Food and aspects relating to it, have always fascinated me. I have fond memories of eating wonderful sweets, savouries and everyday simple foods as a child, growing up in Southern India. As a young girl, I became inquisitive about the food we eat and the connection it has with our body, mind, intellect and spirit. 
Having excelled in chemistry in my bachelors degree and a management degree thereafter, I found my true calling in food and food writing. When I shifted to Mumbai in 2003, moving away from the comforts of my parents home and hearth, not to mention my mother’s kitchen, I became even more conscious of what went into my cooking pot in the kitchen and my plate on the table. That’s when I started looking at a meal as a means to not only feed the body but also appeal to my mind and satiate my soul. I was in constant search of the different facets of food and the influence it exerts on us as individuals. Travel and meeting people from all walks of life added interesting bits to my culinary repertoire. I started my expedition in photography with the intention of showing my food in the best possible way and now my love for photography and food try to compete with one another for time and space.
DivineTaste catalogues my quest for simple and exotic pleasures in food that lead to tremendous overall well-being. The recipe may come from any part of the world, the ingredients maybe foreign, but the basic principles of my cooking remain the same. Simple healthful recipes, at times elaborate with occasional indulgences.
The recipes in this site are developed by me in my kitchen. If a particular recipe is adapted or inspired, the source is always mentioned.
The pictures on this site are all by me, unless indicated otherwise.
All the recipes are given in cups (1 cup=250ml) and metric measurements. You will find the conversion into other equivalents here.
You can subscribe to divinetaste.com in two easy ways, both of them are free.
If you have any questions you can contact me here.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
I want recipes of all the exotic stuff u make (ah my mouth is watering…. more so considering this stupid diet am on!!!) … of pineapple cake, dry-fruit cake, rajma, channa curry, minestrone soup, rajasthani dhal, layered biryani, arbi bake, rasam….. the list is endless…. RECIPES RECIPES RECIPES!!!!
December 13th, 2008 at 4:03 am
You’ve made a splash! Beautiful website, apt punchline! Looking forward to your many recipes, stories and photographs. This is only the beginning to a very promising future. Keep writing!!
December 13th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Lovely!!!!!!!!!Amazing
!!!!!!!!!!!
December 14th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Congratulations!! Your Hard work and passion for Food Writing has finally shaped into this wonderful site. I love the Graphics and the Creative Photographs. I will be eagerly waiting for all the new posts to come..All the Best!
December 15th, 2008 at 3:22 am
Well suited sitename, liked the design and description given here..
I’m sure after visiting this site many will be left hungrier for more!
Maybe one day I’ll try making these delicacies on my own, till then I would just stare, read ‘n drool!
keep posting and all the best for your new venture…
December 15th, 2008 at 8:33 am
congrats! all the best~
December 15th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Well done Anu!! congratulations on this great site!! and all the best in everything you do. And thank you for mentioning me in your post, i was pleasantly surprised. GOOD LUCK!
December 15th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Nice choice of colors. Catchy content and titles. A bit sparse over on the right. You plan to fill in with more of those yummy recipes?
December 15th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Now that you have launched this website, aptly named ‘divinetaste’, I can think of no one better suited than you - your Ammamma’s granddaughter - to preserve and propagate the dying art of Havyaka cuisine.
Your Narayananna
December 15th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Congratulations!! on being the author of a wonderful gourmet site. Perfect combination of colours, amazing presentations all n all a wonderful effort to display your passion on food and writing. Awesome, all the best
December 15th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
All praises for your website!
i just loved it! you have made the recipes look and sound soooooooooo interesting! The moment you enter the website , its a different kind of feeling!!! i really like the way you have attached facts to your recipes and tried to relate them with nature.a unique n interesting concept!
The website is truly a masterpiece of your talent n hardwork and indeed a treat for the ‘body, mind & soul’!
December 16th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Thanks to my Daughter Simi I had a look at the site. I would only say ‘wow’. Most importantly, it had my favorite sweet dish “Kheer”….
All the very best in all your endeavours.
Great job being done.
Congratulations and keep it up.
Jayram C
December 16th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Fabulous pictures and a very neat website with rare recipes… wishing you good luck for the future posts and looking forward to them.
December 16th, 2008 at 10:05 am
My dearest daughter Anu,
Today is one of the happiest day for me since you have started your website. I was unable to hold my emotions for the great job u have done. Simply commendable! As I know what ever u do, you will excel in it. I remember the day when u were an 8 year old kid making gavar Sabji & serving 20 of us with so much love & enthusiasm.
Having won the Rolling Shield for Chemistry in college and with an MBA your going to make a scientific cook with a professional touch. My sincere prayers and wishes for your future.
