Boutique producer Latasha's Kitchen finalist in national award

Latasha Menon the enterprising founder of the boutique label Latasha’s Kitchen is a finalist in the 2014 St.George Banking Group AusMumpreneur Awards.

The Western Australian-based businesswoman was selected as one of 10 finalists from more than 300 submissions across Australia in the main judged award category.

Presented by the AusMumpreneur Network, the AusMumpreneur Awards recognise the best and brightest in the Australian Mumpreneur industry, acknowledging success in business, product development and innovation, and customer service in both online and bricks and mortar businesses.

Ms Menon who juggles family life, motherhood and a successful business said she was overwhelmed to have been selected from such a competitive field of dynamic women.

St George Banking Group’s SME head Chris Screen said the awards are designed to recognise the growing number of women who successfully balance motherhood and business.

Ms Menon started her food business Latasha's Kitchen at 745 Newcastle Street Leederville in July 2003. What originally began as a cafe studio specialising in home-style regional Indian dishes, eventually and with much encouragement from locals, morphed into an iconic business teaching regional Indian and South-east Asian cooking classes, with a focus on high quality handmade curry pastes, spice blends and condiments.

The business has expanded and Latasha’s Kitchen’s delicious bottled products are now stocked at leading WA specialist grocers and farmers markets, as well as being available online so that everyone can enjoy Latasha’s at their home kitchen.

"Sharing the art of cooking delicious food with fresh herbs and spices is the inspiration behind Latasha's Kitchen. You're invited to try my huge range of authentic curry pastes, sauces, marinades and condiments and dish up a wondrous choice of authentic dishes," she said.

Ms Menon was the celebrity chef at the recent Dowerin Machinery Fields days and is a regular at the Good Food and Wine Show.

“I already feel like a winner. I know I wouldn't have made it this far without the support of our retailers and those word-of-mouth ambassadors of spice loving fans,” she said.

The winners of the 2014 St George Banking Group AusMumpreneur Awards on Saturday, 11 October in Melbourne during the AusMumpreneur Conference.