Asma Khan, Renowned chef, bestselling cookbook author, and owner of London’s Darjeeling Express restaurant in London, has been conferred with an honorary degree in the SOAS, University of London, 2023 cohort.
The Doctor of Science (Social Sciences) degree honours Asma Khan for having reshaped the culinary landscape with her innovative approach to food and her commitment to social change.
SOAS notes: “As the first British chef profiled in Netflix's Emmy-nominated ‘Chef's Table’ series and a ‘Vogue 25 Most Influential Women’ awardee, Khan's impact transcends borders. Her all-female kitchen team and dedication to inclusivity have earned her recognition as a trailblazer.
“Khan's accomplishments also extend beyond the culinary world, including her role on the Mayor's Business Advisory Board and an Honorary Fellowship at Oxford University. She holds a PhD in British Constitutional Law from King's College London and now an Honorary Doctorate from SOAS University of London.
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“Asma is on the Advisory Commitee for the Ramadan Tent Project. She has led the Ramadan food tent initiative at SOAS for many years, SOAS hopes to revive the Ramadan tent with the support and leadership of Asma.”
In her last cookbook ‘Ammu: Indian Home-Cooking to Nourish the Soul’, Khan celebrates her Rajput and Bengali heritage and the healing power that lies behind Indian cuisine.
She explains: “I'm holding on to so much of my culture but let go of so much that is problematic – like the patriarchy, feudalism, the hatred of each other based on the food you eat.
“In 'Ammu' you find all the appreciation of what families can be but that doesn't mean that it always works for everybody. But I want us to talk about how important food is.
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Of her all-female kitchen, she has a dream to make them even more front and centre with “an open kitchen and have the diners see the women”.
*Info: Asma Khan