Nimi Sunilkumar, cookbook author and food blogger, is a name food aficionados are familiar with. She has done much to popularise Kerala’s traditional cuisine among foodies across the world through her blogs, books and website.
Now, Ms. Sunilkumar’s cookbook ‘Lip-smacking Dishes of Kerala’ on authentic Kerala cuisine has been selected as the third ‘Best Local Cuisine Book in the World’ from 187 countries around the world at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2013 held in Beijing, China.
The book was the winner of the title ‘Best Local Cuisine Book in India.’ It got ‘The Best in the World’ sticker on the cover.
The first position in the local cuisine category was won by Kenya, and the second place by China.
Ms. Sunilkumar, an Electronics and Communication diploma holder, developed a craze for cooking when she reached Munnar from Thrissur after her wedding. “The variety and diversity of Kerala dishes have always fascinated me. They differ with region, and even with households. I have tried eight to nine types of Thalassery biriyanis,” she says.
‘The Lip-smacking Dishes of Kerala’ is a compilation of some of Kerala’s most sought-after recipes with photographs and preparation notes. It has 60 recipes — from puttu, fish curry, and chicken curry to Thulasi wine. The first edition of the book was published in 2009. The photographs for the book were taken by Ms. Sunilkumar. She also did the layout and design.
The Gourmand World Cookbook Awards were founded in 1995 by Edouard Cointreau. The awards are considered the ‘Oscar of Gastronomy.’
Ms. Sunilkumar said the award ceremony was a great opportunity to meet experts in the world of cookbooks, wine books, world-famous chefs, and journalists.
Ms. Sunilkumar, who blogs at www.nimisrecipes.com, is also a food stylist, photographer, culinary demonstrator, teacher, dietician, and freelance writer.
She started cookery classes on traditional Kerala cooking in Munnar in 2012 for tourists. Now, she has many disciples in the U.S., Australia, and the U.K.
