An Indian-origin chef is included among the British Empire Medal (BEM) awardees listed on the royal invitation list for King Charles and Queen Camilla's Coronation ceremony in London next month.
According to an official statement from the Buckingham Palace, Manju Malhi, who received a BEM for her contribution to the London community during the COVID-19 response, will attend the ceremony in Westminster Abbey on May 6 together with the other 850 BEM recipients, community leaders, and charity representatives from all around the UK.
A professional chef, Malhi has served as the resident chef for Open Age, a charity that promotes an active life for those over 50 in London by assisting them in maintaining their physical and mental fitness, since 2016.
"Manju turned Open Age’s kitchen into a cookery school and restaurant for members and staff, and offered remote cookery classes during Covid-19. Manju also leads Open Age’s community's Big Local Family Cooking Club. The sessions are fun, interactive, and an opportunity for local residents from all backgrounds to come together, make a meal, and eat together as a community family," the palace statement reads.
The chef and food writer, who specializes in Anglo-Indian cuisine, was raised in north-west London. Her early years were spent in India, where she was familirised with the diverse food of her ancestral home and experienced it firsthand.
Malhi, who often participates in cooking demonstrations on television, has created a cuisine she dubs "Brit-Indi," which combines inspirations from both India and the west.
