Street food & takeaway
In our new series, we shine a spotlight on the winners and runners-up in BBC Radio 4’s Food and Farming Awards 2018. This month, we discover what makes the best street food or takeaway
I will always remember the early days of street markets in the rain
The story of this Leeds-based vegetarian Indian café, street food and delivery business reads like the plot of a rags-to-riches feelgood film. After fleeing a violent relationship, Manjit Kaur wanted to create a better future for herself and her son. Having been taught to cook as a young girl by her Punjabi grandmother, she started an Indian-food delivery service from home, using Twitter to take orders. Manjit’s Kitchen was born. Since then, the business has blossomed into a permanent, licensed site in Kirkgate Market, with its own house brew, as well as the Yellow Horsebox, which serves food on the move, touring festivals and catering private events. Manjit’s specialises in strictly vegetarian street food and snacks (chaat). Though her grandmother came from northern India, the menu covers other regional specialities like southern Indian dosa (crisp rice pancakes) and also incorporates the best Yorkshire produce with dishes like red lentil and rhubarb dhal – and for those wanting to try more than one of her award-winning dishes, there’s the thali-tray option. As well as the Food and Farming Awards, Manjit’s Kitchen has been a finalist in the British Street Food Awards for several years running and, last year, Manjit herself won Yorkshire Entrepreneur of the Year. ‘Whatever award we win, I’ll always remember the early days of outdoor street-food markets in the rain and everyone asking why we only cooked vegetarian food,’ says Manjit. ‘Winning the Food and Farming Awards has meant validation but it also shows that small, independent businesses can be the fabric of a city’s eating scene.’ Manjit hasn’t forgotten her roots. She runs a women-led business, her prices remain affordable (nothing is more than about £6) and she gives back to Leeds community food projects by holding an annual raffle for the homeless charity Simon On the Streets (simononthestreets.co.uk) and employing a member of staff through Cafe Leep (leep1.co.uk), which trains people with learning disabilities to work in the hospitality industry. manjitskitchen.com @manjitskitchen