JAH JYOT Punjabi Street Food

Thought I’d pop these daily diaries on YouTube as it’s so much easier for everyone to access.

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Thank you 🙏🏾🙋🏽‍♂️🥰

Day 2/365 and a day out in Scarborough. Seaside, seagulls, fish & chips 🥰 So today has been a GREAT day!! The power of the sea and the emotions it brings with it! I set of early this morning and for only £2 traveled the 3 hours on ...

HAPPPPPY BIIIIRFDAY 🎉

So this little bundle of pure joy and happiness turns 18 today!! Yeah 18 years of a young man who has continually surprised us all with his unrivalled desire to make the most of life, his dedication to his family and his absolute pure heart of gold!!

Jack Singh Sirah, you cannot begin to even imagine just how much you are loved by everyone around you! From that little boy who came into this world as the snow fell around us, to the boy who played with all the street children and orphans when you were not much higher than my knee, to the boy who fought through adversity to find your passions for motor sport and follow the dreams you have!! We cannot be prouder of the young man you have become!

Happy birthday JJ ❤️❤️🎉

THE END

A picture paints a thousand words and yes, this one kindly sent to me recently does exactly that. Our old unit in Leeds, is not too dissimilar to many others across the country right now. But as we slowly emerge from the depths of this crippling pandemic, please don’t forget the hearts and souls that have yet to recover.

Many of us still have the dreams and many of us will live to fight another day, however, there are also many who will not be able to fight the fight through the fear of loss! I write this today, having read about a historical hotel in Sussex that was built in 1928 for the then Head of that has finally closed its doors due to the pandemic. A centre of a community that trained so many chefs throughout the region and will remain a found memory for a select handful too.

Through the power of food, our hearts will reach others; through the power of community, our lessons will teach the younger generations; through experience, our knowledge can light a spark of hope once more amongst chefs with a dream!!

I’ve read news papers, heard reports and watched documentaries that now talk of the year 2025! If it’s 3 years to build back a lifetime of excellence in our British Hospitality industry, then I for one am ready to celebrate 2025 like it’s 1999 all over again!!!

🎅🏾TIKKA-TASTIC CHRISTMAS 🎅🏾

When it comes to Christmas, this cheeky cockney Indian gets excited to spend time cooking, eating, laughing and simply sharing amazing times with his loved ones!!

Even though I’ve not been able to do my usual Dosas or Chaat this year, I’ve definitely got a spring in my step again. My thoughts however are with those amazing restaurant owners and street food vendors who will be worrying about their futures whilst we all tuck into that Christmas dinner.

Please remember to do whatever you can, if Boris imposes further restrictions. Support local small businesses, support their efforts in delivery services and also do you very best to stay safe!! The dream (and the prayer at our Christmas dinner) is for a full family Christmas next year and our wonderful hospitality industry enjoying the best trading period ever!!

HAPPY TIKKA CHRISTMAS 🎅🏾

It’s never Black and White!

A few years back, we would make forecasts and plan for the future, based on trends and growth. However, that’s gonna be bloody hard for many years to come!

My heart seriously goes out to all my friends, family and colleagues of old who face one of the most challenging times this Christmas! With the news full of Covid increases and the possibility of further restrictions, I hope and pray that it isn’t as damaging to the hospitality industry, as we saw before.

Closures have continued to happen and friends have been on the brink of collapse, yet there’s no lifeline from the powers above!!

One day, that day will be a beautiful day 🙏🏾

🪔 HAPPY DIWALI 🪔

A celebration of good over evil; light over dark; knowledge over ignorance, Diwali is more than just a Festival of Lights!

