Thanks will always go to Maa, the High Priest of Mowgli. To Nik, my big brother, who had my back and sanity when I abandoned identity, salary and security to build Mowgli. To AK and Monmon for encouragement when we were very scared and very skint, with only a set of pans and a dream.
Love to Shona, Mirren, Nayan, Eila, Honour, Willow, Atticus, Mochi, Foofi, Mike and Den, the Mowgli menu guinea pigs who fill my hall with shoes and my kitchen with laughter.
When writing a book, your publisher becomes a literary sibling and playtime was such fun with the brilliant Kate Fox, thank you. Glen, Yuki and Aya, thanks for bringing my vision and food alive.
These recipes are the legacy I leave, not just to India and Tia but to all of you who are good enough to support Mowgli by dining with us. I never thought she would survive. I risked my all to build her and I built her in order to present to you the dishes I have eaten all my life. Now they are yours. May your house smell like my Maa’s, may your kitchens glow forever with turmeric sunshine and may your work become your passion and joy as it has for me.
For these blessings I am most grateful.