Introduction to Ayurveda is more than just a cooking class, but an invitation to think about your relationship with food and eating. Most cooking classes start with some small talk about the menu, maybe a glass (or two) of wine - Nalini starts with a 15-minute guided meditation that culminates (warning: spoiler alert) with a small food offering that makes you keenly aware you are what you eat. She then discusses Ayurveda and the principal of eating foods balanced to your body (kind of sort of makes sense, but I'm still thinking how much I love bacon). Then the kicker - it's not just how you feel about taste, but also how you feel afterward (needless to say, I could still feel the delicious Prather Ranch corned beef sandwich I had for lunch). The food we cooked - soup, rice and green beans was simple and delicious. It was fun to learn how to mix and prepare Indian spices. But the real learning is to really think about your food. I'm not at all ready to give up corned beef or bacon all together, but even for a couple meals every week, to think about balance, energy and how you feel afterward. Thanks Nalini, hope to do another class soon! read more

4.5 stars really - I got a Groupon for the Intro to Ayurvedic Cooking class and I'd never taken a cooking class before so I was very excited. First of all, the class was held in Nalini's apartment, which is beautiful. Right off the bat, you can tell Nalini is incredibly knowledgeable. She is also kind, warm, and respectful. I learned a lot about Ayurvedic principles and some of the basics of Indian cooking; however, I didn't even get to use my knife! I guess that would be my only criticism; I expected to do more cooking than I actually did, and to learn more about actual cooking techniques. I think maybe the class size was too large, as I felt there were "too many cooks in the kitchen." Otherwise, it was a wonderfully positive experience. The end result of our labors was delicious! I can't wait to go buy up some spices and try the recipes for myself. I'm definitely interested in some more classes with Nalini, (especially her Dosa making class) as well as one of her culinary tours to India. read more

This is the class you must take to dispel all those myths about how Indian food is heavy,rich and over-spiced. Ayruvedic cooking is intended to compliment your own personal gastronomic constitution. The class size was small and intimate, our host Nalini was inspiring and knowledgeable.The final product had multi layers of wonderful spices, it was one of those meals you want to eat in silence because its so "HOLY" good. read more

My girlfriend and I recently took an Ayurvedic cooking class with Nalini and am happy to say it was worth every penny! Nalini is definitely knowledgeable when it comes to Indian cuisine and is also warm, friendly and an amazingly accommodating host to boot. The lesson began with a short intro on principles of Ayurveda (take the dosha quiz!), the importance of mindful eating and being aware of deeper ways food can effect us beyond nutrition (e.g. what food to eat based on our personality). On to the cooking! We made 4 dishes: 1) A delicious yellow dal 2) A quinoa pilaf (usually made w basmati rice but we asked for quinoa) 3) Stir fried green beans 4) A desert of ground dates and almonds *Note: Im vegan and Nalini adjusted the entire lesson to suit my diet The food was delicious- cooked just right and spiced to perfection. In total we spent about 3 luxurious hours in Nalini's spacious apartment with a beautiful view of the city learning how to make spices dance in hot oil, work with an Indian pressure cooker, properly cut green beans so they absorb taste while retaining a al dente crunch, knife work basics and much more. We peppered Nalini with questions the entire time and she gracefully answered each of them with patience, wisdom and charm. The best part is not only did my girlfriend and I enjoy ourselves, but we also learned many practical tips that we will use to experiment with our Indian spice kit at home. After the cooking lesson my girlfriend and I ate our delicious food while Nalini served us. We left with packets of info on Ayurveda, full stomachs and great appreciation for Nalini opening up her beautiful home to us and delivering an expert cooking lesson. My girlfriend has been bragging about our experience to her friends ever since. read more

After searching far and wide for an intimate, engaging bachelorette party activity, our little group of foodies zeroed in on Nalini's dosa making class, and wow what a delightful find! We filled an entire Saturday afternoon class with our private group. The three-hour class got a little chaotic with several dishes underway, but props to Nalini who kept our distractible group focused and engaged. After learning the basics of fermenting dosa batter, traditional fillings, and Indian spices, Nalini showed us how to riff on the classics and use our new knowledge of dosas to make custom treats -kind of like make-your-own pizzas. All of us, even the less kitchen-capable, ended up completely stuffed with self-made dosas and hearty bowls of soup. Recipes were helpfully emailed to us the next day. There's something powerful about a group of women cooking and enjoying a meal together, especially with the caring instruction of an expert who really loves what she does. The Indian spices and techniques were exotic and tasty, the loft location stylish but approachable - and very different from a more industrial kitchen class at, say, La Cocina, which I've also done. For our purposes of feminine celebration, this class couldn't have been more perfect. read more

