TESTIMONIALS
.*I recently took a class on Indian cooking. I found Chef Meenu to be an excellent instructor. She was knowledgeable in all aspects of cooking such as technique, flavor building, grocery selection and kitchen hygiene.
During the two hour class, three dishes were prepared. A chicken curry, saag paneer (spinach with cheese), and a yogurt raita, with cucumber, tomato and potatoes. Every dish was delicious. Meenu was personable and open to questions throughout the course, which contributed greatly to the learning experience. I consider myself to be an experienced and knowledgeable home cook, and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to study with Meenu. I am confident that her style would benefit cooks with all levels of experience. Her deep understanding of cooking and her pleasant teaching style made the course as valuable as it was enjoyable.*
-Barry S.
*I loved the Indian cooking class I took from Meenu. We learned to make saag paneer, vegetable rice and chicken tikka masala. Meenu was organized and professional, while at the same time warm and welcoming. The class started with sweet Indian tea and ended with a sampling of the foods she had prepared, including fresh, homemade naan that we watched Meenu make. I would definitely take a class again!*
-Becky F.
*I have now taken two Indian cooking classes from Meenu Bhasin. In the first cooking class she made chicken korma, lentils and a yogurt side dish. These dishes were about a medium level of difficulty to prepare. Meenu was very thorough in explaining and showing each step of the cooking process. She also included a list of all the ingredients and spices, and where to purchase them.
In the second class we made chicken tikka masala, saag paneer and rice with vegetables. Meenu is very good at teaching the preparation and cooking process of each dish. She goes over the ingredients and the entire process very carefully. She also leaves plenty of time for questions and discussion.
I really enjoyed taking her classes and learned a lot about Indian cooking. I strongly recommend her as a cooking teacher/chef.*
-Michelle S.
*Meenu, great to meet you today and thanks again for a terrific class! You're a great teacher and really made the recipes very accessible. Looking forward to trying them out at home. I have also signed up for your Arabian Nights cooking class.*
-David V.
*Meenu, thanks a lot for the good class today. It was great seeing how passionate you are about cooking and learning how you use the various spices. I put it to immediate use tonight and cooked the dishes you taught today, using your tandoori chicken and balti potatoes as inspiration. The toasted cumin and mustard seeds really gave the dishes a new flavor and my family loved it. I'm sure we'll soon need to refill our Indian spices!*
-Robert R.
*Meenu, My family had a wonderful time cooking and tasting indian food with you last Saturday. Though I am an accomplished cook and baker I have always been intimidated by indian cooking. No longer. Your gentle approach, your knowledge and respect for the food and the ease and flexibility with which you used the spices made indian cooking easy to grasp and accessible. You took the fear away and had introduced us to a whole new cuisine we can explore and have fun with as a cook. Thank you.*
-Cecile S.
*We were so lucky to have Chef Meenu teach at our Young Men's Service League meeting last weekend! She was amazing with the teens. Chef Meenu brought EVERYTHING she needed for our outdoor venue - food, cookware, utensils, electric burners (because we didn't have a stove), and even plates & cutlery for eating what we'd cooked! It's not an easy feat to keep 24 boys engaged and learning outdoors, with basketball courts nearby... yet her calm, playful demeanor won them over and there they were chopping vegetables for nearly an hour -enjoying themselves! In an hour and a half, Chef Meenu taught them a bit about the spices and ingredients they'd be using, instructed them on how to prepare the ingredients and guided them as they cooked it all through to a delicious completion! Our boys are juniors in high school and frankly, when they complete the surveys at the end of our meetings, it's rare to score higher than a 3.5/5. The experience with Chef Meenu received a 4.5/5 from the boys! The highest we've had in our 3 years of monthly meetings. To anyone thinking of employing Chef Meenu, I encourage you 100% to move forward. As the event planner for our boys, I worked with Chef Meenu. She was so respectful and responsive to all of our needs. The only thing we provided was a location, some electrical outlets and willing participants! She made it easy and fun for all of us. Take the guess out of your event and let Chef Meenu help you. She is confident and highly qualified to lead you in a fun culinary experience!*
-Heidi D.
*It is a true pleasure to attend one of Meenu's cooking classes. Her ease of instruction and presentation is a treat to the senses! With my 6 essential Indian spices (all organic, prepared and sold by Meenu in a kit) I have learned the art of Indian cuisine, and how easy it is to prepare dishes like chicken tikka masala or her scrumptious Indian spiced shrimp curry. What I enjoy most of all is the "one on one" instruction, being allowed to assist with preparing the dishes, having lunch, and then taking the cooked food home for the whole family to enjoy. Meenu is delightful, and such a marvelous chef!*
-Candice H.
*Thank you Meenu for such a lovely meal and evening. We all so enjoyed it and you are terrific at teaching cooking classes!*
-Melissa A.
*Thank you once again for you teaching my husband, daughter, and son in law how to cook in our home. My daughter telephoned tonight, to tell us again how she learned so much from you. She made all three dishes and they were a hit. So thank you!*
-Kathy S.
*Meenu, that was one of the best cooking presentations I have ever seen, and one of the best evenings I have had in so long. Thank you for all your work to make it so special. I would love to take another class, and am looking forward to attending a future class of yours soon. You are consummate professional!*
-Kate C.
*Meenu, congratulations on a job well done on Saturday; donating a cooking class/dinner party to our schools annual auction! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves from beginning to end. Thank you for such an informative and amazingly delicious evening. We are awed by your culinary ease and ability.*
-Elizabeth C.
*Thank you, Meenu, for a delightful cooking session and meal. Yes, the family really enjoyed all of the food. I will be back for another lesson probably in late April, or at least when I know my schedule of coming up North. Many thanks again, for imparting your knowledge and experience to me.*
-Dr. Bill W.
