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Neighbours
and other residents in a Somerset market town have been given a
preview of an innovative new Indian restaurant which has brought the
authentic taste of the sub-continent to their doorsteps.
Moorkhana opened its doors in
Wiveliscombe with a special preview party for local residents as a
'thank you' for their support in recent weeks, which included
neighbours helping owners Mignon and Andrew Johnson clear up after a
graffiti attack.
A formal opening event is still
being planned for the family-friendly restaurant, which serves meals
between 6 pm and 10 pm on Wednesdays to Saturdays and lunchtimes by
prior arrangement.
The Moorkhana ethos is
distinctive among Indian restaurants in the UK as its menu, which
changes weekly, comprises entirely authentic dishes cooked just as
they would be in most communities in India.
For instance, dishes are of mild
to medium strength, and customers need to make a special request if
they want them prepared any hotter.
Mignon, who is an Indian
national, said: "True Indian food is not blisteringly hot,
but has a range of exquisite flavours which are often lost when it is
typically prepared in this country with too much spiciness.
"With Moorkhana, we are
trying to dispel many of the myths about Indian food and educate our
customers to better understand and enjoy what they are eating.
"We use authentic recipes
which have been handed down through generations of my family, so this
is how the food would taste if you were actually in India."
Almost all of Moorkhana's food
products are organic and sourced as locally as possible, again just
as they would be in India, including organic chicken from Chitcombe
Farm, Huish Champflower, Thorne's Butchers, Exmoor Ales, Cotleigh
Brewery, The Wine Shed, and the organic co-operative Somerset Organic Link.
Moorkhana has already created
several new jobs for the town, most of which have been filled by
local people, and is also offering a training opportunity for a curry
chef, of which there is a shortage in the UK.
The surrounding business
community is also being supported through a function room which is
available for local organisations, while each room is also used as a
gallery to display paintings by local artists which are available to
be purchased.
Moorkhana also operates an
environmentally-friendly takeaway service, using stainless steel
tiffins which customers retain and reuse each time they visit.
Moorkhana is the trading name of
The Saffron Kitchen, which built a reputation across much of the
Westcountry through farmers' markets in towns such as Taunton,
Wellington, Cotford St Luke, Minehead, Exeter, Crewkerne, and Glastonbury.
The business enjoys a five star
environmental health rating which means it has an 'excellent level of
compliance' with food safety regulations and is 'highly confident in
management of food safety'.
More information about the
Moorkhana restaurant is available from Mignon and Andrew Johnson by
telephoning 01984 623648 or by visiting the website www.thesaffronkitchen.co.uk.
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