So much work has gone on behind the scenes over the last few months at Wytch Wood Camping. But the site is nearly ready to open for campers. We are still working on the cafe and so so much more!!! Can't wait to show and tell you more in the next few weeks... Does anyone else just think 'wow' or is it just me 😁 #ecocamping #coolcamping #ecofriendly #sustainable #local #somersetlife #crewkerne #farmlife #camperlife
First live band in absolute years and what an fantastic set!
It was my first time at The David Hall, South Petherton and what a great atmosphere. Brilliant warn up act with Potts of Potts And Jammin . The main act was this brilliant group, The Cut Capers . Great atmosphere, brilliant music and friends.
Highly recommended them both and the venue itself. Great small intimate gig! Thank you 💗
#localgig #band #smallvenue #brilliant #music #visitsomerset #local #supportlocal #southsomerset #gignight #livemusicrocks #southpetheron
Steaming...
Last of yesterday's orders getting packed up. Our boxes are value for money when you consider our menu changes weekly, and made fresh in house in time for delivery.
- a poppadom
- a starter
- chutney/pickle
- Basmati rice
- curry
Each box is a substantial large portion for an individual or add a couple of sides/extras that change weekly and share it between 2.
We use no plastic packaging. And our boxes are fully recyclable.
Next week's menu you later today as a story. Keep your eyes peeled :)
This box is gluten and dairy free.
#curryclub #crewkerne #westcoker #yeovil #southsomerset #noplastic #localdelivery
#glutenfree #dairyfree #workingmumlife #smallbusinessuk #indian #british #preorderonly #basmatirice #poppadoms #starter #mains #setmenus #weekly #tuesdays #wednesdays #foodlife #foodie
Earlier today....
Tonight's Khaman Dhokla aka my Lentil and Chickpea cakes steaming away.
These are gluten free, vegan and savoury.
One of the sides for our curry club boxes that went out this week.
All food is made fresh on a pre-order basis.
This week I ended up doing a few doorstep delivery's enroute to West Coker instead of the drop off outside Saunders butchers in West Coker. Looking at the milage involved and how cost it is overall it would have saved customer miles to do this.
With the roadworks in place it just made sense. I try and help out customers where I can.
So if you live in between within the range of #crewkerne #westcoker #odcombe or surrounding villages along the A30 please let us know if you would like a drop off on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. I may be able to accommodate.
#khamandhokla #curryclub #preorderonly #glutenfree #vegan #a30 #somersetvillagelife #dairyfree #indianfood #fusionfood #weeklymenu
Zanzibar Mix - Urojo
Nothing more perfect on a cold winters day.
My father was born and raised in Tanzania; Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam. Thus the influence of East African Street food is definitely in my blood. Zanzibar Mix is one of the most famous. This vegan dish is one of my favourite childhood memories made by my mum. Potatoes, cassava, chickpeas, crispy bhaji, onions, bombay mix served in a tangy sour gravy. Easily made as spicy as you like with the addition of coconut chutney and/or red chilies.
Many ask where my influences come from. It's global from family, friends and my own travels.
This dish definitely reminds me of home.
#globalfoodie #zanzibarmix #tanzania #zanzibar #daressalaam #streetfood #indian #eastafrican #british
I felt it was symbolic to be the one to help take out the tiny kitchen in our horse box. It's taken us over a year to get to this stage. And we are still finding holes 😬🤯.
But it definitely felt therapeutic. So glad to finally get ridden of rotten old units. Floors coming up next but that's pretty grim. The colour in the old water tank (no idea how old it was) was yellow 🤮. Can't wait to get this going now. It's been a pipedream in my mind since being delivered over a year ago.
This was also a local gem of a find.
More to come soon
#horseboxconversion #tinykitchen #smallspaces
Spiced Local beef brisket from Saunders Butchers, West Coker cooked over a mix of Dorest Ginger @dorset_ginger and Chilli and Ginger Cider from @bridgefarmcider
This was served up as part of yesterday's Thali at The Potting Shed @thepottingshedbridport based out of The Bridge House Hotel @bhbridport. There is also another amazing independent business that also work on site full time running the bar called Dark Bear @darkbearbar. Their cocktails and speciality canned cocktails to take home work a treat with my spices, as well as for those driving 😁.
We will be back with different menus most Saturdays going forward. Our next 2 dates are 18th and 25th September, menus for which will be out soon.
Much love ❣️
#smallbusiness #workingtogether #hospitality
The best wobbly pud to end an awesome birthday week 🤭 (using milk from Castle Farm Dairy ) thanks to an amazing mother-in-law.
Can't wait to see everyone next week for Wednesday's Pop-ups The Village Cafe - East Coker
Friday's Tiffins in the Trees Wytch Wood Camping
Saturday's Pop-up Bridge House Hotel along with DarkBear cocktails
Möet Imperial with Wild Hibiscus flowers and awesome friends.
Could not have asked to start the last week of my 30s in a better fashion!!
The best suprise visitors arrived on Friday evening, just in time to save me from a little mental health breakdown. The last few weeks have been particularly difficult as the little one was in isolation or away while I worked. Yesterday was the first time I got to spend the day out with the small one since before the summer holidays began.
We had late night drinks, a wet Welly walk in Wayford Words, a quick stop in The George (West Coker), and a evening trip to Lyme Regis where we got to unexpectedly watch the torch festival.
Couldn't thank these lovely souls more - especially as we just sat and reminisced about my 30th birthday weekend camping together on Shell Island during a storm. Can't believe that was a decade ago!!
