Healing with Spices with Bhavna Shivalkar Saturday 27 June

Saturday 27 June

As part of our Year of Living Well, this autumn class explores how traditional Indian cooking uses spices not only for flavour, but also for nourishment and wellbeing.

In Healing with Spices, we will cook and share a meal together while discovering how everyday ingredients used in Indian kitchens support digestion, immunity, and overall health. The dishes are simple, comforting, and grounded in seasonal wisdom — food designed to restore balance as the body moves into the cooler months.

Together we’ll prepare warming, nourishing recipes such as khichri, ginger chai, yoghurt soup, and protein-rich dals — dishes that are gentle on the body while still full of flavour and satisfaction. Along the way, Bhavna will share the cultural stories and practical knowledge behind the spices that make Indian home cooking both vibrant and restorative.

We’ll explore ingredients long valued in Indian kitchens for their health-supporting qualities, including:

• Ghee – aids digestion and nourishes the body
• Turmeric – known for its natural anti-inflammatory properties
• Ginger – supports digestion and helps strengthen immunity
• Amla (Indian Gooseberry) – rich in vitamin C and traditionally used for detoxification
• Cumin and fennel seeds – assist digestion and help reduce bloating
• Ashwagandha – traditionally used to support energy and manage stress
• Tulsi (Holy Basil) – valued for immune and respiratory support

At its heart, this class is about learning how to cook food that is seasonal, nourishing, and supportive of everyday wellbeing — the kind of cooking that can be easily carried into your own kitchen.

Bhavna Shivalkar is a Mumbai-born, Sydney-based entrepreneur with more than 12 years of experience in the food industry. Specialising in Indian cuisine and cultural storytelling, she is the founder and CEO of The Modern Desi Co, an Australian food venture that brings together time-honoured Indian culinary traditions with contemporary business practices.

Through immersive cooking classes and guided food tours, Bhavna offers experiences that go far beyond recipes, providing rich cultural insight and context. Her popular offerings — including Cooking Classes and Food Tours of Little India — aim to challenge stereotypes and deepen the understanding of Indian cuisine. As an Indian Cultural Collaborator with Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum, she also contributes to sharing and celebrating South Asian culture with broader audiences.

In January 2026, Bhavna led her second Spice & Savor Tour, guiding food lovers through 14 cities across India on a culinary journey that traces the origins of the country’s spices and flavours.

Passionate about moving the conversation beyond familiar dishes like Butter Chicken and Rogan Josh, Bhavna blends storytelling, personal memory, and practical cooking knowledge in her teaching. Her mission is to show how accessible, budget-friendly, vibrant, and deeply satisfying Indian home cooking can be — any day of the week.

Class begins at 10am, and Bhavna and the team at Moonacres look forward to welcoming you to the table.