West Reading Avenues Fall 2021 - 8

West Reading Peeps
When Chew
Chant Chill
Becomes
EAT
DRINK
LOVE at
Chatty
Monks:
Meet the
Jagadesans
By Denise Drobnick
Photography by Wayne Becker,
Dave Zerbe Photography Studio,
davezerbestudio.com
6
Avenues Fall 2021
D
uring the pandemic you probably noticed
some changes on the Avenue, including
outdoor fire pit tables, complete with s'mores,
at Chatty Monks Brewing. That's because Rajavel
Jagadesan, along with his supportive, business-minded
spouse and two creative and talented daughters through
their company EDL Consolidated (Eat Drink Love...get
it?) were preparing to acquire the 7-year-old restaurant
and brewing facility. Already owners of food processing
businesses Palace Foods Inc. in Muhlenberg Township
and Sambar Kitchen in Philadelphia, the Jagadesans
decided to combine their food experience with a family
love of beer and commitment to community in this
ultimate " tap takeover. " Their vision and enthusiasm
are already making an impact in West Reading and
the surrounding area, and they are just getting started.
Rajavel, or Raj as he is known, came to the United States
from India in 1968, settling in Berks County in 1969.
His parents ran an Indian grocery store on Lancaster
Avenue and stayed true to their south Indian culture
at home, including practicing vegetarianism. When
Raj had friends over, he often tried to make the food
more " American, " in essence his first experiments with
Indian fusion cuisine. His father was also an engineer
with Met Ed, and Raj followed in his footsteps and
became an engineering student at Penn State Berks
after graduating from Governor Mifflin in 1981.
http://www.davezerbestudio.com
West Reading Avenues Fall 2021

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