A true role model for women in business, Pervin is co-patron of Cafe Spice Namaste, the groundbreaking Indian restaurant that she set up in London with Cyrus Todiwala 22 years ago. She oversees front of house and operations, and has been instrumental in the expansion of the business into a collection that today includes The Park Café at Victoria Park East, Mr Todiwala’s Kitchen at the Hilton London Heathrow T5, and The River Restaurant by Cyrus Todiwala at the Acton Waterfront Resort in Baga, Goa.
Trained to be a chef, Pervin graduated with honours from Bombay’s prestigious Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition (IMHCT). She then worked as a Chef de Partie at the Taj Mahal Intercontinental Hotel before moving to Goa, where she concentrated on raising her two young sons, Jamsheed and Hormuzd. Her second career as a happy ‘domestic engineer’ did not end until 1995 when, now firmly rooted in the UK with her family, she decided to embark on a new calling as a full-time restaurateur.
In 2013, Pervin was made an Honorary Dame d’ Escoffier of the Les Dames d’Escoffier London, the London offshoot of the prestigious worldwide philanthropic society of professional women leaders in the fields of food and hospitality. In the same year, she was awarded a TIAW World of Difference Award in Canada, designed to recognise individuals who have made a ‘world of difference’ in advancing and empowering women in society. She has also been named to the Women 1st ‘1000 Most Influential Women’ in hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism.
Here she is discussing some of the key issue’s facing women in the industry today:
What do you think are the 3 key challenges facing women in the hospitality industry and why do those challenges exist?
As far as I see it, these are…
- a) Still not being taken seriously enough
- b) Having to prove ourselves over and over again
- c) Juggling a family with work because the industry does have long hours. This is probably the biggest challenge of all.
These challenges will always exist as hospitality is generally seen as a man’s world.
Even though there are a lot of women in middle-ranking and now a growing number in top positions, these challenges persist. Often women who are on top have enjoyed success at the cost of their personal lives. It’s not just in Britain, but in India as well.
How have you overcome these challenges yourself?
I admit it has been tough. The first challenge came early. As soon as I got married, I had to move out of the kitchen, as Cyrus could not be my boss at work. We were both employed at the Taj in Bombay then.
On the flipside, having a supportive husband is one of the biggest reasons I was able to overcome this challenge. When I started working full-time at Café Spice Namaste, it was not easy as there were days when I was so busy in the restaurant, but I had to drop things to run to the boys’ schools to watch them swim or the things all mothers have to, are expected, or want to do.
And I was also lucky because I had help from my friends who were there when I needed them. My elder son also took on a little bit of additional responsibility while growing up.
What do you think women in our industry should do to have a louder voice?
We all have a responsibility to create widespread and most importantly, consistent awareness of women’s achievements and challenges across the hospitality spectrum, in both BAME and mainstream businesses. These days there is a lot of prominence given to women in the media, which is good. We need to create this positive image for women in hospitality.
I personally think that the good work of Les Dames d’Escoffier London should be given more attention. We’re so glad we have someone as prominent as Sheila Dillon of the BBC FOOD Programme as an Honorary Dame. Our LDE network is made up of some fantastic, high-energy and accomplished women. Women working together in this industry can be a real force for good.
What do you think women offer the industry that is different or better than men?
Women have a more human side to them. We can also multitask – does that make us sharper and smarter?
Write Up and Interview by Gina McAdam