About Me
I've just recently came in third place at the Salon Culinaire Competition hosted at Bedfordshire College in association with UK Curry Connect & I'm through to the World Finale in Luxemberg.
My passion for Indian food started as a teenager working at an Indian restaurant on the weekends. Years later after graduating from university I opened a Corporate Communications company and got the chance to spend 7 years in India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia which is where I took my passion to new heights. I regularly got the opportunity to watch people cooking in their homes and managed to get behind the scenes in the kitchens of many restaurants where I picked up a so many cooking styles and methods which greatly increased my use of a wide range of ingredients and dish knowledge.
I returned to England several years ago after eating nothing but South Asian food for so long, I was a little disappointed with the Indian food in the UK. I decided to write my first book ‘British Indian Restaurant Food at Home’ which combined some of the tricks of British Indian restaurants but tweaked with authentic Indian cookery styles. After the success of the first book I then went onto write my second ‘Authentic South Indian Cuisine’ which was also published.
I was then lucky enough to get a job as a tour chef for Wiz Khalifah. While touring I received so many amazing compliments about my food, especially my Indian food, that it gave me the idea to start a YouTube channel demonstrating my pan-South Asian cooking skills, and to date have over 300 recipes. I have made Indian food/cookery a big part of my life, which I want to share what I have learnt over the past three decades with others.
My Cooking Classes
I am offering a 1 day cooking class anywhere in the UK at your home. I bring absolutely all the ingredients, utensils, pans and even the gas cooker. All you will need is a pen and paper, a camera if you wish to film, and as many questions about Indian food as you like. Over the course of the day I can show you how to mix spices, make different types of sauces, how to prepare all the ingredients and finally cook the dishes of your choice to a high standard.
What’s on the Menu?
During the course of the day you get to decide what I cook beforehand and cater to your specific needs. You can choose either authentic Indian dishes or British Indian Restaurant style dishes, or a combination of both. You get to decide! By the end of the day it is my wish that you have learned a considerable amount of Indian food knowledge that has taken me decades of - travelling, reading, researching and befriending to achieve!
Dish Options & Ideas
The art of perfect rice – pilau/pilaf rice – byriani – pakoras – pokadas – various types of bhajis – roasting & grinding spices mixes - garam masala – curry powders - tandoori masala – tikka dishes and marinating – a wide range of meat & veg curries – side dishes – dals – roti – chapatti – puri – stuffed & basic paratha – sides – samosas – curry puffs – presentation/plating – various base gravies – chutneys & raita – poppadoms, etc., etc.
This can all be discussed beforehand and I’m flexible as long as what has been agreed fits into 1 day (approximately 6.5 hours).
Prices
All I charge for is the ingredients, my petrol costs and a bit for my time. So I can quote a price once I know: Where, When and What dishes you want to learn how to cook!
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Steven Heap
Enquiries:
Tel: 07542017602 Mail: stevenheap@hotmail.co.uk
PS: I can even bring you ingredients that you may find hard to get in your area, saves you having to purchase from expensive online spice stores.