THE PLACE to go to organize a private Indian dinner event for your team! I organized an Ayurvedic Dinner event for my team members at Genentech, with Nalini. The event was hosted at Amber Restaurant @ Valencia. Nalini designed the event using Ayurveda as theme and created the most amazing four-course menu. The menu was customized based on everyone's body type (also known as doshas in Ayurveda). The event was a success and it was one of the best "Healthy and Delicious Indian Food" experience that my team members have had. The fact that everyone's dinner was customized based on their "dosha aka body type" was quite an attraction. We also learnt basics of Ayurveda and meditated together. The memorable evening was spent enjoying delicious food and guessing each other's dosha! Thank you Nalini- you are awesome! Definitely recommend this to my friends! read more

Nalini came in to give a demo at Bloomingdale's with me and I just fell in love with her and her warm spirit. The demo was fantastic as well as delicious and I am thrilled she has decided to make the west coast her home! She has inspired me very much to go to India and I hope to make the trip with her soon as I cannot think of a better personal guide, both physically and spiritually. She is truly charismatic and no one is left behind in her classes. read more

I went to this cooking class with a good friend of mine and we had the most amazing time! Nalini was a wonderful teacher and really made the environment comfortable and non-intimidating. I am not a good cook myself; however, I felt completely confident in the step by step process that she lays out for us. She was very knowledgeable about the history of the food and taught us skills that I will use while repeating these recipes as well as day to day cooking. I highly recommend this class and look forward to taking some more with Nalini in the future. read more

Route To India - Nalini, teaching us how to cook with confidence and passion! - Cooking Schools Near Me - Independence, Minnesota

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My boyfriend and I took the Delectable Dosas cooking class and it exceeded our expectations by far! Not only did we learn to make authentic tasting potato masala dosas and sambar lentil soup, we made a coconut chutney that was absolutely divine. The chutney by itself was enough to make the class worthwhile! Our class was a good mix of people of varied ages and cooking levels; it was a good pace for beginners and even experienced cooks like my boyfriend and I got a lot out of the class. Nalini demystified Indian spices and the art of making dosas. We took the class a little over a month ago and we've made the recipes from the class successfully at home, twice already! I am looking forward to taking Nalini's other cooking classes. read more

Route To India - This is the coconut chutney I will rave about forever... - Cooking Schools Near Me - Independence, Minnesota

My girlfriend and I attended Nalini's group dosa class this week at Citizen Space, and we thoroughly enjoyed the evening. After a hectic day of work, it was so nice to begin the evening with a soothing meditation. This really set the mood for the class. Nalini's gift for intertwining cultural moments like this into the class make her wonderfully unique. Nalini was able to channel the chaos of an Indian kitchen into an informative, exciting, and sometimes hysterical group experience. It didn't take much time for our small group to click and produce some wonderful culinart art, all due to the positive energy of Nalini. And, we did great. Our dosas, although not perfect at times (!), were delicious. We had to force ourselves to leave at the end. I highly recommend Nalini and her class, and I can't wait to take more from her. read more

This is my second class with Nalini, which says something, since I came back for more. I am a novice, but the classes are approachable for beginners. And the recipes are straightforward, but unusual at the same time, for example, a savory sweet potato curry, or a sprouted mung bean salad. The flavors are authentic, and not what you typically find at an Indian restaurant. Most importantly, I've been able to duplicate the recipes at home, which is the true test of success for a cooking class. As an added bonus, I have really enjoyed learning more about Indian culture. The classes are not just chop this, stir that. Nalini provides the context and cultural references that makes it interesting, truly a route to India. read more

My husband and I truly enjoyed taking the Delectable Dosa class from Nalini at Citizen Space. We had spent a considerable amount of in India and wanted to learn how to cook at home. Overall, it was very well organized, started on time, and flowed smoothly. The flavors took us back to India through our taste buds while Nalini broke down the recipe's into manageable parts incorporating teaching with humor and cooking pearls that you don't get just following a recipe. Nalini led the class with a warm enthusiasm that made the Citizen Space feel like a home and that we were cooking with friends. The class began with introductions and then each dish on the menu was assigned to 2-3 people to work on as a team. As we cooked, each group would share information on how their dish was coming along. Nalini made it a point to teach techniques to us that we would be able to use and added in historical and nutritional pearls. There was a blender that could have been replaced in a Citizen space but we managed and ultimately it did the job. Everything tasted authentic. Nalini shared with us were to buy ingredients and even gave us some dosa batter to take home. Nalini was incredibly kind to stay later and review the techniques and answer more questions. We ate our masterpieces together and talked further about nutrition, sharing stories of our time in India. I leave the experience confident in my ability to start making dosas, chutney, potato filling, and sambar at home after taking this class, and I look forward to future classes. I recommend this class to anyone who would like to connect with people that love India and have a desire to learn how to recreate the flavors you savor in their home. read more

