Where in Windsor meets Test Kitchen

You may have noticed recently that the Test Kitchen is picking up momentum and is suddenly taking Windsor by storm...!? 
From a pipe dream inside the heads of owners Milly and John, to a takeaway business with a huge difference - fresh, tasty food from a van!
I chatted with Milly to find out how it all started and where they want to drive the business in the future.

So, what led you to set up the test kitchen?

Definitely a combination of a love for food and some serious skill on John's part!
I managed nightclubs for a long time and most recently, a restaurant/cocktail bar so I got a bit of a taste for it.
I saw how it worked and just scaled it to what we could do, given that I was 10 months pregnant when we bought the truck!

Ah ok, so John's the cheffy one and you're the boss!? 

Haha, you said it! 
John's been a professional chef for a long time. I'm merely a home cook with a huge love for street food.

Super Bon Bom

But that's what people love, home cooked food with a bit of a difference!

I think people like the thought of having their food literally cooked right in front of them. No hiding away in basement kitchens, and also the interaction makes it all the more personal.

Chicken Mole Tostada

Who, or what, inspired you to run the business from a van?

To us, it was an obvious choice. We knew we wanted to work for ourselves, we knew we were more than capable of creating great dishes and with the move back home to Windsor imminent, we also knew we'd be surrounded by amazing produce and great suppliers!

Where did you move from?

I was raised in Windsor, and John in Portugal and Kensington. I moved to London for work 10 years ago, had baby Salvador last June and came running home to Mummy!
She's been an absolute godsend, looking after him so we can do this. We literally wouldn't be able to do this without her!

When you've had a really long, tough day, what's your comfort food, guaranteed to make things better?

For me, anything Malaysian. Nothing fancy, just good, hawker style food.
My mum is Chinese and born in Malaysia so I spent a lot of my childhood there.

Crispy Bacon Eggs Royale

If you could have anyone over to yours for dinner, who would you choose?

John says Paul Newman. He says he was one of the few classy guys in the world.

I get the feeling if I asked who you'd choose, you'd cook for the whole street and anyone else who turned up!?

Funny you should say that, I ran a Supper Club for a while so basically did exactly that!

Vegan Junk Tostada

What do you love the most about being a small business owner?

I enjoy the accountability. Knowing that you have a good product and having fun with marketing is really rewarding. It's hard sometimes to self motivate, but when you really understand that the buck stops with you and you alone, you really have to give it a good go or you might as well just stop!

The success you've had with No Washing Up Wednesday and Curry Friday is amazing, did you think people would be so engaged with your vision of The Test Kitchen?

I had no idea how it would pan out initially, and we're definitely still growing it. 
It's a totally residential area with zero passing trade, so engaging our customers through social media is crucial.

TK Umami Burger

What does the future hold for The Test Kitchen? Any exciting plans?

We have had a really long slog trying to find a permanent spot to trade, but I feel like we've built a great community of hungry bellies now.
We will be pitching up in different locations in Windsor soon on an even more regular basis!
Aside from feeding at private parties, which we love, we think it's really important to carry the momentum we've gained and continue to feed our fellow Windsorians as much as possible!
Everyone's been so supportive of us and we couldn't be happier.

I love that you've had so much support, although, it doesn't surprise me. The Windsor community is the best! I've never known anywhere like it!

It's amazing! Such loyal people, but also a bunch who definitely know what they like. I think also there's a lot of support for independent businesses. Everyone has realised that actually, Costa doesn't do the best coffee, and they'd rather get to know the owners than see a new face each time they eat or drink somewhere.
It's incredibly tough seeing a small business go down, especially when they're up against giants. You can see the heart beating in businesses of that size so it's really a killer to watch.
Everyone pitching in and buying local can absolutely save someone's bacon!

John and Milly

If you'd like to see what all the fuss is about and try fresh, great food from a small , local business, find The Test Kitchen at Perrycroft on Wednesday and Friday evenings. 
If you'd like to have them come along to a private event and serve your guests, contact Milly or John by email or at their Facebook page.