By Shari Benyousky
Guest Columnist

Column Note: This is the 22nd column in the Dives and Diners series in which a small group of Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club members and their guests road trip to explore the restaurants of Kosciusko and the surrounding area.

WARSAW — Is Indian food exotic?

One of our wildcards arrived before I did at Bomy’s Authentic Indian Food. He was carefully evaluating the menus on the walls as I came in. I greeted him with a handshake and asked, “Are you one of those people who think Indian food is too exotic to be counted as a diner or dive?”

Greg Fitzloff looked surprised. “Oh no.” He meditated for a moment. “I’ve found through the years that most world cuisines aren’t that different from ours. Everyone has some sort of beef, pork, or chicken plus veggies and a kind of bread. Sure, they all look a little different and have different spices, but it really isn’t all that different.”

The History Of Bomey’s

With the encouragement of a local attorney, Bomy’s purchased the old root beer stand in Warsaw back in 2020 and updated it with a white, green, and orange coat of paint. Bomy and his family already owned a place in Columbia City and Travis McConnell had eaten there and fallen in love with the Northern Indian style of food that Bomy specialized in.

“I moved here from New York about 10 years ago,” Bomy told us when he brought out appetizers called Pani Puri. “Indiana is so much more affordable than New York.”

Street Food Appetizers

Everyone at the table leaned in to look at the plate of Pani Puri which appeared to include puffed round chips, a cup of stuffing (potatoes, coriander chutney, chickpeas, and onion) and two cups of flavored liquid (pani means water). “One is tangy and the other spicy,” Bomy told us. Still, none of us knew HOW to eat the pani. REMAX realtor Jeff Owens and Prominent local Banker Paul Finley each took a puffed chip. They turned it around looking for holes.

“Where do you put the stuffing?” Finley asked. He tried to cut one in half, but the chip exploded. Bomy chuckled.

Pani Puri is a very popular street food in India. Even tiny kids know how to eat it there. Bomy cradled the chip and gently poked a hole in the top as if it were an eggshell. “Put the stuffing in the hole, then the tangy water and then a little of the spicey water.” He showed us how to pop the whole thing into the mouth at once. Then he took pity on us and brought more of the puri which are tiny flatbreads which puff up when deep fried.

TIP – Bomi’s has a little grocery store in one corner. You can buy packages of puffed puri if you want to try making this at home.

How To Order

We made our orders at the counter, some of us ordered by pointing at the pictures and asking questions which made Bomy smile. He patiently answered everything and pointed out that spice level was optional. We could definitely have things MILD if we wanted. Some of us did.

Collectively, we ordered Lamb Masala (a type of curry made with Garam Marsala and yoghurt), Chicken Makhani (another name for Butter Chicken made with tomatoes), Goat Curry, Chicken Korma (yoghurt braised with nuts and onions) and Chicken Shawarma (garlic, cardamom, and paprika marinated and grilled chicken), Aloo Gobi (cauliflower and potato curry), Pani Puri and Samosas (crispy, flakey, potato and chickpea stuffed, deep-fried snacks). Titus Funeral Planner Brittany Lyon ordered a Mango Lassi (a yoghurt-based smoothie). She let me try it and I almost died of straight mango puree deliciousness.

TIP – You can stop by and grab a mango or strawberry lassi from the fridge in the restaurant anytime you need a quick pick me up. Someone mentioned a lovely evening drink involving lassis and vodka.

The Wildcards

In addition to Greg Fitzloff (by his own words a “failed retiree” after enjoying the running of several chambers of commerce, being on the state lottery commission, and then working for KEDCO), we asked local liberal agitator Travis McConnell to make a rare return visit, and we added someone new; we were fortunate to have wildcard Ashley Ormsby in the house. Ashley recently graduated from law school and is waiting in the sort of purgatory hell of those who must study and pass the bar exam before starting to practice law.

“Purgatory?” scoffed McConnell. “Everyone says there are zero lawyers in heaven anyway. Get used to it.”

“Why do you keep un-retiring?” I asked Fitzloff and then added with a wink. “Does your wife encourage you to go back?”

Failed Retiree Fitzloff took this well. He nodded. “Sometimes she says things like, are you STILL here? Could you take up a hobby or a craft or something?”

Ashley said she is working at her father’s firm while she’s in Bar Exam Purgatory. When asked if she likes working for a parent, she wisely replied, “My father is a great teacher.” We tried talking her into joining the Breakfast Optimist Club which meets at the shivery hour of 7 a.m. on Wednesday mornings at Creighton’s Crazy Egg Cafe. All of you are invited too.

“Look,” REMAX Realtor Owens said. “The club is fantastic as a networking tool, but not every one of our members comes to the meetings live in person. Some are just faithful dues paying members.” Ashley answered with a smile. She’ll make a fantastic lawyer.

The Food

Food at Bomy’s comes out to the table in plastic containers, so the table rapidly filled with the colors of delicious meats in sauces, rice, and, of course, tandoori, and regular Naan flatbreads to scoop everything up in. The conversation turned into mostly expressions of contentment and delight. “Try THIS!” Ashley handed around her container of Goat Curry.

“Amazing!” Brittany Lyon agreed. “Try THIS!” She handed back her Aloo Gobi. Jeff Owens reached his long arms back for a stack of napkins. We needed them.

Bomy kept an eye on us and came out from the counter frequently to answer questions. Halfway through he brought us another plate. “Dahi Puri!” he told us proudly. These looked similar to the previous Puri that we had devoured except they were already stuffed. “Dahi means yogurt,” he told us. “Eat all at once. One bite.” We dove in. These Puri were sweeter and creamier with just a little punch.

Just as Jeff Owens groaned, “I think I’ve eaten myself into a coma,” Bomy arrived with one more surprise. He handed around Styrofoam cups of chai. “Chai means tea,” he smiled. “This already had a little sugar. Very good.” The chai was very hot and sweet, the perfect way to end an amazing meal. We all leaned back satisfied.

Give Bomy’s a try. You can eat in as we did or get it to go like dozens of people did while we ate.

Tip – The Free Pantry

Bomy believes in sharing blessings with the needy, so the restaurant has a free pantry outside. You can take or leave food there anytime.

Where Else Can I Get Bomy’s?

You can find Bomy at the new Winona Lake Farmer’s Market which meets at the Sunset Pavilion every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Know of an interesting place, restaurant, nonprofit, or person which you’d like to see featured in Dives and Diners or in Profiles behind the scenes someday? Send SB Communications LLC an email at [email protected].