OUR STORY

From My Mother's Kitchen to Yours - The Journey of Tikka and Tadka

Tikka and Tadka was born out of a deep love for home, food, and the warmth of shared meals.

I grew up in a Bengali household where the clatter of spice tins and the aroma of mustard oil were part of daily life. My mother never followed recipes—she cooked with instinct, emotion, and care. I spent hours watching her work magic with humble ingredients, turning leftovers into feasts and feeding anyone who walked through our doors. In our family, food wasn’t just sustenance—it was celebration, comfort, and language.

Though I started cooking early, it wasn't until I moved abroad that I truly began to understand what it meant to recreate “home” through food. What began as a hobby quickly became my anchor. The sizzle of whole spices in hot oil, the colour of turmeric-stained curries, the smell of cardamom in my kitchen—all of it brought me peace in this faraway land and helped me stay connected to my roots.

Over a decade ago, I met my husband, Sam—my fellow foodie and biggest cheerleader. Cooking for the people I love became my way of expressing everything words often can’t: love, gratitude, comfort, apology, celebration. That spirit is what shaped Tikka and Tadka.

Today, Tikka and Tadka is a one-woman operation run from my home kitchen in Wantage, Oxfordshire. What started as small curry boxes for friends has grown into catering for private events, supper clubs, corporate gatherings, and our newly focused weekly menus exploring regional Indian cuisine. From the mustard-laced dishes of Bengal to the coconut-rich flavours of Kerala and the smoky grills of the North, each menu is a journey through India’s vast culinary landscape.

Every dish is cooked with care, using fresh, seasonal produce and a sustainable, farm-to-fork approach. I work with local suppliers, follow food safety standards, and cook in small batches to ensure quality and warmth in every bite.

Tikka and Tadka is more than a food business—it’s a tribute to the kitchens I grew up in, the people who taught me to cook, and the community I’ve found here in Oxfordshire. I invite you to explore our menus, attend a supper club, or simply share a meal. Because in every spoonful, there’s a story—and I’d love for you to be a part of it.