In my house, we don’t use a special dough machine. We make our roti by hand, every single time. To this day, I still get excited when my roti balloons up full of steam on the gas flame. When I’m making a dish with my bare hands, the organic process takes me back to my childhood and of learning the basics of cooking. I was taught to always cook and serve with love.
Oneness and equality are two core values of the Sikh faith. We practice these values through the form of Sewa which literally translates from the Sanskrit word to “selfless service”. Langar is another fundamental part of Sikhism, where pure vegetarian Punjabi food is served on a daily basis, free of charge to anyone, regardless of colour, gender, status or faith. The food is cooked in a communal kitchen and everyone sits together on the floor in a dining hall.
“To this day, I still get excited when my roti balloons up full of steam on the gas flame”
Music is also an important part of YSM8. I have been influenced by an eclectic mix of genres. Food doesn’t just nourish our bodies, the people around our table and the conversations we have to nourish our soul. It comes down to the values that have been instilled in you by your family. I want to share this with the worfrom my dad’s love for guitar legend Carlos Santana and Motown classics, to the sounds of my brother playing the tabla and listening to Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (a pioneer of devotional Qawwali music). I love DJ Murlo, Onra, Dabeull, Sade, Ta-ku, Erykah Badu, A Tribe Called Quest and Middle Eastern artists such as Homayun Sakhi, Qais Essar, Noor Jehan and old school Bhangra hits.
I always have a brainstorm with my mum, dad and elder brother about the menu. It’s important for me to hear their thoughts about the food we will be serving. YSM8 was my vision but it wouldn’t have been possible without their love and support.
The future is about collaborating with other home-cooks who are keeping their culture alive and connecting with their ancestors through food. I am interested in hearing about their food rituals and home comfort dishes.