Future Covers and Features

Planning ahead is always somewhat fluid when creating a magazine that has to be both current and reflective of trends and general interests. But one thing I can usually settle on are our covers, I know what I want and, if I'm fortunate enough to get it, I tend to stick with it.

Issue one featured a childhood hero in the form of Ken Hom, legendary TV Chef and Restaurateur whom I particularly wanted to kick the title off with. Firstly I wanted a face that everyone would recognise as a "famous chef" and secondly I wanted everyone to see that the Word "Asian" did not have to mean Indian or Pakistani just because we are more familiar with those nationalities here as our community neighbours. We also accept that most currently available publications feature or are catering for that part of Asia. So, Ken was important in order to help me establish that "Asia" meant just that, the whole of Asia and not just India or Pakistan.

Issue two however, will feature another Asian face in the form of Honey Kalaria our own British Bollywood Ambassador. My decision to feature Honey was again two fold. I wanted to feature a different Asian face in terms of nationality, Honey being Indian, and then I wanted to enforce the fact that we are not just a cookery book - in fact far from it! Honey's introduction as our Bollywood Dance, Fitness and Glamour columnist should make that quite clear and most importantly, add a bit of glamour to our cover!

Issue three, out just before Christmas, will feature an entirely different subject and help to combine all essential seasonal topics and an interesting feature on that very British phenomenon - Pantomime! To my great delight Panto's greatest "Dame" Christopher Biggins has agreed to appear as "Widow Twanky" in full costume on our cover and to give us an exclusive interview and insight into the World of Panto and how Widow Twanky and Aladdin actually came about. Each year we laugh at the shows - but how did the Chinese influence become an annual event. Stick around and wait and read all about it.

Taste of Asia Magazine is all about celebrating Asia and its influences as each new edition will gradually establish. I am delighted with the way things are going and grateful to everyone including Ken, Honey and Christopher who are playing an essential part in our future... Thanks everyone!