Celebrate Women Holding Down Fort in the Kitchen

There has always been this battle of the sexes when it comes to the kitchen. Some believe – a woman's place is firmly in the kitchen and there is no place for a man. On the other hand, some believe that men make far superior cooks, since they are a majority in most kitchens. It is incredibly silly to compare, as each person, man or woman, has a different style and skill set, and both end up making fabulous chefs or cooks. Having said that, we cannot deny that there are some women who have made tremendous names for themselves as chefs or restaurant owners and we thought it is only fair to give them their due credit. Here is our list of feisty women who have been holding down the fort in their respective kitchens and earning their stripes.

Pinky Dixit from Soam - Despite multiple vegetarian restaurants in the city, some stand out more than others. Soam which serves Gujarati, Rajasthani and some Maharashtrian food is one of them. Soam is one particular joint that even the staunch non-vegetarians cannot seem to get enough of and it is all thanks to Pinky Dixit, the lady behind the restaurant. The soft spoken Pinky is full of information about her food and also contributes to some of the recipes that feature in the menu – she is quick to tell that it is her kitchen cooks who run the show. Despite her modest approach, it is Pinky who has taken over the reins of the restaurant and manages it on a daily basis.

Pooja Dhingra from Le 15 Pâtisserie - Having won numerous awards and hearts of lot of young girls, Pooja Dhingra is Mumbai's very own ‘Macaroon Queen’. This little French dessert made her famous, but apart from her pâtisserie brand, she owns her own culinary studio, a brand new café and is on the cusp of releasing her second cook book. She has become a household name and is considered a fabulous pâtissier.

Annie Bafna from The Nutcracker - Annie is not a chef by profession, but her little dream of owning her own café has turned into reality and The Nutcracker has become one of the coolest spots in town. Despite not serving any meat and being a very small area, patrons flock around her constantly and enjoy both the ambience and food. Some of the recipes, if not most are inspired from Annie's family and clearly they are recipes of success.

Rachel Goenka from The Sassy Spoon - There are a few restaurants in the city that serve great food and desserts and do not leave you disappointed. The Sassy Spoon is one such restaurant that always leaves you happy and satisfied host your meal. Co-owner Rachel Goenka is in charge of the dessert menu and has so much to offer as the menu is almost as extensive as the food one. They constantly innovate and Rachel comes up with some incredible dishes. The toffee pudding, the tiramisu and the extremely popular Sassy Stacks are just some of its bestsellers. Her seasonal desserts are exceptional and during Christmas do not miss out on the Yule Log!

Karishma Dalal from Bombay Salad Co - Karishma Dalal started a small café that specialises in salads and healthy food that became a rage over night. It is not surprising as she is the genius behind the beautiful salads and crêpes at Suzette, as she started out as a chef there. Bombay Salad Co has a menu, specially crafted by her and despite the tiny space and no main course on its menu, it is incredibly popular and almost always packed to the gills. Not bad for a café that is a little over a year old!