It's also all those amazing things that have happened between then and now that I am forever grateful for. Looking forward to the week ahead and a decade of new adventures 😃
#lastweekofmy30s #goodfriends #goodfood #champagne #hugs
Quick Easy Indo-Chinese Chicken Wings
The recipe is now out in the August issue of The Conduit Magazine available in local stockists across South Somerset and West Dorest as well as online.
The instructional video accompanying it is also now live on my YouTube channel.
These wings are not the same the ones I serve when I am cooking for my clients or customers. It's a completely new recipe for you.
Along with all the other news I've disclosed to the readers of the magazine, this month I have been working with the talented and versatile @brownilson for some personal music for my social media posts and @youtube channel. We have released my music intro along with the picture and the video for these wings. We have more in the pipeline. Can't wait to share more.
Do let me know if try making these for yourself and/or what you think of our little music introduction.
All links available via my bio or www.thealternativeindian.com
Wings Supplier: Saunders Butchers, West Coker
#musicintro #youtubechannel #newrecipe
#published
#alittlebitrockandroll
#chickenwings #indochinese
(excuse the state of us and the kitchen)
This video was taken back on Nov 2020 during some difficult times at home. It was before we done a tonne of work to our kitchen in order to obtain our food hygiene rating.
I have been contemplating redoing this video with my little one for a while. But I fear it will loss the impromptu charm of it. It was his first time talking to a camera, he asked to do it. This was after my millionth recording talking to a camera. I eventually I posted my Instructional Chappati making video as my first You Tube Instructional.
However I think the Tiny one blows it out of the water all around. We have been teaching him to make Chappties since he was a tot. Following the footsteps of my mum teaching my brother and I in our younger years. He is also a complete natural - the utter opposite of me - in front of a camera.
He couldn't melt my heart more 😍
#cookingwithkids #kidscooking #chapati #roti #roki #indianflatbread #talkingthetalk #juniorchef
1 year flashback closing up one door but opening a million others.
This Google photos reminder just hit me with a punch. But also a massive sense of achievement leaving a lump in my throat.
The month or so around when these pictures were taken I was completely heart broken for many reasons, some of which were:
- 1st place we had a date night 7 years ago upon moving down from London; & we returned many times. It was, and always be "The Bistro" in my heart as it was for so many other locals
- as the years went on we built a friendship with Barry (the owner), went to him for advice for finding a plumber and he also fitted our carpets at home (his other business)
- The summer of 2018, after being made redundant, I noticed the Bistro doors shut. I picked up the phone and called Barry with an offer. I had no professional experience, except for feeding friends and family. Barry, with Val's (his late wife)blessing, took a massive gamble on my abilities.
- I’m sad to say I never actually got to meet Val, but ate her lovely food many times, I always felt a happy presence at work in that kitchen and I think spending that time with Barry for the first few months around the reopening did us both a world of good from a mental health standpoint.
- Opening the doors to my first paying customers (with little to no experience) I was made to feel part of the West and East Coker community straight off.
Though there were some lows, it's all the positives that came with these experiences that had left the lump in my throat. I feel I have gone down the biggest roller-coaster of my life since. And it's not stopped yet.
I feel indebted to the community, especially Barry, who made me feel so welcome, who have jumped in and helped out on various projects, who donated through lockdown so I could increase my free food for the NHS and Emergency crews. Thankful to all the friends I've made and the colleagues I've met along the way and since. I wouldn't have had the confidence to push
Love the friendly welcome at the new local off grid campsite. If you are looking for somewhere to camp when visiting the area check out Wytch Wood Camping
#ecocamping #southsomerset #offgrid
I am so last minute about everything, but love it when plan comes together against the odds.
I wanted a more professional look to my business cards. I still plan to using my wildflower seeds paper offcuts by stapling them together.
I spent sometime researching the most sustainable business card companies out there on Wednesday. And I must say The Sustainable Print Company ticked every box and their reviews where brilliant. So we contacted them late Wednesday afternoon to ask if we could get them by the weekend as we had our first outside market on Saturday (Made in Thornford) - a big ask I know.
At this point I didn't even have one put together as we where using a Beetroot stamp with the old details on it.
I think we did a pretty darn good job in the hour deadline we had to get over to them. Felt a bit like taking part in a challenge set by Sir Alan Sugar in the Apprentice with the clock ticking 🤣
I did a little dance after they where delivered (thankfully on my own in the house 😬). I was so excited had to record it.
Let me know what think 🤭
What can I say nothing but love for The Sustainable Print Company 💗. Check out their values! If you need any printing working done and looking for the best sustainable company out there check them out.
(Sorry the recording on my phone is so jumpy)
#businesscards #sustainable #sustainablepackaging #ukmade #supportsmallbusinesses #printing
The rain let up for a couple of minutes so I was able to snap this picture.
I've had my first vaccine.
I've had, it so I can potentially spend quality time with my folks. It also brings me one step closer to be able to travel and see my brother and extended family that live abroad.
I've also had it to try help protect my fellow customers be it at pop-ups, events or catering.
I must also say how impressed I was with all the team at Haynes International Motor Museum vaccination site.
They where highly efficient and it was a quick and positive process. Also brilliant to be able to see some of their amazing collection albeit through the internal window. Thank you.
#vaccinationdone✔️ #pfizer
#haynes #veryimpressed
#thankyou
#onestepcloser #forthoseilove #covidvacccine
Sizzle.
Flavouring oil and in turn cooking off some spices.
#sizzle #flavour #somerset #dorset #foodie #somersetbusiness
Naughty Cheese Night
Melted Camembert with home made garlic chilli toast dippers for a brilliant crunch.
#cheese
