Cooking teacher and executive chef of Devi, NY

A student of life and people, I travel the world teaching and learning with insatiable hunger. Executive chef of Devi (New York) and Veda (New Delhi) restaurants, author of Indian Home Cooking (Clarkson Potter, 2004) and the forthcoming, American Masala (Clarkson Potter, 2007). I love cooking,entertaining, traveling, reading, music, and animals.

Member Since

Apr 7, 2006

Sites

• Indian Home Cooking

What is the next…

Purchase you’ll make?

A Vitamix mixer

Trend in design?

Simplicity, comfort: back to basics. We’ve had enough drama.

Car you’d like to own?

I personally have never driven and don’t have a driver’s license! But my partner and I are planning on buying either an Audi or BMW wagon for our country house. We can put the dog in the back!

Big step you’d like to make?

To open a culinary institute that brings people back to the table without regard to religion, race, or culture.

Fad that will fade?

George W. Bush

Vacation you’ll take?

A journey through Pakistan

Thing you’re going to fight for?

Choice

Secret that’s going to leak?

Deep frying with healthy oils is better for you body than people think.

Hollywood blockbuster going to be about?

Lies in the George W. Bush White House

Life you’ll lead?

As Hindu, I will definitely do that...! I would love to be a bird.

Fountain of youth?

Freedom

Book you’ll read?

Culture and Imperialism by Edward Said or possibly The Interpreter of Maladies by Jumpha Lahiri

Thing that will change the world?

The return of true democracy in the U.S.

Guilty-pleasure food in which you’ll indulge?

Veal brain bruschetta and seared foie gras

Person to whom you’ll say, “I love you”?

Noam Chomsky...or Gloria Steinem... Somebody who stirs the pot!