NISHA PANCHAL PATEL is a chef, recipe developer, and culinary instructor with a deep connection to her Gujarati (Indian) roots. She believes every meal can be a celebration of tradition and flavor!

From a young age, Nisha found joy in the kitchen, mimicking her mother’s movements as she prepared everyday Gujarati dishes and orchestrated grand feasts for family gatherings. After a successful two-decade career as an Electrical Engineer, Nisha made the decision to retire early, go to culinary school, and dive headfirst into the culinary arts. Her journey has taken her into the kitchens of State Bird Provisions and Anchovy Bar, and behind the scenes at Napa Valley’s BottleRock.

Nisha grew up surrounded by generations of Gujarati women who cooked by intuition, in a world where recipes were passed down orally, with no written guides. Driven by a passion for learning and preserving these rich traditions, she is dedicated to documenting and teaching the art of Indian cuisine. Her love for preserving culinary heritage is matched by her enthusiasm for sharing this knowledge with others. She is excited to continue connecting people with the flavors and traditions of her Indian roots.