“One of the greatest gifts you can give people is to cook for them.”
— Ina Garten.
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Food has always been my way of connecting — with people, with culture, and with myself.
Some of my earliest memories are of cooking late into the night with my cousins during school holidays in India. Ready-made snacks weren’t easily available then, so creativity was born from whatever we could find in the pantry. Those moments taught me instinctively how flavours work together, long before recipes became part of my vocabulary.
My greatest influence has always been my mother. She introduced me to the magic of spices, encouraged experimentation, and taught me that cooking is guided as much by intuition as by technique. Many of the Indian recipes you’ll find here are rooted in her kitchen, shaped over time by my own experiences, tastes, and the realities of modern, busy lives.
Growing up in a large vegetarian family meant food was never an afterthought. Meals needed to be fresh, varied, and deeply satisfying — not just nourishing, but something to look forward to. That belief still underpins everything I create.
Presentation matters to me just as much as flavour.
The first impression formed when a dish arrives at the table sets the tone for the entire experience. Taste and visual appeal go hand in hand — one should never exist without the other.
Indian cuisine will always be my comfort food, but I draw inspiration from many cultures, particularly Lebanese, Oriental, and Italian cuisines. Exploring global flavours keeps my cooking curious, evolving, and grounded.
My family remains my greatest support system — and my most honest critics. They’ve willingly tasted every experiment, offering feedback that isn’t always gentle, but always sincere. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by people who value good food and open minds.
After living in London for over two decades, cooking is no longer a necessity — it’s therapy. On stressful days, I return to the kitchen to reset. The result is always the same: calm for me, and a table filled with new dishes for the three wonderful men in my life to enjoy.
Poetry of Spices exists to bring together everything I believe about food.
Local, seasonal, and sustainable cooking has always been at the heart of vegetarian traditions, long before it became fashionable. This space exists to curate thoughtful menus, share recipes, and inspire home cooking that is ethical, nourishing, and joyful.
Today, Poetry of Spices extends beyond recipes. Alongside sharing food stories and inspiration, I also take on bespoke catering orders and create small-batch, perishable food products that are prepared with the same care, flavours, and principles you see throughout this site. Everything I offer — whether a recipe, a catered menu, or a product — comes from my kitchen and reflects how I genuinely cook and eat.
Food is medicine — for the body, the heart, and the soul.
There is nothing quite like sitting down to a beautifully presented meal with loved ones, even if only for a short moment of calm in a busy day.
My aim is simple: to show that anyone, regardless of time, skill, or equipment, can prepare and present meaningful, beautiful food.
Poetry of Spices is dedicated to my greatest teachers — my mother, who introduced me to the culinary world, and my mother-in-law, whose encouragement never wavered. Without their guidance, support, and occasional scolding, this journey would not exist.
