Richard Khosla-Stevens

Opening your door to cook for strangers in your own home might seem a little odd. But I can’t recommend it highly enough.

We recently hosted our 4th Secret Indian Supper Club event at our home in Long Hanborough and it certainly seems like we’re getting the hang of it now.

Not only did we have a couple of hours to relax and have a cuppa before hand, but by 11:30pm having served up 70 courses, said farewell to all the guests, washed and put away everything and moved all the furniture back, we were sitting down enjoying a glass of wine, happy that we had another successful supper club under our belt.

Furthermore, what started off firmly as a family endeavour, with both teenage boys wanting to be involved (in return for hard cash of course!) was left to my wife and me to do it all!

Staffing issues aside we had a great evening planned with 14 guests confirmed and the menu decided on the day, based on what goodies the market could provide us with. Our style of food ties in with my wife’s Northern Indian heritage and our supper club was borne out of a zeal to prove to friends that Indian food wasn’t about the overly hot (spicy) or the sweetened, creamy food, often served up as representing the whole of Indian cuisine.

We love introducing people to the variety of flavours and taste that are available, beyond what is generally available in standard Indian restaurants. As with an Italian's passion for food from their home region (if not just their mamma’s food!), it’s my wife’s opinion that Punjabi cuisine is the only real Indian food!

Putting her biases aside, we’ve always loved cooking for large family gatherings and it’s pretty much in my wife’s genes, as her mum is a fantastic cook and able to cook for her family of five or 50 guests with the same ease, producing the tastiest high quality food imaginable.

In fact, I know that my wife calls her mum before a supper club evening to just double check the odd recipe or method if she’s trying a new dish, just to ensure it’s as authentic as possible.

It’s been an interesting trial with the supper clubs to see whether it is possible to work closely as a husband and wife team in a work type situation and I’m glad to report that with 20 years marriage experience behind us, working together is enjoyable - providing there are clear lines drawn - my role is strictly front of house and I’m not allowed past the kitchen table as that enters the 'cooks triangle', that essential trinity of space between fridge, sink and cooker where this husband and teenagers are not allowed to dawdle.

There are few things better than having a house full of laughter and chatter and to be serving food that people are really enjoying. It’s especially pleasing when the plates come back empty and when even those who start the evening off by saying 'I’m not too keen on spicy food', clear everything off their plate for each of the 5 courses served up - we know we're getting it right.

It’s been a great way of becoming closer to acquaintances and making new friends who share our sense of adventure and good food. This Saturday we even had close family arriving from London to experience our Supper Club evening, and had a really lovely night meeting a great bunch of fellow supper club guests.

We’ve built our network gradually as we’ve got used to holding these evenings. Repeat guests do a great job raving about the evening and then encourage new people to come along, but having exhausted our list of acquaintances and friends locally, we’re really excited by the doors that WeFiFo has opened up to us, helping to reach local people who are keen on the supper club format.

Richard’s next event is on Saturday and you can sign up here: https://www.wefifo.com/event/459071125369519#event_information