Papa J's Indian Restaurant in Luton and Milton Keynes.
My favorite childhood memories were summer holidays with my family. Papa took us all over Europe and, without a shadow of a doubt, they’re what engendered my long-standing passion for travel.
Lazy days by the pool were a rare treat, with most our time spent exploring our locality with a rental car and map. Out on dusty old back roads and off the beaten track, we’d stumble on little-known, charmingly rustic places to eat. But the best thing was that we’d almost always end up breaking bread with the locals.
As a foodie family, it didn’t take long to become apparent that on The Continent meals are treated as an ‘event’, with a real sense of occasion. I loved that Europeans ate together and shared almost everything. I loved the jovial, social ambience of mealtimes too, with family and friends all reveling in each other’s company.
The constant hum of chatter and laughter had a lasting impact. It made me realise that above all else eating should be fun. It’s this philosophy that was at the heart of our restaurant when it was founded by my father 13 years ago.
