My Paati (grandmother), Janaki Swaminathan, was born to a
Tamil family in the Shahabad district of Karnataka in 1939. She learned how to cook from her mother and grandmother at the tender age of 8. Her nieces and nephews never missed a chance to have a meal cooked by her. I began writing her recipes as a gift to her, so she would know how special they are and the impact they’ve had on our lives. I want her legacy to live on in many kitchens through this book. She’s always had a way of making people feel loved. This is to tell her that although she couldn’t be a doctor or an engineer like her brothers, she is a chef and the best one we know.