*We had a private Indian cooking class at our home for six guests. Meenu was warm, welcoming and well prepared. She was very passionate about her work, and it showed in the end result. She was very informative and detailed during her instruction. We all raved about the meal, as it was wonderful, with a beautiful combination of delicious flavors. I highly recommend taking a class from Meenu.*
-Lisa M.
*Dear Meenu, Thank you for a brilliant introduction to Indian cooking. You have given us a great start and my friend and I are looking forward to trying it for ourselves now. On that note, we would like to order a Masala Dabba with the mango powder.
It was great meeting you and learning about cooking, your culture and the importance of the spirituality of foods and spices.
We had a wonderful day.*
-Marty S.
*Chef Meenu was lovely to work with and her food was delectable! Organic ingredients, wonderful spices, homemade cheese and ice cream, and more! The flavors were delicious. Our guests very much enjoyed the food.*
-Johonna K.
*Chef Bhasin was very professional and nice. She is lovely and a joy to have in the kitchen.*
-Lori C.
*Dear Meenu, your cooking class was a *real* highlight of my week. We all enjoyed our dinner last night, and will enjoy the benefits during future meals.I will let friends and colleagues know about your great work - thanks so much! I had an excellent class and learned the ins and outs of Indian spices and techniques, more than worth the time and expense, which was very reasonable for the lesson, plus food to take home. Meenu does private and group classes, as well as private cooking for parties.*
-Ruth L.
*Chef Bhasin was very responsive throughout the whole process, helpful with suggestions, and always pleasant. We were very satisfied with our first experience with Meenu.*
-Kristine S.
*Chef was a delight to have in the house and the food was delicious.*
-Suzette C.
*Chef Bhasin was terrific. I had great communication from her in planning our event. She arrived right when she said she would, did a great job getting the food and dining room ready for our guests, and delivered wonderful food. She kept the food fresh and available during the duration of our party, and cleaned the entire area before departing. I would highly recommend Chef Bhasin.*
-Lauren M.
*Meenu Bhasin was punctual, friendly and dinner was great. Our guests really enjoyed it. We will definitely call her for the future events.*
-Shan S.
*Chef Meenu was wonderful. She arrived early and made a spectacular meal. I can't recommend her highly enough.*
-Tom B.
*Thanks for the great experience and meal Chef Meenu.*
-Sherry C.
*Meenu, the dinner was a great success and in no small part to your culinary skills and your ability to share your passion for cooking and teaching. I will check to see if there are any takers for your "Indian Gourmet Starter Spice Kit".
I am sure we will do this again, so I expect for there to be a repeat performance. As much for the meal as having you as our chef.
Thanks for a very wonderful evening!*
-Emerick W.
*I recently asked Meenu to conduct a cooking class for some of my clients as a client appreciation 'party' and it was a lovely elegant event, one where everyone came away having not just enjoyed the afternoon, but also having gained some knowledge about Indian spices and food preparation.
Meenu has a gift for sharing her passion and flair for cooking in an informative as well as entertaining manner!
Did I mention the smells and the tastes were great!
I can't wait for the next event which I shall ask Meenu to help me with soon!*
-Siobhan O'S.
*Meenu came to our home to teach my daughter and I how to cook some Indian dishes. She came completely prepared and had never seen our kitchen. We had recipes and information on where to buy ingredients and she took the time to explain in detail many aspects of Indian spices and methods to enhance flavors, etc. Meenu was very cheerful, professional, organized and we learned how to make 3 great dishes. End result was a lovely dinner for 6 that our family devoured! We would love to do this again to learn more!*
-Ann and Rachel T.
*Thank you very much for an awesome cooking class today. My daughter loved it, she was so proud to present her cooking to our whole family. Her Dad especially loves Indian food.*
-Jingjing X.
*Thank you so much Meenu. My son really enjoyed your summer cooking camp.
We are looking forward to making your recipes together.*
-Joy G.
*My daughter loved your class Meenu, thanks so much. We will recommend you and keep you in mind for future dining events.*
-Katie B.
*Meenu has been teaching cooking camp at La Toque de Cindy for two years now.
She's a pleasure to work with and I get so many lovely notes of appreciation from the students and the parents of the students about her classes.
She has a wonderful method to teach the kids about various cultures by teaching young chefs how to cook cuisines from various countries.*
-Cindy La Toque.
*It was great working with Chef Meenu. She knows a lot about cooking and the science of cooking too.*
-Amy H.
*Chef Meenu taught a class at our dorm at Stanford University this month of February 2018. We had a great time learning some of the basics about Indian spices and applying them in Indian cuisine. The dishes she prepared were fantastic. Meenu was very accommodating and did the lesson in our kitchen! All the ingredients she used were expertly chosen and she advised us on how to get started cooking Indian cuisine on our own.*
-Alicia D.
*Thank you so much for the wonderful cooking class you have been teaching at the Woodland School, as my sons have been thoroughly enjoying it. They often come home with many tales and we make their recipes! They have been cooking up many bananas lately.*
-Joan Marie G.
*Thanks so much, Meenu. My daughter and her friend loved your class.
Meenu is a wonderful teacher, and teens love her. My daughter and her friend are serious about cooking, and they were looking for a cooking class that was a little more challenging and interesting than the standard classes offered for kids.
Meenu’s cooking camp fit the bill and taught them sophisticated recipes that they really enjoyed making (and eating). Better yet, they’ve been able to reproduce the recipes at home with great success.
Meenu also has a terrific sense of humor and a fun style of presenting cooking techniques. The girls can’t wait for another week of cooking camp with Meenu.
They'll be back in a few weeks for the pizza and pasta class.*
-Maggie L.
*Thank you Meenu! Our daughter came home yesterday so excited to cook us some of the recipes she learned this week in your cooking class for dinner, and said you were a fun and informative teacher.
