About
I love cooking and am passionate about teaching people about the basics of Indian cooking, spices , the fun and joy of experimenting with spices and different cooking techniques! I have been teaching my friends and colleagues since 2018. We even create 'food songs' and sing and dance while cooking! We then all sit down and enjoy the meal together. It is very rewarding to see people learn to cook and see for themselves that Indian cooking is not intimidating:).
I love cooking and sharing the experience with people that want to learn about Indian spices and cooking. It is very rewarding to see the joy on my students' faces after they have cooked a dish on their own, taste it and say : I made that!
Highlights
Reviews
Neil H.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
1. I first like to meet/ talk to the student to understand what their need is - What are they looking to learn.
2. I try to understand what their cooking experience is, what some of their inhibitions may be, some of their likes and dislikes regarding food, what spice level they can handle, etc.
3. What kind of kitchen or space or cooking utensils do they have and will it be sufficient to accommodate the cooking lesson.
4. Does the student have any allergies or nutritional needs?
I try to keep my recipes as healthy and nutritious as possible. I also focus on food safety and hygiene.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have been cooking for over 25 years now.
I started giving cooking class lessons in a small way to my friends and colleagues about five years ago. Gave cooking lessons in our community's cooking center in 2015. I have been an MC at several Indian functions and bring that same entertainment value to my cooking classes! I make it fun while efucsting at the sane time. People have provided feedback that they absolutely love / enjoy my classes and have learned a lot from it.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Yes, it ranges from $35- $50 per person depending on what needs to be cooked / taught.
In some cases I bring the spices , the main cooking ingredients and some of the cooking utensils in which case the cost is higher.
How did you get started teaching?
Some of my American friends and colleagues absolutely loved my cooking and encouraged me to start teaching them how to cook, so that they could cook in the convenience of their own homes and not have to go to restaurants all the time. This is how I started giving cooking lessons either in my house or at their houses and that is how it took off. Having had experience as an MC and radio show host I brought entertainment value to my cooking classes! I am very comfortable with public speaking, coaching people and interacting with people( as I was a Manager at work).
What types of students have you worked with?
My students have Mostly been adults, some of them are my friends and colleagues and the rest of them are the friends of my friends.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
sometime back for Valentine's Day, I held a cooking class for my colleague and his wife and six other couples. It was great fun! The house was decorated with the Valentine's Day theme, and we all got together and as I coached, we all cooked up a four course meal and then all sat down and enjoyed the wonderful meal together. We even made up a food song and danced in Bollywood style after the cooking was done!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I will expect the student to actually get their hands dirty and get involved in the cutting and chopping and cooking process, and that is the best way to learn how to cook, rather than just watch the teacher.
I will also expect my student to follow food safety and hygiene.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Some of the questions that the student good thing through are as follows:
1.Should I have had prior experience with cooking?
2. Is it OK that I haven't handled a knife before?
3. How advanced is the class?
4. What exactly Do they want to learn and what do they expect out of the cooking class?
5. How much time and effort are they willing to put into learning to cook?