NIKITA'S THATTUKADA

My earliest memories in the kitchen began at age 4, playing with pots of water and experimenting with spices alongside my late grandfather. My father would join me in these culinary adventures, teaching me how to fry an egg with a kid's IKEA kitchen set, as we pretended to host our own cooking show, inspired by Rachel Ray.

Food has always been at the heart of my life. In school, lunchtime was an event—friends and I would eagerly unpack our tiffins, showcasing everything from Jalaja’s mom’s masala idlis to my mom’s chicken curry from the night before. Walking home from school, I’d dream about what my mom had made, trying to guess the dish from the aromas filling the hallway. Though I sometimes felt disappointed when it was sambar or dal again, it’s those simple dishes I miss the most since moving to Amsterdam.

When I arrived in Amsterdam, I began to appreciate the little things that make a house feel like home—and my mother’s dal was the first thing that came to mind. Learning to cook became a way for me to connect to my roots and express love. As Ella Risbridger once wrote, “Kitchens are a space for intimacy because I will touch with my hands the things that will go in your mouth, I will taste what you taste.”

Then there’s India—a place I’ve never lived, where I don’t speak the language, yet a place that feels deeply connected to me. From the vibrant flavors of Shillong to the heartwarming meals of Goa, Bangalore, and Palakkad, I’ve spent a lifetime cherishing the food of a home I only visit in fragments. Despite time and distance, food ties me to my heritage and the memories of family who are no longer with us.

Whether it’s my grandfather’s Vindaloo, my uncle’s roast beef, or my grandmother’s chapati, the meals we shared are part of the fabric of my life. I may never recreate those exact flavors, but what I can share is the feeling—the warmth, the love, the sense of home that food brings.

This is what I want to bring to my community here in Amsterdam. Through this kitchen pop-up at Bar Pekky, I hope to share not just food, but paint the canvas of stories, memories, and love that go into every dish.