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The open kitchen in Denise D'Silva Sankhe's Prabhadevi apartment is squeaky clean, shows off a black backsplash and carries a sign that says, two choices for dinner: take it or leave it.
We know that's not the dilemma her guests face and her blog (Beyond Curry) on website seriouseats.com, is proof.
<img title="D'Silva Sankhe" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2016/apr/D'Silva-Sankhe.jpg" alt="D'Silva Sankhe" /> Pic/Shadab Khan
The door bell rings and in flies four-year-old cocker spaniel, Meiko. Petting and a ball are sufficient to calm him down.
From inside a room we hear gentle gurgling. It's four-month-old Emery.
<img title="French beans foogath. Pic courtesy/ Alan Richardson" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2016/apr/French-beans-foogath.jpg" alt="French beans foogath. Pic courtesy/ Alan Richardson" /> French beans foogath. Pic courtesy/ Alan Richardson
Sankhe quit a 12-year career in advertising to pursue travel and food writing, both of which come together in her debut title, Beyond Curry Indian Cookbook: A Culinary Journey Through India, which she wrote when she was carrying Emery.
&ldquo;Writing is my first love, then food. The blog and the book were an attempt to go past tandoori chicken and paneer makhanwala, and introduce readers to regional home cooking. I have included koat pitha, which are fritters made of rice flour and banana; Assamese tangy fish curry and millet pilaf,&rdquo; says Sankhe. The trips that led her to discover these dishes are usually taken with husband, Prasanna.
&ldquo;We stop anywhere, chat up villagers, and request them to let us try their food,&rdquo; says Sankhe. &ldquo;I'm not fluent in Marathi and my Hindi is awful, so I get my husband to translate. If you like something locals cook, they are pretty generous with sharing the method of preparation,&rdquo; says Sankhe. The videos she shot along the way, she hopes will make it to her YouTube channel. &ldquo;One is about the quaint fishing village of Harnai in the Konkan and it explores how the catch comes in. The Koli women, dressed in bright saris, are a beautiful contrast to the black sand of the shore.&rdquo;
But when she travels overseas, Sankhe steers clear from Indian food. &ldquo;While some are into cars and luxury, my husband and I spend our money on fancy, Michelin-star restaurants. At Mugaritz, I was served horse meat! I was reminded of Black Beauty, I returned it untouched,&rdquo; she says.
Sankhe credits her Anglo Indian and Manglorean roots, and her mother's cooking for her culinary interest. &ldquo;My mother would make a dish that I had christened the jungle pulao. It's an Anglo Indian dish that uses curries leftover from the previous night in a flavourful biryani with meat. She'd add her own spice mix to it,&rdquo; Sankhe recalls.
Her book, published by Berkley-based Rockridge Press, is divided into five sections, and explores the North, South, East, West and North East of India. Beside every recipe, Sankhe has a guide that cautions readers if the dish if gluten-, egg-, peanut-, soy- or allium-free. &ldquo;With the wave of vegan and vegetarianism, Indian food offers you all these choices,&rdquo; she says, adding that regional food is India's culinary heritage.

The open kitchen in Denise D'Silva Sankhe's Prabhadevi apartment is squeaky clean, shows off a black backsplash and carries a sign that says, two choices for dinner: take it or leave it...

Denise D'Silva Sankhe's cookbook tracks her road trips across India

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Home / Mumbai-guide / Mumbai Food / Article / Denise D'Silva Sankhe's cookbook tracks her road trips across India

Denise D'Silva Sankhe's cookbook tracks her road trips across India

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