She looks forward to her next class!
We'll definitely keep you in mind if we ever need a chef for an event!*
-Paul E.
*Thank you for the recipes, Meenu. My daughter had a wonderful time at cooking camp with you this week!
She’s eager to demonstrate her cooking skills for us here at home.*
-Nicole A.
*My two sons took cooking classes with Chef Meenu over two years and had a wonderful time with her. She is very patient and kind and gets the kids very excited about lots of different foods. My sons came home trying all sorts of dishes that I have never thought to try at home. They even started to give me tips and help in the kitchen. It was a great experience, she gave them good knowledge and started a love of cooking for them. I highly recommend her classes.*
-Laura H.
*Meenu, Wow, my daughter has really loved your cooking classes! It's been transformative - thank you for opening her eyes to the world of cooking!
Do you do summer classes or other programs throughout the year?*
-Maya W.
*Chef Meenu, I wanted to thank you for teaching Corinne cooking. She loved your class and learned so much! I hope she can take it again next session. Are you teaching again, and if so, do you change the menus?
Tonight we made your Greek menu. So fun.*
-Chelyn B.
*Dear Chef Meenu, thank you for yet another wonderful cooking season!*
-Risha H.
*My son just LOVES your cooking class. He comes home every week and tells about what he has cooked, and more importantly, what he has eaten!*
-Terra T.
*Thank you so much for these recipes Meenu, they are just fabulous.
My daughter has really been missing your fantastic cooking classes. You really were terrific. We made the French toast you showed them, however according to her, it didn’t taste as good!
Do you do private cooking classes for kids? I know my son (age 9) would love cooking classes. I know I would be able to get a little group together?*
-Gabriela M.
*Dear Chef Meenu,
Thank you so much for the most enjoyable cooking/baking class last week. The focaccia bread came out so nicely and looked just amazing! You are a talented teacher and I thoroughly enjoyed your instruction. I learned a great deal on cooking/baking as well wonderful tips on organization and etiquette. You have such a pleasant demeanor and the class was enjoyable to say the least. I look forward to my next class with you.
I will definitely be taking more lessons from you.
Also, I’m going to research what I can ask you to teach me. I have to get input from my family and friends as they do all of my taste testing!*
-Samia S.
*I learned so much from Chef Meenu. I can make chicken tikka masala and not mess up the consistency of the sauce.
Chef Meenu is super nice, detailed oriented and I was able to clearly follow her, adjust the flavors and make the chicken super tasty!*
-Rockoly.com client-Mikhail G.
*For some people cooking comes easy, and for some not so easy. I have not made black dal lentils before and all of my family loved the dal. Thank you Chef Meenu for an informative virtual cooking class, as I enjoyed and learnt alot and thanks also for being patient with me. My daughter said the dal was 10 out of 10! No one is shy in my family when it comes to telling me how my food is, as they know I want to hear the truth, so that I can improve.*
-K. T.
*Chef Meenu, I just wanted to say thank you. My daughter seems to really enjoy your virtual cooking class, and our family gets a DELICIOUS home-cooked meal every Friday night, so thank you for making it such a fun experience for the kids!*
-Sharon C.
*My 9-year-old daughter took a virtual 12-week cooking course with Chef Meenu in Fall 2020. We weren't sure what to expect from an online cooking class, and Chef Meenu blew us away. She is so dynamic and interactive, it's like she was right here with us in our kitchen! She oversaw a group of 9-13 year olds with pretty advanced recipes, helped them hone their knife and cooking skills and create a lovely variety of recipes in their own homes. She really respects her students. I'm so impressed with how she's gotten to know our daughter so well throughout the course and given her insightful tips by working with her and observing over Zoom. Best of all: we've had delicious Friday night family dinners for months! Thanks Meenu, can't wait for the next course.
My daughter wanted me to send you pictures of her foccacia Bread. Thank you so much for teaching this amazing virtual cooking class!. You are such a gifted teacher. She has loved the class and we have loved our Friday night dinners!*
-Jody L.
*Chef Meenu, you are amazing. Thank you so much for giving my child such a special virtual cooking/baking class birthday gift and for making her really feel loved and appreciated. She doesn't like to be the center of attention - but I could tell that she really liked it. THANK YOU. And the cake turned out amazing. It was delicious. So delicious, that I think we are going to make another one for more family birthdays this weekend. The strawberry ice cream cake was really good. Wow, It's a keeper!*
-Maya W.
*Chef Meenu, my daughter has LOVED your virtual cooking and baking class each week! We appreciate all you do and how talented you are teaching such a hands on course virtually. We have been so impressed with your ability to teach and engage kids in cooking over a virtual medium. You have a wonderful way of explaining techniques and assisting each child in executing the recipe. It is my daughter's favorite after school class that she has taken!*
-Jeanne C.
*I really liked Chef Meenu's virtual cooking and baking class because she teaches you very important things like always turn your heat down before you add an ingredient. Also, all of her recipes are delicious!*
-Annalise C.
*Chef Meenu, much thanks for the last seven weeks of virtual cooking/baking classes for my daughter and her school classmates. In person would’ve been much better, but we learned to adapt under the circumstances. My daughter really gained confidence and a few weeks ago announced, “I want to make cinammon buns”. We found a recipe from America’s Test Kitchen for Kids and made a delicious breakfast treat. That would not have been possible, if not for your classes laying some important foundations.*
-David W.
*Our son has been taking cooking classes with Chef Meenu since the 2nd grade. I knew we landed on an amazing class and teacher when I would pick him up from class, and his entire face would be beaming with pride! We have been taking cooking classes with Meenu for 3 years now, and it has been so fun!
Not only are the recipes great, but she also helps the kids believe in themselves (because she completely believes in them!)
