From classroom to Kitchen, Blackpool teacher open's dream 'Asian Hybrid' restaurant

After 23 years, Renuka Morris left her teaching career to set up 'A se Anar' on Highfield Road

Renuka Morris, a further education teacher with 23 years of experience saw an opportunity, amongst a combination of Covid lockdowns and a cost of living crisis that had a profound effect on the hospitality industry with many not able to carry on, she decided to make a change.

Between Covid, the 'what ifs', and her turning 50, she finally got the final push to move forward and realize her dream, of setting up her own restaurant in Blackpool. "I said to my husband, if I was 10 years younger, I would open my own restaurant, but he said 'you will be that 10 years from now, so if not now, when?'" Renuka told LancsLive

"Instead of covid and all the lockdowns taking me away from the idea of hospitality, it made me really consider my passion for food and making it my next career move."

Taking the plunge she left a successful career as a tutor at Blackpool & Fylde College, where she worked closely with local councils and mainly with students with special education needs and young people who are disengaged with education and opened up her own intimate restaurant, named ' A se Anar' on Highfield Road.

With the help of her husband Colin, she worked hard and transformed what was an unused retail unit into her own seven-table "Asian Hybrid" cuisine restaurant. Reflected in the menu are Renuka's first 25 years living in her town of Calcutta in India, and her second half of her life so far in England, giving the food a blending of traditional East Asian cooking and continental Western methods.

Being a self-taught chef she is keen not to "anglicise" the food she makes too much, or to compromise on the spices and strong flavors surrounding Indian food, but to rather bring a blend of the two together, something Renuka believes is a unique offering in the seaside town.

• Inside of 'A se Nar' (Photo: James Maloney/LancsLive)

"The menu is deeply personalized, using my 25 years in India and 25 years in this country," Renuka added. "It truly is a hybrid of the two, like you get Pan-Asian.

"There is no compromise on the essence of spices and quality of ingredients. My samosas are a Punjabi recipe for the fillings but I do them in a puff pastry, cut them into swirls, and cook them, rather than deep-frying, which is healthier.

"Why not have a mix of both worlds?"

Renuka has said that although she "misses teaching terribly" she hopes to be able to subtly blend the two very different careers by working towards hiring students, allowing them to benefit from work experience or a career guide.

So far, the early signs for A se Anar are positive, with the restaurant being open for around five weeks, work has been spread quickly about the new 'kid on the block' in the local community

Determined to "give back" to the community, Renuka has also worked to include a meal for Blackpool dish on the menu, a scheme that sees £2 donated to street life to support underprivileged young people on the Fylde Coast.

• The New Kid on the Block (Photo: James Maloney/LancsLive)

Her hopes are to eventually be able to move from the kitchen to a more front-of-house role, giving good service and following Indian traditions by "treating guests like Gods" something that is a key element of her business, She added: "Customers are enjoying the restaurant so far and there is a mix of returning diners and recommending to friends, with some fantastic reviews.

"I've been told our type of restaurant wouldn't be out of place in Liverpool, Manchester, or London due to the ambiance and food.

"We often have a full house. I like to talk to customers and I have told my team that they are our mission it to make our guests feel welcome. Good service doesn't cost anything"

To try Renuka's fusion menu, while also sipping on one of her personalized cocktails which all come with their own story, email (cafe.aseanar@gmail.com), over the phone (07576 192999) in advance or walk in. A se Anar is open Thursday to Saturday, 10 am to 10 pm.