December 17th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Ever since you told me about your upcoming site; a year and odd ago, I’ve been waiting
Now that it’s here, I’ll probably be making the most hits on this page
Loving your layout and photography
December 20th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
first i liked the name of the site..and the photography, as i like to eat good food( but dont like to read and cook) i sure will ask my wife pooja to try your recepy ..anyways , all the best and waiting for more …
December 20th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Annu akka I am going to make the best use out of your website. The strawberry jam looks yummmmm.Photography is great. I think the website layout is very classic, the colours used are very soft and subtle. Kudos to you annu akka :)…. Congrats and All the very best!!!
December 20th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Thanks to all you lovely people who have left such appreciative and wonderful comments.
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Hey wait! My comment is yet to come! Here it goes : “Photography - awesome, colour scheme & layout - awesome, niche recipes - awesome”. To cut it short, awesome website is all I have to say!
December 22nd, 2008 at 5:52 pm
oh hi
Itis lovely site .Long awaited. Must be giving you immence satisfaction.Looking forward to learn more and more on the site Wish you all the best.
December 26th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Hey Anu, First off… Congrats dear girl. The website looks perfect and the way you bring out each recipe is so warm and cosy!
While reading the comments i can only second Mihir here when he calls your food ‘Amazing’! Having tasted a few of your utterly divine recipes for almost 2 years. God! I still cannot forget the aroma of your saffron filled Kheer or your absolutely mind blowing pineapple cake. Sitting thousands of miles away i can smell, taste and get my taste buds rolling just thinking about it all. My comment here is going to be long so pls. bear with me Anu and the rest of the gang…..
And lo behold what do i see the thoughtful and meticulous Anu once again who describes the container and the saucer and the just perfect way to make and store strawberry jams…awesome!
I just love the way you bring out the ‘meticulousness’ in your recipes Anu - crisp and to the point yet with details that will make all the difference when you start cooking!
I know for a fact that your measurements are just so accurate. I mean being the normal cook i’m when measurements are accurate there will be no surprises waiting when i’m done…I love that
About this recipe though, the first thing that caught my senses even before the strawberries were the JARS!
I see the Indian version of Rachel Ray and Martha Stewart in the making and only better ‘cos you don’t stop with just Indian, you venture into Italian, french, Thai, Chinese and i’m sure you’ll be travelling all around the world one day turning people into vegetarians with just your utterly divine food Anu! Keep it rolling….
Preethi
December 28th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Dear Anu,
The Lord has always been kind to you. And now atlast after your sincere and meticulous endeavours the Lord is manifesting your calling in life. Life attains primary meaning only when we dedicate our services to the Lord and humanity beyond our tiny self.
This marks the beginning of a long journey for you.
I pray that this effort of yours will touch many souls and give them an opporunity to savour the divine taste which is the first secret door to liberation. My blessings to become an expert to open the secret door for hungry souls.
December 29th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Hey Anu….wonderful website…photography is simply amazing..You made cooking all the more interesting and colorful !!! All the best!!
December 31st, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Hey Anu…. Your site is cool…….i’ll definitely try some of your recipes sometimes soon
January 3rd, 2009 at 12:27 am
Hi Anushruti, your name itself is beautiful as you. Thank you for visiting Krishnaarpanam. Your blog too is very colourful and yet to venture the recipes. Keep in touch.
January 4th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
awesome website anuakka…….real good..
January 14th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Anuuuu
The website is awesome the pictures are awesome and the recipes are awesome … every friend of mine who has seen the website is all gaga over it ….
everything about the website has u written all over it coz its so wondeful in all its simplicity
wishing u all the luck
love
Mani
January 14th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
hey i forgot to tell u that i do also congratulate rohit for the website coz ive met very few ppl like rohit, he believed so much in your talent and encouraged u everyday … u both are such a wonderful couple …
January 15th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Truly Mani, they are an awesome couple :)) ! Touchwood!!
January 24th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Hi Anu,
Great job! Can’t wait to try out your wonderful recipes.
Good Luck,
Supriya:)
February 11th, 2009 at 3:43 am
Wonderful to see this site Anu. Very professional looking and it shows your passion for food. We cannot believe that the little Anu is now making such a big statement in the world of food. Look forward to trying out your recipes.
Congratulations on this big step and warm wishes and blessings for every success with it.
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:08 pm
EXCELLENT….! my whole family had a hearty look at your website and enjoyed very much…my mother appreciated some dishes being straight from our traditional kitchen…..KUDOS!
March 7th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Hi Anu….. I got to know about your web site from my niece who is a good friend of your sister. I belong to Coorg,a community which can eat non-veg all three meals, and also at the time of birth, marriage and death; but I am a vegetarian by choice, my love for animals made me become one. I really enjoyed viewing this site, as even at weddings and other occasions in Coorg, the vegetarian cuisine is given no importance, we always end up having the same sambhar,with all the possible vegeatble in it, rasam and some boring white rice. When my son got married i made it a point to specially select the vegetarian menu, and it was s much appreciated that even the non-vegetarians joined the veg que!!!