She has such a wonderful disposition and is so good on her feet. She models such warmth and positivity, and I am always amazed by how she can think on the fly with the comments and challenges the kids present in virtual cooking class.
It's been a lot of fun helping my son cook. Thank you for all you do to make this amazing and fun virtual cooking class happen.
I would highly recommend Chef Meenu to anyone who has a kid interested in cooking. She has been amazing.*
-Jo Anna C.
*That might just be the best chocolate pudding we’ve ever tasted in our lives! And my youngest daughter lives for chocolate, so she was in heaven! Thanks for another fun virtual cooking session.*
-Jamie C.
* The braided Cheese Bread is delicious! My daughter and I had so much fun with you today during virtual baking class!*
-Jamie C.
*Hi Chef Meenu, I just wanted to send you a quick note, thanking you for a wonderful year of cooking. I know my son has been pretty much an independent actor over the past several months (which I'm sure isn't much fun for you as a teacher), but I can tell you he has really enjoyed it. And it was the confidence he got from being in the class in the first half year -- when he was following along with you and actively participating much more often -- that has enabled him to be more independent now. And for me it's been great, since he always looks forward to trying the new recipes each week. Prior to this, he always liked cooking with me, but it was more sporadic -- and mostly he saw it as me doing the cooking and he'd just stir things now and then. Now he proudly does almost all the work himself, and tweeks the recipes along the way with his "secret ingredients". Not always successful additions I have to say (every dessert he makes is overwhelmed by the amount of almond extract he puts in :->), but I love that he's willing to experiment on his own and not just be a slave to the recipe. A great life skill!*
-Jeff W.
*Chef Meenu, oh my goodness, that was so special. Thank you so much for helping us make this amazing food as a family. I don't think we've all been together since my wedding many years ago, how fun to do it this way and celebrate my daughter's birthday virtually at the same time. We called around to see everyone eating their delicious gnocchi dinners after the class. They were all so impressed by you of course. I was especially delighted to see my dad making fresh pasta like his mom used to make!*
-Jody L.
*Chef Meenu, as always - thanks for inspiring my daughter to try new foods and create new dish inventions. She really enjoyed making the Kebabs yesterday!
Also, I didn’t get a picture of the full Pineapple Upside Down Cake before some of it got eaten … but then we made an owl out of what was left on the plate. Thanks for the lovely lesson today too as we really enjoyed it and the cake came out delicious!*
-Bella L.
*My daughter enjoyed your virtual summer cooking/baking camp. I’m glad that you made cooking a positive experience. By doing so, she will want to cook more in the future.*
-Sharolle P.
*Chef Meenu, we really appreciate the time you took to share your expertise with the participants of the Girls Mentor Program at Woodland School. The girls had so much fun and enjoyed cooking and sharing a meal. Thank you for a wonderful event!*
-Girls Mentor Program-Woodland School.
*We had Chef Meenu teach a cooking class for our daughter’s 9th birthday party and it was such an incredible success! Usually with a group of 11 3rd to 5th graders, there will be someone who isn’t enjoying the activity, but Chef Meenu held all of the kids’ interest the whole time! Meenu was courteous and professional from start to finish. The children all did age-appropriate prep work and cooking, and I didn’t even need to be in the room. (Though I enjoyed watching, so I stayed.) Not to mention that the food was delicious and the even the picky kids were happy. I would hire Chef Meenu for an event again without hesitation.*
-Eve P.
*Thank you so much for taking the time to teach us cooking. I really enjoyed it.*
-Emilia B.
*Thanks so much for teaching us how to cook food, that I cooked myself and ate!*
-Natalie L.
*Thank you for giving us your time to teach me new dishes. I really liked the tacos.*
-Kaya A.
*Thank you for sharing your culinary skills and taking time out of your busy schedule.*
-Avni A.
*Thank you for the best Mexican tacos I've ever had and the best Indian cardamom rice pudding too.*
-Liv B.
*Thank you for your time and for teaching us cooking.*
-Kaitlyn C.
*Thank you for helping us make amazing tacos!*
-Isabella J.
*Thank you for the cooking class, the food was great.*
-Ella J.
*Thank you so much for the cooking class, your time and recipes.*
-Izzy L.
*Our family is extremely fond of Chef Meenu and in her fan club. My ten year old son takes a weekly cooking class from Chef Meenu after school at his elementary school.
In addition we had Chef Meenu come for a family cooking class at home for a special family birthday celebration. It was fabulous and we cannot wait to do it again!
We all had so much fun and learned a lot about Indian cooking techniques. Chef Meenu engages people of all ages in the experience and art of cooking.
She makes the cooking classes fun, educational and the food that is created is so delicious. We are so grateful to know her and call her a friend and our favorite chef!*
Lindsay E.
*Thank you for the wonderful birthday party and teaching the kids some serious practical skills. We've had crepes EVERY DAY this week for breakfast! We appreciate you!* Melissa N.
*Chef Meenu, if I wanted a better cooking teacher, which I don’t, well then I would probably fail in cooking. You have inspired me from day one to love cooking. If I didn’t meet you, then most likely I would never even think about cooking, but because I met you all that changed. You are my inspiration for a lot of the things that I do today and I love that even though you have some time pressure when teaching cooking classes, you don’t really pressure the kids. Even though I sometimes misbehave, you don’t get me into trouble, as you just say that I will be on a warning. I still remember the time when I was at school, walking to your class and thinking about what was on the delicious menu. So, remember, I will always love the memories of you!* A.B.
*Thank you for cooking with me in your cooking class, as I have really enjoyed cooking with you. Thank you for this wonderful experience that I get with you and I really appreciate how much you care for me. Thank you so much for always just being so nice and kind, and helping me to learn how to cook. Before, I did not know how to cook, but now I know because you taught me, so thank you for doing this. You have really made a change in my life, so thank you so much for just being the person who I can rely on and talk to!* S.H.
