We had a chat with Salam Abdul, Head Chef of The Hub’s latest restaurant Maaya, Indian Kitchen & Bar…
When did you know you wanted to become a chef?My first ever job was in a restaurant working as a kitchen porter. It was very much a mind-set of “Start from bottom and reach the top!” So I worked hard and went from Kitchen Porter to The Head Chef.
What's the atmosphere like in your kitchen?Most of us have worked together before so I'd say it's a friendly, vibrant atmosphere. We know the importance of our roles in the kitchen and we like doing it with happy faces.
What’s your favourite dish to cook?Mutton curry and Dhaba chicken as it reminds me of home.
Is there any particular wine that you would recommend to accompany Indian food?Water! We actually have a beautiful selection of wine that has been hand picked – a favourite is going to be the Villa dei Fiori Fiano Puglia from Italy.
What inspires you in the kitchen?I'm not sure, but one thing for sure is that I'm not here to try and win awards and accolades, all I want is to make people happy with my food.
How did you come up with ideas for the dishes for Maaya’s new menu?I have previously worked with all of these ingredients before. I have taken my favourite few dishes & bought them all together for this new menu.
Why is Maaya different to other restaurants in the local area?Maaya is different because some people run a restaurant or kitchen purely for the money, we do it for the love and passion for food & our "house" guests.
What dish would you recommend from the Maaya menu and why?All of them! They're all special.
The Hub’s new restaurant Maaya, Indian Kitchen & Bar will be opening February 19th 2016.
Address: The Hub, 2 Rillaton Walk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK9 2FZ
Tel: 01908 242665
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