About Us
Indian food is one of the most popular cuisines in the whole of the UK. But getting an authentic Indian meal, is becoming more and more difficult these days. This is because there are very few truly “Indian” restaurants and takeaways, as they tend to be Bangladeshi or Pakistani establishments. A lot of the dishes cooked in these restaurants are made using a single, generic sauce, modifie
d with the addition of other ingredients to create a vast array of dishes. This method certainly isn’t how it would be done, should you be lucky enough to be invited into an Indian home in this country to eat. Booking a party with Thali Nights gives you the opportunity to have an authentic Indian, home cooked meal prepared for you in the comfort of your own home. The Thali Nights team can also guide and teach you and your guests how to make the dishes yourself at a later date. Thali Nights is run by Stuart and Trishna Reid. Trishna’s family originating in the Gujarat area of India, with Stuart’s background being one of a qualified chef, with a passion for Indian cuisine. This combination has allowed Stuart to experience and appreciate the home-cooked curries made by Trishna’s family over the years. Gujarati cuisine refers to the cuisine of Gujarat, a state in western India. Despite having an extensive coastline providing wholesome seafood, it is primarily a vegetarian state due to the influence of Jain vegetarianism and traditional Hinduism, however some families may include chicken, lamb, and goat to these dishes. The typical Gujarati Thali consists of Rotli, Dal, Rice, and Shaak (a dish made up of several different combinations of vegetables and spices, which may be either spicy or sweet). Gujarati cuisine varies widely in flavour and heat, depending on a family's tastes as well as the region of Gujarat to which they belong. Many Gujarati dishes are distinctively sweet, salty, and spicy simultaneously. If you’re looking for a unique dinner party experience for up to 12 people, where you will learn some new skills as well as having fun, then a Thali Night might be the thing for you. How will I know what to order? Stuart and Trishna will work with you to come up with the menu that you desire. Whether you eat meat or are vegetarian, we will ensure that all tastes are catered for. We have a list of possible menu items to choose from to help you make your choices.
2. I don’t like very spicy food. Will there be anything I can eat? We will tune the “heat” level to the guests palettes. As long as the party host is aware of this prior to the event we will ensure all needs are met.
3. I have a particular dish that I’d like to serve at my party. Can Thali Nights prepare dishes other than the ones listed on their Food Options list? Absolutely. The team from Thali Nights will work with you to decide exactly what dishes you want to serve at your party. With access to many dishes and recipes not featured on our Food Options list, we are sure that we will be able to come up with a range of dishes with you that satisfy your needs.
4. Will there be any menu choices for my guests? We recommend selecting a choice of 2 starter dishes and 2 or 3 main course dishes to be supplemented by a salad and breads. This means people can share and enjoy a number of dishes. But this is flexible depending entirely on what the party host wants one his/her menu.
5. What about dessert? Do you offer these? Traditional Indian desserts are an acquired taste (Stuart is not a fan!!!), but if you would like a traditional Gulab Jamun, Kulfi or another traditional dessert, please ask our team. Alternatively, we can offer a range of cakes, cheesecakes and other desserts, freshly made and brought to your party. Please see the dessert list for more details, or ask one of the Thali Nights team.
6. Do you use organic, free range products? Wherever possible we will try and use locally sourced, high quality ingredients. If you have a preferred butcher or farm shop you would like us to use, please let us know and we will try and accommodate your needs.
7. I don’t cook and I don’t have much cooking equipment, can I still have the Thali Nights service at my house? Indian cooking requires very few specialist items, but Stuart will ask about any equipment you have and bring anything extra that he needs. It will also be useful to know about the size of your oven, the type of hob you have, and the area of work surface available for preparing and plating your meal. We will talk you through all these things before we come.
8. Is there anything that the Thali Nights
Team does not bring? We don’t provide most tableware – tablecloths, napkins, glasses, or cutlery – however we can arrange the hire of this equipment. We do provide Thali Plates (a multi compartment plate traditionally used for an Indian meal) Please ask if you want us to quote.
9. How long will the Thali Nights team need to prepare my meal? The length of preparation will depend on your menu choices. It will also be dependent on the level of teaching/interactivity you would like to involve in your evening. As a guide, for a party starting at 20:00 the team from Thali Nights would probably look to arrive to set up and begin preparing from 18:30 – 19:00.
10. Who will serve the food? The Thali Nights team enjoy nothing more than a relaxed family style setting for serving your meal. This will involve your guests serving themselves from large serving platters in the centre of your table.
11. Who does the washing up? We do! We promise to leave your kitchen as we found it.
12. Who provides wine and drinks? Please shop for your own wine and drinks. However, the Thali Nights team can provide guidance on this if it is required.
13. I like the idea of a chef prepared meal, but we eat in the kitchen. Can the chef leave something for me to serve when he has gone? Thali Nights can offer a service ranging from a basic catering service, where we prepare and cook your meal for you, clean up and leave, right through to a full party with tuition included. Just ask for more information.
14. One of my guests has a food allergy. Can this be catered for? Special diets are catered for. However, it is very important to let us know about any food allergies before we prepare the menu.
15. How much should I expect to pay? Each booking is priced individually, taking into account preparation time, tuition level required and the cost of ingredients, but we can usually design a menu to suit your budget. Drop us an email to discuss your plans and get an idea of the cost. Once the menu is decided, you will be given a fixed price for your party.
16. How do I pay? We ask that people pay a deposit of 50% to secure your booking. The balance can be paid on the day. Most clients like to pay by bank transfer but we also accept cash or a cheque.
17. What if I need to cancel my booking? We ask that any cancellations be made three days before your booked meal, otherwise the full price must be paid.
