By Ingredients

Ingredients

1)    Cook the rice noodle in a  large pan of water for 6 mins. Drain whilst running under cold water. Once fully dry, coat with noodle sauce and set aside. 2)    Pound the chilies and garlic. In wide, non-stick pan, heat the oil, sauté garlic-chili paste for a few seconds, followed by the onions and […]

We hit the 90’s consistently for 2 weeks. It was time to take the bags and leave this town where the heat was trapped-in by sky-scrapers. Luckily, I got an invite from my friends Shivani and Mahir to come out to New Jersey. A garden with a pool that was shaded by trees, it was […]

It’s a no brainer. When you head to your local Moroccan joint, one of you is definitely is ordering the tagine. Right? To the untrained Maghrebian eye, there is drama in it’s very presentation that adds to its luring nature. The earthenware vessel boasting of nomadic silhouette and color whilst imparting a subtle earthiness – […]

Time flies when you’re having fun. A few months ago, the Curry Club was just an idea. Now 4 curry nights later, here we were saying good-bye to The Jones Wood Foundry as they hosted the final night of series 1. Being the last evening, it called for the Godfather of all British curries – […]

  In recent years, the Banh Mi has claimed its stake in the sandwich world. Enclosed in a crisp baguette lie Vietnamese treated ingredients. Whilst cilantro, pickled daikon and carrots and sriracha chili sauce are resident contents, there are also a variety of sandwich fillings from which to make your choices, such as, spicy pork, […]

A couple of nights ago, I felt like some of the Colonels finger lickin’ chicken. I think it was the weather cooling down that made this crisp hot chicken with a salty golden crust so perfectly appealing – oh yes! dinner was going to be one fine looking bird tonight and that for sure would […]

I am not sure when we first had it, but when we did, it became a favorite. Let us say that where Thai food is concerned, this dish doesn’t get much ink. The curries are certainly very popular, be it red, green or jungle, for the sautéed dishes, anything stir fried with basil will do […]

In walked a man with curly locks and a long beard. His presence is Biblical only to be betrayed by his uber posh English accent. His name is Behroush Sharifi but just call him ‘The Saffron King’. Royalty of the highest mystical order, 5 minutes of conversation with him made me realize that no other […]

The Bachelor’s Black Book emerged from a conversation with my brother inlaw “Arjun”. He was visiting from San Francisco and was keen to check out my world at The French Culinary Institute. Being the stud that he is, his desire to schnozzle around the school surprised me. If he thought it was going to be […]

Since we are still at the turn of the New Year, many of you had sent me requests for tasty, healthy options, after all, one good choice leads to another. Such requests would often send me to a salad suggestion, however, our serial snow storms are in full swing and a salad feels like a […]

This week, my family and I were subject to the Fall’s not so pretty side – ‘germs’. When GERMS strike, I lose sight of all things autumnally beautiful and after 5 days of soups and stews, I get sick of those too (note to soup: I love you, I just need a little space right […]

So there I was on this gorgeous Friday afternoon last week at the food magnet of an event: the NY food and wine festival. I was really looking forward to it and what made it even more appealing was that I would be hanging out with my very dear and generous friend and mentor ‘Suvir […]

  In our home, making a quick meal often involves some ground meat, a pinch of herbs, diced onions, ginger or garlic and finally some rough hand-shaping before it is thrown down on the pan. It is then christened burger or kebab. Last night was one of those evenings, except; the predictability of ground chicken […]

  In recent years, the Banh Mi has claimed its stake in the sandwich world. Enclosed in a crisp baguette lie Vietnamese treated ingredients. Whilst cilantro, pickled daikon and carrots and sriracha chili sauce are resident contents, there are also a variety of sandwich fillings from which to make your choices, such as, spicy pork, […]

Grandmothers could fill books on practical measures for sustainability, respecting ingredients and getting mileage from having very little resources. Many of them have lived through wars or belong to early settling immigration communities where they had to work very hard for what they had. My nanima was certainly amongst this generation of people. The word […]

Like people, nations also possess personality traits. Some are exhibitionists, others are guided by ‘joie de vivre’ and some are simply subtle and understated. Surrounded by neighbors, each with their own unique strengths lies a country that is humble and quiet. Belgium. When one thinks of Belgium, we think of her in light of the […]

