Hi! My name is Shaheen and I love to bake, eat, read cookbooks, pick fruits at the farm, tinker with new recipes, teach people how to bake, cook at my weekly pop-up, and of course – talk about food. A lot.
I’m from Bombay, India, and currently living in Paris with the love of my life.
In September 2007, I created this blog to chronicle my escapades in the kitchen. Little did I know back then that this blog would go on to change my life.
I have worked in a commercial pastry kitchen. I ran my own catering business for a brief period that got hugely popular in a short period (Bombay people, you rock!). And I was on the panel of food writers that were sponsored by the Italian Government and European Union for a week long food and wine program across Italy. Over the years, my tiny space on the internet has been recognised both locally and internationally.
Ever since I was 18 and learned of Le Cordon Bleu, I dreamed of studying there. “That’s not a job!” everyone said. So I finished college, and took on a regular marketing job, just like the other kids at school. Fast forward to 2011, I was awarded not one, but two prestigious scholarships from The Culinary Trust and The James Beard Foundation that turned my teenage dream into reality. So now, I’m going to be studying both Pastry and Cuisine in London and Paris, respectively. Both these scholarships are awarded to just one candidate each year.
As a part of my 5 year goal for my scholarship essays, I wrote that I see myself as an editor of the country’s top food magazine. A few weeks later, I get an email from BBC Good Food India to be the food editor. Unreal. I couldn’t take it up because of my move to Paris (bittersweet), but I did work on launching the magazine in India and created two big features – one on ten stunning desserts and the other on no-fuss Mediterranean. Look!
The technical genius and occasional co-author behind this blog is my husband, Arjun, also sometimes referred to as orangefoodie on the blog. He doesn’t cook much, but loves to eat like nobody else I know. Back in college he made me a luscious Creamy Oreo Pie. Now, that’s a sign of keeper.
Things I love: cotton candy, to-do lists and post-its, smell of old books, receiving picture post cards, Alphonso mangoes, thin crust pizzas, strawberries with yoghurt, doodling, plunging my hands through a sack of grains, Clinique Happy, fabric covered notebooks, apple pies, letterpress, chrysanthemum tea, happy people, cookbooks, butter garlic clams at Trishna, decoupage, mint tea, Nutella, water colours, elderflower presse, chestnuts, and Speculoos spread.
This blog is my life. And you guys are a huge part of it. Thank you for reading, commenting and emailing me everyday. Every one of you. Writing this blog is one of the most fulfilling, most fun things I do and I’m so excited to be interacting with readers from all over the world with whom I share recipes, stories and care packages.
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Hi Shaheen,
I guess i have commented only once before when i made your herbed mushrooms 
I have been thinking of thanking you for so long. You could say that I am one of the shy ones who read but don’t comment
I was led to your blog when I got seriously interested in baking about 6 -7 months back and searched for “baking in bombay”. Your blog is a blessing for those who are in Bombay. I start baking, learning from your recipes, I remember apple streusel cupcake was my first attempt.And since then I have made many more. Now that I started my own blog, I couldn’t have waited any longer without thanking you, the one person who gave me a new passion.
Hi Sushmita, Thank you for your kind words. And thank you for coming back to read the blog.
Hi Shaheen,
Your blog is absolutely delightful! A great mix of food, photography, design, travel… some of ´my favourite things´too!! Would love to connect with you, cause I think your world and my world seem to have a lot in common!!
Rutu
Thanks, Rutu!
Odd question but what oven do you use?
Moving form Melbourne, Australia, to Bombay and have never seen a house that has a real oven. Its my only disappointment about living in India as I love baking but just can’t! Those little pug in ones are no bigger the a shoe box.
Help please and let me know where I can find a conventional oven.
Hi V – yes using toaster ovens is a total bummer after being used to the large ovens. But once you get used to it, it isn’t so bad. If you really want the large one, you can order it from Siemens (Santacruz West) – it will be 3 months before it’s in your kitchen though.
What a fabulous blog; love your beautiful pictures and you’re a true inspiration to so many women for leaving their corporate jobs to pursue their passions. Thank you; keep up the great work!
Best,
Amie
Thanks, Amie!
Hi Shaheen!!
Awesome blog!!!… It’s my new favourite!.. Thanks for all the funky but useful stuff you upload
….
