By Chloe Martin, Editor of Lifestyle
Copyright: Dr. Akansha Bhatia
Born in Rajasthan North West India, Dr. Aakansha Bhatia, also known as Annie, is a rising food blogger in India and she’s now about to explore food and life in her new home city of Exeter.
Currently a Postgraduate student studying Leadership and Healthcare Management at University of Exeter, I got the chance to chat to Annie about her growing Instagram account, her experience eating alongside famous Indian bloggers and finding out what she thinks about classic English food.
Currently a Postgraduate student studying Leadership and Healthcare Management at University of Exeter, I got the chance to chat to Annie about her growing Instagram account, her experience eating alongside famous Indian bloggers and finding out what she thinks about classic English food.
Q&A:
Hello Annie, how are you? I hope you’re keeping safe and well. I want to get straight in and ask you when your love of food began?
“Hi, yes I’m well thank you. I would say it was when I was five years old that I first fell in love with food. I remember my Grandfather taking me to street food tours to see all the flames and spices flying everywhere. He used to make some amazing dishes for my family, and my mother is also an amazing cook. I’d even go far enough to say that all my recipes are inspired by them.”
Were you always surrounded by food and cooking at a young age?
“I used to help my mum add the spices to our food and mixing with a wooden spoon, it was so exciting! My Grandfather used to own a hotel in India where he was the chef, I remember him and my mother coming together and cooking some of my favourite dishes. One of those was chole bhature, which is a spiced chickpea curry with bhatura that’s a fluffy and soft bread that originates from Northern India.”
The food on your Instagram looks delicious, what pushed you to create your Instagram page @the_blogtor?
“Thanks so much! Well, I used to cook a lot for my friends and family and whenever we went out to restaurants to eat, I would always be the one taking photos of the food. So, they suggested that I create an Instagram page to show off my cooking and other restaurant food. And that’s where my Instagram journey began!”
Your Instagram is growing quite quickly, I’ve seen that you’ve been feature on @delhifoodwalks’s Instagram page and in a YouTube video, how did this opportunity come around?
Delhi Food Walks is a popular YouTube channel and Instagram page run by the famous Indian Chef Anubhav Sapra and his team. They’re often found exploring a new food market, exciting flavours and trying new, delicious food delicacies.
“When I first started my page, I reached out to them saying how much I loved their page and YouTube videos. Then before I moved to Exeter, they contacted me with a message on Instagram saying that they’re coming to Udaipur and would love for me to show them around and grab some food. So yeah, they asked me if I would like to feature in one of their videos!"
Wow! That must have felt amazing to be contacted by them after you reached out in the past. What was it like to be featured in one of their videos?
“It was an amazing experience and a great opportunity for me to learn and collaborate with them. We did an Udaipur city food tour, where I got to show them all the best local delicacies. It was a fantastic opportunity for me to reach a wider audience and show off all the amazing food that Udaipur city has to offer.”
I think Delhi Food Walks is such a great concept, do you ever think you’ll start up a food YouTube channel in the future?
“I’ve thought about it already actually! I think I might start one soon or maybe if I go back home to India.”
So, you’ve been living in Exeter since September? How are you finding it so far? It’s a lovely city.
“Yes, this is my first time being away from India, so it’s all new for me at the moment but it’s lovely. All my new flatmates are really friendly, I’ve been cooking for them and having parties, obviously within the restrictions but so far it’s been a great experience.”
Have you tried any typically British foods? I think Exeter is famous for things like cream teas, cheese and fresh fish.
“Yes, I’ve had an English breakfast with sausage, bacon, eggs and everything, and I also had a burrito yesterday too. We found a delicious food stall in the city centre called Pinkmoon, which serves fresh burritos and tacos. I had the Baja fish burrito, which was lovely and really filling, I’d definitely recommend it for you to try if you go to Exeter. It’s really nice to try other cuisine so that we can find new flavours and recipes to try at home.”
When you were in lockdown at home in India, how did you adapt your cooking to this? And did you try or discover any new flavours or combinations?
“I did all home-cooked meals and then I started baking bread and desserts too, which I think is what a lot of people turned to during lockdown. I also tried some new spices that were in the back of my cupboards, so now I think I can take three or four ingredients and make anything!”
Since being in the UK have you found any new flavours to include in your meals?
“I’ve been eating a lot more pork sausages and I’ve also discovered butternut squash. I didn’t even know what that was three days ago but now I’ve been using it in an Indian style of cooking, seeing what I can come up with.”
Have you found many Indian restaurants in Exeter? If you have, do you think you’ll give them a try, or do you think you’ll stick to your own authentic Indian cooking?
“Yes, there’s quite a few. We ordered from one the other night and it wasn’t very good. I think if I was to go out for food, I’ll try other types of cuisine rather than trying the Indian food."
Do you miss any particular spices or ingredients from India that you can’t get in the UK?
“I just miss spices in general! I’ve told my mum to send over some spices that I can use in my cooking, I think she’s worried about me not having them more than anything!”
