Chef behind Cheshire’s best food truck admits dilemma over restaurant plans
A small but hugely-popular Indian food outlet based in Bollington – which appeared on hit TV show The Hairy Bikers – is set to expand and open three restaurants. Sunitha Southern, the owner and chef at the successful Indian Goat food truck based in the Bollington Recreation Ground, told Cheshire Live she is soon to launch restaurants in the town, Manchester and in the North East. But the expansion presents Sunitha with a dilemma.
The truck that sits in the Recreation Ground has been the catalyst of the Indian Goat’s success, and she is loathe to let it go. READ MORE: BBC TV chefs Hairy Bikers visit popular Bollington food truck At present her sister is running the truck, but eventually they may have to pass it on to someone else.
Sunitha explained: “Indian Goat is my brand, it’s me. In the business, it’s me and also my sister at the moment because I’m focusing on private dining as we do a lot of private dining and catering services for very high-end clients.0 “It’s my name associated with the truck and my recipes.
I can’t trust anybody else apart from my sister to run it for me.
The Hairy Bikers with Sunitha Southern at the Indian Goat food truck. (Image: Slice of Pie Photography – Mark Higgins)
“Obviously the next step will be to move into a restaurant space but it will be really sad to let the truck go. I don’t know who I’m going to pass the lease down to.” Sunitha only began cooking around six years ago after arriving in the UK.
She started cooking for friends who told her that her food was incredible and she really ought to open up a business. Even though she went on to launch her brand during the pandemic, it actually proved to be the making of her food truck venture. Sunitha explained: “We took up the lease and during Covid we were the only place open in a 10-mile radius to come and eat hot food.
Masala Prawns from the Indian Goat. (Image: Samuel Bradbury)
“We created an amazing space for people to come and eat outside.
It was also a support system during Covid.” After the exposure on the TV show The Hairy Bikers, the Indian Goat had visitors from all over the UK – and even Italy, Canada and New Zealand. The company is now offering high-end dining and events, taking Sunitha’s amazing recipes far and wide for celebrations like birthdays and anniversaries.
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