During the two hour class, three dishes were prepared. A chicken curry, saag paneer (spinach with cheese), and a yogurt raita, with cucumber, tomato and potatoes. Every dish was delicious. Meenu was personable and open to questions throughout the course, which contributed greatly to the learning experience. I consider myself to be an experienced and knowledgeable home cook, and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to study with Meenu. I am confident that her style would benefit cooks with all levels of experience. Her deep understanding of cooking and her pleasant teaching style made the course as valuable as it was enjoyable.*
-Barry S.
*I loved the Indian cooking class I took from Meenu. We learned to make saag paneer, vegetable rice and chicken tikka masala. Meenu was organized and professional, while at the same time warm and welcoming. The class started with sweet Indian tea and ended with a sampling of the foods she had prepared, including fresh, homemade naan that we watched Meenu make. I would definitely take a class again!*
-Becky F.
*I have now taken two Indian cooking classes from Meenu Bhasin. In the first cooking class she made chicken korma, lentils and a yogurt side dish. These dishes were about a medium level of difficulty to prepare. Meenu was very thorough in explaining and showing each step of the cooking process. She also included a list of all the ingredients and spices, and where to purchase them.
In the second class we made chicken tikka masala, saag paneer and rice with vegetables. Meenu is very good at teaching the preparation and cooking process of each dish. She goes over the ingredients and the entire process very carefully. She also leaves plenty of time for questions and discussion.
I really enjoyed taking her classes and learned a lot about Indian cooking. I strongly recommend her as a cooking teacher/chef.*
-Michelle S.
*Meenu, great to meet you today and thanks again for a terrific class! You're a great teacher and really made the recipes very accessible. Looking forward to trying them out at home. I have also signed up for your Arabian Nights cooking class.*
-David V.
*Meenu, thanks a lot for the good class today. It was great seeing how passionate you are about cooking and learning how you use the various spices. I put it to immediate use tonight and cooked the dishes you taught today, using your tandoori chicken and balti potatoes as inspiration. The toasted cumin and mustard seeds really gave the dishes a new flavor and my family loved it. I'm sure we'll soon need to refill our Indian spices!*
-Robert R.
*Meenu, My family had a wonderful time cooking and tasting indian food with you last Saturday. Though I am an accomplished cook and baker I have always been intimidated by indian cooking. No longer. Your gentle approach, your knowledge and respect for the food and the ease and flexibility with which you used the spices made indian cooking easy to grasp and accessible. You took the fear away and had introduced us to a whole new cuisine we can explore and have fun with as a cook. Thank you.*
-Cecile S.
*We were so lucky to have Chef Meenu teach at our Young Men's Service League meeting last weekend! She was amazing with the teens. Chef Meenu brought EVERYTHING she needed for our outdoor venue - food, cookware, utensils, electric burners (because we didn't have a stove), and even plates & cutlery for eating what we'd cooked! It's not an easy feat to keep 24 boys engaged and learning outdoors, with basketball courts nearby... yet her calm, playful demeanor won them over and there they were chopping vegetables for nearly an hour -enjoying themselves! In an hour and a half, Chef Meenu taught them a bit about the spices and ingredients they'd be using, instructed them on how to prepare the ingredients and guided them as they cooked it all through to a delicious completion! Our boys are juniors in high school and frankly, when they complete the surveys at the end of our meetings, it's rare to score higher than a 3.5/5. The experience with Chef Meenu received a 4.5/5 from the boys! The highest we've had in our 3 years of monthly meetings. To anyone thinking of employing Chef Meenu, I encourage you 100% to move forward. As the event planner for our boys, I worked with Chef Meenu. She was so respectful and responsive to all of our needs. The only thing we provided was a location, some electrical outlets and willing participants! She made it easy and fun for all of us. Take the guess out of your event and let Chef Meenu help you. She is confident and highly qualified to lead you in a fun culinary experience!*
-Heidi D.
*It is a true pleasure to attend one of Meenu's cooking classes. Her ease of instruction and presentation is a treat to the senses! With my 6 essential Indian spices (all organic, prepared and sold by Meenu in a kit) I have learned the art of Indian cuisine, and how easy it is to prepare dishes like chicken tikka masala or her scrumptious Indian spiced shrimp curry. What I enjoy most of all is the "one on one" instruction, being allowed to assist with preparing the dishes, having lunch, and then taking the cooked food home for the whole family to enjoy. Meenu is delightful, and such a marvelous chef!*
-Candice H.
*Thank you Meenu for such a lovely meal and evening. We all so enjoyed it and you are terrific at teaching cooking classes!*
-Melissa A.
*Thank you once again for you teaching my husband, daughter, and son in law how to cook in our home. My daughter telephoned tonight, to tell us again how she learned so much from you. She made all three dishes and they were a hit. So thank you!*
-Kathy S.
*Meenu, that was one of the best cooking presentations I have ever seen, and one of the best evenings I have had in so long. Thank you for all your work to make it so special. I would love to take another class, and am looking forward to attending a future class of yours soon. You are consummate professional!*
-Kate C.
*Meenu, congratulations on a job well done on Saturday; donating a cooking class/dinner party to our schools annual auction! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves from beginning to end. Thank you for such an informative and amazingly delicious evening. We are awed by your culinary ease and ability.*
-Elizabeth C.
*Thank you, Meenu, for a delightful cooking session and meal. Yes, the family really enjoyed all of the food. I will be back for another lesson probably in late April, or at least when I know my schedule of coming up North. Many thanks again, for imparting your knowledge and experience to me.*
-Dr. Bill W.
