SMALL PLATES FROM INDIA 29 APRIL, CAFE PLENTY, BRIGHTON.
It was a great night at Cafe Plenty. Read the review by Gary @Scoffers here.
Memories of Old Delhi Saturday 8 April 19.30-22.30, near Hove seafront
Starters
Mains
Dessert
Tickets on Eventbrite
Feedback from recent events:
“Wonderful lamb starter, unique atomosphere, lovely introduction to each dish, will recommend to friends!”, T. Day, Brighton
“Fab Food as always. Thank you Priya, see you next time.”, L. Woodland, Hove.
“Really love it and will definitely come back!”, Sandy Thomas
“All great, especially the lamb and mint sauce!”, Paul Boyce
“Wonderful event, couldn’t be better!”, Jubeslee, Brighton
“So gooooood!!”, Stef Antezac
“Excellend Food”, J. Stenning, Brighton
“A really wonderful event!”. J.P.Robinson, Brighton
“The food was delicious, especially the magic mint sauce”, Elektra Robinson
“Wonderful and tasty food. Something different for Brighton and Hove”, J. Seraphine-Dunford
Past Events:
Royal Game Classics
12 November 19.30
BYO
Hove
Royal families and the landed gentry in India were fond of hunting or “Shikaar” and their cooks developed many wonderful game dishes. I have many fond memories of “jungli” kababs and meat curries which had a more intense flavour than everyday fare.
Starter
Palak ka Shorba – a spinach and lime soup
Second course
Khad Khargosh – the Indian and spicier version of jugged hare! A hare will be marinated overnight and cooked in coal, wrapped in flat bread
Main course
Hiran ka Jungli Maas or Venison Confit – legend has it that this dish was created by royal hunting teams while in the field where they cooked simple meals that would also serve the purpose of preserving the meat for a long time without refrigeration. Jungli means wild game and maas means meat. As soon as the animal was killed it would be cleaned and salted. It would then be cooked in a pit with ghee and crushed red peppers – resulting in a confit.
Dum Ka Bater – Quail cooked in the “dum” style with a gravy of cashews and spices
Served with zeera rice and vegetable raita
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Dessert
Moong Dal Halva – a dessert made with mung beans and pistachios
Curry for Change Charity Summer Feast at Polygon Popup, 21 July 19.30 – 22.30
Thank you to everyone who came to the #curryforchange charity summer feast @polygonpopup in Brighton. Together with NATCO FOODS matching contribution we raised £500! That will help to set up five Community Support Groups for women living in remote, rural villages in India. The groups provide local women with the skills and knowledge they need to start savings and loan schemes, helping them to set up small businesses, and boost family income. So thanks to your support, women like those in the photo from Udalbani village in Jharkhand will be able to provide enough food for their families all year round.
StrEAT event for Brighton Fringe, 23 May 2016 – Classic Indian film by Satyajit Ray and streetfood boxes by Deccan Tiffin. The event was sold out with more than 60 covers.
Maharani taster menu at Marwood Cafe in the Brighton Lanes – Tried a new format at this supperclub with a tapas style meal with a selection of regional Indian specialities, including Awadhi kababs from North India, Street Food from Mumbai, Chaat from Delhi. The venue was a little challenging because of its location and lack of parking facilities but also because we had to carry everything up several flights of stairs.
My Diwali Supperclub for the 7th of November was fully booked, thanks to Street Life, and evidently everyone enjoyed themselves including me! This took place in my house after a long time and it made me remember why I appreciate that cosy environment.
Feedback on the evening:
“We really enjoyed ourselves, meeting you and chatting with others. And of course the food was superb!”, Linda Woodland, Hove.
The event at Cafe Rust in October was really cosy and nice – the venue is a lovely little haven tucked away in the busy London Road area. It is run by a fantastic man named Barbaros who told me that he studied Anthropology at Sussex, so there was an instant connection. The menu featured a mix of North, West and South Indian dishes -just to give people a taste of the enormous diversity of cuisine on the subcontinent. Foodie Eshe very kindly agreed to review the event and a link to her review can be found here.
