Cooking is an art. To perfect this art, one needs plenty ofpractice, patience and innovative ideas, along with the knowledge of cookery.Nilima Majumdar has it all. “Whatever I have liked and tried, be it in Bengal,Bihar, Delhi, Karnataka and now in Goa,I have brought forward to share withyou,” says Nilima who is happy to share with her readers her prized 175 exoticrecipes in her newly published book “ My Best Recipes.
Marriage was thebeginning of Nilima’s foray into the realm of cookery. Speaking about her trystwith food she shares, “Incidentally, I did not have much interest in cookingprior to my marriage. However, my husband Amit turned out to be a foodie and Ihad to try my hand at various dishes in his absence to surprise him every otherday. In the bargain, I learnt many innovative dishes.” Her experiments won herprizes in cookery competitions organised by Eve’s Weekly, Savvy and Femina. Sheremembers cooking meat curry with black mushroom and corn flour, mushroom munch“ a starter with mushroom and prawn, an exotic coconut preparation and somemocktail drinks also with whey.
A born Bengali, Nilima is a compulsive non-vegetarian butshe believes in the value of food and the curative effects that vegetarian foodhas on one’s health. Indeed it is true when they say that ‘we are what we eat’.The right kind of healthy food is the key to good health.
Food has always beenlinked to the environment. We eat what is locally available. Invasions havebrought in foreign culture and diverse cuisines that have interspersed withlocal delicacies. The recent fast food culture in India is being highlyappreciated by young and old. “But this may not be a very good trend. Obesityis the main issue with this culture, besides many other health disorders,”Nilima cautions.
Commenting on theIndian diet Nilima says, “It is very scientific and health oriented. It takescare of all the nutrients that the body and mind needs. Our Rishis were greatscientists. They had scientifically calculated all the pros and cons of ourbody requirements and at the same time they have realised that the body is likea machine, its maintenance in the form of rest is required to maintain the goodhealth of the body.” On a parting note Nilima advises, “Enjoy good food to enlivenyour soul, but don’t ignore your health.”
