My passion for design, storytelling and preserving cultural identity come together with my work for Niloufer’s Kitchen.
In July 2015 Niloufer Mavalvala approached me to design a contemporary logo based ob her favourite ingredient: The lemon. To her it symbolises brightness and vibrance, as well as versatility.
The 'lemon' doesn't fall far from the tree!
Exactly 2 years later her daughter Shamineh asked me to create a logo for her company, Limbudi, which means lemon tree in Gujarati!
My culinary design journey didn’t end there: In 2018 Niloufer asked me to design her cookbook based on Parsi Cooking.
The term Parsi, meaning from Pars (Iran) refers to those Zoroastrians who fled Persia and migrated to India between the 8th and 10th century.
This book traces the mix of Persian, Gujarati and British culinary influences on Parsi cuisine, and makes recipes passed down through the generations, accessible to all.
As a Parsi myself, this was a wonderful way to pay homage to my roots, while bringing a contemporary flair to an ancient cuisine.
To make the book extra-special, the spine is based on a sari that has been handed down to Niloufer by her grandmother.
Recipes + Text: Niloufer Mavalvala
Layout + Design: Zara Contractor
Photography: William Reavell