About - The Spice Spoon

WELCOME TO spice spoon

Where Traditional Ethnic Cuisine is Modern + Accessible!

I share delicious family recipes that nod to tradition by mixing the rich, deep flavors of the past with modern flair. Discover deceptively simple meals that you can create + get on the table quickly.

I was born in Lahore, Pakistan and have Afghan + Persian lineage. My father was an international banker/diplomat, + I lived in seven different countries including Pakistan, the US, Nigeria, Kenya, Bangladesh, the UK, & Italy before moving to Canada, where my journey began with Spice Spoon, rooted in the cooking traditions of the women in my family.

Food allows us to tell stories related to traditions, cultures + people.

To me, food is so much more than that dish on the table – it is about the customs associated with it and the family ties that go with it. I strongly believe that food brings people together, it allows us to tell stories about a person or place that has been misunderstood.

My Journey

I was educated at the University of Cambridge with a degree in Economics. After working for almost 6½ years at the Food + Agriculture Organization in Rome, Italy, I moved to Canada for love + marriage (true story!).
Being in a new country far away from my family, I sought comfort in making dishes that reminded me of my mother + grandmothers.
The Spice Spoon was born to document the recipes of my Pakistani, Afghan and Persian heritage.

As a multi-hyphenated Canadian, I call Toronto, Canada home – I live with my husband and 11-year-old son near a fake castle called Casa Loma.
Spice Spoon recipes are like me, a little traditional, but with a modern flair. Ami, my mom, is the inspiration behind these recipes. She doesn’t love that I adapt some of her authentic ethnic recipes, but I think she’ll forgive me, because in 2024 so many of us cook without borders: mixing classic cooking with modern, easy, efficient methods!