Octagon Speakers

Monica Bhide has become a preeminent voice on modernizing traditional Indian dishes through both her published cookbooks and her popular blog, “A Life of Spice.” In her writing, Monica uses a narrative style that showcases a desire to introduce new and welcoming elements to a cuisine whose history dates back over five centuries.

Bhide has published three cookbooks and just released her first e-book “In Conversation with Exceptional Women.” A native of Delhi, India, the author has garnered numerous accolades including the 2011 Greenbrier Symposium Scholarship for Professional Food Writers and essays featured in three Best Food Writing anthologies. A frequent contributor to NPR’s Kitchen Window and AARP-The Magazine, Bhide has been published in The New York Times, Food & Wine, SELF, Cooking Light, Parents, Whole Living, Health, and Bon Appétit among many others.