*We had a private Indian cooking class at our home for six guests. Meenu was warm, welcoming and well prepared. She was very passionate about her work, and it showed in the end result. She was very informative and detailed during her instruction. We all raved about the meal, as it was wonderful, with a beautiful combination of delicious flavors. I highly recommend taking a class from Meenu.*
-Lisa M.
*Dear Meenu, Thank you for a brilliant introduction to Indian cooking. You have given us a great start and my friend and I are looking forward to trying it for ourselves now. On that note, we would like to order a Masala Dabba with the mango powder.
It was great meeting you and learning about cooking, your culture and the importance of the spirituality of foods and spices.
We had a wonderful day.*
-Marty S.
*Chef Meenu was lovely to work with and her food was delectable! Organic ingredients, wonderful spices, homemade cheese and ice cream, and more! The flavors were delicious. Our guests very much enjoyed the food.*
-Johonna K.
*Chef Bhasin was very professional and nice. She is lovely and a joy to have in the kitchen.*
-Lori C.
*Dear Meenu, your cooking class was a *real* highlight of my week. We all enjoyed our dinner last night, and will enjoy the benefits during future meals.I will let friends and colleagues know about your great work - thanks so much! I had an excellent class and learned the ins and outs of Indian spices and techniques, more than worth the time and expense, which was very reasonable for the lesson, plus food to take home. Meenu does private and group classes, as well as private cooking for parties.*
-Ruth L.
*Chef Bhasin was very responsive throughout the whole process, helpful with suggestions, and always pleasant. We were very satisfied with our first experience with Meenu.*
-Kristine S.
*Chef was a delight to have in the house and the food was delicious.*
-Suzette C.
*Chef Bhasin was terrific. I had great communication from her in planning our event. She arrived right when she said she would, did a great job getting the food and dining room ready for our guests, and delivered wonderful food. She kept the food fresh and available during the duration of our party, and cleaned the entire area before departing. I would highly recommend Chef Bhasin.*
-Lauren M.
*Meenu Bhasin was punctual, friendly and dinner was great. Our guests really enjoyed it. We will definitely call her for the future events.*
-Shan S.
*Chef Meenu was wonderful. She arrived early and made a spectacular meal. I can't recommend her highly enough.*
-Tom B.
*Thanks for the great experience and meal Chef Meenu.*
-Sherry C.
*Meenu, the dinner was a great success and in no small part to your culinary skills and your ability to share your passion for cooking and teaching. I will check to see if there are any takers for your "Indian Gourmet Starter Spice Kit".
I am sure we will do this again, so I expect for there to be a repeat performance. As much for the meal as having you as our chef.
Thanks for a very wonderful evening!*
-Emerick W.
*I recently asked Meenu to conduct a cooking class for some of my clients as a client appreciation 'party' and it was a lovely elegant event, one where everyone came away having not just enjoyed the afternoon, but also having gained some knowledge about Indian spices and food preparation.
Meenu has a gift for sharing her passion and flair for cooking in an informative as well as entertaining manner!
Did I mention the smells and the tastes were great!
I can't wait for the next event which I shall ask Meenu to help me with soon!*
-Siobhan O'S.
*Meenu came to our home to teach my daughter and I how to cook some Indian dishes. She came completely prepared and had never seen our kitchen. We had recipes and information on where to buy ingredients and she took the time to explain in detail many aspects of Indian spices and methods to enhance flavors, etc. Meenu was very cheerful, professional, organized and we learned how to make 3 great dishes. End result was a lovely dinner for 6 that our family devoured! We would love to do this again to learn more!*
-Ann and Rachel T.
*Thank you very much for an awesome cooking class today. My daughter loved it, she was so proud to present her cooking to our whole family. Her Dad especially loves Indian food.*
-Jingjing X.
*Thank you so much Meenu. My son really enjoyed your summer cooking camp.
We are looking forward to making your recipes together.*
-Joy G.
*My daughter loved your class Meenu, thanks so much. We will recommend you and keep you in mind for future dining events.*
-Katie B.
*Meenu has been teaching cooking camp at La Toque de Cindy for two years now.
She's a pleasure to work with and I get so many lovely notes of appreciation from the students and the parents of the students about her classes.
She has a wonderful method to teach the kids about various cultures by teaching young chefs how to cook cuisines from various countries.*
-Cindy La Toque.
*It was great working with Chef Meenu. She knows a lot about cooking and the science of cooking too.*
-Amy H.
*Chef Meenu taught a class at our dorm at Stanford University this month of February 2018. We had a great time learning some of the basics about Indian spices and applying them in Indian cuisine. The dishes she prepared were fantastic. Meenu was very accommodating and did the lesson in our kitchen! All the ingredients she used were expertly chosen and she advised us on how to get started cooking Indian cuisine on our own.*
-Alicia D.
*Thank you so much for the wonderful cooking class you have been teaching at the Woodland School, as my sons have been thoroughly enjoying it. They often come home with many tales and we make their recipes! They have been cooking up many bananas lately.*
-Joan Marie G.
*Thanks so much, Meenu. My daughter and her friend loved your class.
Meenu is a wonderful teacher, and teens love her. My daughter and her friend are serious about cooking, and they were looking for a cooking class that was a little more challenging and interesting than the standard classes offered for kids.
Meenu’s cooking camp fit the bill and taught them sophisticated recipes that they really enjoyed making (and eating). Better yet, they’ve been able to reproduce the recipes at home with great success.
Meenu also has a terrific sense of humor and a fun style of presenting cooking techniques. The girls can’t wait for another week of cooking camp with Meenu.
They'll be back in a few weeks for the pizza and pasta class.*
-Maggie L.
*Thank you Meenu! Our daughter came home yesterday so excited to cook us some of the recipes she learned this week in your cooking class for dinner, and said you were a fun and informative teacher.
She looks forward to her next class!
