Sharmini Thomas, York’s Indian Cookery Guru, will launch her new spice range at York Food Festival on Friday 29th September.
Sharmini, originally from Kerala (God’s own country) is now settled in York (God’s own county), has been teaching Indian cuisine for the past 20 years. Having won the 'Yorkshire Vision Curry Contest', Sharmini now regularly cooks on BBC Radio York as well as running cookery workshops.
Her New Spice Range
Her new spice range includes Garam Masala, which is a blend of three of the most expensive, aromatic and exquisite spices, imported from India; Cinnamon, Corriander & Cumin.
The word garam means to "heat the body" in the Ayurvedic sense of the word, as these spices are believed to elevate body temperature. Sharmini is an advocate of the health benefits of spices, providing a deep understanding of the origin and history of spice.
The Garam Masala has gone through safety testing at Fera Science Limited. Sharmini funded her testing through an EU project, Stimulating Innovation in the Agri-Food Sector (SIAFS), which provided her with a fully funded voucher to use at Fera Science Limited. SIAFS is a collaborative project between Make It York and Fera Science Ltd and provides free business support to small food and drink business in Yorkshire through workshops and innovation vouchers.
Hilary Hamer, Sector Specialist on the project, says “We’re delighted that Sharmini is able to launch her spice range. Sharmini is just one example of the range of Yorkshire entrepreneurs in the food industry who are thriving with their excellent products. The SIAFS scheme is designed to help businesses grow and develop, and we’re really pleased Sharmini is finding success.”
Sharmini will launch the Garam Masala during her demonstration at 4pm in the Festival Demonstration Theatre on St Sampsons Square. Sharmini will show you how to create delicious Indian dishes using her spices. Entry to the demonstration is free. The spices and Sharmini’s cookbook will also be available to purchase after the demonstration.