I've been to 3 of the classes now, and they have been great. Nalini is an excellent teacher - makes sure everyone has a chance to do the complicated parts, answers questions, and makes an enjoyable night. read more

Nalini came to our house and taught us to make untraditional dosas a few Thursday nights ago. We all had a really great night! She is sweet, thorough, and even stayed later than expected to finish the course with us. It was more than a cooking class- it was a night of wonderful entertainment! Nalini also discussed other traditional Indian topics like meditation and told a few Indian jokes. This was a cultural, hands on experience that I'd definitely do again.... just have to save up for it! read more

I finally took advantage of a Groupon I had purchased a while back to learn a little about Ayurvedic philosophy and Indian cooking. In general, it was a lovely experience. Perhaps because of the large class size since the Groupon was near expiration, the class was held in a less than cosy warehouse type space where telephone interruptions made her wonderful introductory meditation less than ideal. In spite of that, I loved the way she began the class with getting us relaxed and in tune with ourselves. The cooking part was fantastic! We all got to participate, the food was delicious, and I am once again inspired to make sure most of my meals are home cooked and healthy. Indian spices and more highly nutritive beans, peas, and vegetables will be included. I was not particularly inspired to continue learning about Ayurvedic philosophy. I am sure it will be of interest to some, but for me this part of the presentation didn't resonate with my outlook on things. But thanks, Nalini, for a wonderful evening. You were an absolute delight and I would highly recommend your class to others. read more

My experience with the Route To India cooking class was mind opening. Within one class I picked up helpful tips and advances for my own self journey of connecting mind, body and soul. Nalini has a special talent of connecting with her class, really makes the experience personal and comfortable. I am ready and eager to learn more and dig deeper as a result of attending her class. read more

I bought the class as a birthday gift for my boyfriend, who loves to cook and is trying to master some Indian recipes. We were both very impressed and highly recommend the experience! Chef Nalini was very helpful, affable, and fun! We did the Farm to Table cooking class because I love the Ferry building farmers market. It was very special shopping for the ingredients there with Chef Nalini prior to the actual class because we knew where all of our ingredients came from and that they were all fresh, local, and seasonal. We also got several delicious (and free!) samples. We also had a special experience because one of Nalini's friends, who is a chef at a resort in Baja California, as taught us a few fresh, seasonal Mexican recipes. My boyfriend and I have already recreated some of the recipes we made in the class, and they're equally delicious at home. This experience was a must-do for anyone interested in sustainable food and cooking. read more

great classes! and i am a complete stranger to most cooking! actually, pretty much the only things i can cook are the ones that I learned from two classes with Nalini. i've been practicing at home and for willing test subjects, and it's working great! i am going to take all the other classes. read more

Route To India - here is proof - i made this daal, peas palau, channa masala, and chicken tikka masala at home after taking one class! - Cooking Schools Near Me - Independence, Minnesota

i decided to try learn how to cook, and jumped in to it by focusing on my favorites - Indian food first! so i just took two classes from Nalini, the one on spices and the one on dosas. and after just the two lessons i can now cook about 7 dishes! i have tried making them by myself at home and it totally worked. everything came out fantastic - even the dosas! before taking the class i could only make one thing and could not find my way around the kitchen, but now i feel like i went from totally novice to totally capable. and i love the fact that the dishes were not dumbed down at all, very authentic, but just extremely well explained. Nalini is really patient and thorough so you don't miss any steps. i really don't know how to express just how great the class was, all i can say is that if i can do it, then i think she can probably teach anyone. i'm going to post pictures of some of the food i made at home as proof, lol! :) read more

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Save yourself some time and skip this class. It felt like a disorganized friend trying to teach us how to cook with no thought ahead of time. Biggest complaint was that there was no food until 9:30 and the instructor told us at the end that there wouldn't be enough food because many of purchased the living social deal. REALLY? Vegetables are cheap, so don't skimp out! The content of teaching was also scattered and she seemed to BS a bit. Nice person and good meditation at the beginning. Next time, just go to yoga and then go out to eat and read about indian cooking online. read more

