All The Aunties is a family inspired business, inspired by, you guessed it, All Riya’s Aunties. Riya grew up in a family of strong women, who moved country and built families whilst working full time. Food was the language of love, and was integral to retaining our family heritage. At times it was the only consistency the family had.
This brand wouldn’t be here without – All these very very special Aunties.
Saag Paneer
‘Sima’ is actually our founder, Riya’s, actual mum and our co-founder Jack‘s MIL. She grew up in Zambia, was educated in the US and then settled in the UK.
Despite working full-time, she spoilt the family with home cooked food, every single day. She collected cookbooks, read them from front to back on Saturday mornings and was making the viral ‘spaghetti all’assassina’ years before anyone had even heard of it.
We ate spiced monkfish for Christmas dinner, had homemade Dosa for Sunday brunch and nutritious, delicious, Gujarati dishes on weeknights. Mum has always been a feeder. Acts of service is definitely her love language (even though she’d scoff if she heard us say that).
Sometimes having to think about what we’re having for dinner can send us into dissarray – let alone a family of four.
Mum made it seem effortless. She is the driver behind the Patel’s love for food and, crucially, she’s the one who taught Riya how to make paneer (from scratch).
That’s why she’s the face of our Original Paneer – super soft, super creamy, super versatile.
Amazing grilled, crumbled, fried and snacked. The perfect fridge staple.
Ras Malai
She’s a spicy one.
First off, we have a confession. Madhu aunty is not actually our Aunty, she Riya’s my grandma. Suppose the black and white photo kind of gives it away?
Madhu is genuinely the greatest cook we have ever known. Skilled beyond belief, makes absolutely everything from scratch including bread and yogurt and thinks both of us are absolutely terrible cooks.
To quote her, ‘she [i.e. me] is launching an Indian food business and doesn’t even like Indian food’. To clarify, i love Indian food it just so happened on this occasion i’d decided I wanted Mexican over Indian for dinner.
The idea of putting paneer in a salad doesn’t fill her with joy. Madhu Aunty is a purist and, to be honest, I get it.
She was forcibly moved from East Africa, set up a video shop in the US and settled there to build her family. Food was so integral to maintaining identity, culture and home.
Paneer Bhurji
Our foolproof crowd pleaser.
I have to confess, again, that she is not our Aunty but also my grandma. This time Riya’s Dad’s mum.
She grew up in Uganda and was forcibly relocated during the dictatorship. She wasn’t fluent in English but we communicated a lot through food.
Whenever we visited there would be a fridge full of our favourite chocolate, sparkling rubicon and her famous Patra (a very skilled, very delicious gujarati dish). She made the thinnest, roundest and softest roti’s and had a very delicious take on pasta, which we loved. Think adding some cumin seeds and red chilli powder to the dish… purisits look away 🤷♀️
She passed away 2 years ago now and was cooking up until the end. Some of her food is still in the freezer.
It’s been such a joy to delve back into her old recipes, dig out photos and remember her through the greatest of all love languages – food.
So, here she is on the front of our most popular pack Garlic & Herb. Think fryable Boursin…that’s also packed with protein. Can’t get enough tbh.