We'll definitely keep you in mind if we ever need a chef for an event!*
-Paul E.
*Thank you for the recipes, Meenu. My daughter had a wonderful time at cooking camp with you this week!
She’s eager to demonstrate her cooking skills for us here at home.*
-Nicole A.
*My two sons took cooking classes with Chef Meenu over two years and had a wonderful time with her. She is very patient and kind and gets the kids very excited about lots of different foods. My sons came home trying all sorts of dishes that I have never thought to try at home. They even started to give me tips and help in the kitchen. It was a great experience, she gave them good knowledge and started a love of cooking for them. I highly recommend her classes.*
-Laura H.
*Meenu, Wow, my daughter has really loved your cooking classes! It's been transformative - thank you for opening her eyes to the world of cooking!
Do you do summer classes or other programs throughout the year?*
-Maya W.
*Chef Meenu, I wanted to thank you for teaching Corinne cooking. She loved your class and learned so much! I hope she can take it again next session. Are you teaching again, and if so, do you change the menus?
Tonight we made your Greek menu. So fun.*
-Chelyn B.
*Dear Chef Meenu, thank you for yet another wonderful cooking season!*
-Risha H.
*My son just LOVES your cooking class. He comes home every week and tells about what he has cooked, and more importantly, what he has eaten!*
-Terra T.
*Thank you so much for these recipes Meenu, they are just fabulous.
My daughter has really been missing your fantastic cooking classes. You really were terrific. We made the French toast you showed them, however according to her, it didn’t taste as good!
Do you do private cooking classes for kids? I know my son (age 9) would love cooking classes. I know I would be able to get a little group together?*
-Gabriela M.
*Dear Chef Meenu,
Thank you so much for the most enjoyable cooking/baking class last week. The focaccia bread came out so nicely and looked just amazing! You are a talented teacher and I thoroughly enjoyed your instruction. I learned a great deal on cooking/baking as well wonderful tips on organization and etiquette. You have such a pleasant demeanor and the class was enjoyable to say the least. I look forward to my next class with you.
I will definitely be taking more lessons from you.
Also, I’m going to research what I can ask you to teach me. I have to get input from my family and friends as they do all of my taste testing!*
-Samia S.
*I learned so much from Chef Meenu. I can make chicken tikka masala and not mess up the consistency of the sauce.
Chef Meenu is super nice, detailed oriented and I was able to clearly follow her, adjust the flavors and make the chicken super tasty!*
-Rockoly.com client-Mikhail G.
*For some people cooking comes easy, and for some not so easy. I have not made black dal lentils before and all of my family loved the dal. Thank you Chef Meenu for an informative virtual cooking class, as I enjoyed and learnt alot and thanks also for being patient with me. My daughter said the dal was 10 out of 10! No one is shy in my family when it comes to telling me how my food is, as they know I want to hear the truth, so that I can improve.*
-K. T.
*Chef Meenu, I just wanted to say thank you. My daughter seems to really enjoy your virtual cooking class, and our family gets a DELICIOUS home-cooked meal every Friday night, so thank you for making it such a fun experience for the kids!*
-Sharon C.
*My 9-year-old daughter took a virtual 12-week cooking course with Chef Meenu in Fall 2020. We weren't sure what to expect from an online cooking class, and Chef Meenu blew us away. She is so dynamic and interactive, it's like she was right here with us in our kitchen! She oversaw a group of 9-13 year olds with pretty advanced recipes, helped them hone their knife and cooking skills and create a lovely variety of recipes in their own homes. She really respects her students. I'm so impressed with how she's gotten to know our daughter so well throughout the course and given her insightful tips by working with her and observing over Zoom. Best of all: we've had delicious Friday night family dinners for months! Thanks Meenu, can't wait for the next course.
My daughter wanted me to send you pictures of her foccacia Bread. Thank you so much for teaching this amazing virtual cooking class!. You are such a gifted teacher. She has loved the class and we have loved our Friday night dinners!*
-Jody L.
*Chef Meenu, you are amazing. Thank you so much for giving my child such a special virtual cooking/baking class birthday gift and for making her really feel loved and appreciated. She doesn't like to be the center of attention - but I could tell that she really liked it. THANK YOU. And the cake turned out amazing. It was delicious. So delicious, that I think we are going to make another one for more family birthdays this weekend. The strawberry ice cream cake was really good. Wow, It's a keeper!*
-Maya W.
*Chef Meenu, my daughter has LOVED your virtual cooking and baking class each week! We appreciate all you do and how talented you are teaching such a hands on course virtually. We have been so impressed with your ability to teach and engage kids in cooking over a virtual medium. You have a wonderful way of explaining techniques and assisting each child in executing the recipe. It is my daughter's favorite after school class that she has taken!*
-Jeanne C.
*I really liked Chef Meenu's virtual cooking and baking class because she teaches you very important things like always turn your heat down before you add an ingredient. Also, all of her recipes are delicious!*
-Annalise C.
*Chef Meenu, much thanks for the last seven weeks of virtual cooking/baking classes for my daughter and her school classmates. In person would’ve been much better, but we learned to adapt under the circumstances. My daughter really gained confidence and a few weeks ago announced, “I want to make cinammon buns”. We found a recipe from America’s Test Kitchen for Kids and made a delicious breakfast treat. That would not have been possible, if not for your classes laying some important foundations.*
-David W.
*Our son has been taking cooking classes with Chef Meenu since the 2nd grade. I knew we landed on an amazing class and teacher when I would pick him up from class, and his entire face would be beaming with pride! We have been taking cooking classes with Meenu for 3 years now, and it has been so fun!
Not only are the recipes great, but she also helps the kids believe in themselves (because she completely believes in them!)
She has such a wonderful disposition and is so good on her feet. She models such warmth and positivity, and I am always amazed by how she can think on the fly with the comments and challenges the kids present in virtual cooking class.
