Food & Drink

Shannon Kuhn: Bhavisha Bhalsod, the cook who makes house calls

A year ago, I wrote about making a Gujarati-style homemade Indian breakfast with Bhavisha Bhalsod, an Anchorage-based food lover and cook who incorporates spice and family history into her cuisine. Afterwards, I was flooded with requests for people craving a taste of her cooking. "I want breakfast with Bhavisha!" one reader exclaimed, describing rumblings in his stomach from thoughts of potato curry and deep-fried poori bread.

Good news, Alaska, the time has come.

Bhalsod, 30, launched her dream business earlier this month, called Bhavisha's Personal Cooking LLC. Meaning she will come to your house and cook for you. Which is fitting, because Bhalsod is famous for trying to feed her friends all the time. It's impossible to have a meal at her house and walk away empty-handed; usually you end up with new spices to try and containers full of leftovers.

It's Bhalsod's hope that through her business she can help busy families or individuals who may not have the time to cook every day, but still want to enjoy homemade meals around the table. One client with diabetes has asked her to create healthy lunches for her workweek. Another wants a month's worth of assorted meals that can be frozen. "Feeding my friends and family is a passion of mine," Bhalsod explains. "This is what I've always wanted to do."

Bhalsod puts life into all her meals, infusing them with flavor and energy. "Creating a meal is a process," she says. "It requires me to be adventurous, creative and thoughtful. Each item I make is crafted carefully to bring joy to those who eat it.

"And yes, I will make you breakfast."

For more info on pricing and menu ideas, go to bhavishas.com.

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Garam masala bacon

Garam masala bacon is arguably the best creation of all time by Bhavisha's cousin, Dilip Vara. Spicy and peppery with hints of cardamom and cinnamon, it's sure to become a new winter brunch staple.

1 package thin-cut bacon

Garam masala powder, to taste

Ground cumin, to taste

Ground chili powder, to tase

*Brown sugar is optional if you want to candy the bacon.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread bacon slices on a baking sheet without overlapping. Sprinkle garam masala, cumin and chili powder over the bacon and rub in with fingers. You can flip and add more seasonings on the other side, but it is not necessary. Bake for 20 minutes until crispy. If you are using thick-cut bacon, it may take 30 minutes. Remove from baking sheet and place on a paper towel to soak up the excess fat.

Shannon Kuhn lives in Anchorage and is co-founder of the Anchorage Food Mosaic. She writes about food and culture and can be reached at play@alaskadispatch.com (subject line: Shannon Kuhn).

Shannon Kuhn

Shannon Kuhn lives in Anchorage and is co-founder of the Anchorage Food Mosaic. She writes about food and culture and can be reached at play@alaskadispatch.com (subject line: Shannon Kuhn).

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