Regards
K
I love the painting so much. Would be gorgeous in my kitchen!!
omg….your work is awesome.A friend of mine guided me to your blog and I cant thank him enough.I love baking and your blog has helped me a lot.Thanks a lot and keep up the good work!!!
Hi Shaheen,
Have been reading and cooking from your recipes for a while. The last thing I made was Choco chip cookie and planning to bake Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips and Crystallised Ginger to take it over to my sister’s tomorrow.
I had two pots of basil which unfortunately were not taken care of by my maid whilst I was out of the country. Will it be possible for you to send me seeds so I can start afresh.
Thanks.
By the where can I find Sumac
hi shaheen,kia hallay.stumbling here is wonderful .you are so talented,i’ve bookmarked yr blog.
Thank you so much, Mak Teh. Very sweet of you.
Hi Shaheen, I’ve stumble onto your blog while looking for cheddar cheese biscuit recipe and yours look really delicious (going to try it soon). I’m really impress with your food styling. Do you have your own setup, studio? (I’m not sure of the right term)
Thanks so much, Shizuru.
Yep, I do have my own setup for the photography.
I am absolutely delighted to have found your blog!!! Anyone can bake in India..that is what I can say after checking your blog…cause I live in UK and bake as well. All I get to hear from my friends and relatives is …you are in UK hence the possibility…I can prove them wrong by forwarding your blog link:)))
Cud u give me names of some cookbooks which inspire u??
Shaheen!!! The beautiful, young & absolutely talented girl….I feel honoured knowing you personally & working with you. Just wanted to personally drop in a “HI” & let you know that I miss your cookies you used to bring at work!
I’m so glad & happy for you…keep up the good work & I hope to catch up with you sometime & try your new creations!!
Hope you haven’t forgotten me…
Hi Shaheen,
Lovely blog!!
Y’day I baked two things from your blog – Pesto rolls and Baked brownies. My 6 Yr finicky eater gobbled the pesto rolls without even asking. That’s an achievement by itself.
Thanks again for sharing your lovely mouth-watering recipes.
Cheers!
Madhavi.
Hey, I am no good in cooking but i loved the photographs you have – being a photographer i appreciate the finesse. Its great to know you could step out of your box (cubicle) and do what you love doing. Heres wishing you all the best.
cheers from fellow bombay – ite (mumbaiker is easier isnt it)
Hi Shaheen
I happened to come across this website and belive me am hooked on to it
simple, crisp and to the point !
Keep the good work
Happy Baking
Hello Shaheen
Came across your blog by accident and just love it. I also happened to see your comment on one of the travel blogs regarding ‘Wife Biscuit’ and ‘Husband biscuit’. A little surprised that the blog owner who is a travel writer just shirked it off without trying to wonder ‘why’?
Here;s a gist to it-
A long time ago in feudal China, there was a couple that lived a very poor life. They loved each other and lived in a small village.
Suddenly, a mysterious disease spread. The husband’s father became very sick. The couple spent all of their money in order to treat the man’s father, but he was still sick. The wife sold herself as a slave in exchange for money to buy medicine for her father-in-law.
Once the husband learned about what his wife did, he made a cake filled with winter melon and with a crispy crust. His cake became so popular that he was able to earn enough money to buy his wife back.
There is another version where the man was eating at someone’s house and recognized his wife’s pastry and was reunited.
Link:
http://www.blueapocalypse.com/2010/06/husband-and-wife-biscuits.html
I am sure a few google searches will get you a recipe to try it out. Let me know how it goes.
Hi Shaheen,
Like a lot of people I stumbled upon your blog recently and I had to share with you that I myself try different recipes in the kitchen. I too have tried the marscaporne cheese and similar to your experience had to make more than one attempt to get it right with the right cream.
I was curious if you were aware, where in India would I be able to buy a pasta maker ? I know lot of restaurants make them, I too have tried my hand at it, but would love the indulgence of having a machine so that I can finally make my own angel hair pasta.
Would love to hear from you in case you are aware of the source. I live in Maharashtra so if it is available in Bombay it would not be a big problem for me to source it.
Undoubtedly the best baking blog for Indians! Thanks for sharing all the info. Love your photographs too
And oh, the Crawford market map and everything? Super amazing!
Hey.
Hopped here from indiblogger.
Just wanted to say that you have super sexy blog.
Hi, Shaheen!
What an informative and lovely blog you write!
Came across it when I was looking for something on how to grow lemongrass.
