Meet the team behind Mandira’s Kitchen, an artisan Indian food brand based in the Surrey Hills. The page introduces the passionate individuals who run operations, cooking, marketing, catering, and events. From founder Mandira to chefs, coordinators, and café staff, each member plays a key role in delivering authentic Indian food, cookery experiences, and events while maintaining warmth, creativity, and strong customer service at every touchpoint.
Founder of and General Dogsbody at Mandira’s Kitchen, Mandira’s pet peeve is Chicken Tikka Masala! Mandira wears many hats in her non-existent spare time including being mum to She of the Rolling Eyes and playing second fiddle to her car obsessed husband. When she is not running around like a maniac, she still loves to cook and travel and plans to write a book someday.
So what do you do with a chemistry degree? Ensure the MK team stays bonded of course! Lover of rugby and gin, multi-talented Soozie wears many hats – from marketing guru to Head of IT, from Sue-Chef to DeliverSoo, the baby of the team, she keeps us rocking and rolling.
When she’s not at MK, Cora is a childminder, which stands her in good stead in the hustle and bustle of our kitchen! Totally unflappable, Cora manages our Shop & Cafe, as well as working at events & markets.
Sarah can be found at various markets telling you all about our fabulous meals. She loves the great outdoors and is often found on a campsite with her VW camper surrounded by family and friends (and Franklin the dog!).
Pippa helps out with cookery lessons and markets. She enjoys tutoring primary school children and supports university students with their dissertations and essays. She loves gardening, cycling in the Surrey Hills and walking her rescue dog Rosie in the local countryside with her family.
Sabina controls Mandira’s Kitchen with an iron hand! A lady of few words, she brings with her a hugely generous heart as well as an amazing repertoire of recipes from her native Goa. If you get on the right side of Sabina, you will never leave MK on an empty stomach!
After a career spanning nearly 20 years in the IT industry, she decided that enough was enough and it was time to follow her love for food. When she's not at MK Clare enjoys cooking up a storm for her husband, looking at where to book her next sunny holiday, and spending time with her family. Watch out...she does love a chat! On her recent appearance on Countryfile, Matt Baker could hardly get a word in edgewise.
Meet Nadia, our go-to person for all your catering queries at Mandira's Kitchen. As a key member of the team, Nadia ensures that your event runs smoothly without any hiccups. From initial inquiries to final arrangements, she is usually your point of contact for all things catering. When not found counting cutlery amongst stacks of plates and chafing dishes, in the cottage’s catering section, Nadia is busy being super mummy to little Leon and Rafa.
Sally does tastings at our lovely stockists – she knows our food inside out and is happy to tell you how delicious it is.
Our Junior team are a key part of MK – helping out at catering events, markets, festivals, and the shop. Many of them started as newly minted teenagers just as we began our journey and it has been an absolute privilege to see them grow with the business and turn into responsible young adults. Multi-talented, multi-faceted, and capable of handling any challenge, we think they are the smartest and sharpest team in the universe and it was just as well we got them when we did – otherwise we would never be able to afford them!
No matter who is on duty – you are assured of fabulous coffee, excellent customer service and the latest gossip.
