Just Open: Kumar's Sweets, Deer Park

They look like psychedelic subcontinental sushi. But these trays of spectacular sweets are made from things like Australian pistachios, cashews, almonds and ghee.

Kumar's Sweets, between a cricket retailer and a Philippine restaurant in Deer Park, is the dream of Kumar Chunnu, who has many years' experience in Melbourne restaurants and airlines in the Middle East but who has always wanted to provide the Indian community with good-quality desserts.

With fellow chef Kamod Kumar, they're producing a flamboyant range of sweets, including dry fruit pista roll (cashews, pistachios, dates) and ras malai, with its creamy golden sauce of milk and sugar scented with saffron and cardamom.

Also noteworthy is dry fruit halwa​. Made with dried fruit, nuts and cornflour, it comes across as a delicious health food bar ideal for those who may not be enamoured with the usual richness of Indian sweets.

Sweet prices range from $25 to $35 a kilogram, with individual serves in the $1 to $2 range.

As well, the shop sells a range of savouries, including tangy, mildly spiced masala chickpeas, and chaat snacks such as pani puri and papdi chaat​.

The chaats are freshly prepared but, for time being, there is only a window bench at which to stand and enjoy them.

Open Mon-Fri 10am-8pm; Sat-Sun 10am-9pm.

Shop 3, 85 Mount Derrimut Road, Deer Park, 03 8361 7303.