Today we’d like to introduce you to Nandita Godbole.
Nandita, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have been teaching Indian cooking on and off since 2005. From teaching to catering, I have done many things to build the business brand. Curry Cravings (TM) LLC has now grown to where I am an author, speaker, and lifestyle consultant. My cookbooks are in more than 30 countries and I have several new titles coming up over the course of the next six months, all produced in Georgia, including the printing of them.
I have not always been an author or a businesswoman & entrepreneur. I have a Masters’ in Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, another Masters’ Degree in Botany from the University of Mumbai, and loads of design experience. As unrelated as they seem on paper, these disciplines have allowed me to explore food in a different way – as a piece of ones’ cultural identity, and also, a way to connect with other people.
I love sharing my food and culture with readers through cookbooks – my newest biographical fiction is titled “Ten Thousand Tongues: secrets of a layered kitchen” where the novel traces the life of eight women and their contributions to the repertoire of a cookbook author. There is a companion cookbook of the same title that offers readers the recipes mentioned in the book.
All my books are available on Amazon, and on digital platforms. For print books – contact me directly.
In the last four years, I have written and designed each of my books, they have all been crowdfunded and pre-ordered by readers around the world, so it is not a vanity press. Readers have come to rely on my skills as a cookbook, but also as a writer and book designer.
Having done this process from the ground up, to help new authors, I started a press: ‘Turmeric Press’ to offer design and publishing solutions.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Life is not smooth, but I look at every curve as a fork – either I can choose to go overboard, or know exactly when to turn or when to stop.
Atlanta is a large metro with many ethnic pockets and many hard-working entrepreneurs and unsung stars. Being an independent author and a small press is not easy. Some days I feel like I work more than I would if I worked for someone else! I wish more people would recognize and support small businesses.
I also get to reward myself for being the best employee of my minority woman-owned, one person company when I hear that my work succeeded in making someone happy. Or when I get a note from someone about the perfect dinner they had because of a dish, they made for their beau from my book, or even how their opinion changed for the better when they learned a little more about the culture.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Although I am known for the hashtag #nocurrypowder, will call you out if you refer to a beverage as ‘chai-tea-latte’ (which is tea-tea-made-with-milk), and am often seen at public events in a saree, I am known for being a detail-oriented author with easy recipes, a prudent consultant, and a passionate speaker.
I used to host secret suppers, in Metro Atlanta as well as in Metro LA, and those were quite popular so, if you are interested, shoot me an email and I’ll put you on the list for our next series, likely starting up in March 2019.
Both businesses Curry Cravings and Turmeric Press offer a range of services to its clients. I teach private and community cooking classes, am often invited to speak about marketing, fundraising, and crowdfunding. Through Turmeric Press, I offer a-la-carte services for private design and publishing consultations for new authors. I also believe in supporting local small businesses, so all monies stay in Georgia – design services, editing services, and even printing services.
What’s new?
I am excited to lead a culinary tour and a writers retreat to India program over the summer of 2019. This will be a two week guided and hands-on experience exploring a few of the gastronomically unique regions of India. Each ends with a 3-day R&R retreat in Western India, near our family farm where you are welcome to come to visit and dine with us each night.
Locations include your choice of:
> Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, quadrangle in Northern India
> Mumbai-Pune-Goa-Kolhapur quadrangle in Western India
> Southern India (1 week).
Email me if you are interested, our tour dates will be between late June through July of 2019. Bookings must be completed by April 2019.
I look forward to seeing new friends who want to experience the foods of India with me.
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
Little things make me happy.
I am thrilled when people tell me how much they enjoyed what they cook from one of my books, appreciate the quality of the work I offer, and professionalism, or write me a personal note.
There were a few cool things I remain particularly tickled about:
> when GoodDay Atlanta came to my kitchen to do an interview for their morning show (2010),
> when we graced a magazine centerfold- Atlanta Business Chronicle wrote about our family and my business for their piece on super-commuting families (2014),
> when I was invited to a panel on Indian cookbooks with world-renowned Indian chefs, Chef Suvir Saran and Chef Vikas Khanna with my first book (2015),
> when I spoke with WREK for North Avenue Lounge (2017),
> and when NBC-Asian America interviewed me, twice, for my unique and important book on comfort foods (2016, 2018).
I will feel the proudest when readers will start taking indie authors seriously because they are the hardest workers in the business, with great products that keep local economies energized.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.currycravings.com; www.currycravingskitchen.com
- Email: currycravings@gmail.com
- Instagram: @currycravings
- Facebook: @nandita.godbole.1
- Twitter: @currycravings
Image Credit:
V. Umashankar
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