My last question is a tough one for any foodie, but if you had to choose, what is your favourite thing to cook?
“I think it would have to be butter chicken or aglio Olio which is like a garlic and olive oil spaghetti. The butter chicken takes some time, but I’ve been cooking the aglio olio quite a lot since being here at university because it’s so quick and simple.”
Hello Annie, how are you? I hope you’re keeping safe and well. I want to get straight in and ask you when your love of food began?
“Hi, yes I’m well thank you. I would say it was when I was five years old that I first fell in love with food. I remember my Grandfather taking me to street food tours to see all the flames and spices flying everywhere. He used to make some amazing dishes for my family, and my mother is also an amazing cook. I’d even go far enough to say that all my recipes are inspired by them.”
Were you always surrounded by food and cooking at a young age?
“I used to help my mum add the spices to our food and mixing with a wooden spoon, it was so exciting! My Grandfather used to own a hotel in India where he was the chef, I remember him and my mother coming together and cooking some of my favourite dishes. One of those was chole bhature, which is a spiced chickpea curry with bhatura that’s a fluffy and soft bread that originates from Northern India.”
The food on your Instagram looks delicious, what pushed you to create your Instagram page @the_blogtor?
“Thanks so much! Well, I used to cook a lot for my friends and family and whenever we went out to restaurants to eat, I would always be the one taking photos of the food. So, they suggested that I create an Instagram page to show off my cooking and other restaurant food. And that’s where my Instagram journey began!”
Your Instagram is growing quite quickly, I’ve seen that you’ve been feature on @delhifoodwalks’s Instagram page and in a YouTube video, how did this opportunity come around?
Delhi Food Walks is a popular YouTube channel and Instagram page run by the famous Indian Chef Anubhav Sapra and his team. They’re often found exploring a new food market, exciting flavours and trying new, delicious food delicacies.
“When I first started my page, I reached out to them saying how much I loved their page and YouTube videos. Then before I moved to Exeter, they contacted me with a message on Instagram saying that they’re coming to Udaipur and would love for me to show them around and grab some food. So yeah, they asked me if I would like to feature in one of their videos!"
Wow! That must have felt amazing to be contacted by them after you reached out in the past. What was it like to be featured in one of their videos?
“It was an amazing experience and a great opportunity for me to learn and collaborate with them. We did an Udaipur city food tour, where I got to show them all the best local delicacies. It was a fantastic opportunity for me to reach a wider audience and show off all the amazing food that Udaipur city has to offer.”
I think Delhi Food Walks is such a great concept, do you ever think you’ll start up a food YouTube channel in the future?
“I’ve thought about it already actually! I think I might start one soon or maybe if I go back home to India.”
So, you’ve been living in Exeter since September? How are you finding it so far? It’s a lovely city.
“Yes, this is my first time being away from India, so it’s all new for me at the moment but it’s lovely. All my new flatmates are really friendly, I’ve been cooking for them and having parties, obviously within the restrictions but so far it’s been a great experience.”
Have you tried any typically British foods? I think Exeter is famous for things like cream teas, cheese and fresh fish.
“Yes, I’ve had an English breakfast with sausage, bacon, eggs and everything, and I also had a burrito yesterday too. We found a delicious food stall in the city centre called Pinkmoon, which serves fresh burritos and tacos. I had the Baja fish burrito, which was lovely and really filling, I’d definitely recommend it for you to try if you go to Exeter. It’s really nice to try other cuisine so that we can find new flavours and recipes to try at home.”
When you were in lockdown at home in India, how did you adapt your cooking to this? And did you try or discover any new flavours or combinations?
“I did all home-cooked meals and then I started baking bread and desserts too, which I think is what a lot of people turned to during lockdown. I also tried some new spices that were in the back of my cupboards, so now I think I can take three or four ingredients and make anything!”
Since being in the UK have you found any new flavours to include in your meals?
“I’ve been eating a lot more pork sausages and I’ve also discovered butternut squash. I didn’t even know what that was three days ago but now I’ve been using it in an Indian style of cooking, seeing what I can come up with.”
Have you found many Indian restaurants in Exeter? If you have, do you think you’ll give them a try, or do you think you’ll stick to your own authentic Indian cooking?
“Yes, there’s quite a few. We ordered from one the other night and it wasn’t very good. I think if I was to go out for food, I’ll try other types of cuisine rather than trying the Indian food."
Do you miss any particular spices or ingredients from India that you can’t get in the UK?
“I just miss spices in general! I’ve told my mum to send over some spices that I can use in my cooking, I think she’s worried about me not having them more than anything!”
My last question is a tough one for any foodie, but if you had to choose, what is your favourite thing to cook?
“I think it would have to be butter chicken or aglio Olio which is like a garlic and olive oil spaghetti. The butter chicken takes some time, but I’ve been cooking the aglio olio quite a lot since being here at university because it’s so quick and simple.”
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