When you step into home chef Nasreen Navani's Cuffe Parade home, the loves of her life are for all to see. A caring family, seven dogs and a range of cookbooks that would put libraries to shame. But, what's precious, yet hidden are the secret ingredients; hand-churned masalas with their heady aromas intact in glass jars. Stored in a cool place in the kitchen, they are brought out when there's a food order.

Five months ago, the 60-year-old turned her passion into profession with Masalaeqsue, a Colaba-based delivery kitchen that promises "ma ke haath ka khana". For this, she teamed up with her lawyer son Rushail to offer butter chicken, parda biryani, kohinoor kebabs, aloo tuk, rose firni and more. The move was a natural progression, given Navani's penchant for rustling up desi fare.