Streets Ahead Live entrepreneur series: Deshi Homestyle Bengali Cooking
In the fourth in a series of profiles of street food entrepreneurs that have been supported by the McCain Streets Ahead Programme powered by KERB, Aklima Akther explains how she hopes her authentic South Asian cuisine can both introduce people to Bengali cooking and help create career pathways for others
Cooking was merely a hobby for Aklima Akther but she had a dream of starting a business herself where she could share her hearty, home-style Bengali cooking with its authentic South Asian tastes with a wider audience.
“I did not have a catering job. It was simply a dream to do something for myself, with my recipes,” she says, adding that her food proposition is steeped in community because it is hoped it will grow into something that brings opportunities to others.
This works on the belief that food can bring people together across different cultures. Akther’s ambition is through Deshi introduce more people to Bengali food and that this will create pathways into work for others facing similar challenges to those she has faced.
The first challenge she had to overcome was inexperience in running a food business but acceptance on the Streets Ahead initiative has provided all the knowledge she has required: “I’ve learnt a lot of things such as hygiene, health & safety and finance. They have helped me in all these areas. They have been very helpful. I’ve received good support from McCain and KERB.”
The funding from McCain has been equally important as it has enabled Akther to purchase all of the equipment for the kitchen. I could not have bought anything without this money from the funding. It’s been very good for me,” she explains.
The menu she has presented to customers over the six weeks of trading at Cowcross Yards comprises: Lanton Parkor (lentil and onion fritters); Pani Puri (puris filled with a potato chickpea mix and spices); chicken tikka wrap; and veggie Nokur rice. And it has been well received by customers, says Akther.
This has given her the confidence to now look for a street food market from which she can trade permanently. This has included applying for a spot in Hoxton and she has also been investigating markets around the Tower Hamlets area of London.
She hopes a market presence will contribute to Deshi growing into a recognised name for Bengali street food and in doing so create opportunities for others within the community and introduce more people to the flavours of South Asian.
Other stories from the Streets Ahead Live series
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