Asma Khan: 'It’s more than possible to hire a diverse team'
Writing in Vogue, the chef owner of central London Indian restaurant Darjeeling Express claims she originally never thought it would be possible for her to run a business in an industry she describes as being an ‘all-white, all-male private club where women were invited in as guests, but never members’.
Knowing from experience how difficult it is for women in particular to get started in the business, Khan says she made it her mission ‘to hire individuals from all walks of life and of varying ages and abilities’, and focus on accommodating a team with diverse needs.
“My team is a diverse collective that delivers world-class food and service to each and every customer,” she writes.
“I see the way that they respect and value each other, and how they are inspiring the next generation.”
Khan, who’s kitchen at Darjeeling Express is run by an all-women team of chefs, rebukes the popularised media image of ‘overly dominant, sweary and shouty male chefs’, and says that the fine dining industry is long overdue its own #MeToo moment.
She adds that there are places ‘getting it right’ including the diverse team at the Holborn Dining Room. And encourages chefs to recognise their biases and ‘take a chance on someone even if they aren’t fully qualified’.
Khan's comments come after Tik Tok chef Thomas Straker came under fire over the lack of both female employees and people of colour in the kitchen of his eponymous Notting Hill restaurant.
Last month the chef posted a picture of his white, all-male chef brigade on Instagram under the caption ‘chef team assembled’. However, the post immediately faced criticism, with several comments noting the lack of representation.
Having initially defended the picture, Straker eventually acknowledged the lack of diversity in his kitchen and pledged to do more.
He said: “I am absolutely committed to ensuring diversity in my restaurants, unfortunately we aren't achieving this in my kitchens currently and this is an area I know I need to improve on, making sure it is seen as a welcoming and approachable environment for all.”
