I changed careers from technology to food because of my love of cooking for people. After leaving my job at a Fortune 500 company in New York, my husband and I backpacked around the world for a few months. I realized I was most happy when I was able to share the food I cooked with the fellow travelers. Food led to conversations, story-telling, smiles and long-lasting friendships that I still cherish to this day.
I love that food not only nourishes us but it connects us all on a deeper level. There is no better feeling in the world than to be next to be your loved ones around a table and share a simple yet delicious meal. This is true across every culture and every home. This is the power of food! So, through my cooking, I hope to bring joy to people and help them connect and share with their families and friends!
I was born and brought up in New Delhi, India and moved to the United States in 2001 to pursue my undergraduate degrees in Math and Computer Science. I decided to pursue my passion and went to culinary school in 2012 after moving to Colorado for a more healthy and outdoorsy lifestyle.
Why The Toasted Spice?
If I had to close my eyes and look back twenty years or more into my childhood, one of the most recurring memories would be me standing in the kitchen watching my mother cook. I could barely reach the counter but I stood by her as she pulled out her round stainless steel spice box and added just the right amount of cumin and coriander seeds in a pan filled with hot oil. The oil would start crackling and the fragrance from the spices would fill the air as she continued to sauté the onions, garlic and ginger together. The simple act of toasting spices created something magical in food.
Toasting brings out the oil and deep flavors locked away in the spices. It elevates the food and transforms it. Through this blog, I hope to create and share recipes that are inspired by my heritage and travels to other countries. Recipes that are simple, flavorful, healthy, fresh and accessible to everyone.
So, come and EAT. EXPLORE. ENJOY with me!
“Food is our common ground, a universal experience” – James Beard
The Toasted Spice 