Keep up the great work.
Prajna
Just stumbled unto your blog & love it!!! Great pictures, writing, and discoveries! I’ll be following it from now on
have just started a small venture called “buttercup” in Baroda. Your blog for where to get what in Bombay is great. Thank you.
Hi Shaheen! I googled a recipe for apple pie crust, and picked your site – and what a lovely surprise I got! I’m excited to think you do all this wonderful stuff in Bombay.
I am an Australian living in Mae Sot, Thailand (just inside the border with Burma) and I have huge trouble buying anything recognisable here at all! You inspire me to keep trying!
I baked a cake in a casserole dish last night (no cake tins here!) but it was a sad flop! He he. We do relief and development work here with Burmese refugees, who flood to this town to escape the Burmese army in Burma. Trying to meet the challenge of baking and cooking Western-style here is a distraction from the sad and challenging situations we deal with every day.
Thank you again! Now to find a pie-dish, and have a go at an apple pie!
Fran
Hi Shaheen,
Hope ure well..I’m planning to change my oven
( I’m currently using a morphy Richards oven).. I find this oven very small in size.. What oven would u suggest I buy?I prefer a stand alone oven..
Looking forward to hearing back from u soon..:-).. Cheers!!
Hi Shahneen,
I am planning on buying an oven, one of the Faber ones. Any suggestions??? I take orders for cakes.
Hi shaheen,
Loooooove the blog. Can’t get the Paris post out of my head. Could u direct me to the agency which made all ur travel arrangements. Ever since the post have been itching to go
Sangita
Hi Shaheen,
Love ur zeal for food!
I read your post on herbs and it has inspired me to start a small herb garden in my balcony. Can u tell me where can I find basil seeds in Mumbai? and saplings for thyme & rosemary?
I looked for them in a few nurseries around parle & juhu but wasn’t available..
Great job!!
@Shachi
Basil is commonly known as Tulsi and one of the most common plants…even the road side sellers stock it. You may look up this site for tips on growing a small herb garden
http://www.urbanleavesinindia.com/
http://geekgardener.in/
There are a couple of suppliers near Byculla zoo who specialize in seeds and plant supplies..a must visit for a serious plant lover.
@Shaheen….hope u don’t mind me pitching in …I love/container gardening & while have limitations due inadequate sunlight (do love it as a hobby )
hey!!!
(again)
have posted before as well but i dont know whether u read it or not !!!!
i am so amazed !!!!
i never thought that one can find so many baking dishes at one blog from india !!!
i love baking ….
n all the recipes i come across are mostly by foreign chefs or other inhabitants!!!but never had the chance to find such an amazing blog by an indian!!!
so much so that i want to visit mumbai to get those blueberries,raspberries,madeliene moulds etc etc etc!!!!
because all these materials are not available here in delhi !!!
if anyone knows where i can find these in dlehi please let me know ASAP!!!:)
P.S. i need ur help!!!i need that perfect whipping cream which amul cream doesnt provide!!!
plz help!!!!
Hey mahak,
I know how u feel but khana market and gurgaon r good places to start. I have a considerable collection of baking stuff now painstakingly collected over the years. U can try natures basket in def col and modern bazar in select city walk(modern bazar has moulds and all) plus there’s a Delhi baker ms.deeba rajpal(passionate about baking) who does so much with locally available stuff. Write to me if u want more info and yeah modern bazar sells whipping cream so u can make perfect whipped cream. Write to me at sangitakaspate@yahoo.in may be we can go exploring together
ohk !!!! i hav ordered baking from my home to yours from flipkart!!!
eagerly waiting for it to arrive !!!
and please bare with me !!!m bake-a-holic( if dat word exists :p)…
and hardly come across any good person with a great blog !!!
so i’ll be bothering u again n again!!!
n soon i’ll go n try modern bazaar!!!!
n ms deeba rajpal !!!does she take any classes or anything like that!!!
though i prefer my own hit and trial recipes!!!
sangita do u stay in delhi only ???
Hey mahak, yup I am from Delhi. Nope ms.rajpal does not take classes but her blog is awesome too. Search for it on Google. I love baking too and recently ordered the cake bible from flipkart. Happy baking!!
Hi Shaheen,
Amul Cream isn’t available anywhere! Do you know where I can get my hands on some cream in this city(Bombay). The Whipping cream available is expensive and not what I want. Do you know of any other store/brand where I could get my hands on some cream?
