BBC Saturday Kitchen star Asma Khan has revealed she confronted a group of diners at her restaurant after they refused to be served by a waitress because of the color of their skin.
“I have a young girl – she’s a teenager – and she was told that by an Asian-Indian family [because] She is black, they would prefer to be served by someone else,” Asma says of the incident, which took place at her Darjeeling Express restaurant in London’s Covent Garden.
“I stepped in and got her to apologize. I wasn’t aggressive, abusive or angry, otherwise I would be just like them. If you don’t call it out, nothing changes.”
She rages, “Where is race or gender mentioned in hospitality? Why am I the only one talking about this? Am I the only one who sees discrimination?’
Khan, 53, who moved to Cambridge from Calcutta in 1991, found culinary fame when she set up Darjeeling Express as a supper club at her west London home in 2012. An all-women team before moving to Covent Garden.
BBC Saturday Kitchen star Asma Khan has revealed she confronted a group of diners at her restaurant after they refused to be served by a waitress because of the color of their skin
However, the popular Indian restaurant, whose patrons have included London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Hollywood actor Paul Rudd, closed its doors for the last time earlier this month. While bookings were still strong, the restaurant’s landlord, Khan, issued an eviction order.
She’s now scrambling to find a new location, blaming the “all white, male-only Mayfair club” for the hospitality industry.
“Women are invited as guests, they are not powerful and they are marginalized,” she says on the podcast Ways To Change The World. “To the powerful, mostly white, mostly males who network with each other and know each other very well, you’re an outsider.
“The fact that I’ve managed to get to where I am is damn lucky. I could have been sunk by everyone.’
La Dolce Vita continues for Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York, will not “shrink from the limelight” after the disgrace of her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, I was told earlier this year. And by God, she keeps her word.
Fergie, 62, who still shares the Royal Lodge in Windsor with the Queen’s second son, joined the house band at a tavern on the island of Capri in Italy, where she is holidaying.
Sarah, Duchess of York won’t shy away from the spotlight after her ex-husband Prince Andrew’s disgrace
Bandleader Gianluigi Lembo, whose father owns the venue, put his arm around the Duchess as they posed with a saxophonist.
Andrew has not dared to travel abroad since he was accused of sexually molesting a 17-year-old, which he strenuously denies.
Prince Charles’ restaurant, the Rothesay Rooms, which he set up in Ballater on Royal Deeside, has so far failed to reopen in the wake of the pandemic.
Operated by the Prince’s Foundation, it informs customers: “We will reopen in the summer of 2022.”
However, no date has been set and there appear to be problems hiring staff. A manager, waiter, cleaner, assistant director, chef de partie and pastry chef are advertised.
A spokesman said the Rothesay Rooms are preparing to “reopen after a temporary closure during the pandemic”.
The Duke of Northumberland’s daughter Lady Melissa Percy, 35, appears to have closed her clothing brand Mistaminadown after less than five years on the market
Melissa needs a spell as the store stays offline
Lady Melissa Percy – who grew up in Alnwick Castle, which acted as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films – has found magic with her clothing brand Mistamina.
The Duke of Northumberland’s 35-year-old daughter appears to have closed it after less than five years of trading. A statement on Mistamina’s website says it is “currently offline” and that no one at the company could be reached for comment. The “chic, affordable country clothes” collection, which featured camouflage bomber jackets and chunky-knit jerseys, was worn by her socialites, including Prince Harry’s ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy.
Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised if Lady Melissa (left) has lost interest: After all, she’s swapped green wellies for Manhattan, where she lives with her second husband, billionaire financier Remy Trafelet, 52.
Bestselling author James Patterson failed to impress a potential reader.
“I once stood in line at an airport bookstore to buy some books and some gum,” he says. “I was behind a woman and I noticed that she had one of my novels in her basket. I said something like, “Oh, you’re going to read one of my books.” “The woman didn’t want to believe it was me. Finally, I pulled out my wallet and showed her my photo ID — but she still didn’t believe me.” He adds, “She put my book away too. That hurts.’
Mylo Sangster, 29, grandson of the late horse racing magnate Robert Sangster, married film producer Alice Burridge over the weekend
Sangster and love go the bridal way
The family of the late billionaire horse racing magnate Robert Sangster has welcomed a newcomer to the winners’ enclosure. His handsome grandson, investment manager Mylo Sangster, 29, married film producer Alice Burridge over the weekend. Mylo is the son of Guy and Fiona Sangster, who are such loyal friends of Prince Andrew that they attended his 60th birthday party in 2020 after he was shunned by many.
Emma Freud has revealed that her beloved house cat, Meep, and four kittens did not survive the fire that destroyed her Suffolk holiday home last week. “Unfortunately, my beloved cat and her four little kittens were in the room where the fire broke out,” says the broadcaster, who lives with Richard Curtis, the screenwriter of “Four Weddings.” ‘She could have gone through the open window, but she stayed with them. The firefighters revived her, but none of them made it.”
Gladiator star Crowe brings his sons back to the office…
Russell Crowe boomed, “Aren’t you entertained?” after killing five enemies in the coliseum as Maximus in Gladiator.
And the Oscar winner, 58, may have been hoping for a similar reaction when he took his children to the ancient amphitheater in Rome over the weekend.
Russell poses with friends and family
“Taking the kids to my old office,” he joked alongside this selfie he shared with his fans. He was joined by girlfriend Britney Theriot, 31, sons Charles, 18, Tennyson, 16, and a few friends.
Crowe has spoken out about wanting to be with his sons from his previous marriage to Australian actress Danielle Spencer, admitting in 2020 that he “didn’t spend enough time with them”.
