Sadaf Hussain is an author, chef, food writer, podcaster and two-time TedX speaker, who was among the top 8 on MasterChef India in 2016. He has worked with over 18 Indian restaurants, assisting them in developing new menus or establishing themselves in the market. He was also a researcher and contributor to the University of Sheffield-commissioned project, Forgotten Food of Rampur. Sadaf's writing explores not only food but also stories; he is fascinated by foodlore and the stories that surround it. He is a chronicler exploring the customs, traditions and rituals of food; for him, food is just a conversation starter and not the end in itself.
Why a book on Indian spice blends, you ask?
Well, a garam masala may contain anywhere from four to fifteen different spices; a pickle masala may have a different recipe in Andhra Pradesh than it does in Delhi; a chai masala may have a different recipe in the winter than it does in the summer.
This book sets out on a quest to unravel how a single dish can be prepared with multiple spice blends, all created from the same whole spices, yet resulting in distinct flavours. It offers a comprehensive exploration of the history, mythology and cultural significance behind 500 unique spice mixes from India. It's a spice trail like no other.
