<div><div><p>The culinary world needs no introduction to the celebrated cookbook author, TV host and renowned chef the late Tarla Dalal. It was no surprise then when her gifted daughter launched her first cookbook &ndash; Modern Vegetarian Recipies &ndash; on the birth anniversary of her beloved mother. FoodService India speaks to Renu Dalal about her mother&lsquo;s storied culinary legacy and how her own career has panned out.</p></div></div>

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The cookbook originated as a result of Tarla Dalal’s demise that led to a huge vacuum in the lives of her children. As gratitude to her beloved mother, Renu penned various recipes after experimenting with them in her own kitchen. Her extensive travels have also helped fuel her passion for creating vegetarian options for the modern palate. The cookbook has various modern vegetarian recipes which are inventive, simple and easy to follow. These recipes blend a perfect fusion of eastern and western styles of cooking and have been authored keeping in mind a diverse age group - children and adults, both young and old. The book is divided into five sections, namely, starters, salads, main course, desserts and basic recipes. While some of the starters could be used as a main course or as a wholesome midday snack, the salad options are simply easy to make and cover a wide spectrum of ingredients. In an exchange with Food Service India, Renu Dalal offers personal insight into the inspiration behind her first cookbook and some of her favourite recipes.

Your mother must have had a huge influence in shaping your culinary philosophy. What are the similarities and the divergences between the two of you with regard to your individual approaches to cooking and cuisines?

My mother’s first cookbook was launched in 1974 and is now 44 years old. As a culinary expert, she made cooking look very simple and that is what I have done in my first book. Many of the ingredients used in the recipes I have included are easily available. I have