Meet Monika

 

Monika – The Culinary Instructor

 ” Recipe is the last thing to learn in cooking. One has to learn about the people, their culture, their local food habits and lifestyle.” ……………….. unknown    

 Cooking is a beautiful experience, it’s relaxing and even better when shared. That’s one of the reasons why Monika started hosting home style Indian culinary workshops in  2017. She shares her family recipes through fun cooking workshops.

Monika grew up in India and got a first  hand experience in learning  Indian cooking techniques from her parents and grandmothers . She is proud of her cultural background and very passionate about sharing Indian culture with the local community. She has worked as a secondary science teacher and also as a counselor but cooking and coaching is what she is most passionate about. She enjoys sharing her Indian heritage through her cooking classes. Her work has been featured in local media several times. You can watch / read more about her media mentions here.

 Her Cooking Philosophy

“Buy Fresh / Local, Cook Fresh and Eat Fresh.”

The above sentence sums up her mother’s cooking philosophy and Monika follows it to the core ! She grew up in a very traditional Indian family who always ate together; the meals were plant based and very wholesome, and always made from scratch by her mother. At a very young age she learnt the concept of balanced meals from her parents. Because of an early awareness about  food and nutrition, it’s only natural for Monika to go for healthier food choices. Even today, she enjoys cooking fresh meals on a daily basis for her family to keep up with the very essence of Indian cooking. Whether she is cooking for her family or teaching her favorite recipes , she always uses fresh, home made spices and spice blends because why not ?

“When diet is wrong medicine is of no use.
When diet is correct medicine is of no need.”
~Ayurvedic Proverb

The story behind the name of this website

Polka dots is a versatile and forgiving print.  It can bring  spark to any mundane style. Monika feels that cooking can be creative and experimental.  The name Polka Dots blends in with her overall cooking philosophy : playful + creative +fun.

Monika – The Health Coach

Monika got certified as a holistic health and wellness coach in June 2020 – right in the middle of the pandemic. Now  she is helping clients in their wellness journey. You can read more about her health coaching here.

Comments are closed.