Siddra Afzal

Writer

About the Author: Siddra Afzal

Siddra Afzal is a Content Writer at Cooksmill, where she has been contributing to the blog since 2023. She writes practical, research-led content focused on commercial kitchens, catering equipment and the everyday realities of working in the hospitality sector.

While Siddra is no chef, her understanding of commercial kitchens is rooted in experience. She grew up around the family restaurant her father owned and spent many evenings there after school, observing how a busy kitchen operates during service. This early exposure showed her the pace, pressure, and practical decision-making required in hospitality environments.

Before joining Cooksmill, Siddra worked as a Researcher and held roles in PR and Communications, previously writing for the NHS. This background informs her approach to writing, with clear structure, careful sourcing, and a strong focus on accuracy and reader utility.

At Cooksmill, Siddra specialises in creating content that supports day-to-day kitchen operations. Her work is grounded in research, shaped by the reality of a busy kitchen, and written with an understanding of the operational constraints faced by catering and hospitality professionals.

Briggs, Wallis and Benn: How a Family Business Has Stayed True to Its Standards

Briggs, Wallis and Benn has been serving fish and chips on Clayton Road in Bradford for years. Run by Shehzad Hussain and his family, it has built a loyal following by doing things the way they believe they should be done. The fish goes in the fryer when you order it. Sauces, tartar sauce, mint sauce, and mushy peas are all made in-house. ...

Sweet & Smart: Exploring the Delicious World of Low-Sugar Baking

For many, baking brings a sense of comfort and joy. The aroma of warm cookies wafting through the kitchen and the satisfaction of creating something delicious is always a delightful experience. But for those following a low-sugar diet, the fear of missing out on these sweet treats can be disappointing. The good news is you don't have to ditch ...

Pastry: The Craft, Secrets, and Tools That Make It Work

Pastry is one of the most important foundations in baking. It’s the base for pies, tarts, sausage rolls, and quiches, and it can transform a dish from simple to impressive. Despite its popularity, pastry has a reputation for being difficult. Many people find that their dough turns tough instead of flaky, shrinks away from the tin, or ends up ...

Cinnammmm: A Cafe Built on Community, Colour, and Care

Cinnammmm began in 2020, during a period when many people were forced to slow down and rethink what mattered. What started as a small lockdown project, encouraged by family and friends, gradually became something much more meaningful. Today, Cinnammmm isn’t just a place people visit for coffee or baked goods. It’s a space built around ...

Baking the Perfect Baguette: A National French Bread Day Guide

There's something satisfying about a perfectly baked baguette. That crack when you break the crust, the soft and chewy interior, the faintly yeasty aroma that fills the entire kitchen. On the 21st of March, National French Bread Day offers the perfect excuse to celebrate with a delicious baguette. Whether you're a home baker looking to try ...

Get Ready for National Fish & Chip Day 2026

National Fish and Chip Day is one of the best days in the food calendar. It falls on the first Friday of June every year, and in 2026, that means Friday, 5th June. Now in its second decade, it's become the biggest food awareness day. In the UK in 2025 alone, coverage reached over 440 million people. For chip shops, it's one of the busiest days of ...

The Complete UK Hard Water & Limescale Guide for Catering Businesses

Hard water is one of those things that quietly costs catering businesses money every year. It affects your coffee machines, dishwashers, glasswashers, kettles, and water boilers, often without anyone making the connection between declining performance and the water coming out of the tap. The start of a new financial year is a practical time to get ...

Add Profit to Your Business with Matcha, Chai and Smoothies

Wellness drinks are one of the fastest-growing areas of the UK beverage market. Matcha lattes, chai lattes, fresh juices, and smoothies have moved well beyond health food shops and speciality cafes. They're now on the menus of high street chains, hotel restaurants, and busy takeaways. For catering businesses, that matters. If you're looking for ...

Why Clay Matka Pots Belong in Your Restaurant

If you run an Indian or Pakistani restaurant, a tea house, or a South Asian catering operation, the vessels you serve in are just as important as the food itself. Clay matka pots and cups are among the most effective ways to add authenticity to your table service, and they cost very little. At Cooksmill, we stock a range of traditional clay matka ...

How to Make Kulfi: A Guide to Indian Ice Cream

Kulfi is one of the most beloved frozen desserts in South Asian cuisine, richer than ice cream, denser than gelato, and packed with flavour that comes from slow-cooked, reduced milk. Whether you've tasted it at an Indian restaurant or grown up eating it at summer weddings and festivals, learning how to make kulfi is a rewarding home and restaurant ...
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