The Chef & The Innovator

My parents raised me and my siblings in rural India. Our modest home was filled with laughter and the delicious aromas from my mom’s handcrafted meals and snacks. My dad was a well-recognized medical doctor who founded and built the only local hospital. 

They were a dynamic duo. I always credit them for teaching me hard work, dedication, and willingness to help others. 

Let’s rewind for a minute.

My dad, Dr. Anant Bhadri, worked tirelessly to provide medical services to underprivileged communities in rural India for over 40 years. He built the only hospital where the patients came from near and far, sometimes walking for miles at a time. He was a local hero. He was my hero.

My dad was busy working with patients. And my mom, Sudha Bhadri, was my family’s backbone and support system. She took care of all of us, no matter what. The hobby that made her heart tick was cooking. When she was not helping us with homework, she spent every waking moment in the kitchen. I’m so glad that I inherited the same from her. I garnered my mom’s love of cooking, and it’s been my life’s dream to inspire others to fall in love with creating amazing food. 

The kitchen at our home consisted of a small cooktop connected to a gas cylinder, a small box oven that sat on top of the cooktop, just a few pots and pans, and simple, modest local ingredients. It wasn’t much, but my mom knew how to use it. She could transform a handful of ingredients into something delectable, a palate-pleasing dish. Everything she made was mouth-watering, and people enjoyed her food. Anyone visiting our home never left hungry.

Combining clean ingredients, inviting flavors, and nutrition to strike a euphonic balance - A wholesome ideology inspired by my mom. 

When I reminisce, it often makes me laugh. My mom had tremendous cooking abilities, whereas my dad, not so much. But even though his cooking skills weren’t up to par, he came up with clever ideas to make my mom’s life easier. A few of those I still remember. He buried ginger root underground to keep it fresh. It was his sweet gestures that I miss so much. Like hanging small notepads that he made out of scrap paper with a pencil on a kitchen cabinet door - handy for my mom to make quick notes on. It was the little things.

They were not perfect people. But they were perfect for one another. I find my parent’s love story inspiring. Life is what we make it. They made it admirable and memorable.

I feel I have found a way to honor my parents, cherish their memories, and share my food story with you. I want to turn my lifelong passion for cooking and my love for food photography into something wonderful.

I welcome you to Hello Cinnamon.

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