About Ushma
The Story of The Lost Kitchen
Our Mission
Bringing the Soul Back to the Kitchen
In a world dominated by delivery apps and ready meals, we believe people have lost the soul of cooking and the joy of hosting. The Lost Kitchen isn’t a restaurant, and it isn’t your traditional catering company—it is a high-energy, immersive culinary academy.
Founded in 2020 by Ushma Vandra, our mission is to transform “kitchen-shy” adults into confident home chefs through social, hands-on, experience-led masterclasses. We provide a welcoming “third space”—a relaxing, party-like atmosphere where you don’t just follow a recipe; you gain a life-long skill and the self-assurance to host your own dinner parties the very next day.
what makes us unique?
The Ultimate Hands-On Experience
We host intimate, friendly classes (for 2 to 6 people) in our newly built home kitchen in Loughborough, set within a beautiful, tranquil garden.
Three Pillars of Flavour
We specialise in immersive masterclasses across three distinct cuisines: authentic Indian heritage, vibrant Thai culinary foundations, and sizzling street-style Indo-Chinese fusion.
Zero Stress, Maximum Fun
We provide all premium ingredients, arrival refreshments, a branded apron to use, and a take-home recipe pack.
Best of all?
We do all the washing and cleaning up!
100% Customer Satisfaction
We are proud of our 100% five-star customer satisfaction rate. Our growth is driven by word-of-mouth because every single customer leaves happy, confident, and with plenty of delicious food to take home.
The kitchen has been ‘lost’ for too long.
Join us, find your culinary confidence, and discover the art of authentic flavour.
Our Story
Authentic Heritage Meets Modern Fusion
For founder and chef Ushma Vandra, The Lost Kitchen evolved from a lifelong passion for food. As the eldest of seven girls, Ushma started cooking at just eight years old, spending her time in the kitchen helping her mum recreate traditional recipes that had been passed down through generations.
With grandparents originating from India and parents from East Africa, Ushma learned to master traditional Indian food from various regions alongside unique African culinary influences. This rich background allowed her to recreate heritage recipes with a fearless, “Modern Fusion” twist.
After years of struggling to find places that offered truly authentic, homemade, and traditional Indian cuisine, Ushma was inspired to build it herself. Today, The Lost Kitchen brings families and friends across the Midlands together, proving that food will always be the heart of the family.
our ethos
Culinary Confidence Without the Stress
Our ethos is simple: authentic flavour, applied fearlessly.
Cooking shouldn’t be stressful. We are dedicated to building your “Culinary Confidence” by offering deeply hands-on experiences that move far beyond standard, instructional cooking.
We don’t just sell ingredients or demonstrate techniques; we sell a joyful experience, making every kitchen feel like an invitation to a party.