As many of you know, I have begun my apprenticeship at Michelin-starred, Indian fine dining, restaurant ‘ Tulsi NYC’. The French Culinary Institute taught me many skills and yet I had only scratched the surface. This month, I reached out to Chef Hemant Mathur, founding partner of Tulsi NYC, to expand my understanding and skills […]

Spending a few months in Poitiers, France, was like being in food heaven. My excessive food indulgences would have made Emile Zola turn in his grave several times, but that was never more than a fleeting thought (he wrote ‘The Belly Of Paris, where he snarls upon the food extravagances of the middle class in […]

Who likes barbecues here?? No, really, apart from the social aspect, who really likes what they are eating?? Throwing down a few burgers and potatoes over hot flames just doesn’t do it for me (they inevitably turn out hard and overcooked!). Is it safe to assume that there are some of you out there for […]

Growing up, I never understood the fascination of spiced tea. Whilst I enjoy a ‘good cuppa tea’ as well as spice in my every bite, I could never fathom why one would combine the two experiences. Recent years have seen the rise of the ‘chai’. Becoming a quintessential choice of beverage for some and yoga […]

A few months ago, I came across Monica Bhide’s post on  ‘Once Upon A Story’ where she provides a glimpse on Parsi food and a very popular dish for fried eggs on potato chips. Parsis came to India by way of Persia, settled in Bombay and developed a cross-cultural cuisine of Gujrati (simple vegetarian)-Persian food […]

Since my mum has been in New York, she has been insisting on making her new dish for me. Apparently I would love it!! That wouldn’t be a huge surprise because I tend to love everything she makes. Expecting a plated ‘piece de resistance’, I was a little disappointed to hear that the fuss was […]

Ingredients

1)    Cook the rice noodle in a  large pan of water for 6 mins. Drain whilst running under cold water. Once fully dry, coat with noodle sauce and set aside. 2)    Pound the chilies and garlic. In wide, non-stick pan, heat the oil, sauté garlic-chili paste for a few seconds, followed by the onions and […]

Not every good meal needs to be complicated. A well-stocked pantry and a couple of fresh ingredients can work wonders on any given night. That’s when I am thankful for the random purchases I see in my pantry but rarely touch. Take for instance my Marcona almonds. How different were they from the other 10 […]

  Last week, the Branzino whispered from its crushed-ice bed, ‘take me home and you’ll be happy’. Branzino is such an attractive fish that breaks apart with a bare nudge of a fork (I like to eat mine with a spoon). This mild mannered fish is like the perfect pair of jeans. Dress it up […]

The whole dim sum experience is a culture in itself. Glazed eyes that push carts around a room, stacks of bamboo steamers, drizzle bottles filled with soy sauce – these are just some of the necessary components of enjoying dim sum, tight little parcels filled with proteins and veggies. Like a poker game, there is […]

  In our home, making a quick meal often involves some ground meat, a pinch of herbs, diced onions, ginger or garlic and finally some rough hand-shaping before it is thrown down on the pan. It is then christened burger or kebab. Last night was one of those evenings, except; the predictability of ground chicken […]

THE CURRY CLUB SEASON 1, DAY 1 Being a British born Indian is not something I ever thought about until I left it’s windy shores. The aromas on the streets, the curry flavored chips in the grocery stores (targeting the British population of kids), an array of Indian microwave meals (perhaps not the healthiest of […]

In walked a man with curly locks and a long beard. His presence is Biblical only to be betrayed by his uber posh English accent. His name is Behroush Sharifi but just call him ‘The Saffron King’. Royalty of the highest mystical order, 5 minutes of conversation with him made me realize that no other […]

Ok, I have been a little quiet the last couple of weeks. For those of you who don’t know, I was asked to compete at the Varli Food Festival cook-off. The Varli  Indian Food Festival, that rolled out it’s first ever food festival last year in NYC has certainly made its stamp on the culinary map. […]

