Awards & Achievements

In 2012 I had started my first role in food manufacturing. I was fortunate enough to take the leap from hospitality to new product development early on in my career working as a development chef for global leading company Bakkavor. One year into my career, having developed a large part of Tesco’s chilled ready meal range for the company, the supermarket giant asked me to participate in their chef campaign.

In order to showcase the culinary research and development that goes into producing their products, Tesco asked for 1 chef from all of their suppliers to represent each section of the chilled food area. I was fortunate enough to have been chosen by the supermarket giant to be the face of their ready meal range.

I was featured inradio and newspaper interviews and most importantly, in their in store advertisement and marketing. My picture is still in most large Tesco stores across the UK! After months of all-nighters, blood, sweat and lots of tears, My Modern Indian Kitchen launched globally in March 2017, within weeks of launching, I was sent messages from people all over the world telling me how much they were enjoying my recipes. For my first book to be available in leading book stores such as Waterstones, WHSmiths and Amazon was a dream come true.

By 2016, I had been working full time in the new product development industry for 5 years. At this point in my career, I was doing really well, I had worked for two of the UK’s largest food manufacturers and had carved a successful reputation for myself within both of those companies, however I was also hungrier than ever to step away from the corporate world and do something for myself. I wanted to focus on a project for myself and accomplish something to be proud of. That’s when the idea of a recipe book came to me. I was developing recipes for corporate companies, why not for myself?

I didn’t really have a main point of topic in mind for the book, I just knew it had to stand out. And through jotting down my recipe ideas, the concept of the book became more solid, my style of food and the dishes I like to eat. Being a British chef with an Indian and African heritage, my style of food represents a fusion of cuisines and it was really important to me that this came across in my book, having established this, My Modern Indian Kitchen was born.

In the space of 12 months, I approached approximately 400 publishers with my concept of My Modern Indian only to face rejection after rejection. Finally, after having approached and met with London based publishers Ryland Peters and Small with my manuscript, I had signed my first contract as an author. My excitement had to be contained as there was no time for celebrating- I had 70 recipes to write, trial and perfect in the space of just a few months.

During the beginning of 2017, having written and now preparing for the launch of my first cookery book, My Modern Indian Kitchen, I started to get serious about the idea of going self employed and setting up Nitisha Patel Food Consultancy. I spent the start of 2017 networking and building a brand for myself, I was hungry to make a name for myself in the food industry.

Four months after launching my first cookery book and taking the leap into self-employment, I was awarded as the Midland’s rising star. An award which recognised me as a rising star for a celebration of the food, drink and hospitality movement in the Midlands. I remember feeling overwhelmed with emotion at the time, just to be nominated for that category was unbelievable, but to be recognised as a rising star so early on in my journey was such an indescribable feeling. When thinking about going into self-employment, I had my doubts and reservations but winning this award was certainly the confirmation I needed that I had made the right choice.

The 100 Master’s is a campaign produced by Creative Black Country, that highlights local people’s skills, expertise and their extraordinary achievements to inspire the pioneers of tomorrow. Having set up and promoted the campaign in early 2017, the organisers had informed me that I had been recognised as the Black Country’s Master Of Food. I was told that my story of overcoming countless hurdles in my journey had left them inspired.

Being a Black Country girl, originally from Wolverhampton, this accolade meant so much to me. To be known for something which I’m so passionate about, in a region which I’m so in love with was, and still is such a huge deal for me. The Black Country, once world renowned to be the manufacturing hub of the UK, hasn’t received great publicity over the last few years. With exporting work outside of the UK, factory closures left many unemployed. However, in a bid to change things around the Black Country is offering support to locals who also want to go into self employment. To know that they have chosen me to inspire the next generation is a huge platform.

A year after launching my first book, My Modern Indian Kitchen, in 2018 I was approached by my publishers, Ryland Peters and Small with the prospect of writing a second cookery book- this time a little bit more specific and based on one ingredient- Dhal- Lentils!

Given the rise and popularity of vegan and vegetarian diets, I seized the opportunity with both hands! Growing up, dhal was a staple in my mother kitchen, I remember eating it in some form at least twice a week and enjoying every mouthful. Despite not being a vegan or vegetarian, I absolutely love good homecooked Indian vegetarian food and writing this book allowed me to explore just how much.

Writing and working on The Delicious Book of Dhal brought back a lot of childhood memories as well as presenting some obstacles too. Developing 50 recipes on just lentils can be somewhat challenging, but luckily there are so many different types of lentils, I was able to innovation a variety of recipes from starters and snacks to soups to desserts.

Having won the title of Rising Star in 2017, the organisers of the Midlands Food Drink and Hospitality Awards asked me to come on board as a judge in 2019. Again, it’s an accolade which I am very grateful for. To be on the panel of independent judges required me to be responsible for going through each application as well as researching every contender in the awards.

As a foodie based in the Midlands, not only am I fortunate enough to be able to network with others in the industry, I also tend to dine out on a regular basis for both business and social purposes and doing so means I have a great insight into how most establishments in The Midlands are performing. It was important to make use of this whilst on the judging panel.