This week the food came to James and Luke, from Alaisha Kaishyap, owner of the tiffin delivery brand, The London Food Company. An example of the growing band of home cooks catering to hungry international students and others missing the food of home, they are also joined by a group of PhD students to reflect on their own food ways.

**Introduction** (0:00 – 6:24)

(Starter)

-James and Luke introduce Aalisha Kaishyap, who started the London Food Company and is also Brunel Alumni. They outline the significance of the “Dabbawala” and caste.

**Interview** (6:25 – 28:27)

(Main)

-James and Luke are joined by some Brunel Students, as well as Devanshi Chanchani. They discuss similarities between their respective South Asian foods.

**Post interview discussion** (28:28 – 32:04)

(Dessert)

-James and Luke discuss the rise of home cooks and entrepreneurship, they locate it within gender and authenticity.

**Closing Remarks and acknowledgments** (32:05 – 32:37)

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.

Menu dishes eaten:

Szechuan Chicken

Karahi Chicken with Jeera Rice

Rogan Josh

Pav Bhaji

To see images for this episode, click here.

Literature mentioned:

Pathak, G. S. 2010. Delivering the Nation: The Dabbawalas of Mumbai, South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, 33(2), 235-257

Staples, J. 2016. Food, Commensality and Caste in South Asia, Klein, JA. & Watson, JL. The Handbook of Food and Anthropology. Bloomsbury, 74-93.

Sucharita, K. 2023. Home Chefs: Indian Households Produce for the Global Creator Economy

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.

Guest speakers:

Aalisha Kaishyap

Devanshi Chanchani

Namarata Harish

Bandana Adhikary

Udita Bose

Ahrabie Kirubasuthan

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