A CRUISE ship hotel manager from Frome who used the time while the industry is suspended to set up a stall at the town’s Saturday market and sell home-made delicacies from his native India, has had such success that he will continue to offer a bespoke catering service once he returns to work.
Hospitality professional Ajit More, who has lived in Frome since 2006 and is married to an English international lawyer, told Frome Times he went from “hating cooking” when it was part of his hotel management degree to being “absolutely mad” on it after deciding to take it up in his free time during the pandemic.
“My wife taught me to cook rice, then I started adding bits such as lentils and I phoned my mum in India to get tips,” he said. “I started cooking for friends and people were enjoying it and said ‘why don’t you try to sell some if your dishes.’
“It had been a retirement plan of mine, but with Covid everything changed and cruising was suspended. It still is suspended so I decided to pursue my cooking hobby and bring some authentic Indian delicacies to Frome Saturday market.
“I planned it for a couple of months, using everything I’d learnt in the industry to set myself up. I did branding and got a 5-star food hygiene rating and public liability insurance. I did a launch party with my neighbours and friends and it was a great success.
“I finally launched my food stall and It was a bigger success than I thought. A friend of mine posted my introduction on Frome Facebook and it went viral. I got 450+ likes within a few hours.
“I opened my food stall at 8:45am and I was sold out by 11:45am. I had at least 150 people asking for more food and insisting me to cook more.”
Ajit cooks 75 dishes a week for the market, the most popular being Masala Dosa, which he does every week, plus other recipes which he rotates. Masala Dosa is a vegan, south Indian bread recipe served with coconut chutney, tomato chutney and a potatoes and green peas side dish.
“People were asking me for Masala Dosa and when I would next be selling it, they were travelling to get it and putting the date in the diaries!” he said.
So far he has worked at four of the markets and at the most recent a visitor was so impressed by his food that she asked if he would cater for 15 guests at a family funeral.
“The customer’s mother had loved Indian food so much, so I did it and provided a whole service – a menu with my branding, and included a British poem for the funeral,” Ajit said. “I’ve decided to offer specially select dining experiences for events for up to 50 people, once cruising restarts. The business will be called Prayatna Events, named after my family home, ‘Prayatna’,which translates as ‘an effort’ or ‘give it a go’. This way, it always reminds me the home that I grew up in and I carry that with me as a heritage. People can get in touch at moreajit1979@ yahoo.co.uk”
Previously, Ajit gained a degree in hotel management in India and worked in a 5-star hotel in Mumbai before going on ocean cruises for three years. After moving to the UK he continued within the industry for 12 years, working in 5-star hotels in Bath and around the area. He left as hotel manager to join one of the world’s top river cruising liners.
