“I grew up in a middle-class family in Kolkata, where education was a priority. My parents worked hard to ensure I had the best opportunities to learn. But what I remember most vividly from my childhood is my fascination with food. 

One of my earliest memories is from when I was six years old. My father took me to Jimmy’s Kitchen, one of Kolkata’s well-known Chinese restaurants. I saw a bowl of red chilli sauce on the table and wanted to try it, but I wasn’t allowed. I kept looking at it throughout the meal, hoping to sneak a spoonful. That curiosity for new flavours never left me. 

In school, my friends and I would walk home instead of taking the bus so we could save money and eat at a good restaurant. Chinese cuisine was my favourite, and I wanted to try as many different dishes as possible. 

Moving to Banaras for college introduced me to even more variety. Our campus had multiple canteens, and I made it a point to visit different ones every day. My friends joked that I knew the menus better than my syllabus. But for me, food wasn’t just about eating-it was an experience. 

Later, I moved to Bengaluru for work, and the city opened up a whole new world. In the 1980s, it was one of the few places in India where you could find global cuisines. That’s where I first heard of pizza, pasta, steak, and sizzlers-things that weren’t common elsewhere at the time. Work took me to different cities and countries, giving me the chance to explore even more. Over the years, I realised that no one can ever fully master Indian cuisine-every region, every community has something unique to offer. 

Seeing my love for food, my son suggested I start a blog. That’s how Foodaholix was born. Around the same time, I began researching the history of cuisines, which led to writing columns for newspapers and magazines. 

Food and travel go hand in hand. My wife and I love visiting new places, learning about traditions, and experiencing different cuisines. Beyond that, I’ve always been passionate about theatre, music, and cinema. Even now, I spend my time writing and exploring, and I look forward to many more discoveries ahead.”

– Sabyasachi Ray Chaudhuri, Food & Travel Enthusiast

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