For many of us 2021 has been yet again, another tough year. We’ve encountered challenges personally and professionally, we’ve had to adapt to new ways of living and for some of us, we’ve also had to take a real hard look at our future. For me, Diwali brings a chance to sit and reflect on the achievements during this past year with health and especially my mental strength. Looking forward, it’s an opportunity to really deep dive into my inner soul and explore the feelings I have for a “family centred” future. A chance to practice the spiritual significance of Diwali…Inner illumination 🙏🏾

Around the world, millions of brothers and sisters will be sharing food, praying, rejoicing, celebrating and lighting candles (JYOT) to bring peace to their world and ours! With this in my heart, I send you all my love and best wishes for a HAPPY DIWALI AND HAPPY BANDI CHHOR DIVAS 🪔🙏🏾

MISS YOU 😢😘

I’ve been having a little “dose-a” missing you blues!!

It’s hard not being able to cook for you all and play with ingredients!!

It’s hard not talking to you or sharing food with you!!

It’s not forever, but it’s still bloody hard!!

That cheeky cockney will be back and when he does…god help your waistline, coz it’s gonna be a FEAST 🤤

MY LOVE FOR YOU IS UNCONDITIONAL SISTER 🙏🏾

Raksha Bandhan or otherwise known a Raakhi, is a very very very special day. A day that signifies the unity and bond that brothers and sisters share, no matter what!

For me, this year has somewhat greater significance. A year when I haven’t seen, hugged, visited, spoken very much or even teased my sisters! Yeah even before the pandemic caught hold, I was always too busy with the business to share food or talk with my sisters, even though I did exactly that for a living each day!

Some of my fondest memories are when we boys (my younger brother Kiran and my three cousins Mina, Sunny and Joe) would sit down in a line and raise our arms out, only for our older sisters to each tie a raakhi around our wrist. Looking back now in my matured years, even with the highlights of the events back then being mouthfuls of sweets from our sisters and the huge array of food on the table, it was the symbolic act of sharing a precious moment that cemented a lifelong love and unity with our sisters!

These past few years have been challenging both professionally and personally, but it’s our sisters that have stood by and carried us when we needed!

We may not always get a chance to be together, we may not speak every day, but we never forget how, from the very first opportunities, you gave us boys Love like no others could 🙏🏾

Happy Raksha Bandhan 🙏🏾

THREE STOOGES 🦁🦁🦁

JAH JYOT hasn’t just been about food! It’s been about friendships, about family and about dreams.

When Ranie met Paul for a few beers in his local pub back in 2014, little did they both realise that the commitment they made to start a food business would go on to build a huge foundation for them both. Be it the 12 pints or be it the burning desire they had, either way, it set a tone!

Paul at the time worked as the head chef for the in HMP Brixton. This is where he took Ranie to learn the ropes, amongst inmates who were also turning their futures into greatness, through the power of food! They asked 1000’s of questions from Ranie about street food for when they came out. Paul and Adam, at HMP Highdown, used the vast skills they’d acquired over the years to train inmates and set them on the road to not reoffending and a second chance!

It’s these qualities that brought the three stooges closer because of one thing, the power that food had to build bridges. We saw families come together, friends who hadn’t spoken for years would start conversations over the food we gave them, communities would embrace each other during difficulties when we supported them with…yeah you guessed it, food!!

A small business is not just about food, it’s also about the love we can bring to a plate from our hearts, and share that moment of joy with those around us. We might not be operational for service (due to poor health) and the three of us have gone our separate ways, but next time you eat out, take a moment to think of the “independent” food trader who might just be trying to share more than just their food, but their soul too!

To Paul and Adam…This little cheeky cockney Indian will always Love you ❤️❤️

📸 .independentlife

THANK YOU 🙏🏾

Your messages, comments, DM’s, texts and emails have been a huge amount of support! During the last two weeks, I’ve come to appreciate so much, including the amazing relationships that have been found through the food I’ve served over the years!!

Thankfully, I’m back home now after being cared for by the incredible team ❤️💙

Have a great week # # #

📸 .ed.eats

MEMORY LANE…

Some of those early days from Lewes and Horsham, Brighton Beach and the amazing Henley Regatta!! When ever I flick through these pictures, I can still remember the sounds, the smells and the great times!!

