Born in Kolkata and having spent my childhood in the Middle East and India, I always loved food. But my true culinary journey started in the city of Montreal, a culturally rich town located in the heart of Canada’s French Province, Quebec. I was lucky to call this city my home for over three years during my education days at McGill University.

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A paradise for food lovers, Montreal’s bakery and bistro scene makes the city’s gastronomical experience both spectacular and delicious. But everything changed for me the day I came across a pastry shop named Kouign Amman - it was love at first sight! In an instant I was mesmerised by this French bakery – its aroma, the magical flavours being created with the purest and most basic ingredients, the open kitchen setup displaying the attention to detail the bakers put into each step of the process and lastly but not the least, the welcoming atmosphere of the place and its staff.

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Since that day, there was no looking back. I found my love for baking and cooking. I continued my culinary exploration in New York and further travels around the world. I find it incredibly exciting to create new recipes and am always on the lookout for great tasting food (particularly desserts) along with the whole experience that comes with it, including the research, learning, eating and presentation. I feel that through food (and especially desserts), you can foster new relationships, nurture present ones while making new memories and reminiscing old ones.  

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I bond with my loved ones through food; I travel and meet new people through food. During my travels around the world, I would always research and explore the popular local food & dessert scene. If there was anything that stuck with me,  I would get back home and try to replicate it. Through the years I built my small recipe box with the hope that I will start my own bakery one day.

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So when my husband and I decided to move back to Kolkata after spending over 15 years in North America, I decided to take the plunge. I thought what better way is there to share these flavours with my hometown than opening a bakery and spreading the love! That was the birth of A Dessert Affair...