Born out of the idea to share the dishes we have enjoyed since our childhood but rarely found at an eatery in London, Khao Suppers presents a range of dining experiences.
The roots of Khao Suppers lies in the story of its founder, Punam Vaja. A born and raised East Londoner, growing up with strong Gujarati influences is what drives the core of the dishes we serve. As well as the food, what made a lasting impression was the hospitality shown to every guest who came to visit the Vaja home. Each visitor is spoilt with cups of chai, sweetmeats or savoury snacks. Grandma was particularly skilled in her hosting abilities and always made sure no one left without a full belly and hearty smiles!
The cooking style at each Khao supper club is a combination of recipes and dishes passed on from Punam's mum and dad.
Mum shared the traditional dishes that give that feeling of home, as well as her upbringing in Mumbai adding flavours of street-food yumminess. Dad, on the other hand, shared a much more care-free, exploratory approach, always using his instincts when it came to spice and balance in flavour. His early upbringing in Uganda and East Africa meant he introduced a lot of different ingredients to the kitchen, which together combined with mum's more traditional cooking meant an abundance of flavours and dishes. We've grown up enjoying mogo and matoke side by side with our shaak rotli!
Thus, Khao Suppers was born, infusing the lessons passed on from decades of traditional dishes, served with a new flair and a big smile!