Bringing a taste of Ethiopia to Reading reaps rewards

December 21, 2010

Source: getbrackenell

Tutu with former Royal chef Chris Barber

Ethiopian cuisine is now a favourite in Reading thanks to chef Tutu Melaku. Miss Melaku won a Pride of Reading award for Tutu’s Ethiopian Table in 2008 and now she has been named a Reading Food Hero. 

Miss Melaku was presented with her award by former Royal chef Chris Barber on Thursday, December 2, at Reading International Solidarity Centre in London Street where Tutu’s is based.

She said: “This is fantastic. When I won the Pride of Reading award in 2008, I thought that would be it for me but this is even better.

“I feel so proud.”

She said business was doing very well at RISC where she runs the restaurant from Tuesday to Saturdays – lunchtime and evening.

“It is very good, very steady and people keep coming back. It is helping me to pay my bills and my tax,” she said.

She dreams of opening up her own restaurant, but added: “I need someone to invest in me because I don’t have the capital myself. But I would love to do that one day.”

Miss Melaku, 42, who has two children aged 10 and 13, said: “I am a single mother and I work very hard to keep this going. I think it is important to know that there are single mothers who work to keep their families.”