A one-woman run food business in Ealing is appealing to residents for their wonky vegetables, in a mission to provide fresh home cooked meals and tackle food waste.

IMperfect is a self-made business that provides home-cooked meals for delivery or collection in Ealing and the surrounding areas, with a focus on zero waste and reducing single-use plastic.

Ingredients is often sourced from rescued and 'imperfect' local surplus, and all food is served in reusable stainless steel containers.

Kitty, founder of IMperfect, is a self-taught chef with a background in hospitality and travel, as well as a mother of two young children.

All the meals are cooked by Kitty alone in her home kitchen.

Kitty said: "I only cook IMperfect meals on Fridays at the moment, along with the occasional catering request, as I have to balance childcare, pre-school, and some me-time!"

"I was asked to speak at West Ealing Women's Institute earlier this year to talk about my business and how I manage my 'mumtrepreneur' lifestyle."

She added they were particularly interested to hear from her due to her high number of social media followers.

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IMperfect currently has over 2,500 followers and celebrated its one-year anniversary last week.

To celebrate, Kitty offered slices of chocolate mango birthday cake to existing customers, as well as some facts on how much single use plastic they have saved, and how many kilos of fruit, vegetables and food they rescued from heading to the bin.

Kitty started cooking in her "shoe-box apartment" in Hong Kong, before moving to Ealing.

Her love for cooking turned from a passion into a business when the pandemic made home-cooking an essential part of day to day life, with Kitty adding; "no more eating out or nipping to the family's house for a home cooked meal".

This, and a desire to cut down on take-away food packaging led to the birth of IMperfect.

She previously held market stalls at St Augustines Priory School on Sundays and is currently looking at possibly holding some 'zero waste' classes in the near future.

IMperfect also run a 'share the love' raffle, with a three-course meal for two people up for grabs this month, including a food tin worth £56.

Entry is £1 and this month all proceeds go towards The Felix Project, a charity that delivers surplus food to charities and schools.

"I believe we have the same goals in helping reduce food waste and it's a charity I am happy to support", said Kitty.

To donate surplus fruit and vegetables, send IMperfect a message on Facebook or Instagram or email [email protected].

Donations can either be dropped off in W5 1JD or a collection can be arranged, based on availability during the week.

They prioritise fresh fruit and vegetables or items that can be frozen down for use.