Pic 1 - Lewes High street with
Pic 2 - Henley Regatta
Pic 3 - Dancing in Henley
Pic 4 - Setting the tone
Pic 5 - Ranie just doing his thing 👨🏽‍🍳
Pic 6 - Celebrations with .studio 🥰
Pic 7 - Proudest father with Jack for Brighton Beach (on the bloody pebbles)!

I’ve got a lot of time to try and relax, so I apologise now for the occasional memory post in advance 😘😘

❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹 PAUSE ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

When your hospital consultant asks you two simple questions…

1) How are you still alive?
2) Why are you not blind?

You suddenly take stock and think 🤔

Well that time is now!! Having been in hospital since early last week with complications that I won’t go into, I’ve had to quite literally make the heartbreaking decision to press “Pause”!! 💔

Yeah that’s not “stop”, it’s pause! For at least this next year, I really need to step back and look after the body (the engine room) that has kept running on full power since that first day of trading in February 2015 🚂

Time to get my health back on track before I use up all 9 lives that I seem to have acquired 🐈‍⬛ If I don’t, and I keep doing what I do, then there might not be a fully functioning Ranie to keep spinning Masala dosas or flipping Punjabi chicken in his pans! 👨🏽‍🍳

I will be back and I will most likely do an occasional little pop-up/collaboration down the line; however for now, I must close and take my health seriously for a change.

I’d like to thank you all for your incredible support over the years and especially through the recent challenges that Covid has brought us all. I know there are a few with vouchers to redeem, I’ll be in touch very soon to arrange things with you personally!

To the absolutely magical NHS staff who’ve been sensational, I cannot thank you enough!!

To my friends and family thank you for believing in me and know that I will be back again!

To Jack, Alana and Hollie… the JYOT (candle flame 🔥) will continue to burn until JAH (the three of you) returns when daddy comes out the other side # #

To Dee and Ava…thank you for not giving up on this old man!! # # #

EVERY MEAL HAS A STORY…

On 4th August 1972 the infamous Dictator Idi Amin declared an “economic war” ordering the expulsion of 60,000 Asians from Uganda. His actions and decrees meant that Asians who’s forefathers had come to settle in Uganda from the Indian subcontinent, were forced to leave their property, businesses, loved ones and friends for pastures new, immediately or risk torture and possible ex*****on.

It was during this first wave of movement that Mr & Mrs Sirah (my mum and dad) secured seats on a flight to Britain with the help of Dads architectural practice and his incredibly strong minded eldest brother, Baldev Singh Sirah (pic 5). After tussles at Entebbe airport with Amins armed forces, we boarded the flight to England to sanctuary.

Growing up as a British Asian wasn’t easy with; racism, lack of cultural awareness from both sides and also unknown areas of the country for work and education. Dad chose Eastbourne, a small seaside town in the south coast of England as our home. There, he and mum raised both us boys (my brother born in Eastbourne around the same times as Amins involvement with the Entebbe hijacking)! We would travel to the refugee camps scattered across the UK to visit uncles and aunts, cousins and even grand parents to help with their resettlement into a semi-normal life again.

Britain is our home but in 2012 dad took my brother and I to see where it all began. From the schools that he and mum had attended to the office he first started working at in the city of Kampala (pic 2,3). We even took the journey to Tororo and the temple where mum and dad married, plus the hospital that I was born. Little did we expect that 40 years later, the exact bed that I was born into this world on, was still in the same room! (Pic 7)

As a refugee, my thoughts remain daily with those who are fighting to survive in the world as you read this post. The fight to live a life away from persecution or from hostility that they have no way of defending themselves.

In honour of those who made it, those who tried and those who still keep fighting for freedom! (Pic 6 is the school prayer from my late mother’s school) 🙏🏾

MY KING, OUR GURU 🙏🏾

We all hopefully have that special man in our life who we call Dad, but this one is a little more than just Dad!