So here I am, it’s that trip that I bianually pent myself up for..LONDON!!! Representing all things indulgent, such as food, sleep, food, it is that moment where guilt is shoved aside to make space for whims and impulses, after all they can’t all live in the same world. This time, I showed up to […]

Today is the launch of unsworn. Witness how chefs become unsworn to secrecy and unravel a recipe as well as a kitchen tip. Today’s unsworn takes us behind those clandestine curtains of Cipriani’s on 5th Avenue and in conversation with executive chef ‘Piero Minicucci’. Showing up at his kitchen, I was a little concerned as […]

My 6 month period of culinary revelations has intensely begun. Since commencing classes at the French Culinary Institute, I have been humbled by how much more there is to learn. The past few weeks have been a period of cold turkey, getting a rid of my naughty kitchen habits and going back to the drawing […]

I have always admired a friend of mine called ‘Juhi Singh’ for her many talents. Achieving so many things in a day, I am convinced that hers consists of more than 24 hours. She is a well known acupuncturist and yoga instructor in New York and is now launching a sleep therapy C.D (www.sleepuntiltomorrow.com). If […]

The weather is beginning to crispen in NY and whilst many of us have had enough of this heat, the thought of the summer coming to an end leaves us with a bitter-sweet emotion. Memories of beaches, the smell of sunscreen, the heat extinguishing ice creams and sorbets will very soon be lost amidst sweaters, […]

  The kids are off still off from school. Last night I needed to make dinner whilst keeping my little guys entertained. I decided to put them to work as we made sweet potato gnocchi for a cozy supper. It was fun and as long as they were approximately the same size, I wasn’t a […]

Monday being Monday always leaves me in a state of anxiety. If you master Monday, the rest of the week falls into place, but if Monday sends you in a tail spin, what will it do to the rest of your week? Well, I guess, The Bangles did give me a melodious heads-up on it. […]

This summer has been quite eventful. The plan was to spend three weeks in London, but known for his spontaneity, the hubby decided to whisk us away to Dubai. The UAE certainly knows how to pamper it’s visitors and the city does not fall short of any amount of indulgence. One can get carried away […]

Last week, I was invited by Haven Havens Kitchen to take part in their cooking class. For those of you who live in New York City, Havens Kitchen is a most charming cooking school with a feel of Nantucket, a backyard farm, flip flops and Lionel Rand’s ‘Let there be love’. The pace in that […]

Like many areas of our life, different foods trend at different points of time. Part of this comes from a shift in awareness, globalization, a greater understanding of seasonal and local and health factors. However, there are also a number of dishes that simply fell off the radar. These are perfectly lovely dishes which perhaps […]

In walked a man with curly locks and a long beard. His presence is Biblical only to be betrayed by his uber posh English accent. His name is Behroush Sharifi but just call him ‘The Saffron King’. Royalty of the highest mystical order, 5 minutes of conversation with him made me realize that no other […]

I write today’s entry with much restraint. There is so much I want to share with you about a discovery I made this week but am conflicted with simply dumping my overload of excitement on to you. . In moments, perhaps described best as temporary insanity, when one imagines one has seen it all, New […]

                        The past few days, I have felt like my palate has been receiving very predictable flavors. Whilst everything has been well made and full of flavor, it just hasn’t been fulfilling. I felt like I needed to trade cumin for perhaps basil or […]

Ingredients

Emotionally, what this dish did to me needs no explanation. How could it not. The sweet and savory scent of rosemary and cognac permeated every room in the apartment. Me and the Mr. curled up in our jammies on the couch savored it spoon by spoon. The stew was silky and luxurious with intense aromas […]

Like people, nations also possess personality traits. Some are exhibitionists, others are guided by ‘joie de vivre’ and some are simply subtle and understated. Surrounded by neighbors, each with their own unique strengths lies a country that is humble and quiet. Belgium. When one thinks of Belgium, we think of her in light of the […]

It was a bone chillingly damp day and all I could think of was comfort. After a full on conversation with my friend from London, her accent left me with a craving for British Comfort because believe me, it never fails to provide just that. I grabbed my brolly (umbrella for those unfamiliar with the […]

This month was electric in the Big Apple as New York City opened its doors to the New York Food and Wine Festival. The city became a “Tinsel Town” for food with streets and venues filled with well-known chefs talking to the media about new projects, personal philosophies and using their voice as a medium […]

