Biryani cravings cannot go unanswered, especially when the ‘inner call’ comes during the holy month of Ramadan. And this holds true for both commoners and royalty alike.
Last week, UK King Charles III and Queen Camilla made headlines with their visit to a popular UK restaurant run by an Indian-origin chef, ahead of Ramadan for Iftar. Their visit wasn’t just about savoring the incredible Hyderabadi biryani—it was also a gesture of generosity, as they helped pack biryani and dates for donation.
Who Is Asma Khan?
According to BBC, Asma Khan is originally from Calcutta, Khan moved to the UK in 1996 to study law at King’s College and later earned a PhD in 2013. Alongside her professional career, her family grew as well, with two sons. She had her second son while pursuing her PhD. It was at this pivotal juncture that she secretly nurtured a desire to work with food.
Though she lacked practical experience in the field, she dreamed of starting her own business. In 2012, Khan held a supper club in her home. The money raised were going to charity. It quickly became a thriving business. In 2017, she opened Darjeeling Express, a unique restaurant where many of her chefs were nannies from South Asia who worked for local families.
Darjeeling Express
The women who joined her for her dream, ‘Darjeeling Express’ chefs were live-in nannies, generally from South Asia, who worked for families in Khan’s area of London. They found their way of earning in a spectacular way when they were invited to manage the kitchen at Darjeeling Express. Asma Khan uses her all-female run kitchen at London’s Darjeeling Express as a platform to advocate for better gender equality and the rights of oppressed people.
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UK Royal Family Dines at ‘Darjeeling Express’ Ahead Of Ramadan
On the 26th of February 2025, Their Majesties visited Darjeeling Express, which is believed to be the culinary haven for Indians in the United Kingdom. The royal family also helped Darjeeling Express staff to pack biryani and dates for donation- Which was prepared for local families and frontline workers.
In the recently shared video on X and Instagram, King Charles III and Queen Camilla were seen packing dates with g Asma Khan and her team. In the video, Chef Asma Khan expresses her admiration for the royal couple’s enthusiasm and efficiency. Amused, she remarks, ‘I didn’t realize the King would be so fast. You’re packing them faster than I can seal them!’ To this, King Charles, with his characteristic wit, responds, ‘I don’t waste time.’
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King Charles III and Queen Camilla pack dates into bags to be sent to Muslims for Iftar ahead of #Ramadan#KingCharlesIII #QueenCamilla pic.twitter.com/hNiUin91bZ
— Ghulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) February 27, 2025
Chef, Entrepreneur, And Author
Apart from being a successful chef and entrepreneur, she is also an author who has published books on recipes and tips for authentic food. She released her first book, Asma’s Indian Kitchen, in 2018, featuring unique recipes passed down through her family.
Her second book, Ammu, published in 2022, is a tribute to her mother and includes simple home-cooking tips from Khan’s youth. It was named The Times Cookbook of the Year 2022.
In 2019, Khan became the first British chef to be featured on the Netflix series Chef’s Table, with an episode exploring her fascinating life story.
