In this special episode James and Luke are in front of a live audience at the Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery, with special guests, Sohini Banerjee and Dr. Debbie Weekes-Bernard.

• Sohini is a British-Bengali chef who runs a successful London supper club called Smoke and Lime. Sohini has worked withchef Asma Khan of Darjeeling Express, chef Helen Graham of Bubala and Michelin-starred chef Rohit Ghai, formerly of Jamavar. She’s also run her supper club, Smoke and Lime, for seven years – a venture which not only serves Bengali staples, but brings in ingredients and techniques from across the world, to produce her own particular brand of “Bangali Khabar” (Bengali food). 

• Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard Dr. Debbie Weekes-Bernard is the deputy mayor of London for Communities and Social Justice. Debbie's office has recently published a report exploring the barriers faced by Pakistani and Bangladeshi women in accessing “good work” – fairly paid, secure employment with progression opportunities – and which offers policy recommendations to address them.

**Introduction** (0:00 – 2:10)

Luke and James introduce the live episode

**Event introduction** (2:10 - 8:35)

Luke and James discuss the origins and motivations for the Migration Menu podcast and introduce their esteemed guests.

**Promo interlude** (8:35 - 19:40)

**Speaker introductions** (19:55 - 21:40)

**Interview with Sohini** (21:40 - 33:00)

**Interview with Debbie** (33:00 - 47:30)

**Post-Interview chat** (47:30 – 53:50)

The episode ends with some reflections on the event and emerging themes. Luke discusses some of the key findings of the Bangladeshi and Pakistani Women in Good Work report. - https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/communities-and-social-justice/workforce-integration-network-win/bangladeshi-and-pakistani-women-good-work/bangladeshi-and-pakistani-women-good-work

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James and Luke return to Southall to visit Brilliant, a North Indian Punjabi family-ran business where they explore how the family’s migration from North India to East Africa, and now the UK, influence their Restuarant's cuisine.

**Introduction** (0:53 – 1:35)

James and Luke share how Southall is the main food hub for South Asian cuisine.

**Introduction of Southall** (1:35 – 7:05)

James and Luke share the atmosphere of Southall, and how many South Asians feel at home from the resemblance of shops, jewellery and food stalls from back home.

**Background of Brilliant** (7:05 – 9:40)

James and Luke discuss the intergenerational story that takes place in British India during the 1930s, to East Africa, then towards the UK in the 1970’s, which now takes place with new generation raised in Great Britain which draws from both new ideas and traditional takes.

**Introduction of Brilliant** (9:40 – 14:50)

Gulu Anand stories his take on the history of Brilliant and how they played an important role in marking Kenya’s independence from the British. Gulu shares how him and his family came to the UK in the early 70s, - already holding British passports from Kenya being a British colony – which was the start of their Brilliant restaurant in 1975.

**Starters** (14:50 – 15:50)

With the influence of the starters given, Gulu shares the Kenyan influences behind the menu.

**Interview with Dipna Anand** (15:50 – 22:35)

Dipna Anand, a celebrity chef and the daughter of Gulu Anand, fills in more of Brilliant’s history and the history behind the healthier options in brilliant restaurants today.

**Mains** (22:35 – 28:23)

James and Luke reflect on their discussions with Gulu and how cooking South Asian food provides a connection to their homeland. For his children, however, South Asian meals was a sense of identity while being raised in the UK but also a cuisine that co-exists with other cuisines.

**CLOSING REMARKS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS** - (28:23 – 32:39)

The Migration Menu has been brought to you by James Staples and Luke Heslop, with help from Vimal Dalal, Angele Ijeh, Stefeni Regalado, and Jafnah Uddin. If you have any questions or comments for us, send them in and we will address them in a future show, you can get in touch at info@themigrationmenu.com. Or on ‘X’ - formerly Twitter: @migration_menu and Instagram @themigrationmenu

Brilliant Menu -

Starters: (14:20 – 14:45)

• Poppadom with mint and tamarind chutney
• Chili mogo
• Garlic and chili cassava chips
• Samosa chat blast
• Chicken tikka

Drinks:

• Kingfisher, an Indian beer
• Tusker, a Kenyan beer

Menu: (22:35 – 22:53)

• Naan bread
• Pilau Rice
• Butter chicken curry
• Mixed vegetable Talfrezi
• Dal Makhani

Guest Speakers/guests mentioned:

• Gerd Baumann, an anthropologist who documented Southall in the 1990s
• Gulu Anand
• Dipna Anand
• Shanker Anand

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reflections: Q&A with James and Luke

This week we look back on the series, respond to questions and comments from our listeners, chat with Geeta Ludhra about Southall, and look forward to series 2.

We also hear from Dr, Geeta Ludhra, Senior Lecturer in Education at Brunel University London, as she reflects on her visits to Southall as a child and her grandmother’s Jalebi dipped in milk. 

**Introduction** (0:00 – 2:49) 

(Starter) 

-Luke and James reflect on their podcast journey and the taste for this episode

**Questions and Answers** (2:50 – 28:27) 

(Main) 

-James and Luke answer questions related to the podcast, from their favourite dishes to gender division and decolonisation.

- Geetha shares her reflections on visits to Southall (18:55 – 24:13)

**Technical barriers and last reflections** (31:40 – 37:22) 

(Dessert) 

-James and Luke discuss the learning curve of producing a podcast and some challenges they faced with the technology.

**Closing Remarks and Acknowledgments** (37:23 – 39:10) 

The Migration Menu has been brought to you by James Staples and Luke Heslop, with help from Tina Boulton, Esther Opoku Debra and Vimal Dalal. If you have any questions or comments for us, send them in and we will address them in a future show, you can get in touch at info@themigrationmenu.com.  Or on ‘X’ - formerly Twitter: @migration_menu.   

For a list of academic literature on these topics and more, please see the list of extended bibliography on the references page or click here.  

People

Dr. Geeta Ludhra

Website: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/people/geeta-ludhra

Anneeka Ludhra –

Website: https://anniradhika.wordpress.com/

Book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dadimas-Celebrating-Grandmothers-Through-Cooking/dp/190799825X

For more information, please visit our website: https://themigrationmenu.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.