Bring to a simmer

The perspective of children has been something I've really envied for a long time. Children have a very enlightening view of things.

I started to learn cooking just in order to cope.

Food became a way to feed my creative hunger.

What was beautiful was the conversations and friendships that came from [our dinner series]. The community aspect was something we hadn't thought about before.

I was missing my own spirit of celebration and fun back in India. [The dinner series] was a way of starting it again with a new set of friends and people.

We have this saying in India: 'Annadata Sukhibhava...' which means you have deep respect and gratitude for the person who feeds you.

Food started become a way of relating and respecting — it became about understanding what others did.

Have the willingness to wander, begin again, and let ideas simmer — then, come back to look at it again.

Research is great. It helps build skills and expertise, but it can also be a black hole that gives you boundaries that you didn't expect at all.

Serendipity can actually bring really unexpected results.