‘Sita’s Kitchen’ by Raghav Khanna

A chef’s journey from her humble hometown to the bustling London landscape

Published 19.11.21, 08:39 AM

If you’re a sucker for the mountains and only need an excuse to keep returning to them for vacations, you are sure to have spotted (if not frequented), at least one of those quaint little cafes tucked away by the hillside. Raghav Khanna’s novel takes off from one such cafe.

Arun, a restaurant owner based out of London, is on a business trip with his assistant when he stops at a small cafe in Himachal Pradesh, which catches his eye owing to its European charm. Having sampled some of the offerings from the cafe’s Italian menu, Arun is impressed by the authenticity of the food and seeks to know more about the cafe’s chef. Upon hearing that the chef, Sita, has had no formal training in the culinary arts, Arun offers her a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to relocate to London and take up a job as a chef in his restaurant, Bellissimo. In London, Sita struggles to navigate the web of racism, sexism and workplace politics, even as an unexpected occurrence turns her world upside down.

Raghav Khanna, who has previously worked on popular projects like Raja, Rasoi aur Anya Kahaniyaan and Masters of Taste with Gary Mehigan clearly displays a flair for storytelling. His debut novel by Rupa Publications is vivid and engaging. Don’t forget to keep some snacks within reach, because the mouth-watering descriptions of food are sure to make you feel hungry!

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