An Open Letter from Minal this International Women’s Day
An Open Letter from Minal this International Women’s Day
It’s been almost a year since the Covid-19 pandemic really took hold in the UK and forced restaurants to close up. I remember the day we shut our doors – we were anxious.
It was pretty scary having to change Prashad into only a takeaway service – my head was spinning with questions. How will we survive? How do I look after my team? They were just as nervous as I was after all! How do I boost morale?
But all those worries needn’t have troubled us so much, because in no time at all, our whole community had rallied around us. And we heard you loud and clear – here and ready to do our bit!
We were blown away! And it just goes to show how much Prashad’s community is like one big family. And that’s what I’m thinking about this International Women’s Day. Family.
Being a family woman
Perhaps the hardest moment of 2020 was when we took the difficult decision to move out of our family home to keep my in-laws safe. It was an emotional moment – and it took a while to get used to!
Bobby’s mother, Kaushy, has always been like a mum to me, and such an inspiration in my work. She shares my passion. She fires my passion and she looked after me after a long day in the Prashad kitchens – cooking away while I got to relax and enjoy some peace.
I miss her and I miss that life. I miss talking with her and especially eating with the whole family. Sharing food is something that is very precious to me and my family.
And then, just as we began to appreciate and enjoy our new family life (just Maitri, Bobby and myself) Bobby comes down with what we think was Covid-19. So, chef hat off, nurse hat on.
Thankfully, he bounced back within a week and all was well again. But it just goes to show, we make the right decision in moving out of our family home – especially with my father-in-law (Mohan) battling cancer and needing to stay as healthy as possible!
Being a working mum in lockdown
It’s been enjoyable to run my own home. Of course, it was nice that my mother-in-law (Kaushy) would be doing all the cooking when I came home from the Prashad kitchens. But having my own place and my own home kitchen has been wonderful too. Feeding my family and my neighbours has been so lovely and has made me so happy in the lockdowns. I live for food and for cooking – it’s in my DNA!
Watching my baby girl, Maitri, adapting to home learning, living in our bubble and still being her jolly self, full of energy and life, has been inspirational. I look to her for motivation most days. It’s astonishing how quickly she’s learned the ropes of lockdown life, and we’re excited that she’ll soon be back at school, playing with her friends and forging her own path.
Being a woman and a head chef
Even though I miss the buzz of the Prashad restaurant as we offer our takeaway service only, I have enjoyed having purpose and keeping busy in the kitchen at work. I’m so, so thankful for our customers, those who have reached out personally and on social media, wishing us all the best and asking how they can help.
I can’t explain how important it is as a chef to feel like you have a sense of purpose. I need to be busy. I need to be serving my customers. I need to be in the kitchen, cooking and sharing my passion. Every takeaway order has helped me do this. So, thank you.
I’m still focused on that Michelin star. Did you know only 8% of the UK’s Michelin starred chefs are women? I’m looking to up that number someday soon.
My food is inspired by my heritage. My mother and grandmother both taught me so much and inspired my love of food, and then mum (Kaushy) helped me find my way around the Prashad kitchen and motivated me to get to where I am today. All my life I have been inspired by strong women, and I want to be that role model for Maitri as she grows up too.
Being a community driven woman
One of my proudest achievements during the pandemic, is our #CommunityChaat initiative. Not long after lockdown began, there were some road works happening outside our restaurant. The workers out there were toiling away, and we thought it would be nice to cook them up some Prashad sunshine.
Then, a week or so later, the Morley police stopped by and we cooked up some free food for them too. It felt like our small way of giving back to the key workers that kept us safe, and kept things running. But more, than that – it’s how I was raised.
Out of these two, small gestures, a bigger idea was born. Our partners over at Splitpixel Creative helped us shape this idea into a campaign – a way of doing good, uniting our community, and bringing some light and happiness to people’s lives.
It fuelled our sense of being part of the solution! Together, we could make a small difference – but a DIFFERENCE nonetheless!
Things I am most grateful for
I’m grateful for my family – for the encouragement they give me. For all the work Bobby has put into making this new way of life work smoothly. The one-way systems we had to do to keep people safe, the deliveries so people who had to stay home could still enjoy our food…
I thought it would be more difficult than it is. We have followed every guideline and made it work. I am proud of Bobby and my whole team, who’ve all been so careful and and done everything they can to keep each other and our community safe.
I’m grateful for our good health. But most of all, I am grateful for all the hardworking people – extra emphasis on the amazing women – who are fighting the virus, looking for ways to end the pandemic and especially all the caregivers who are looking after our most vulnerable.
What’s next at Prashad?
Though the hospitality industry has been hit hard, and our very way of life has changed, I am hopeful. I’m hopeful that an end is in sight with the vaccine.
I hope we’re close to the finishing line – but it’s also important not to rush it! Of course, I’m looking forward to things going back to normal in the restaurant and being able to serve my wonderful customers again.
Good days are ahead, I can feel it. I’m working on our new menus, thinking up new ideas and feeling the excitement setting in. Next week, I’ll be heading out on a visit to a crockery factory (I know!) because very soon we’ll be upgrading our crockery!
Bobby is busy updating the rest of restaurant too. We’ve had the tables French polished, been refreshing the menus, and even done some redecorating.
I’m so excited to welcome you back into our restaurant, you don’t even know! In the meantime, please keep those orders coming in. Maybe even treat your own mums this Mother’s Day – we have some extra special dishes on our menu, available for a limited time!
Thank you!