My name is Divya, and welcome to your Chai time read on the internet. What began as a way to document the pandemic cooking frenzy has now become a space where I quietly anchor my voice. Now, Pakoda Stories is where I let you meander along through my food stories.
My journey with food began in 4th std. It must have been the millionth time asking my mother to let me cook when she finally caved. I pulled myself onto her countertop, despite her insistence that the eggplant biryani she was planning to make was complex. Watching the spices bloom and getting the perfect seared roast on the eggplants set the wheels in motion. That eggplant biryani became the Pillaiyaar Suzhi to my cooking journey.
When most children in my school brought the usual suspects of South Indian cuisine, my mother broadened our palates with Cheesy Macs and Hakka Noodles, unheard of lunchbox items in the early 90s. Her lunchbox rebellion had me embracing and falling in love with foods from all cultures, including my own. This quietly shaped how I saw food and looked at the world.
I now live in the San Francisco Bay Area, a place so varied and full of flavors like my school lunchbox. When I moved here in 2011, my husband spent a lot of time analysing food and textures, discussions that never happened in my home. His endless exploration of food and culture – whether it was him patiently setting golu padis or ensuring the optimal fermentation of the dosa batter inspired me to dive deeper. In many ways, Pakoda Stories is as much his as it is mine.
Pakoda Stories gets its name from the popular street-side snack – Pakoda. They are imperfectly shaped but just the right size for the perfect bite. I hope my food stories are that for you – a quick chai time read. Pakoda Stories isn’t just a recipe blog. Every recipe tells a story that fell out of memory – whether it is having masala vadais in newspaper cones or hakka noodles in your 4th std lunchbox.
When I’m not writing posts, I write for brands to tell their stories. If you would like to work with me or simply have a chat, you can send me a message – writetome@pakodastories.com or on any of these platforms.
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