Ian Purkayastha facts for kids
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| Born | August 30, 1992 Houston, Texas |
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Ian Purkayastha (born August 30, 1992) is the person who started Regalis Foods. This company brings rare and special foods to top restaurants and homes. Regalis Foods is based in New York City, Chicago, and Dallas.
They specialize in fancy ingredients like fresh truffles, caviar, and unique seafood. Many of the best restaurants in the United States, especially those with Michelin stars, work with Regalis. You can also buy these special foods directly from their website.
Ian was born in Houston, Texas, and moved to Arkansas as a teenager. When he was 15, he started looking for wild mushrooms and plants with his uncle. After trying his first truffle, he became very interested in wild foods. He began calling local restaurants to sell them these special ingredients. This early experience led him to New York City, where he started Regalis.
In February 2017, Ian wrote a book called Truffle Boy: My Unexpected Journey Through the Exotic Food Underground.
Ian's Career Journey
In 2008, when Ian was just fifteen, he started his first company. It focused on finding, importing, and selling special foods. He mainly worked with restaurants in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
In 2010, he moved to New Jersey. There, he worked for an Italian truffle company as their sales director for North America. This means he was in charge of selling their truffles across the continent.
Starting Regalis Foods
In 2012, Ian founded Regalis. At first, the company mainly operated in New York City. Over the years, Regalis grew and made connections in Chicago and Dallas. Now, there are Regalis offices and warehouses in these cities too.
In 2016, Forbes Magazine recognized Ian. They included him in their "30 Under 30" list. This was a year before his book was released.
Regalis Foods Today
In March 2020, RegalisFoods.com launched a website for customers. This allowed people to buy luxury foods directly from them online. Today, Regalis is a top company for luxury foods in the United States.
They work with many famous chefs and lifestyle businesses. About 80% of restaurants with Michelin stars work with Regalis. Besides finding and selling ingredients, Regalis also has its own products. These include special honeys, preserves, caviar, and wild edible items.
Ian has been featured in many well-known publications. These include The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes Magazine. He has also been profiled by Food & Wine, Vice Media, W Magazine, and CNN's Great Big Story.
