it began during lockdown…

My name is Amie, founder & owner of Parlour…

Indian food is where I truly feel at home—where I can sit down and relax, with my feet comfortably under the table.

That’s the feeling I want you to experience when you eat my food: like you've been transported to another place, to someone else’s dinner table. It’s unfamiliar, yet warming, you’ll find yourself wanting more. It’s the kind of comfort that feels like a warm hug—and it works wonders for hangovers.

My grandad’s side of the family hails from northern India and from as far back as I can remember, the distinct taste of dahl and rice has been a part of my earliest food memories.

I’ve worked in the music industry, but after being put on furlough for nearly two years, my mental health took a hit. I knew I needed to make a change, and that’s when Parlour was born. In October 2020, I created a logo and began posting menus of traditional Indian dishes available for takeaway in my hometown of Chelmsford, Essex, via Instagram.

The concept was simple: a mini-thali with three dishes—meat or vegan—with a side of bread. I sold the boxes chilled, with full heating instructions, my customers seemed to love it.

With all the restaurants closed due to lockdown, my cooking offered a new burst of flavour, something new for our local community to try and I quickly sold out for most weekends, offering a fresh menu every week.

As the takeaway service grew, I started getting requests for private events. I catered bespoke feasting menus, hosted pop-ups in local pubs and breweries, organised my own supper clubs, provided wedding catering for over 100 heads and hosted as a private chef at the luxury retreat Bethnal & Bec in Hertfordshire.

Driven by a desire to introduce people (living further away) to authentic Indian food like I’d had grown up with, I launched my spice kits—Parlour’s Kitchen Party. These kits, which contain my recipes and dry spices, allow people to recreate these dishes at home. Every purchase also helped support various charities and causes – something I’d like to bring back one day.

Continuing to try and support local communities you can now find me writing for local Chelmsford magazine ‘The Moulsham Times’ reviewing local food & drink spots as well as continuing with supper clubs, markets & event hosting since going full time with Parlour and leaving a 13 year career in Music.

Parlour is always looking to find a permanent home but for now we’re happy bringing you delicious food as and when we can, in the form of pop-ups, markets & supper clubs across Essex.