Angela Malik is a Scottish-Indian chef, entrepreneur and panelist on Radio 4’s The Kitchen Cabinet. She is known in the UK for combining Asian flavours with fantastic, seasonal British ingredients to create a new style of food that ‘sings in the mouth’. Her critically acclaimed unique Five Tastes philosophy is her iconic food and teaching message. “We demystify cooking. Real food is simple it is about balance of flavours. Using the Five Taste Sensations we change how people shop, eat and cook”.
Angela lives with her family in Acton which is also home to The Angela Malik Eatery Deli Cook School, with further openings planned in London this year.
Angela is running a Valentine’s ‘Lovers Food’ class on February 14th.
Where are you right now?
Sitting in my bed on the laptop at 10pm. My working day splits into two around school pick up children time; the day shift from 9am-4pm and then the evening shift from 8pm-midnight.
What do you do for ‘me-time’?
Flick through restaurant reviews and fantasy plan the next meal out. It’s called food porn.
Where is your favourite place to eat in West London?
My relaxation is eating so I have a quite a few favourites! Notable worthies at the moment Charlotte’s Bistro in Chiswick best cocktails in West London, Persian Palace in Hanwell the kebabs are divine, the fluffiest buttery basmati rice I have ever tasted and The Thatched House in Hammersmith for ‘best in living memory’ macaroni cheese.
Career and children – top tip on how do you do it?
I have learnt through my years of experience building a business in the food industry that the commercial world is run by men for a reason and that is because it is impossible to do it all. So my top tip is; keep your vision 100% fixed on the goal, it will happen, it’s just a longer and slower journey with the babies strapped to your back.
If you had to make a quick escape where would you go?
‘Quick escape’ – what’s one of those? From what I read in the Sunday Times Travel section Rome is pretty phenomenal.
What is on your bedside table?
I love books and I always have about four on my bedside table at any one time, pretending that I will get to the end of them all. Just finished Hilary Devey’s autobiography ‘Bold as Brass’, bedtime reading is ‘Jerusalem’ by one of my food heroes Yotam Ottolenghi and just downloaded ‘How to be a Woman’ by Caitlin Moran onto the Kindle.
Three things you’d take with you to a desert island?
My saucepans, my knives and my children so they can be the commis chefs.
Who would you most like to meet for a drink?
I admire strong vibrant women who have not been afraid of taking risks in their lives and also who I think it would an absolute laugh to get drunk with; entrepreneur Michelle Mone, writer and journalist India Knight and retail guru Mary Portas.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Expensive cheese. I think life is too short to waste on plastic cheddar.
What is your favourite thing to do as a family?
The food obsession rubs off on the children so we will plan a day around the meals. A Sunday walk around Regents Park down to Marylebone for hot chocolate and croissants ending with dim sum in Chinatown.
To find out more, or book a place, please visit:
Angela was talking to Annabelle King.