It's been a lot of fun helping my son cook. Thank you for all you do to make this amazing and fun virtual cooking class happen.
I would highly recommend Chef Meenu to anyone who has a kid interested in cooking. She has been amazing.*
-Jo Anna C.
*That might just be the best chocolate pudding we’ve ever tasted in our lives! And my youngest daughter lives for chocolate, so she was in heaven! Thanks for another fun virtual cooking session.*
-Jamie C.
* The braided Cheese Bread is delicious! My daughter and I had so much fun with you today during virtual baking class!*
-Jamie C.
*Hi Chef Meenu, I just wanted to send you a quick note, thanking you for a wonderful year of cooking. I know my son has been pretty much an independent actor over the past several months (which I'm sure isn't much fun for you as a teacher), but I can tell you he has really enjoyed it. And it was the confidence he got from being in the class in the first half year -- when he was following along with you and actively participating much more often -- that has enabled him to be more independent now. And for me it's been great, since he always looks forward to trying the new recipes each week. Prior to this, he always liked cooking with me, but it was more sporadic -- and mostly he saw it as me doing the cooking and he'd just stir things now and then. Now he proudly does almost all the work himself, and tweeks the recipes along the way with his "secret ingredients". Not always successful additions I have to say (every dessert he makes is overwhelmed by the amount of almond extract he puts in :->), but I love that he's willing to experiment on his own and not just be a slave to the recipe. A great life skill!*
-Jeff W.
*Chef Meenu, oh my goodness, that was so special. Thank you so much for helping us make this amazing food as a family. I don't think we've all been together since my wedding many years ago, how fun to do it this way and celebrate my daughter's birthday virtually at the same time. We called around to see everyone eating their delicious gnocchi dinners after the class. They were all so impressed by you of course. I was especially delighted to see my dad making fresh pasta like his mom used to make!*
-Jody L.
*Chef Meenu, as always - thanks for inspiring my daughter to try new foods and create new dish inventions. She really enjoyed making the Kebabs yesterday!
Also, I didn’t get a picture of the full Pineapple Upside Down Cake before some of it got eaten … but then we made an owl out of what was left on the plate. Thanks for the lovely lesson today too as we really enjoyed it and the cake came out delicious!*
-Bella L.
*My daughter enjoyed your virtual summer cooking/baking camp. I’m glad that you made cooking a positive experience. By doing so, she will want to cook more in the future.*
-Sharolle P.
*Chef Meenu, we really appreciate the time you took to share your expertise with the participants of the Girls Mentor Program at Woodland School. The girls had so much fun and enjoyed cooking and sharing a meal. Thank you for a wonderful event!*
-Girls Mentor Program-Woodland School.
*We had Chef Meenu teach a cooking class for our daughter’s 9th birthday party and it was such an incredible success! Usually with a group of 11 3rd to 5th graders, there will be someone who isn’t enjoying the activity, but Chef Meenu held all of the kids’ interest the whole time! Meenu was courteous and professional from start to finish. The children all did age-appropriate prep work and cooking, and I didn’t even need to be in the room. (Though I enjoyed watching, so I stayed.) Not to mention that the food was delicious and the even the picky kids were happy. I would hire Chef Meenu for an event again without hesitation.*
-Eve P.
*Thank you so much for taking the time to teach us cooking. I really enjoyed it.*
-Emilia B.
*Thanks so much for teaching us how to cook food, that I cooked myself and ate!*
-Natalie L.
*Thank you for giving us your time to teach me new dishes. I really liked the tacos.*
-Kaya A.
*Thank you for sharing your culinary skills and taking time out of your busy schedule.*
-Avni A.
*Thank you for the best Mexican tacos I've ever had and the best Indian cardamom rice pudding too.*
-Liv B.
*Thank you for your time and for teaching us cooking.*
-Kaitlyn C.
*Thank you for helping us make amazing tacos!*
-Isabella J.
*Thank you for the cooking class, the food was great.*
-Ella J.
*Thank you so much for the cooking class, your time and recipes.*
-Izzy L.
*Our family is extremely fond of Chef Meenu and in her fan club. My ten year old son takes a weekly cooking class from Chef Meenu after school at his elementary school.
In addition we had Chef Meenu come for a family cooking class at home for a special family birthday celebration. It was fabulous and we cannot wait to do it again!
We all had so much fun and learned a lot about Indian cooking techniques. Chef Meenu engages people of all ages in the experience and art of cooking.
She makes the cooking classes fun, educational and the food that is created is so delicious. We are so grateful to know her and call her a friend and our favorite chef!*
Lindsay E.
*Thank you for the wonderful birthday party and teaching the kids some serious practical skills. We've had crepes EVERY DAY this week for breakfast! We appreciate you!* Melissa N.
*Chef Meenu, if I wanted a better cooking teacher, which I don’t, well then I would probably fail in cooking. You have inspired me from day one to love cooking. If I didn’t meet you, then most likely I would never even think about cooking, but because I met you all that changed. You are my inspiration for a lot of the things that I do today and I love that even though you have some time pressure when teaching cooking classes, you don’t really pressure the kids. Even though I sometimes misbehave, you don’t get me into trouble, as you just say that I will be on a warning. I still remember the time when I was at school, walking to your class and thinking about what was on the delicious menu. So, remember, I will always love the memories of you!* A.B.
*Thank you for cooking with me in your cooking class, as I have really enjoyed cooking with you. Thank you for this wonderful experience that I get with you and I really appreciate how much you care for me. Thank you so much for always just being so nice and kind, and helping me to learn how to cook. Before, I did not know how to cook, but now I know because you taught me, so thank you for doing this. You have really made a change in my life, so thank you so much for just being the person who I can rely on and talk to!* S.H.