It wasn’t love at first sight, but it was surely food at first bite.
My husband and I were strangers when our extended families brought us together, but the moment he tasted my cooking, a connection sparked. He wasn’t just someone who ate to fill his belly – he truly appreciated flavors, textures, and the love poured into a dish. That’s how our journey began – not just as a couple, but as two food lovers blending our traditions, one meal at a time.
We come from two different states in India – Mumbai, Maharashtra, and Rajkot, Gujarat – just like how Indianapolis and New York have distinct lifestyles, cultures, and family traditions. Every meal we shared in our early days of marriage became an opportunity to learn about each other – our likes, dislikes, and the deep-rooted memories tied to food.
Maharashtra and Gujarat, though neighboring states, have their own unique identities when it comes to food and hospitality. Mumbai, a fast-paced metro city, thrives on the bold flavors of Misal Pav, street-style Vada Pav, and the comforting sweetness of Puran Poli. Gujarat, on the other hand, is a land where flavors balance between sweet, spicy, and tangy in dishes like Dhokla, Thepla, and Undhiyu. But beyond these well-known foods, every home has its own way of preparing, sharing, and savoring meals – shaped by traditions, family dynamics, and love.
It was truly love at first bite for Pooja and her husband. (Photo illustration by Pooja Thakkar)
My husband grew up in a nuclear family, where cooking was a solo affair – ingredients bought in small quantities, meals prepared for the day, and food eaten individually. I, on the other hand, was raised in a bustling joint family in Rajkot, where the kitchen was the heart of our home. Cooking was a collective effort – ingredients bought in bulk, shared equally, and transformed into meals with everyone’s best skills put forward. My aunt mastered savory snacks, my uncle created the most indulgent desserts, and my mother made curries that felt like a warm hug.
In our home, no one was ever treated as a guest. If you stepped in, you were family, and family must be fed! My mother, always standing by our coal stove (chulha), never failed to serve an unexpected visitor. The smoky aroma of slow-cooked dals, fresh rotis, and bubbling curries still lingers in my memory.
Now, in Noblesville, Indiana, I find myself blending our two worlds – his metro upbringing and my small-town traditions – into our own unique family culture. And though our love story didn’t start at first sight, it surely started at first bite.
Today, we proudly fuse two states, two homes, and two traditions into a shared love for F-O-O-D – and for those who love F-O-O-D!
Pooja Thakkar is working to build connections through cuisine. You can read her column each Saturday in the pages of The Reporter.