Hoori and Chitra Mirpuri, directors of Shahi Foods and owners of Shahi Maharani restaurant in Raffles City, never thought they would continue their mother's restaurant legacy.

The sisters had plans of their own..

Chitra, 32, said: 'I thought of teaching or finding a finance-related job. I just didn't want to run a restaurant.'.

Hoori, 36, also confessed: 'I wanted to go into the tourism industy.'.

Chitra had read economics at the National University of Singapore while Hoori went to Melbourne to study hospitality and tourism. .

But now, after seven years of running Shahi Maharani at Raffles City, they say they have no regrets. .

The restaurant was the brainchild of their mother, Mrs Duru Mirpuri, who died in 2004. It had its beginnings in 1983 as Maharani restaurant in Far East Plaza, which Mrs Mirpuri opened with a friend. .

She opened another restaurant, Mayarani, in 1985 at the now defunct Boulevard Hotel. It later relocated to Amara Hotel. Mrs Mirpuri then decided to strike out on her own, so she closed both restaurants and opened Shahi Maharani at Scotts Walk in 1997..

The restaurant moved to its current location in Raffles City in 2001, and has consistently made it to Wine & Dine and Tatler's Best Restaurant lists since 1997..

The sisters, who live in the Tanjong Rhu area, are both married and their husbands are in the financial industry. Chitra has a 17-month-old daughter. .

What food did you enjoy as a child?

Hoori: When I was about six years old, there used to be a hawker who would walk around our housing estate selling laksa. She'd carry a bamboo pole with pots on either end. Every Saturday and Sunday, I would wait eagerly for my bowl of laksa. When I was about 14, she stopped coming. But her laksa was the best I had ever tasted and till today, I have not eaten laksa that tastes as good..

Where do you like to go for local food?

Chitra: We often go to Clarke Quay for chicken satay, roti prata and mee goreng. There's a plethora of places to choose from near where we live in the East. I like the Chinese rojak along Tanjong Katong Road, chicken rice from Five Star restaurant, and the fried rice and sweet and sour chicken from Chinese eating house Sin Hoi Sai, all in East Coast Road..

What are your favourite snacks?

H: Homemade spring rolls. I also love Calbee's spicy prawn crackers. I could eat it every day. I'm a junk food maniac..

How far have you travelled just for a meal?

C: It's definitely true that I live to eat. Whenever we visit relatives in Colombo, Sri Lanka, we make a trip to a nondescript roadside restaurant which takes us about two hours to get to in heavy traffic. It serves the best kottu roti -a typical Sri Lankan speciality somewhat like murtabak but cut into strips. It looks absolutely disgusting but it is delicious.

What dish of your mother's do you miss?

H: My mother's chicken curry and a Sri Lankan dish called egg hoppers. Egg hoppers are made from rice flour with coconut milk. A thin layer of batter is put into a wok and an egg is cracked into the centre and cooked sunny-side up. The batter takes the shape of the pot and it comes out fluffy in the middle and crispy along the sides. Actually, everything my mother cooked was very good.

What is your favourite kitchen smell?

C: I love the smell of fresh coriander.

What is Shahi Maharani's signature dish?

C: The Tawa Jheenga or grilled prawns. Tiger prawns are lightly marinated with spices, then grilled on a hot iron griddle and served sizzling. The prawns are fresh and the spice mix, just right. So the flavour of the prawns isn't lost. I'm not a fan of seafood, but I will eat these.

H: I love prawns, and these are a must whenever I entertain at the restaurant.

This article was first published in The Sunday Times on Aug 31, 2008.