11am in Bourbon Street, Port-Louis: Benny B Snack is already full. The boulette (meat, fish or vegetable balls) and mine frit (fried noodles)” seller attracts hundreds of people from all parts of Port-Louis everyday. “Our food is good and affordable. So we have all types of customers: from workers to top executives,” Benny, the snackbar owner, explains. Here is one of those places where you can eat very well and very quickly for low prices (Rs 3 a ball and Rs 15 a portion of noodles). Benny’s tasty “boulettes” melt in the mouth.

Benny is a self-made man. He started working in Chinese restaurants when he was very young. When he speaks of those years, he remembers fondly “the one who taught me everything, Mr. Ah-Kong from Royal Snack. I started by washing dishes in the restaurant and gradually learnt how to make typical Chinese food.”

<B>Same food, better organisation</B>

Then, twelve years ago, Benny decided to stand on his own feet. Throughout all these years, he and his few employees were under a little kiosk facing what is now his snackbar. “You know, few things have changed since we moved to the new site three months ago. Our food is the same, our service as good. The only difference is that we’re far more organised now and our customers can sit to eat,” Benny’s brother explains.

Benny makes his own boulettes in a small factory in Pointe-aux-Sables. They are made from fresh vegetables, meat or fish. Moreover, he supplies several other boulette sellers all around the island. He has also opened a second snackbar at Caudan Waterfront where the majority of his customers are tourists.

But Benny thinks big and he has other projects for the near future. “I’m thinking about setting up a restaurant specializing in European and Chinese cuisine on top of the snackbar. Customers will have a wider choice.” Benny is not just thinking about it as he adds, “Maybe I could start this new business in about three or four months.”