My Story

I started Enola's Kitchen back in 2005 as a supper club. It came from something pretty simple: I couldn't find the kind of food I wanted to eat nearby. Proper comfort food, cooked from scratch, at a price that didn't take the mick. So I decided to make it myself.

I'd trained as a chef five years before that and worked everywhere from church fetes to music festivals. But running an actual kitchen was a different beast entirely. I made plenty of mistakes early on, and every single one taught me something.

I moved around a bit after that, trying different areas, figuring out what I wanted this to be. Doncaster will always have a piece of my heart, but London is where I belong. The food scene here pushes you, and I like that.

After five years in North London, the pandemic forced me to close just as my lease ran out. It was tough, but it gave me time to think about what I wanted next. When a space came up in the Sundial Centre on Shipton Street in Hoxton, I knew it was right. East London has always felt like home.

The food here pulls from Caribbean and British roots. BBQ short rib with gravy, oxtail croquettes, bao buns stuffed with cod goujons or fried plantain, a burger that regulars won't stop talking about. Everything is made fresh each morning with ingredients sourced locally wherever I can.

But this place is about more than plates. I run a Seniors Lunch Club for elderly residents in the area. I do kids cookery classes. I give out free morning coffee to anyone who brings a reusable cup. And I offer discounts to local residents on all our events. Being part of the neighbourhood means showing up for it.

If you haven't been in yet, come say hello. I can't wait to feed you.