Cooking with Nalini was a treat. She's got great energy and is full of wisdom about food and life. The food we made was easy to cook, extremely tasty and highly nourishing. I'd definitely go to cook and eat at her place anytime. read more

Nalini is such a wonderful cooking instructor. Not only is she poetic with how she interacts with food, but you can tell she just has a pure passion for food and the Indian culture. I came with my coworkers for an offsite and it was worth every penny and minute spent with Nalini. I highly recommend this class to anyone who's interested in trying something new. It's absolutely worth the experience! read more

We love Indian food and when we saw a Groupon for a one evening Indian cooking class, we jumped on it! The class takes place in her lovely apartment. Nalini is gracious and knowledgeable and it was interesting to learn of a philosophy as well as insight into Indian cooking. It was hands on, with everyone assigned tasks in order to pull together a lovely vegetarian meal. It was a fun, informative and made for an interesting evening! read more

I've taken a handful of cooking classes and each has a different flavor. This class was savory. The cooking was only part of the experience. The smells, sounds, tastes, attitudes and atmosphere were all equally relaxing and scrumptious. Nalini welcomes you to her home and makes you feel like it is your home. She teaches with inspiration, not rote lectures. Everyone who wanted experience with chopping, stirring and seasoning was allowed to participate. While we made simple dishes of green beans, rice/lentils with several vegetables, and a yogurt based soup, all were amazingly flavorful. I left the class exhausted but the next day, I felt amazing. I highly recommend the experience, look forward to taking another class and creating these recipes at home. read more

Marvelous on many levels!! I initially had my reservations about spending $70 which felt like a lot for a 3 hour experience, but once I got to Nalini's classI started to think about this as an academic investment, not just for recreation as I'd intended initally. My inner Puritan thus mollified, I loved Nalini's approach to setting me on the path to becoming a Dosa Diva. Nalini's interest in food spans its cultural, ayurvedic significance, health, and sensual aspects. By sensual, I mean, not only does she reference the desired romance between dosa and pan, but more satisfyingly, she teaches your nose what to smell, your eyes and ears what to pick up on, as well and your fingers what to detect, as you LEARN the correct way to cook. Her style is relaxed, warm, empowering and able to accomodate a range of prior cooking experiences. Nalini's makes you feel like a guest. Her graciousness was particularly noticeable for me since my friend and I, normally pretty detail-oriented, somehow miscommunicated between the two of us about whether we'd reserved the class, and in effect crashed her intended 6 person class unannounced. As I squirmingly realized this AWKWARD fact, she said merely, "no problems; we'll figure it out at the end." Incidentally, even for non-class-crashers, Nalini must have an extra brain reserved for social intelligence since she is amazing at using the names of everyone she just met 5 minutes ago. Basically, I learned a lot more than I expected in this experience and had a very rewarding lesson not only about dosas, but about the variety of cuisines, clothes, traditions, and styles of life that contribute to India's complexity. I suspect I'll be back!! read more

Transformative is the word that comes to mind after experiencing the Spicing It Up class with Nalini. Not only is she an exceptional teacher but wonderful host. I'm an avid cook but could never master Indian dishes. She demystifies the process of building flavors in each sauce while also pointing out the health benefits of each spice. I loved the whole experience and look forward to putting my new found skills to the test. Thanks, Nalini!! read more

Route To India - The aftermath of Spicing it Up--a trip to Vik's. - Cooking Schools Near Me - Independence, Minnesota

I took Nalini's "Spicing It Up" class, with the idea of learning enough about Indian spices that I could improvise with them in my home kitchen. It was a really enjoyable evening! Nalini's kitchen space in downtown SF is beautiful and welcoming. She is extremely knowledgeable about Indian food, and it's clear from the way she talks about it that cooking is for her a deep and soulful pursuit. I bought the spice kit that she sells and used it make some very tasty dal at home. I will still need lots more at-home practice before I can deploy the spices on a variety of dishes, of course. read more

A few coworkers and I organized a client event recently-- an Ayurveda & Vegetarian cooking class with Nalini at the Cookhouse. First of all, Nalini was extremely easy to work with leading up the even, which was very helpful. She helped us pick out the perfect location for us to entertain our clients - the Cookhouse is an absolutely beautiful kitchen in North Beach with huge windows, high ceilings and beautiful lighting. We spent the first 15 minutes experiencing a breathing meditation led by Nalini. It was a great icebreaker that energized everyone. Between that and Nalini's kind and gentle demeanor, everyone was at ease immediately. The class itself was a ton of fun! Nalini is very patient and helpful throughout the cooking. There was nothing too complex (we followed straightforward recipes), which was nice for those like me who are less experienced with cooking. Overall, the time flew by and everyone had a blast. I'm sure I'll plan an event with Nalini again in the future. read more

