Blog. Spotlight on: Saiphin Moore

Here at Hospitality Action we are always in awe of our amazing supporters, from contributing to our Chefs at Home cook book to championing Invisible Chips, we love the creativity and passion shown on our behalf. Saiphin Moore, co-founder of popular restaurant chain Rosa’s Thai, is one such top supporter. Always willing to lend a hand, we recently caught up with Saiphin to learn why Hospitality Action means so much to her.

How did you pivot the Rosa’s Thai business model in the face of the pandemic?

We're very lucky that we've always had a very strong delivery and takeaway business so we were able to continue trading through those channels throughout lockdown. Our team has been very resilient and able to adjust to the new working environment very quickly. Even though we already have a strong following on social media, in 2020 all of a sudden people couldn't go out to explore new restaurants so we had to focus on reaching out to new audiences who might not have heard of us before. That's why I worked with the marketing team to release a series of cookery videos showcasing lots of dishes on Rosa's menu but also dishes that I normally cook at home. All videos were shot on a mobile phone in my home kitchen! 

As members of our ‘Employee Assistance Programme’ what benefits has it brought to the team?

The additional support to our team through the EAP programme has been amazing. Three quarters of our team were on furlough for most of 2020 so these services through Well Online have been really helpful. They're able to access lots of useful information through live chat and the helpline, especially around mental health and financial planning, some of the most common worries during the time of uncertainty. 

Have customers enjoyed seeing Invisible Chips on the menu?

They certainly have! A customer once bought a portion of 'chips' to have with their beer because they think that's considered a substantial meal! We all got a good laugh from it but certainly appreciated their support. 

What recipes and ingredients inspired you to cook for your family during lockdown?

I've been making a lot of grilled dishes on my balcony, especially on those warmer days. Things like whole grilled chicken with spicy tamarind sauce or sweet and sticky glazed pork skewers served with a steaming basket of sticky rice. Growing up in Thailand, we used to sit around the fire making BBQ dishes to share, so these dishes really remind me of home.

Can you tell us a little about your two recipes in our Chefs at Home cookbook?

The spicy grilled beef salad is a super simple dish to make, using ingredients that you can easily find at your local groceries. It combines the best of Thai flavours - salty, sweet, sour and spicy! And not to mention it's super lean. You can use the same recipe but replace beef with any kind of protein and grilled vegetables.  

The chilli & basil minced pork stir-fry is a street food staple in Thailand - 'the lazy man' dish as it's known in Thailand. It's one of those no-brainer dishes that you always order any time of the day when you're looking for something nutritious, spicy and zingy. To make the perfect dish, serve the spicy minced pork with fragrant jasmine rice and a fried egg on top.

What do you have planned for the future?

After the year we've had, the future is looking pretty bright for us at Rosa's. We're planning to open more restaurants across London and the rest of the UK, bringing more jobs to people around the country. I'm also going to continue to work with the food team to develop more seasonal dishes that you can find on our very popular special menu!

Fundraising for Hospitality Action enables staff to feel connected to wider organisational CSR goals whilst boosting employees’ moral all while raising funds for a great cause. If your business would like to get involved please get in touch.