THE BIG SHOP:

RAHEL STEPHANIE

BY NANA BAAH

What the chef and founder of Indonesian supper club Spoons is buying from the Selfridges Foodhall.

THE BIG SHOP:

RAHEL STEPHANIE

BY NANA BAAH

What the chef and founder of Indonesian supper club Spoons is buying from the Selfridges Foodhall.

Rahel Stephanie set up a supper club to share her love of the food and culture from her birthplace, Indonesia. Five years on, spots sell out in under a minute, and she’s released Pedas, “a fiery cooking zine”.

 

I started Spoons because…

“I wanted to share delicious foods and little-known recipes from my country with friends. I strive to put authentic Indonesian flavours firmly and accurately on the western map. My mission extends far beyond creating a tasty menu. To me, cooking Indonesian dishes serves as a way of reclaiming, decolonising and celebrating the foods of my heritage.”

 

My earliest food memory...

“From the age of four, I’ve obsessed over Indomie instant noodles. They were a [childhood] weekend treat, and I’d have them for breakfast while watching TV, eating as slowly as I could to savour every last second.”

 

My food shop strategy...

“I’m hyper-organised, so I almost always come bearing a list. However, one of my favourite pastimes is dissociating while aimlessly browsing a big store with no intention in mind.”

 
My favourite department at Selfridges London... 

“The fragrance hall. I’m obsessed with fragrances. I love familiar scents and those that incite memories and associations to special people – be it my mother, friends or previous romantic interests."

 

Favourite person to cook for...

“My sister, Becky. Sharing food is my love language, and there’s no one I’d rather do that for than my favourite person in the world.”

RAHEL’S TOP PICKS

RAHEL’S TOP PICKS

THE WASABI COMPANY SESAME SEEDS WITH UME PLUM, £6.99

“Toppings and condiments really make even the simplest of mid-week meals. Furikake is one of my favourite toppings. This one features a lovely balance of nuttiness from the sesame seeds, cut through with the ume plum’s fruitiness. I’d throw this on anything – salads, steamed rice or dips.”

HELLO PANDA STRAWBERRY BISCUITS, £7.79

“These are a childhood favourite. Who doesn’t love Hello Panda? If I see these in a shop, I’ll always add them to my basket.”

ROASTING PLANT SUMATRA KETIARA COOPERATIVE WHOLE COFFEE BEANS, £320

“I’m not just biased ’cause I’m North Sumatran, but Sumatran coffee is my favourite. It’s got an earthy, chocolatey flavour. This one comes from women-led co-operative Ketiara, from North Sumatra. I’m always an advocate for single-origin, community-focussed coffees.”

TORRES BLACK TRUFFLE CRISPS, £4.99

“Two words: elite crisps. Novelty truffle products rarely live up to their hype, but the black truffle flavour of these shines through with the perfect amount of intensity. If I had to pick just one crisp to eat for the rest of my life, it would be these.”

ALESSANDRO VIOLA SINFONIA DI BIANCO, £38.99

“I love a textural skin-contact wine. Generally, it pairs well with lots of spicy and aromatic Southeast Asian dishes – so, being Indonesian, naturally, this is the pairing I lean towards. It’s giving Sicilian sunshine in a bottle. What’s not to love?”

THE BIG SHOP: ISAMAYA FFRENCH

The make-up artist and founder of Isamaya Beauty takes her pick of the Beauty Hall.

THE BIG SHOP:
LAILA GOHAR

What the culinary artist and Gohar World founder is buying from Selfridges this season.

THE BIG SHOP:
EZRA COLLECTIVE

This season’s menswear at Selfridges, chosen by the London jazz band.

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