I don’t know where you will get cream but you can make cream from butter and milk with a cream maker, mine is a very very old Kenwood one. I’m sure they must still be around……
What i love most about you is that, you were able to put all those things that many of us love doing and i must say you have written, photographed and put it down so beautifully.
Would love to get in touch with you.
When is your next class going to take place?
Thanks.
Hi Shaheen
Just went through your blog and liked it, although I can cook well never really tried my hands on baking . Its partly due to my busy schedule and partly due to lack of proper guidance and equipment . Could you please suggest some books I can refer to exclusively for baking ? Once again, enjoyed reading your blog and keep up the good work.
It’s very good blog…..
I love your blog
Hey!
Its interesting to read your blog! Came across it somehow on Google and since them I make it a point to check in as and when I have free time. I am a corporate lawyer in Bombay (well, I concede, ‘ wouldn’t call it by any other name’) and have a tight work schedule, but let me admit, reading about food is my leisure! It has been on my mind in ages to have a blog on food, something like yours! Its just a reflection of my own thoughts I feel! Food is passion, and of course our city has so much to offer, its pretty interesting. May be I am out of my closet soon in the near future, having my food sojourns, which have been on the backseat for the moment..
Had I not been a lawyer, I would have been a chef, or hold on! i guess I should be both!!!!
Cheers!
Hi there!
I have just recently began cooking and baking outside the box, and while google-ing away tonight I stumbled upon your blog! I absolutely love your recipes, they look delicious! I’ll definitely be trying out a few, especially the Nutella pop-tarts! (Great idea, love anything covered in Nutella!)
Keep up the great recipes,
- K
Hi Shaheen!
Do you still take orders ? I haven’t seen your menu card in the blog. Do let me know.
Regards
Shilpa
Hey Shipa! Good to hear from you. Sorry, I don’t take orders any more. Best, Shaheen.
Hi!! shaheen,
hey! could u pls tell me wen ur holdin ur next class… would love to learn from u… thanks…
geetanjali
Hi Shaheen,
I missed your class at Bombay Hub. Please let me know when you host next one. Quick question: where do you get unsalted butter in Mumbai. I tried star bazzar, Dmart and other local shops. Could not find it. Is it called by some other name?
Thank you!
Sarika
President and Lurpak are available at large supermarkets.
I absolutely loved your blog.
I can so relate to the “moving more towards baking and away from cooking” concept! Keep up the good work. Would love to try out your recipes
Hey!! I just bought an oven and was looking for some easy bake recipes… tried out your chocolate cinnamon babka and OMG!!! I can’t even begin to tell you the pleasure of the first warm bite!
Thankyou for simplifying the recipe….. I am no kitchen goddess… so if I can make something, anyone can…
Loved your blog and best of all… you’re in Mumbai! Which means that you understand the problems of acquiring certain ingredients that you may tak efor granted outside India!
Yay! Congrats on your scholarship! And hope to see al lot more of you in my RSS feed….
Cheers!
We are spending one year in Bangalore & I love to bake. I would love to chat with you about sugar… all my US-based recipes for cookies & such are coming out too sweet due to the coarseness of the sugar. I’d welcome any tips I can get.
Hi Shaheen:
I read about you in The Times of India a while back. Your blog is awesome! I am also a foodie and writer, and would like to connect with you. I have a few questions about baking; I am also trying to do some networking. So, may I have a contact number?
Thanks.
Angshuman
Hi Shaheen – i was searching for flavoured salt recipes (which I heard are easy and inexpensive to make at home) and found your blog. If you’re interested in some salt recipe ideas, go to http://seatoskyseasonings.com/products.php“.
I bought several salts from this company (in Canada) and they’re fabulous. I’ve added your blog to my “favorites” and look forward to sharing recipes and ideas. Going to try your butternut squash recipe tonight.
Trish
Hi Shaheen,
Hope you remember me. We had an interaction while you were working at Directi.
Honestly, didnt know about your cooking skills. Have sent a request on linkedIn to connect as well. Had some work. If you could email me your number, i could call you up at a time convenient to you.
Hope to connect soon. Cheers!
I envy you. Living and studying in Paris. Even just saying it sounds so romantic.
I wish I could afford a culinary course too. XD Well, I guess I’ll just have to settle for reading online recipes by experienced cooks like you 
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