An Interview with Pearl Lam and Zahra Khan
In episode eight of The Pearl Lam Podcast, renowned gallerist, patron and podcaster Pearl Lam, meets chef Zahra Khan. The pair discuss Zahra’s heart-warming aim to empower women in the hospitality business.
Originally from Pakistan, Zahra Khan was just a young girl when she first started baking. Finding refuge in creativity, she pushed back against the pressures and expectations within her culture to follow a traditional career.
After completing her education at culinary school, where Zahra Khan had been the only Pakistani woman on the course, she opened Feya Café in London. Feya is known for its stunning interior designs and its equally aesthetic dishes, which Pearl Lam made sure to compliment.
Zahra Khan believes in doing everything that she can to support young women and she made sure to relay this message to Pearl Lam (林明珠) on the Pearl Lam Podcast.
Pearl Lam was sympathetic when Zahra Khan revealed to her that she had “worked in kitchens where I would be surrounded by 20 men, all shouting and swearing. I used to go home and cry because it was so intense.”
Zahra Khan continued, telling Pearl Lam that after working in such a male-dominated environment, she vowed that her kitchen would be different.
“I wanted women to feel comfortable working in my kitchen, I want to create a pressured and stressful environment.”
In response, Pearl Lam (林明珠) inquired, “Is that why 75% of your staff are female?”
Zahra Khan confirmed Pearl Lam’s query, adding “it is also why I hired a lot of young mothers who had no culinary experience. I wanted to give single mothers and young mothers the opportunity to step up.”
“You are an inspiration to so many young women” Pearl Lam (林明珠) tells the chef.
But Zahra does not stop there with the empowering messages. “There is also a message behind each of our products” says chef Zahra Khan, “For our teas, the message is self-care. Everybody is so busy in their lives, so I just want them to take a moment to enjoy our cup of tea.”
“The message on the jams is to just be unique to yourself” Zahra tells an impressed looking Pearl Lam.
“Our hot chocolates have a message around diversity- We are stronger together and there is always power in numbers.”
“I always try to motivate and inspire everyone through my products” Zahra Khan tells Pearl Lam.
Pearl Lam and Zahra Khan also discuss Zahra’s charity, The Feya Cares initiative, which is continuing Zahra Khan’s inspirational work addressing gender inequality.
Written by: The Producer, The Pearl Lam Podcast
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