My spicy chef is all about learning to cook authentic Indian dishes in a friendly, relaxed informal environment so that like me, you too will become passionate about the dishes you produce.
I will refer to the South Asian style of cooking by using the generic term of “Indian cooking” throughout as people recognise this – but as you will read further down, regionally, the cuisine varies hugely
For me, food carries so many happy memories of the times I spent with family sharing and savouring the food, and I hope to bring you some of this joy… so you too can share your food stories with your nearest and dearest ones. For me, my mother’s words still ring true today for me, and I have gone on to enjoy sharing my food with many friends; an opportunity to bring people together over one common theme – food.
My enthusiasm has come from when I was a child, having watched my mother create amazing dishes very quickly, and my grandmother, whose food was the talk of the town, who I fondly watched put sugar instead of salt into dishes by mistake when she grew old, yet people still came to learn from her! It is fair to say, we always had guests over and I learnt to be an efficient and passionate cook and host like my mother…and like her, I have gone on to teach others.
My family hail from India, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, so this has influenced the flavours and spices used in my cooking. This adds a different dimension, which means you will be able to make some dishes that you might not find in commercial Indian restaurants.
Did you know, the word Curry is used only to refer to a dish with a sauce, and you will not find a Vindaloo here – because it’s Portuguese in origin but popular in Goa! And Naan breads are actually of Persian (Iranian) descent?
I have a counselling and teaching background and I also help young people in care with their learning so you can rest assured you are in safe and capable hands. Whether you are a novice or an advanced cook, I will facilitate you to produce some delicious cuisine,so you too feel great about what you create.You can bring delight to those who get to eat what you cook. “Food is as much about the moment…and the company as it is about the taste”, Heston Blumenthal once said.
Like many others trying to balance a career with cooking good food, I have adapted my cooking style for speed and I sometimes use a pressure cooker for example. To be healthier, I have modified recipes to produce more nutritionally balanced dishes where necessary, but always endeavouring to remain authentic in taste.
My Spicy Chef is about you being on a culinary journey with me in an intimate and supportive environment, where you will learn new things along the way , and find a meaningful place to stop and experience something tantalising for the taste buds!
