Spicing up the kitchen

Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 3:32 pm

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By ROBERT LINNEHAN | The Voorhees Sun
If Julia Child were still alive and was a fan of the Internet, you’d have to think local chef Rakhi Bhandari’s blog would definitely be one of her favorites. The local graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Las Vegas culinary arts college is attempting to cook 80 different dishes from around the world in 80 consecutive days.
Bhandari, aka “The Spice Girl,” spent the first 20 days of her quest traipsing through Asia and making culinary stops at Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, preparing several authentic dishes from each country for her family.
“I’m a trained chef, and I thought this would be a good idea because I want to expand my own repertoire. I wanted to go outside of my comfort zone,” she said. “My kids love to travel a lot and I’m opening their palates up to different experiences.”
Food has always been a heavy part of Bhandari’s life, beginning as a young girl in India, watching her mother and grandmother cook traditional Indian meals for her family. It was at her home where she developed her base of culinary skills, helping out both her mother and grandmother in the kitchen when they prepared the family meals.
She took her culinary skills on the road with her husband Ravneet, globe-hopping from India to all parts of the world. Before settling in Voorhees, Bhandari lived with Ravneet in Hong Kong, Paris, Chicago, and Las Vegas, picking up different recipes and cooking skills during each stop.
“My husband always promised me one day that he would send me to culinary school when we could afford it,” she said. “That’s how we came to Las Vegas.”
See this week’s print edition of The SUn for the full story.

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7 Responses to “Spicing up the kitchen”

  1. Jaya Lall Says:
    September 10th, 2009 at 6:04 pm

    Way to go Rakhi… so proud of you !! I am friend of Rakhi’s and I can second that she is a super cook have eaten a few times a her house and she is a perfect hostess to add on to her list. Kudos to Rakhi!

  2. sharon Says:
    September 10th, 2009 at 10:20 pm

    knowing Rakhi for over a year, I too can tell anyone interested that she is one fine chef… Her professional skills as well as her true passion for the trade is next to none…
    I love her adventure and though I am unable to travel these 80 days with her… I wish her and her venture safe travels with happy returns…
    Sharon

  3. Nandita Jennifer Golay Says:
    September 10th, 2009 at 11:17 pm

    Rakhi has always had a love for food, cooking and serving her yummy food to friends and family!!! Every time I visited her in Hong Kong and in New Jersey, she always had something cooking or something cooked and ready to serve!!!

  4. Arpita Says:
    September 10th, 2009 at 11:19 pm

    I love Rakhi’s blog and better still love her cooking!! Move over RR heres comes our star chef from South Jersey!!

  5. Rishi Says:
    September 11th, 2009 at 12:55 am

    Great going Rakhi Ba… I am a cousin of Rakhi’s and I love her cooking!! :)

  6. Rakhi bhandari Says:
    September 11th, 2009 at 6:49 pm

    Hello Everybody,
    Thanks so much for all your encouragement. You can come over anytime and eat with me. Keep reading and I’ll keep cooking.

  7. Garrett Says:
    September 13th, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    I attended culinary school with Rakhi and would not have survived without her. She is a marvelous chef and an even better friend. You go girl!


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