Please note that this is a cooking demonstration, not a hands-on cooking class. You can expect your host Prerna to show you how to prepare 1-2 of the main dishes you will be eating. She can teach you to make a traditional Punjabi recipe using techniques passed down through generations or one of her own creations, a modern interpretation on age old recipes and cooking techniques.
Prerna and her mother will welcome you with a refreshing ginger-lime squash, one of her grandmother’s recipes. Gather at the dining table where your meal may include dishes such as chicken yakhni (chicken in a thin yoghurt-based gravy), palak paneer (spinach and fresh cheese), flatbread stuffed with blue cheese and fried onions, her grandmother’s special mutton curry, and for dessert a rum raisin rice pudding or home made kulfi (frozen dessert made with milk).
In the winter months you might enjoy your meal outside in the garden where Prerna has planted fruits, herbs and flowers.
If you join the family for dinner, Prerna’s young children (budding cooks themselves!) will join you for the meal.
This is a great experience for families traveling with children. Prerna can also prepare Chettinad, Kashimiri or Parsi cuisine, which she learned from friends while she traveling. Just let her know your preference!
This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
Meet Prerna in her traditional, ancestral home where three generations of her family live. Their stunning bungalow is beautifully decorated with artwork and antiques from all over the world. Prerna comes from a family of foodies, and meals in her home are an intimate family affair, giving you a peek into the daily life, culture and cuisine of the Punjabi community.
Prerna is an architect by profession and runs her own firm with her husband. She is passionate about cooking and likes to play with Indian spices to create dishes that have an interesting mix of flavors, with inspiration taken from western cuisine. She improvises on traditional, time-consuming cooking and preparation methods to make Indian cuisine more accessible in contemporary kitchens, giving old recipes a modern and creative twist. Prerna and her family are very well travelled and like to focus their trips around local food and culture. She enjoys recreating dishes based on the flavors, tastes and colors she has experienced on her travels.
"What a brilliant idea!! Prerna and her family were exceptional hosts. My wife and I really enjoyed Prerna sitting down with us for a good 20mins to learn about each other's customs before serving us occasional light bites as appetizers. Initially, it was only her to greet us but other family members joined us one by one. This was a lovely gesture because we didn't feel overwhelmed by loads of family members trying to talk..it was a lovely relaxed afternoon. Eventually, by the time we sat down at the dining table, we had met all family members and carried on the conversation over the extraordinarily tasty lunch."
