March Highlights: Museum Lates, Sublime Food, and Must-Listen Podcasts!
The clocks have shot forward, and we’re bolting towards summer which gives me untold joy. The sky is a perfect blue, the air is crisp with just a hint of chill, and the blossom on my pear tree is starting to unfold. I’m looking forward to a bumper crop this year.
I am a big fan of Diet Paratha, a platform that champions South Asian creativity. On Friday, 28 March, they hosted a late event at the V&A Museum. It’s been such a long time since I last attended a V&A Late.
Lates started back in the 2000s, with the V&A hosting its first one, and since then, most museums have followed suit. The Natural History Museum even offers sleepovers with the dinosaurs. Lates have become a way for institutions to reach and engage new audiences.
This V&A Late coincided with the Great Mughals exhibition, which runs until 5 May. Diet Paratha was the perfect cultural partner to host the event.
My interest was piqued when I discovered Usha Jey would be performing. Usha is a French-Sri Lankan choreographer who burst onto the scene with her blend of Bharatanatyam and hip-hop. She has worked for for M.I.A., performed at Vogue World: New York, and at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK. Still in her twenties, her star is continues to ascend!
Usha was the big draw of the evening, and each of her performances was filled to capacity. Even though she only performed for four minutes, her set was the highlight of the evening most of us who attended the Late.
I made a second trip to Paradise Soho. I first went just as the COVID restrictions lifted and remember swooning over their char-grilled pineapple with arrack (pictured above). They’ve since undergone a reinvention, creating Paradise 2.0, with a new brutalist interior and an overhauled menu, an eight-course tasting experience. I plan to write a full review, but by the third course, I had already run out of superlatives to describe the food.
I’ve been busy planning a new in-person cooking immersive event which I will share with you soon. I’m excited by the idea of getting people together to cook Sri Lankan food in Tooting with its abundant supply of tropical fruits, vegetables, spices, authentic snack shops. Imagine having freshly made vadai, mutton rolls, cutlets and patties - they’re all here to be eaten.
I have been busy recording new episodes of the Tea with Tooting Mama podcast. Though they are time-consuming to produce, and I can only publish one a month, I find them hugely rewarding. I’ve learned so much from my guests and am always humbled by their achievements and their contributions to Sri Lankan culture and creativity.
Next time you have a few minutes to relax with a cup of tea, tune in to hear Mehala Ford from the Friday Sari Project, showcasing ethical fashion; Vibushan Thirukumar, on his journey from refugee to wellness entrepreneur; and Sarah Baldwin, whose global childhood inspired her Sri Lankan ethical craft business.
If you missed it, Tasha Marikkar made an appearance on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, showcasing recipes from her book Jaya Flava. I interviewed Tasha for this episode of my podcast, enjoy!
I’m introducing a paid subscription tier which will allow me to dedicate more time, resources, and creativity to bring you the very best content.
For April, I’m offering limited early-bird pricing: £50/year or £5/month. From May onwards, this will increase to £60/year or £6/month.