I tried Embsay's pop-up Afghan restaurant and was bowled over

This was the sixth pop up restaurant evening at the village hall run by the Omari family, who fled Afghanistan in 2021 when the Taliban took over their country and who are now settled in Skipton.

Following a brief spell living in a hotel in Scarborough, Mozhgan Omari, Ahmad Wahid and their 11 children moved to Skipton, where they were given a warm welcome.

Mozhgan and her eldest daughter Sonia enrolled at Craven College on its Multiply scheme to learn about budgeting, booking systems, pricing and food hygiene. And, armed with the necessary skills, and with the continued help of college tutors, they have been able to set up their catering business, Afghan Star Cuisine, serving dishes from the home they have left behind to delighted Craven residents.

Earlier this year, Mozhgan and Sonia received the Biggest Achievement Award at a Multiply celebration and awards ceremony in York.

Their hope is to expand the business into providing the food for weddings and other events, and possibly open an Afghan restaurant in Skipton.

Now, I've not long started eating meat again after more than 40 years as a strict vegetarian. Meat dishes have come a long way since I stopped eating meat in the late 1980s, and I'm enjoying the buzz, and it is a buzz, believe me; and I'm also enjoying the benefits of a diet less rich in cheese and bread.

That said, vegetarians were very well provided for at Embsay Village Hall, and the line for the main course, much shorter; I did look at the vegetable rolls, stuffed dumplings and kobli - fragrant rice with vegetables, Qorma lobie - kidney beans fried with onions, tomatoes, tumeric, coriander and garlic, and sabzi, a spinach dish with leek and spring onion, with some regret.

The restaurant evenings are buffet style, apart from the starter, and seating is on largish tables - the idea that eating is to be enjoyed by groups of friends; and it works, even for stuffy English folk.

We were greeted by one of the older 11 children with a warm welcome and something sweet to eat. Mozhgan explains: "In Afghanistan, when guests visit us for the first time we offer them a sweet, as they enter, to ensure our meeting is a sweet one. I hope the sweets given, by my family, will help people enjoy their experience."

Before we settled into eating, one of the younger boys with great confidence got up on stage, told us a bit about the family, how the youngest member of the family had been born at Airedale Hospital, and urged us to enjoy our meals.

So, back to the meal. The starter was delicious, quite different from anything I've had before, we were given rolls stuffed with chicken, served with a sauce of tomato, garlic, lemon and chilli, and manto, a dumpling filled with meat, onions and black pepper.

The main course, as much as you liked, consisted of delicious fried chicken, kobli - fragrant rice steamed in a vegetable stock with onions, carrot ribbons, raisins and nuts; and sabzi - spinach, leeks and spring onion. There was also qorma lobie - kidney beans fried with onion, tomatoes, turmeric, coriander and garlic, and shola ghorbadi - rice, chickpeas, kidney beans, mung beans, onion, tomato, green chilli and beef, flavoured with garlic, coriander and black pepper. And, if you needed anything else, there was also handmade and freshly baked Afghan naan, and a light and fresh salad with olives. Everyone on our table ate with great enthusiasm, with some going back for more - there was plenty to satisfy the hungriest of diners.

To cleanse the palate, the third course consisted of dessert fereny, a distinctive creamy milk pudding flavoured with cardamom, and finished with chopped nuts - it reminded me a bit of syllabub, but more creamy, there was also fresh fruit -featuring 'whatever looks good in the market' on the day. Green or black tea finished off the meal, served with baklava, a layered pastry dessert, with chopped nuts.

The meat is halal and there is no alcohol, just soft drinks only on sale, but you are welcome to take your own. Several people had come along with bottles of wine; which certainly contributed to the very convivial atmosphere in the village hall.

Mozhgan, who her husband proudly said was the cook, explains she has always enjoyed cooking and entertaining her friends and family in Afghanistan.

"It is an important part of our culture to be able to share our food with old and new friends. We have made many new friends in Yorkshire and look forward to sharing our Afghan cuisine with all," she says.

Cost of the three-course meal is £25 for adults; £12 for 11 to 14 year olds; £10 for six to 10 year olds, and free for under six year olds.

To make a booking and enjoy an Afghan meal at Embsay Village Institute, email margaretcreek54@gmail.com; but be prepared to wait, sessions are quickly booked up.