A unique dietary initiative focused on wellness and authentic cuisine is gaining rapid traction across Bahraich city. Established on the premises of the Krishi Bhawan, right next to the Medical College, the millets canteen named Shri Anna Gallery has been set up through an initiative of the Uttar Pradesh government and the agriculture department. Designed to bring traditional coarse grains and naturally grown crops back into daily diets, the facility is turning into a major center of attraction for city residents as well as working professionals stationed away from home.
Affordable Home-Style Meals Focused on Daily Nutrition
With general food inflation putting pressure on daily budgets, access to balanced, chemical-free food at modest rates has become hard to find. The canteen addresses this directly by pricing its comprehensive meal plate at ₹75. Shivang Jaiswal, the operator of the canteen, explained that the core aim is to serve clean, homely food to every visitor. The daily thali features native unpolished pigeon pea dal with skin intact, organically cultivated rice, chapatis made from unadulterated wheat flour, and seasonal green vegetables prepared freshly each day. To support smooth digestion, each plate is accompanied by fresh salad and boondi raita.
Vinod Kumar Shukla, a local resident dining at the premises, observed that the food tastes just like a home-cooked meal. He highlighted that drinking water is brought to tables in natural clay bottles, keeping it naturally chilled and beneficial for health. According to Shukla, finding such wholesome, hygienic food alongside chilled water in earthen bottles for just ₹75 is nearly impossible anywhere else in Bahraich.
Continuous Service from Morning to Night with Millet Snacks
The Shri Anna Gallery operates continuously from 8:00 AM until 9:00 PM every day, catering to both morning commuters and late-evening office goers. Breakfast offerings center around traditional cereals and light foods, including nutritious millet poha, baked millet cookies, and biscuits. The menu also offers 2 parathas for ₹30, crisp pakoras at ₹20 per plate, and fresh organic tea for ₹12. For individuals requiring less oil or customized bland preparations, kitchen staff maintain dedicated cooking arrangements. Whatever the meal or order size, drinking water across all tables is served exclusively in earthen bottles.
Sourced from Local Farmers with Zero Plastic Usage
A distinctive feature of the canteen is its complete reliance on surrounding rural producers. The canteen operator clarified that all cooking ingredients, seasonal grains, and ground spices are procured directly from area farmers without intermediary channels. The kitchen prohibits artificial chemicals, chemical pesticide traces, and adulterated market products. Single-use plastics are banned across the entire dining hall; instead, reusable clay bottles maintain the water's natural cooling while infusing the aroma and beneficial trace elements of baked clay.
The canteen also doubles as a direct marketplace for farmer producer organisations (FPOs). Visitors can purchase packaged farm produce straight from display racks, such as cold-pressed kachi ghani mustard oil, locally gathered pure Bahraich honey, fresh flour milled from jowar and bajra, and an assortment of millet biscuits and cookies.
Air-Conditioned Comfort for Migrant Workers and Professionals
For working people who have moved to Bahraich from other towns and districts, finding dependable, hygienic daily food has often been a struggle that risks digestive illnesses. Situated beside the Medical College in the Krishi Bhawan compound, this millets center offers a clean, reliable, and nutritionally rich alternative. Diners are provided complimentary access to an air-conditioned dining area, allowing them to relax, drink chilled earthen-bottle water, and enjoy authentic dishes. The venue welcomes visitors daily between 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM.