For men, the 80’s was a period of buff and brawn. The 90’s dotcom guy was somewhat geeky and overall non-descript but there was a very important transition taking place paving the way and raising the bar for the Year 2000’s: Mr. Metrosexual. Mr. metrosexual takes pride in his appearance and it has no bearing […]

Every family has a grandma, nonna, nani, dadi, abuela, generally a cute and plump ball of love with a collapsed smile when the dentures are out. Even though they appear to smile vacantly most of the time whilst providing nods at conversations around them, they ‘get it’ far more than we give them credit for. […]

Jared, an old and dear friend of my brother’s, spent many vacations at our house in London during their college years (trekking back to Singapore for every holiday being far too excessive, even for the most well-healed of students). Almost becoming a second son, my parents loved having him around because of his positive influence […]

Last Monday I decided to swan around Union Square farmers market. It was a magical afternoon surrounded by the gifts of nature. With a brief stop at Eve’s cidery to quench my thirst, I moved on to the Hawthorne valley farm tent looking at the prettiest and tinniest Sungold cherry tomatoes that were so pretty, […]

Last week, we finally had Fran and Stephania over for dinner. It was a special evening honoring a couple of things: integrity and how my husband and I have talked many times of having them over for dinner and gratitude to Fran who took my shot for the ‘about me section’ (Fran is a most […]

Ingredients

Ingredients

I am not sure when we first had it, but when we did, it became a favorite. Let us say that where Thai food is concerned, this dish doesn’t get much ink. The curries are certainly very popular, be it red, green or jungle, for the sautéed dishes, anything stir fried with basil will do […]

Last week, I was invited by Haven Havens Kitchen to take part in their cooking class. For those of you who live in New York City, Havens Kitchen is a most charming cooking school with a feel of Nantucket, a backyard farm, flip flops and Lionel Rand’s ‘Let there be love’. The pace in that […]

Soup, gently simmering on the stove whilst infusing the air with its aromatic elements holds the promise of more than your next meal. Whether it’s a low interference meal to prepare, a waistline trimmer or an effective method to consume a rainbow of vegetables, this dish is the perfect platform to get creative with your […]

Last weeks Thanksgiving festivities were a complete binge for most of us and frankly a little scary since it was just the holiday season kick off. Sure, go ahead, blame the food, after all, it is completely responsible for your lack of restraint. Pushing yourself into, over and out of those jeans, that muffin top […]

Today is the launch of unsworn. Witness how chefs become unsworn to secrecy and unravel a recipe as well as a kitchen tip. Today’s unsworn takes us behind those clandestine curtains of Cipriani’s on 5th Avenue and in conversation with executive chef ‘Piero Minicucci’. Showing up at his kitchen, I was a little concerned as […]

A few years back, I worked with this a gorgeous, charming and extremely talented lady called ‘Kamar’. A mentor, big sister and partner in crime, there was never a dull moment when we were together. We egged each other on in all kinds of extravagances from fashion to food, regretted and then did it all […]

Ingredients

Ingredients

Ingredients

1)    Cook the rice noodle in a  large pan of water for 6 mins. Drain whilst running under cold water. Once fully dry, coat with noodle sauce and set aside. 2)    Pound the chilies and garlic. In wide, non-stick pan, heat the oil, sauté garlic-chili paste for a few seconds, followed by the onions and […]

Sizzle Sauce 3-Chili Paneer

  There’s always that one stand at the Farmers market that intimidates me. This time it was the chili stand. I love fresh chilies , especially when they are long and thin so I can snip them with my teeth. But here, it was a pick ‘n’ mix of shapes hitting different parts of the […]

Espresso shot with sprite, cottage cheese with finely-diced ginger and chili, chips (or crisps depending on which side of the pond) doused with Tabasco sauce – these are just some of the atypical combinations my mind drifts in to. My latest infatuation is Gobi-Aloo (remember Bend It Like Beckham?) with Sundried tomatoes. Gobi-Aloo is the […]

