Hyphenated-Homestead

I set a brown bag on the lobby table of a tall building at Washington University’s BJC Medical Center area and…

An older lady slowed down, looked at the bag, and asked, “Is that food?”
“Yes,” I said. “For a friend.”
“That’s so nice,” she smiled. “I can take it up.”
“It’s okay,” I told her. “She knows I’m leaving it here. I’ll text her.”
She looked at me again and said, “You’re such a nice gentleman.”

I’m not sure how to receive that, but the line lingers. It felt bigger than a mere food delivery. Bigger than a small pilot or a website. A stranger saw kindness in a simple hand-off and named what I was feeling: there’s something more here than a business transaction. A warm bag can make a building feel smaller.

Why this, why now

For 25+ years in the U.S., I haven’t had a simple way to get ghara-sarakha Marathi food on a regular weekday. Not a festival spread. Just a Tuesday that tastes like Tuesday.

In the last year I’ve been sitting at three porches:

• Community: volunteering with our Marathi mandal taught me that small, consistent actions change how a community feels.
• mPath Services: my new venture is about empathy that moves—taking messy needs and turning them into clear next steps.
• Digital craft: 25 years in UX and change communications taught me to make things reliable: clean forms, clear emails, no surprises.

Marathi Meals on Wheels (MMOW) sits right where these three meet.

What MMOW is (in simple words)

MMOW (Marathi Meals on Wheels) is a community ordering & delivery coordinator for homestyle Marathi meals.

• Independent local chefs cook the food.
• MMOW runs the website, orders, communication, and delivery routes.
• Pilot deliveries run 4:00–7:00 PM.

घरगुती चव, घरपोच आनंद.
(Home-style taste, delivered with care.)

If you’re curious about the “how,” the overview page lives here: MMOW at mPath Services.
If you just want to see the current menu or order, go here: MMOW website.

A tiny story from Day 1

First doorstep. First bag. Ten minutes later my phone buzzed:
“Smells like aai’s kitchen.”

That single line covered the business case, the brand strategy, and the community goal.

Meal delivered. Smile received.

Why it matters to me

I’ve always believed good systems should disappear into the background. If we did it right, you don’t notice the form, the email, or the route. You notice your dinner, on time, not complicated. You notice that someone thought about your Tuesday.

This project lets me braid three strands I care about:

• Service: meeting a real need I’ve heard for years—simple, fresh Marathi food that isn’t restaurant-heavy.
• Structure: using digital tools to reduce friction so the humans (you, chefs, volunteers) can breathe.
• Story: reminding ourselves that food is memory. A bowl can take you home faster than any airplane.

What it isn’t (quick clarity)

MMOW isn’t a restaurant or caterer. Each chef is independent and responsible for their own kitchen and compliance. MMOW coordinates ordering, communication, and delivery—the front door you use when you have questions or need help.

Pilot means we’re learning. Routes are limited. Timing can wiggle a bit day to day. We aim for the 4:00–7:00 PM window and we’ll communicate if something shifts. Your patience helps. Your feedback shapes the next week.

Same porch – different stories, right?

Hyphenated Homestead taught me to stand on the porch and listen.
STLMM taught me to show up for each other.
mPath keeps asking, “How do we make this easier?”

MMOW feels like those three porches at once. A warm bag. A simple thank you. A system you don’t have to think about.

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If you’d like to follow along

• Learn the what/why/how: MMOW at mPath Services
• Check this week’s menu / place an order: MMOW website

Thanks for reading—and for cheering on small experiments that make everyday life a little lighter. धन्यवाद

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Want help turning ideas into action? I run mPath Services: empathy + execution and hands-on help for solopreneurs or anyone needing a bit more TLC. Visit mPath →

Want to just say hello? drop me a note at: mandar@mpathservices.com or contact me →