12/11/2021
006-It is not without reason that you have ’sass’on your name. Meet Tina Sasson - a Punjabi brought up in Kolkata, who sports a paint brush to keep her hair bun together. As a child, Tina dreamt of having a dhaba of her own on Grand Trunk Road, Asansol, West Bengal. Fast track a few years later to the year 2000, she began realising that dream by serving breakfast and conducting cooking classes in their backyard at home. With no formal training or background in cooking or running a business, she, along with her husband - Sanjeev took the plunge in late 2000s by renting a 10X15 that could seat 10 on Gokulam Main Road. The cafe since then has been the bedrock for upto 14 people including a Nepalese family. Tina’s cafe - now in it’s 13th year has evolved over time to now accommodate 60. What’s not changed tho’ is the rustic feel with hues of Buddhism, Om mani padme hum playing in the background and ghar ka khana(read: home-cooked food).