A father to my brother and he hasn’t stopped tirelessly teaching us the values of fatherhood and selflessness. It’s only in recent years and especially over the last few months, that I’ve truly understood. Sacrifice for the benefit of others is just as natural to as it is for us to take a deep breath before diving into a pool. His devotion to making others around him feel safe, comfortable and empowered isn’t an easy task, but he makes it seem so effortless!

A father figure to so many along the years and continues to make the Sirah family stronger through Love than through anything else.

Dad, we cannot explain to you just how much you mean to us all and just how much your relentless pursuit for our happiness is appreciated!!

From all your children and grandchildren…HAPPY FATHERS DAY 🙏🏾

NEVER FORGET 💭

Some of my fondest moments have been in the kitchen! The chaos, the adrenaline, the creativity, the heat, the noise, the bond between the team, and above all the empty plates that come back from happy people we’ve fed!

This was just one of those times when we brought together flavours across our menu and combined them into three giant tacos 🌮 🌮🌮

Lamb, chicken and paneer…what more could you have asked for 🤤

🙏🏾EID MUBARAK 🙏🏾

Wishing all our friends, family and loved ones all the peace and happiness 🙏🏾

A time to feast with family and share love with one and all 🙏🏾

THE SPICE IS RIGHT 🌶🌶🌶

Well it's not exactly spice, more like Chili!!

Chili peppers are used in the majority of foods across India but also the whole world. From South America to East Asia, Africa to the Middle East, these little beauties have been complimenting food since the late 14th Century. The thing is that, the chilli goes back even further and is also used in a way to create a hierarchy amongst Friday night revellers. 

The chili has been trending recently in its popularity amongst foodies for both the right and wrong reasons, lets explore just some of it here today.

Episode on

Ranie’s Food World

INSPIRATION...

What’s your favourite meal that was inspired by a person close to you?

What’s your favourite meal that is enjoyed because of a famous person’s inspiration and/or innovation?

Well, why not come and join us on from 4pm (GMT) today and share your story!

We’ve got chefs, historians, tour guides and room full of foodies, who simply love food and the storytelling!

Hit me up for an invite if you’d like to join the club!!

🎤 COMFORT FOOD 🎤

The latest episode of Ranie’s Food World podcast series, is now up!

This episode we look at comfort food and how Dal has been a major part of this for me. From brotherly meals to supporting my health and recover, this humble dish gets explored.

From 3000BC to our modern day, the varieties of Dal that have been enjoyed on Royal tables to poor tables, whilst bringing a nation together through its unifying culinary brilliance...it’s also helped to celebrate the wedding between royals of two completely different cultures!

Dal, a nutritious and humble dish, that is served throughout the world and enjoyed everywhere!!

Hope on to .fm and search for:

Ranie’s Food World

Please subscribe, so you never miss another episode!

👨🏽‍🍳 New Episode 👨🏽‍🍳

The first of yet another two episodes is now live on, Ranie’s Food World Series!

What started out to be a cheeky "Sin" by a 1st Century cook in South India, turned into the most memorable dish that travellers to India will recall. The Dosa in its many varieties, has become a symbol of "Food for All", having been enjoyed by Maharaja's to the poorer communities across India and the modern day world. This crispy, yet fluffy, fermented rice flour pancake is a dish that can cover savoury or sweet.

Listen in to the story of why this dish means so much to me and why it was created in the first place. 

On .fm and soon to be visualised on 🎥

THE HUMBLE CHAPATTI 🫓

***NEW PODCAST EPISODE***

Who knew there was even an emoji for the chapatti??? 🫓🫓

This staple requirement for any Indian meal, has a long history and one that might just surprise you. Seen in so many forms, from tandoori roti to makki roti; besan chapatti to phulka, these wheat flatbreads have a place on every table.

The art of tearing a piece off with your right hand and forming it into a spoon, to then scoop up your favourite mouthful of curry from your Thali...now that’s a whole lesson in itself (maybe I’ll show you that one on my new channel)!