Both of our events in July and August 2015 at Polygon Popup in Seven Dials sold out. We were hoping for 30 covers, but ended up with more than 40. Lovely to see everyone enjoying the food. Makes it all worthwhile. The menu for the August event is shown below:
Feedback (unedited!)
From the supperclub at Polygon Popup August 2015:
“Excellent event Priya. Great food, great company, made some new friends and had some great tasting experiences! Thank you for a super evening!”, Jeff Haynes, Brighton.
From the supperclub at Polygon Popup July 2015:
“Lovely evening at Polygon pop-up last night. Delightful venue and Priya’s Indian food tasty and delicately spiced. Enjoyed every mouthful and particularly appreciated the background she gave to each dish and her visits to every table to check all was OK.”, Sonia Marsh, Hove.
“I had friends who dined with you last night, who are particularly knowledgeable and well travelled with Indian food, and they loved it. They say your lamb cutlets were ‘to die for’.”, Lel, Tabl Support Team.
From the Hyderabadi Supperclub on 21/6/15:
“Moira and I went to the Supperclub on the 21st of June and were delighted with a superb 5 course meal and pleasant company. The food was a subcontinent away from the standard fare served up in your local Indian restaurant and as each course arrived, our host Priya explained the origins of the dish and other interesting information about the herbs and spices that were used. We are definitely looking forward to the next Supperclub.”, Richard Vahrman, Hove.
“Priya’s knowledge and passion for food from different regions of India guarantee an interesting menu. Every course is a delight, as Priya describes the history and background of each carefully chosen dish. And of course every dish has been lovingly and expertly created from the best fresh ingredients – Priya prepares every thing herself from scratch. You will have an evening of good conversation and gastronomic delight – I highly recommend it.” Sheila Brookes, Hove.
“The care and attention to detail that went into the food and ambience were outstanding. All the dishes were delicious. I particularly enjoyed the green mango, tamarind and mint cocktail that we were welcomed with and the rich and complex spice mix that accompanied the idli and coconut chutney. The fish biriani, pigeon pea and tomato dal and chunky cucumber salad together made an exquisite main course.”, Guest, Brighton.
From the Goan Supperclub on the 16th of May:
“I had a superb time. The atmosphere of Priya’s massive, mysterious and unconventional Victorian house is magical. The welcome drink adds a sophisticated touch. By sharing the table with other people you’ll have made new friends by the end of the evening. The food is good and the quick blurb about it Priya gives wets your appetite. I wish I had more money to go more often but alas you pay for good things in life! Don’t miss the experience.”, Roberta Piazza, Brighton.
“Deccan Tiffin’s Maharani supper club was fantastic. Excellent, gourmet food, a million miles from the usual British curry. Probably the best meal we’ve had this year (including Michelin starred cuisine).”, Mark, Hove.
“This Goan feast was a performance of tastes, textures and colours, playing off each other, and making even the best Indian restaurants seem predictable. A series of small dishes, including deceptively elegant Goan beach and street foods, led up to the mains that showed off all the best features of Indian cooking.” Gordon, Lewes.
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Great turnout for the “Goan” Maharani Supperclub on Saturday the 16th of May. The pork Vindaloo was popular and I had a very happy group of guests overall. So satisfying to hear positive feedback, especially when you have been on your feet all day. Makes it all worthwhile.
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Feedback from previous Supperclubs:
“This was an exceptional experience and we were privileged to be trying Indian dishes of the very highest pedigree”
– Andrew Kay, Food Critic, reviewing the Awadhi Supperclub.
For a review of the first Maharani supperclub please follow these links – click here to see Andrew Kay’s review in the Brighton Latest magazine (page 21). Click here to see a review on RosemaryandPorkbelly’s food blog.
Background
I launched my catering business in November 2012 and have received very positive reviews since then. I was pleasantly surprised because the food that I cook is very different to a standard curry house menu.
I have had a life-long passion for good food, inspired by my parents who were both enthusiastic cooks and gourmands. I was fortunate enough to spend my childhood travelling the globe with them and of course food was central to those experiences. See more about me and the business here.