We hit the 90’s consistently for 2 weeks. It was time to take the bags and leave this town where the heat was trapped-in by sky-scrapers. Luckily, I got an invite from my friends Shivani and Mahir to come out to New Jersey. A garden with a pool that was shaded by trees, it was […]

  A few weeks ago, I met Trudie Styler at the launch of her product line ‘Il Palagio’, sourced from her garden in Tuscany. Honeys that range from mild and unimposing, such as, Acacia to fuller bodied honeys, like chestnut and thousand flowers. Wines whimsically named after Sting’s songs – Sister Moon and When We […]

These days it’s all about the warm salad for me. When one component of the salad is warm, it provides such an elevated contribution to the whole dish. Take for instance a bed of greens that are tossed together in a warm vinaigrette of mustard and shallots. Just imagine what life is like for those […]

Last month, I taught a class on vegetarian meals. Whenever I approach vegetarian food, it is always through my omnivore perspective. On Tuesdays, I observe a vegetarian diet and on those days, I end up over looking my protein. Putting a class together on the subject brought with it responsibility and I couldn’t omit a […]

  The kids are off still off from school. Last night I needed to make dinner whilst keeping my little guys entertained. I decided to put them to work as we made sweet potato gnocchi for a cozy supper. It was fun and as long as they were approximately the same size, I wasn’t a […]

Monday being Monday always leaves me in a state of anxiety. If you master Monday, the rest of the week falls into place, but if Monday sends you in a tail spin, what will it do to the rest of your week? Well, I guess, The Bangles did give me a melodious heads-up on it. […]

This summer has been quite eventful. The plan was to spend three weeks in London, but known for his spontaneity, the hubby decided to whisk us away to Dubai. The UAE certainly knows how to pamper it’s visitors and the city does not fall short of any amount of indulgence. One can get carried away […]

Grandmothers could fill books on practical measures for sustainability, respecting ingredients and getting mileage from having very little resources. Many of them have lived through wars or belong to early settling immigration communities where they had to work very hard for what they had. My nanima was certainly amongst this generation of people. The word […]

Last week, I was invited by Haven Havens Kitchen to take part in their cooking class. For those of you who live in New York City, Havens Kitchen is a most charming cooking school with a feel of Nantucket, a backyard farm, flip flops and Lionel Rand’s ‘Let there be love’. The pace in that […]

Like many areas of our life, different foods trend at different points of time. Part of this comes from a shift in awareness, globalization, a greater understanding of seasonal and local and health factors. However, there are also a number of dishes that simply fell off the radar. These are perfectly lovely dishes which perhaps […]

As many of you know, I have begun my apprenticeship at Michelin-starred, Indian fine dining, restaurant ‘ Tulsi NYC’. The French Culinary Institute taught me many skills and yet I had only scratched the surface. This month, I reached out to Chef Hemant Mathur, founding partner of Tulsi NYC, to expand my understanding and skills […]

Lately, I have run into a lot of Europeans who in some fashion or another work in the arts. The interactions have left me both inspired and puzzled. Inspired, because they are behind some truly magnificent craft be it through the medium of sculptures and paintings or be it food. Yet puzzled, because they choose […]

My friend and trusted voice in food media, Shivani Vora, hosted a soiree of desert tasting by Fernanda Capobianco of Vegan Diva and wine pairing by Alexa Elman. The spread looked like it had been shipped from the finest French Patisserie in Paris. Chocolate was definitely the prevailing theme, but there was also an assortment […]

Soup, gently simmering on the stove whilst infusing the air with its aromatic elements holds the promise of more than your next meal. Whether it’s a low interference meal to prepare, a waistline trimmer or an effective method to consume a rainbow of vegetables, this dish is the perfect platform to get creative with your […]

Today I saw a lady eating a purple yam on the train. My initial reaction was to find this odd and a little disgusting. Surely there must have been a more preferable locale to consume such a snack. She immediately became the social outcast on the train. Of course, she would have seemed less odd […]

About 6 yrs ago, I was expecting my first child. It was a period of exuberance with the first belly bump, the first kick! Pregnant ladies deserve a lot of pampering. Shoes, handbags, food indulgences are all on the menu for a 9 month period. That was until my doctor had told me to cut […]