Happy Autumn lovely readers! How are you all? I love this season because I am a September baby, but when will the rain stop? Good old England weather never seems to fail us. However I am secretly enjoying these cosy evenings and already thinking about all the festivities coming our way.

I am not sure where the last few months have gone. It’s been an absolute whirlwind. I managed to survive my first official summer holiday with my kids and boy was it busy. Nobody really prepares you for these minor details of having to look after your kids when school is closed! It was madness and there were times where I didn’t know what day it was, but I’ll be honest, it was lovely. Hard work, but lovely.

We were lucky enough to go on a family holiday to Portugal which was beautiful. Amongst many activities, yoga classes, play dates, Legoland and Whipsnade Zoo, parties and more, we also enjoyed slow summer walks and playing in the garden with the paddling pool and lots of ice cream.

My eldest has started school this September and my youngest has started nursery, so lots of change for us. But it’s been great. It also hopefully means I can claw a little time back for myself and get stuck into work again.

I had a busy summer with work too, which was a real juggling act seeing as the girls were at home but we made it work. I was lucky enough to shoot some great jobs and one of them was for a local business called Five Spices and Co.

They are a family business based in Milton Keynes selling authentic South Asian meals. They are a family of 5 which is what inspired their name: Five Spices and Co. Each of the family members bring something unique to the business, whether it’s the recipes, the cooking, the design or the logistics. It all comes together as one.

I was lucky enough to be invited into their home to shoot some of their menu. The family were so kind and welcoming and we set off to a great start. We spent all morning creating some beautiful images. The family were well prepared with props and food garnishes which was then handed over to me to style and photograph.

I was in my element as this is what I love to do. And at the end of the shoot the family were so kind they insisted I sit down and eat with them. I felt like part of the family! But here’s what I really want to say. The food was insanely delicious. I cannot describe just how delicious it was.

The daal makhani takes hours to make and you can see why once you taste its depth of flavour. The butter chicken was absolutely heavenly. The chicken had an incredible smokey flavour from the tandoor (yes they have their own tandoor oven!) and then submerged into this incredible flavoursome sauce. All of the dishes were sublime. I was beaming with joy and couldn’t wait to take some food back for my husband to try.

If you are local to Milton Keynes, I cannot recommend Five Spices and Co enough. Let me know if you give them a try!

My name is Bhavisha Surti and I am a food photographer and stylist based in Milton Keynes. Please subscribe to my blog below and check out my website to see more of my work at www.jbimagery.co.uk. Thank you!