For a while, fans had been asking author and former restaurateur Dhershini Govin Winodan to publish a new cookbook.
The food entrepreneur, who cooks mainly for family and friends these days, realised there were stories to be told of the many special recipes she uses.
“They evoke so many memories,” she told tabla! “One thing led to another and voila, My Long Table became a tome.”
Ms Dhershini, who used to run Chat Masala along Upper East Coast Road, has written three cookbooks while also contributing to 11 other compilations.
Published late last year, the 336-page My Long Table: Memories & Recipes features around 130 recipes and the stories behind them.
“It is a cookbook, travelogue and diary of sorts,” said Ms Dhershini. “It also has recipes and cooking anecdotes from different places I have been to.”
“The book captures various stages of my life. Some chapters are shared with my sons Arvin and Vinesh who have also contributed their recipes.”
The book is aimed at those who love to cook and read.
“There are many recipes of local dishes and one-dish meals,” she said. “Just about anyone can find this book useful.”
The former radio presenter wrote Indian Food Today (published by Landmark Books) in 1990, Step by Step Indian (published by Marshall Cavendish) in 2003 and Flavours from an Indian Kitchen a few years later.
She has also written many articles for Her World and other magazines, and appeared on radio and TV shows, including a recent YouTube series called Woking with Sunshine on the episode “Indian Upma with a Twist”.
