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Meet Pallavi – Mrs Balbir Singh's Granddaughter
A Daughter of Delhi
Pallavi was raised in a world of quiet elegance and cultural depth. Into a city of diplomats, doyennes, industrialists, impresarios, and decades-old recipes. Into verandahs that echoed with conversation, and kitchens where food was never hurried and flavour was never compromised.
She is a daughter of Delhi. And that means something.
It means Sunday luncheons that began with silk tablecloths and ended with second helpings — and sometimes flambéed gulab jamuns or "Flaming GJs", as her father called them. It means weddings where the scent of jasmine mingled with the warmth of tandoori lamb cutlets. It means being raised with both refinement and resilience — and understanding that heritage is not just something you inherit, but something you uphold.
Today, Pallavi is the custodian of one of Indian home cookery’s most iconic legacies: that of her grandmother, Mrs Balbir Singh. A pioneering figure who authored India’s first comprehensive English-language cookery book in 1961, Mrs Balbir Singh revolutionised how Indian cuisine was documented, taught, and preserved. Her recipes and techniques set the standard for elegant Indian dining for the cognoscenti across India — and far beyond.
Through Pallavi, a culinary tradition that once graced the finest homes of Lutyens Delhi — and still does — now finds its way into kitchens across the world. She bridges generations by adapting time-honoured techniques for modern kitchens, while maintaining the exacting standards and attention to detail that made her grandmother’s name synonymous with unrivalled excellence.
This isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about returning to a standard. One rooted in precision, beauty, and balance. One that reminds us that Indian food can be both deeply authentic and profoundly elegant.
From the drawing rooms of Chanakyapuri to the spice racks of modern home cooks, Pallavi is reshaping how the world experiences Indian cuisine. Not as a monolith. Not as a caricature. But as it truly is:
Layered — like the complex marinades that transform humble ingredients into masterpieces.
Intelligent — in its precise balance of spices and techniques honed over generations.
Graceful — in its presentation and its ability to bring people together.
Bold — in its flavours and its refusal to compromise on authenticity.
This daughter of Delhi is a granddaughter on a mission... and the world is already experiencing the difference that makes.
It’s the return of the gold standard. A recalibration.
Pallavi is continuing a legacy. She is upholding the art of Indian home cookery for those who know it well — and introducing it, with elegance and exactitude, to those just discovering its depth.
Over 5 million servings later, Mrs Balbir Singh's legacy is no longer just remembered — it’s tasted. Pallavi’s mission is already beginning to make its mark.
“Photographed at her family home in Lutyens Delhi, London-based Pallavi embodies the elegance, strength, and cultural clarity that defines a new chapter in Indian home cookery.”
