My food heroes
Rob Allison
Rob is a food writer and friend who I’ve had the pleasure of working with for over six years. We have travelled all over the world together and enjoyed food adventures closer to home. Rob is all the things I want to be and more. He has a distinct love for the details; he can wax lyrical about anything, something as simple as the humble onion and really leave you with a soft spot for an allium. Who knew? As a child born into an immigrant household, Rob presents his food with honesty. He talks about his love for his mother and the recipes he grew up on with such fondness I often find myself close to tears. He radiates pride for his Korean food, in particular kimchi and eggs! @roballison81, food producer, broadcaster and author of Homemade Takeaways
Mursal Saiq
Mursal runs a British and Afghan barbecue restaurant Cue Point in London. I stumbled upon her while scrolling Instagram during lockdown and, boy, am I glad I refreshed for the millionth time that day. Afghani food is something that I had never experienced and through the world of modern technology we are able to connect in a way we weren't able to before. Mursal openly shares her immigration story and how she still, to this day, doesn’t really know when her birthday is! But it is through this trauma that Mursal has found an avenue to share a beautiful part of her culture that is delicious Afghani cuisine. Previously, it was something that I'd never thought to try. For some, the word 'Afghanistan' can often conjure up negativity, and Mursal changes that narrative through her food. People like Mursal are here to challenge our perceptions.
@cuepointldn
Tiffany Chang
Tiffany is a Taiwanese-american who now lives in London. She posts wholeheartedly and unashamedly photos of her Taiwanese recipes – dishes like clam strips, fried chicken and so much more – recipes that are traditional, with no filters or styling tricks to enhance the presentation. She posts them unselfconsciously, because she is proud. She seamlessly weaves these recipes in with stories about her travels, prejudices she has faced and about being a mother of two. She is vibrant, honest and a breath of fresh air. She makes me want to eat Taiwanese food forever.
@tiffcooksalot