People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Shilpi Choudhury
Shilpi Choudhury is the owner of Chai Shai on Jacob’s Wells Road in Hotwells, probably Bristol’s best Indian restaurant. Shilpi and her husband Faruk, who opened Chai Shai in 2014 while Faruk was Bristol Lord Mayor, have recently extended the restaurant to create a second dining room upstairs.
Here are Shilpi’s top-five Bristol favourites:
Statue of Raja Ram Mohan Roy
is needed now More than ever
“The path to College Green from Chai Shai always brings me to the statue of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, an Indian philosopher and social reformer. Strongly against the sacrifice of wives as ‘Sati’, he condemned the cast system, polygamy and child marriages. He himself was married at the age of nine. He arrived in England in 1831 to ensure that the banning of Sati did not get overturned, and died in Stapleton in 1833, a true contributor to women’s rights.”
Millennium Square
“The Floating Harbour is a truly vibrant and unique part of Bristol, with restaurants, bars and cafes. But Millennium Square is my favourite place: a true safe haven for little ones where they can run free. I enjoy being only a stone’s throw from all of the exhibitions and festivals which are hosted around here. Many of our customers discover Chai Shai during the Harbour Festival.”
Clifton rock slide
“Walking up the path towards Clifton Observatory, you get a sense of being on top of the world with a magnificent view of the Suspension Bridge. And there is also real adventure to be had here as you slide down a rock that has been polished by generations of Bristolian bottoms.”
Recession
“Selling vintage and second hand clothes and bits and bobs, Recession (almost next door to Chai Shai) is a quirky place run by the vivacious Gill, who also directs the always exciting Hotwells Pantomime, as well as organising unorthodox fashion shows. Gill is a great neighbour. We always put the world to rights together and she has rescued me many times for school events such as World Book Day from her enormous dressing up collection.”
Sweet Mart
“I am a real foodie probably from birth, growing up in East London where there are roads the length of Gloucester Road which are laden with fresh produce, herbs, spices, pulses, rice, Asian sarees and bangles. These were a real joy for my mother; a reminder of all the bazaars she left behind in Bangladesh. Cooking was her way of keeping her traditions and skills alive; her familiarity in an unfamiliar place. When I moved to Bristol, Sweet Mart on St Mark’s Road in Easton was the place I visited when I was homesick. Not only do my eyes devour all the familiar ingredients, but there is always a good supply of new and exciting ingredients to make sure Chai Shai is always keeping up with all of the trends in the Bristol food scene.”
Read more: Your Bristol Favourites: Indian restaurants
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