Zindiya brings an authentic taste of India to MAC

Local ‘streatery’ Zindiya add their signature flavours to KILN for Sari Season.

This summer, Sari Season at Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) is in full swing. Inspired by Indian fashion exhibition The Offbeat Sari, MAC is presenting a brilliant line-up of exhibitions, performances and special events all summer long – including collaborations with beloved local eateries such as Dishoom, Indian Brewery and Moseley’s iconic street food favourite, Zindiya.

This summer, Sari Season at Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) is in full swing. Inspired by Indian fashion exhibition The Offbeat Sari, MAC is presenting a brilliant line-up of exhibitions, performances and special events all summer long – including collaborations with beloved local eateries such as Dishoom, Indian Brewery and Moseley’s iconic street food favourite, Zindiya.

For Moseley born-and-bred Shivani Kenth, bringing an authentic taste of India to her hometown has always been the mission behind Zindiya – the ‘streatery’ (street food’ plus ‘eatery’) and bar she created with her husband Ajay in 2016. Designed to replicate the experience of vibrant street markets found in cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, Shivani and her team have created fresh, affordable and fun street food culture in the place she grew up for nearly a decade.

Now, Zindiya are bringing their signature flavours to Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), based in leafy Cannon Hill Park, through a new menu collaboration with MAC – a Birmingham venue that holds fond childhood memories for Zindiya’s founder.

“When MAC asked us to join them for Sari Season, we thought it would be a brilliant collaboration,” Shivani says. “Not only are we a local business, but I grew up literally down the road from MAC – Cannon Hill is my local park, and I’ve been coming here ever since I was little. It’s very close to my heart, especially since my parents still live nearby.”

Shivani was 14 years old when she first dreamed of opening an Indian tea shop in Birmingham, inspired by the success of coffee chains like Costa and Starbucks in the UK. Gradually, the idea transformed into a restaurant which fills a gap in the market for casual Indian dining experiences. The name is a combination of the Hindi word ‘Zindagi’, meaning ‘life’, and the name of Shivani and Ajay’s daughter, Diya, meaning light and splendour. The inclusion of the word ‘India’ is also intentional.

“Once you have that sort of branding, you have to follow it through,” Shivani says, “When we created our menu, we wanted to make the food as authentic as possible. It’s something we’re really proud of – that every dish is freshly made and has its own unique flavour for our guests.”

For their MAC collaboration, Zindiya have lent these flavours and ingredients to two signature dishes from the KILN restaurant. The Makhani Chicken Loaded Fries offer KILN’s rustic fries tossed in Zindiya’s flavoursome gunpowder seasoning, topped with marinated chicken pieces, spring onions, chillies and coriander with a drizzle of Zindiya’s delicious Makhani sauce. For the MAC x Zindi Wings, KILN’s crispy and succulent chicken wings are tossed in Zindiya’s very own zingy chilli sauce.

“I think MAC’s menu and ethics really matches with ours,” Shivani says. “When I’ve come to KILN myself, everything’s fresh and of great quality. We seem to have very similar values, which is another cool thing about this collaboration.”

Working with MAC for Sari Season holds particular significance for Shivani. From an early age, she can recall her mum wearing many gorgeous saris for weddings and other special occasions, with her expert draping skills making her the family’s go-to sari draper. One sari in particular – in a beautiful coral pink – has now been passed down to Shivani’s daughters (ages 14 and 7) in the form of a lehenga, handmade by her mum around eight years ago. Another form of traditional dress from the Indian subcontinent, lehengas often consist of an embroidered ankle-length skirt, blouse and a scarf to drape with it.

“I’ve now got this garment that my mum wore, that my older daughter wore to a wedding when she was seven and which my younger daughter is going to wear for the next big family event,” Shivani says. “It’s a sari that's been loved by three different generations, which is really wonderful.”

Looking to the future, both MAC and Zindiya are happy to explore possibilities for further collaboration. For Chris Davidson, MAC’s Head of Trading, being able to provide a platform for independent businesses is a vital aspect of the organisation's work in the local community.

“At MAC, we take a community-driven approach to all aspects of the business – not just in how we support and serve our audiences and artists, but in our work to uplift and support the local economy during challenging times,” Chris says.

“Working with a fantastic, Moseley-based small business like Zindiya is a great way for us to do just that, while offering our visitors even more delicious Indian-inspired options to enjoy.

We are thrilled that Zindiya have lent their authentic signature flavours to MAC’s KILN Restaurant this summer. They certainly won’t disappoint!”

Find out more about Zindiya at zindiya.co.uk.