I can go on talking about this, but the main reason i have given my feed back is, in Karnataka there is this very famous dish Akki roti, which is a real delicacy, i have got many recipes but none have turned out well, i was wondering if you would have any recipe and could share it with us on this site.
I wish you all the best in this move to promote vegetarian cuisine. Looking forward to more exciting recipes.
Asha
—–
March 7th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Ms. Somanna: There are many versions and variations of Akki roti in Karnataka. Don’t know which one you are referring to. Will try and post some akki roti recipes soon. Thanks for your wishes.
March 7th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Thanks Anu….I forgot to mention we also make akki roti but it is with cooked rice and we do not use any oil. I am asking you for the recipe which has onions, coriander and oil in it. Thanks and i hope i am not asking for too much from you.
March 10th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Ms. Asha… I cant place ur niece… ( this is anushruti’s sister abt whom u’ve mentioned… )
May 12th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Hey Anushruti..Congratulations..!! Its a amazing site and as many have already written above…Everything is perfect and it can only go on to become a masterpiece…great going…!!
May 26th, 2009 at 1:54 am
Hi Anushruti,
Our daughter’s name is Anushruti as well, and we thought it was a unique name until we found your website. We are passionate about food and photography so it is a great coincidence that the passion is shared. We hope our daughter grows up to do this kind of excellent work as well.
From Sunnyvale, California,
Aarti and Ananth
September 7th, 2009 at 10:55 am
GREAT GREAT blog..
September 14th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Hi! The recipie for vanilla eggless cake with chocolate frosting is fabulous! I baked the cake for my parents’ wedding day on 12th Sept:) It was a big hit!!! Thanks a ton! Keep up the great work!!!
September 16th, 2009 at 12:04 am
WOW…im speechless…maybe when u started Divinetaste i was too busy looking after my baby…so i missed this news. I used to see this on my facebook page but thought it was some application. Since i had to quit work after delivery, i ended up being a frustrated housewife and mother…i started trying different dishes but somehow everything tastes the same….but now that i happened to view ur site…im so very happy. Now starts my journey as a cook…thanks Anu, the recipes seem good and simple. ALL THE BEST.
September 16th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Anu akka , thanks for making tht yummy gravy for me. My nephew is the best. He is sooooooooooo cute. I love him.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Hey Anushruti,
Thanks for dropping by, and you have a delicious site
October 15th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
hi..im a partner at INSEAD..met seemantini when she was here and she was the one who showed me this site..i happened to go through it today..its jus amazin..i have gr8 interest in cookin n fell like tryin all ur wounderful mouthwaterin recipies..
December 3rd, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Your recipes are awesome..but more than that your photos of the dishes are very eye catchy..
Thanks
December 13th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Good. The pictures make the site look more divine. keep it up.
Best wishes.
January 7th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
Hey its so nice to vist this website. Which gives so much info on food. I met ur mom, she is just in front of me while am draftinf this… She introduced this website to me…
Regards,
Vaishlai
January 26th, 2010 at 11:31 pm
Hey Anu,
This is Kavita(putti if u remember…)
Congratulatios on being the author of such a wonderful site.The receipes ,photographs and everything abt the site is wonderful.
I still rememeber enjoying the delicious food prepared by usha aunty ,specially fried rice…yummy yummy!!.. I must say U got all the talent from ur mummy..
Keep up the good work ..
Kavita
January 30th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Hey putti: Ofcourse I remember you! Thank you for your kind words. Stay in touch.
April 21st, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Hi Anushruthi !!
I got to know from Usha Aunty about dvinetaste during her last visit. Amazing !!!Fabulous pictures and and the recipies … what better association - than Divine taste! Congratulations to you and Best wishes for every success !
May 31st, 2010 at 8:53 am
Hello Anushruti,
My search for an eggless dessert led me to your site and I am pretty impressed with the simplicity of the ingredients used in your recipes. I assume that this speaks about you as a person too. I was looking for an eggless strawberry cheesecake and I assumed that the search in google would lead me to a vegetarian recipe. But it was surprising that though the recipes were eggless they did contain gelatin. After quite a search, I landed up at this site. You have done a good job with this blog. I am waiting to try the recipe.
Thanks!
Lata
California
June 1st, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Lata: Thank you for your kind words. Feedback from people like you inspire me to keep going.
June 15th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
First time I’m visiting this place
I find your site very soothing 
Recipes are looking really great !!! I liked your coconut burfi recipe. I had made it using milkmaid and sugar. It tasted good but the shape was pretty much “not so shapely” I would say 
The burfis You’ve made out of jaggery look very neat. Will have to try that. I’ll be book marking your site 
Will keep visiting back here 
:) Thanks a lot 
Take care 
July 23rd, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Thanks for sharing your insight into food and the culture of all kinds of foods. best wishes. Jyothi McminnUSA