The Darjeeling Express - A Restaurant Brand That Tastes As Good As It Makes You Feel
(Darjeeling Express in Covent Garden, London)
(Asma Khan)
Tucked away in Covent Garden in London, is a delicious and authentic taste of India. Darjeeling Express, a restaurant owned by chef Asma Khan, had humble beginnings. What began as a home-cooked meal and Supper Club for 12 guests in 2012, featuring Indian family recipes that were passed down through generations in Asma Khan’s family, the initiative was simple: cook delicious food made with love from her heart to the patron’s mouth. The Supper Club evolved into a pop-up location in Soho in 2015 and in 2017 Darjeeling Express opened their doors to a permanent location in Kingly Court.
(Darjeeling Express in Covent Garden)
The restaurant and hospitality industry are notoriously difficult to survive in, much less thrive without ample investment help, particularly in large cities such as London, Paris, and New York, which results in large restaurant groups monopolizing the best locations, but when COVID-19 hit, in a world of unknown and uncertainty, opportunities arose. Asma Khan took a leap and signed a lease to open Darjeeling Express in Covent Garden, where her independent restaurant would be able to seat 90 people. While her ascent on the restaurant scene in London is impressive, Asma’s dedication to impowering women is possibly her most admirable attribute. Darjeeling Express, run by Asma is an all-women kitchen team of housewives who have been supporting and cooking alongside her since the Supper Club.
(Asmam, in red, and her all-female kitchen team)
“A year ago signing the lease to the Covent Garden restaurant. Although it was just my signature- I was in my heart….signing on behalf of all of us- Darjeeling Express kitchen is an oasis for women- our home- I will never forget that day- the tears and the joy- that night we celebrated our victory- once again from the ashes we had risen as a collective of women.” - @darkeelingldn
Asma’s additional accolades include being the first British chef to be featured on Netflix’s Chef’s Table. Her time on the show was celebrated with an Emmy Nomination, was the first chef to be featured on Vogue’s list of ’25 Most Influential Women of the Year for 2020’ was included in the eighth edition of the GG2 Power List which profiles Britain’s 101 Most Influential Asians! If you are unable to enjoy her cooking in London, Asma has a cookbook, Asma’s Indian Kitchen, that you can purchase online and create divine meals at home with, but if you are lucky enough to sit in her restaurant, be sure to say hello to her when you see her.