At the heart of every great meal is a story—one that brings together people, traditions, and the joy of sharing. This is exactly why SpiceBox and Casa De Folklore are joining forces, blending the vibrant world of Indian home cooking with the timeless craft of hand-made tableware.
SpiceBox, founded by the passionate and talented Grace Regan, is on a mission to make delicious, organic dal a staple in every kitchen. With deep roots in British-Indian cuisine and a commitment to sustainability, SpiceBox has reimagined the way we experience this nourishing, flavourful dish. Meanwhile, Casa De Folklore celebrates the beauty of handmade craftsmanship, bringing warmth and charm to every dining table with our selection for earthenware pieces.
We caught up with Grace to talk about the inspiration behind the brand, the magic of dal, and the importance of high-quality ingredients in every bowl.
What inspired you to start SpiceBox, and what was the moment you knew you had something special?
My Great Aunt Dolly is my main inspiration! She’s South Indian and introduced me to the wonderful flavours of Indian food from a young age. I have a very strong memory of eating her dal each time we visited her house, and it got me hooked! Once I was old enough to travel by myself, the first place I visited was India. I spent as much time as I could in the kitchens of home cooks, standing by the gas stove, furiously taking notes and asking questions.
In my early twenties, I decided that I wanted to open an Indian restaurant—celebrating the flavors of British-Indian ‘curry house’ cuisine and the fresher, healthier flavors of Indian home cooking. I started with a street food stall, and a few years later, I had two restaurants in North East London. I knew I had something special on the opening night of our first restaurant—I came out of the kitchen to a jam-packed dining room full of people with smiles on their faces and full bellies!
I closed the restaurants in 2023 and relaunched SpiceBox as a retail brand. We now make organic, award-winning dal (which was always the most popular dish at the restaurants). Our mission is to get more people eating dal each week—it’s the ultimate convenience food: healthy, filling, speedy, delicious, AND great for the environment!
Why is the quality of ingredients so important for your business?
When creating our products, we have two non-negotiables: they have to taste amazing (I’d be proud to put them on a table and pass them off as home-cooked!) and they have to be gentle on the environment. The good news is that these two things go hand in hand.
We’re an organic business because we believe that organic farming (working with nature to grow food) is the best way to minimize our impact on the environment—but it also really enhances the quality of our dals. The difference in smell, taste, and appearance of organic spices vs. conventionally grown ones is huge. The same applies to vegetables and pulses. It just so happens that food that is kind to the soil also tastes better and is better for our health (Mother Nature knows best).
What’s one spice you couldn’t live without, and how do you love to use it?
Cumin. It’s so versatile and ends up in pretty much every recipe I write! It crosses cuisines and cultures, bringing a warm, nutty flavour to soups, stews, and, of course, dal! I mainly use the whole seeds—just make sure you always toast or temper them to bring out the flavor and unlock the nuttiness. I also use the seeds in tea, alongside fennel and coriander seeds. It’s a classic Ayurvedic concoction and is great for digestion.
What’s your absolute favorite dish to cook from the SpiceBox menu?
I honestly make dal at least once a week. In fact, I’m having it for lunch today! My favorite dal to make is a variation of our Tarka Dal, using whatever I have on hand. It always has red lentils, onion, ginger, garlic, and turmeric, and sometimes I add tomato and roasted vegetables (whatever needs using up!). I usually top it with pickled pink onions, which add a wonderful sharp and fresh note. We have a recipe book that contains recipes for all of our dals, it also includes the pickled onion recipe!
If you could share a meal with anyone (dead or alive), who would it be and what would you cook for them?
Rekha Mistry and Sarah Raven (sorry, that’s two!). I have recently started gardening and am becoming quite obsessed! This will be my first summer growing veg (or attempting to), and I have soooo many questions I’d like to ask them!!
In my dream world, I’d cook them a feast of vegetables I’d grown, cooked with different spices, over a fire. We’d sit in my small London garden, humming with bumblebees and teeming with flowers and vegetables. There would, of course, be a dal in there (maybe a courgette and bean one!).
To mark this exciting collaboration, we’re thrilled to announce a special competition—giving you the chance to win a selection of SpiceBox’s award-winning dals alongside Casa De Folklore’s beautifully handcrafted tableware. Together, they create the perfect setting for slow, thoughtful dining, where food and artistry come together. ENTER NOW
