challenges due to the Covid lockdown, the Quazis refused to let these obstacles serve as anything more than bumps in the road.
Community-Minded
Having both come from families who prioritized community service, using their time and available resources to help others came naturally to Tanjina and Sharf. They used the Covid-driven lull to feed their other passion of giving back. “Food can help make people happy and bring them together,” says Tanjina. The Quazis frequently assisted the local community by cooking and donating food to front-line workers at local hospitals, churches and food banks.
In the limited free time she has, Tanjina also volunteers in their daughter’s school community. June, their eight-year-old, attends (and loves) East School, where Tanjina is an active member of the PTC. She feels grateful to be part of such a wonderful group of parents and teachers.
Making Moves
Fast forward to today, Bang has a loyal customer base in Westchester and, in an effort to meet popular demand more broadly, the Quazi’s decided to turn four of their favorite products into frozen meals that could be sold at grocery stores. Asian food lovers looking for healthy lighter fare, available in minutes, can now purchase Bang’s frozen meals at Walter Stewarts in New Canaan, Stew Leonards in Yonkers and at the Pound Ridge Market in Scott’s Corner. The Quazis are also in talks with Wegmans, Whole Foods and Costco, and are hopeful that Bang’s popularity will continue to grow.
“Seeing our products in the grocery store feels so surreal. We feel like there’s an angel on our shoulders looking out for us,” says Tanjina. “Even with all of the challenges we’ve faced, we’ve been able to make this happen.” The Quazis credit their friends and the community for being so supportive and helping the business thrive. “We wouldn’t have made it through without them,” she adds. “They have all been a blessing every step of the way.”
