Bombay Times / Apr 2002
“I cook from the heart”

Pinky Lilani, master cook, believes soul is the main ingredient of food.

A dash of glamour along with a large spoonful of character is UK based cook, author and founder of the renowned Asian Women of Achievement (AWA) Awards founder Pinky Lilani’s recipe for success. Recently, Pinky was in the city to release her book Spice Magic.

Her story is typical of the many success stories of Indian immigrants to the UK. Pinky is a successful businesswoman who runs her own business in the two areas she feels passionately about food and people. Her clients include some of the major food comapnies in Europe Sainsburys, Safeway and Tesco for whom she works as an Indian food development consultant. She also runs popular Spice Magic seminars on Indian cooking for private and corporate clients and has presented a series on Indian food for cable television.

Says Pinky, “It is very difficult to bring out a book in the UK, unless you are a television celebrity. So I decided to do things my way. I took my multi-purpose cooker everywhere, including Selfridges and made masalawala aloo there. The aroma of the spices would attract people, they would come, see the demo and then buy the book.”

But that apart, her brainchild has been the awards, which have Cherie Blair, Jemima Khan and Lady Aga Khan as patrons. “The stereotype of the Asian woman in the UK was that of one who walks two steps behind her husband. I wanted to break that notion and decided to set up the award in 1999 to recognise the efforts of Asian women,” says Pinky. “I was determined to do it and didn’t think twice.”

About high profile people such as Blair and Jemima associated with the award, Pinky says, “It is politically very correct and good for them to be seen with this award.” Asked about her cooking, Pinky remarks, “I cook from the heart. Actually, I do everything from the heart!”