As unique selling points go, being a culinary Jiu Jitsu ace is something that certainly helps you stand out from the crowd.
Ben Sulston says his martial arts prowess, which saw him win a bronze medal at the Brazilian national championships, has helped to provide the inspiration for his new Tonbridge takeaway business, Sulston’s Kitchen, which he has set up with his wife Kirsty in Quarry Hill Road.
The chef, who is originally from Cambridge, said: “Being in Brazil for the championships was an amazing experience. While I was there I used local ingredients to cook for some of the other athletes.
“I was also involved with a company in Thailand called Shack, where I am still a food consultant. The experience I gained from there and my other work in the UK led on to me setting up my own place.”
Ben has previously worked for Michelin-starred restaurants, as well as managing catering operations for University College London over the past 15 years.
He added that another element of his business has been creating food which is healthy. The Sulston’s menu spans everything from nutritious smoothies made with ‘superfood’ acai berries to a range of wraps, breakfasts, intriguing healthy snacks, plus a harissa-spiced chicken salad lunch option.
He said: “We are using healthy and interesting ingredients such as turmeric for marinade, fresh garlic, and natural sweeteners such as honey. We cook with coconut oil so that we give our recipes plenty of flavour.
“Before opening we tried out our recipes on some test groups and the feedback was really positive.”