I took an intro to vegetarian Indian cooking class and it was worth every penny. The class began with an introduction to Ayurveda and meditation to calm our minds from our busy days. Nalini was sweet, warm, kind, inclusive and welcoming. And the dishes we prepared were all easy and delicious. I left feeling confident that I will be able to cook some wonderful Indian dishes at home. read more

I was in from out of town and so was excited to take Nalini's class. I went on Nalini's trip to Kerala so wanted to follow-up with a class in San Fran. Nalini is a very generous teacher. Even having studied with her before I learned more about spices, Ayuvedic health and cooking techniques. All in a relaxed fun atmosphere. A perfect way to spend an evening! read more

Nalini is a wonderful instructor with a positive, peaceful vibe! One thing that sets her apart from the other cooking schools here in the city: she teaches and demonstrates that preparing food with care and true engagement is key. I've taken both the dosa and Ayurveda classes and after each one, I've left feeling a renewed sense of motivation to genuinely pay attention to what's going into my body...we really are what we eat! Nalini is also very patient when students have questions, and she is open to discussing more than just the food being prepared -- she includes Indian history and other interesting things about the culture. And it goes without saying that the food is always really delicious, made with fresh ingredients purchased that day from a market. Definitely worth checking out! read more

Nalini is an amazing teacher. She invites you into her home and makes you feel like one of the family. The approach to the cooking class is very unique, she gives you the knowledge behind Indian cooking and makes you understand how to use the spice palette. With her instruction you will have the confidence to create wonderful dishes in class and at home. This is a great class who has some general knowledge in the kitchen and with food and wants to take it to the next level. read more

Taking a cooking class with Nalini is truly a journey through the culture and cuisine of India. Nalini does a wonderful job of simplifying Ayurvedic cooking philosophy and use of various Indian spices to everyday cooking. She uses local and seasonal produce to create delicious variations to traditional recipes. Her classes are fun, engaging and very informative -- a great place to adventure into Indian cooking! read more

I had an amazing time at the Ayurveda culinary cooking class in Boone BC with Nalini Mehta. She's an incredible chef and lots of fun.

Took the Intro into Ayurveda Cooking given by Nalini Mehta. It and she were amazing. We meditated, we learned about the amazing healing and life power of Ayurveda, and we cooked an amazing delicious meal. Wonderful experience! Nalini has inspired me to learn more about Ayurveda, but also to come to cooking from a place of joy and celebration. Really recommend everyone check this out. So much fun! read more

Thank you for a great class and wonderful food. Bashkim and I will begin a new cooking adventure.

this class is great and can appeal to you in different ways. first off, nalini is an excellent teacher for this cooking class. she starts class by leading a nice meditation. theres lessons on indian spices, seasonal and local eating, and of chopping and cooking. you definitely learn a lot and will enjoy it. i am planning on doing another one! read more

Amazing! I left this class (after not wanting to leave) feeling completely inspired, healthy and invigorated. Nalini is a wealth of knowledge and provides an easy, open atmosphere that allows one to fully experience the Auryvedic principals, tastes and medicinal/ spiritual nature of this way of living. I literally wanted to soak everything in, and couldn't get enough. The class flowed, and the other like-minded people in attendance were a joy to meet, as well as, Nalini's assistant Jasmine. She was a complete doll. I would 100% recommend a class with Nalini. You will leave with a renewed appreciation for the food in your life. :) read more

I signed up for Nalini's class when I received a Groupon offer, and I invited a friend to join me. We had a wonderful experience, and although we received "deal," her class is well worth the full price. Nalini shared the concept of Ayurveda and how it relates to the food we eat. She then taught us how to make food in keeping with the concepts of Ayurveda. She demystified cooking Indian food, by showing us how approachable the cuisine is and how the spices interplay with one another. Although most of the dishes we cooked used many of the same spices, each dish had a distinct taste. Making ghee was a particular boon, as this had been a primary obstacle for me in making Indian food at home. Cooking and sharing the fruits of our labor with my classmates was a wonderful experience. I would recommend Nalini's classes to those interested in cooking, health and food. Not only do you get to make and eat delicious food, but you come away with food for thought! read more

Took Nalini's online cooking class and it was wonderful :) The videos were clear and the instructions given, both through the videos and the handouts were detailed and easy to follow. Nalini provided not just recipes, but she explained a lot on Ayurveda and how we can apply its principles to our everyday lives without feeling overwhelmed. Would def love to take more classes like this. read more