RANIE’S FOOD WORLD - BREAD IS FREEDOM (now on .fm )

THE EARLY YEARS 🥰

What should have been out a few weeks back, is now on .fm 😎

SEARCH- Ranie’s Food World

This episode not only gives you the origins of the famous Gol Gappa or Pani Puri, but also the first memories of when I started exploring food and culture! Next episode drops in a few day...

HAPPY VAISAKHI 🙏🏾

The Sikh New Year and celebration of the Khalsa. In 1699, Guru Gorbind Singh Ji formed the Panth Khalsa (order of the Pure One)! He baptised courageous Sikh Warriors who would go on to defend religious freedoms.

It’s a day of celebrating through prayer, family, community and food; it’s also a day to remember those who have given their lives to uphold the values of Human rights and Faith 🙏🏾

Wishing you all a very happy Vaisakhi and a prosperous New Year! 🙏🏾🙏🏾

*** YOUR LAST CHANCE ***

Our weekend goodie bags are now on the website and ready for you! This will be the last weekend we offer these for a while, as our time comes to an end 😢

Please help us reduce any food waste by selecting a goodie bag and for only £10 you can enjoy a meal for 2 people. The goodie bags, have become a great weekend treat and I’m sure they’ll be missed...

Website - www.jahjyot.com

WRAPPED OUT

Chicken tikka isn’t just a quick splash of spice and flashed in a pan...it’s a process of marinating the right amount of spice with yoghurt and citrus, to then gently cook for that perfect texture.

The art to get the perfect finish at home, without a Tandoor oven, is to allow a small amount of steam in your oven whilst cooking at a high heat. Those marinated chicken pieces (usually at least 24 hours to absorb the spices) can then be used in curry dishes or for the summer picnic wraps, like these beauties!!

“WHY DON’T YOU DO YOUR COOKING”...

And that’s exactly what I did!! When Ranie’s young son Jack said those famous words, that gave him the lightbulb moment back in 2014, he never imagined where it would take him!

Even though this is the last few days to get your orders in for JAH JYOT at HOME food deliveries; the resounding success of this “adapting to change” way of surviving the pandemic, means we will be searching for a way to continue into the future 🙏🏾 It maybe a few months down the line before we can operate this again, but for now, it’s still available.

In this last week there’s curry meals, fridge packs (to keep you stocked up) and also our roast dinners 👨🏽‍🍳👨🏽‍🍳👨🏽‍🍳

Let’s make this the BEST LAST WEEK!!

www.jahjyot.com

🎉🎉 HAPPY HOLI 🎉🎉
🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

The festival of colour
The festival of love
The festival to celebrate good over evil

Spring has definitely sprung with the fresh hope and bright colours of our futures...HAPPY HOLI 🙏🏾🙏🏾

Please have a listen and SUBSCRIBE 🙏🏾

All journeys have to start with a beginning... by Ranie's food world • A podcast on Anchor A chance to gain insight into the life of Ranie Sirah and why this podcast series has been created. A chance to learn what’s in store for the future and what we all can hopefully gain from it too. A food cultural storytelling adventure, that delves deep into our memory banks and also helps us to e...

🇮🇳🎉 HOLI HAS SPRUNG 🎉🇮🇳

With the colourful Holi festival only around the corner, we want to share it with you!! 🙏🏾🇮🇳 25% OFF CURRY SET MEALS AND BUILD YOUR OWN 🥰

Enjoy a full on Punjabi feast, anywhere across the UK and celebrate Spring with your family/friends 🇬🇧🇮🇳 Shipped out on Tuesday, so you’ll need to act quickly...perfect time to share with another household (group of six) in the garden 🙏🏾

USE CODE “HOLITIME” at the checkout (applies to build your own curry and set curry meals only).

HOLI - A CELEBRATION OF GOOD OVER EVIL 🙏🏾🎉