All the A Spark of Madness cookbook photos are taken by me and spotlight how realistic the food turns out, rather than being commercially plated. The recipes are foolproof, complete with easy-to-find ingredient lists, as well as substitutes and hacks to make do with what’s in your fridge or pantry. All the recipes can adapt to any diet and are inspired by my travels across Asia, including the dishes I love to cook and eat at home. The cookbook took nine months to be created, containing Asian vegetarian recipes, with some gluten-free and vegan options. If you have a spark (idea), go pursue it, give it your best and then see how the universe responds to it, but whatever you do, always hold onto the madness.Ĭan you give us some details on the cookbook and what inspired the recipes? Do all the recipes require you to use Spark Sauces? With my time spent indoors, I ended up immersing myself in a self-taught culinary programme, which led to the creation of my cookbook.Īs Robin Williams said famously, you’re only given a little a spark of madness, and if you lose that… you’re nothing. In 2020, I was going to open my own eatery, but COVID-19 hit, and I was stuck in India for six months during its most severe lockdown.

During my internship, I saw how a restaurant was built out and later became a consultant working in Jakarta, Hong Kong, Lagos and Bombay (which included my tenure at Soho House Mumbai). I had the dream of launching my own restaurant, so I moved to Paris to study at Le Cordon Bleu. Can you share the story behind it?Ī Spark of Madness started back in 2016 when I decided to give up my job of seven years working in media and lifestyle. Your brand name, A Spark of Madness, sparks curiosity for me. In this exclusive interview, Simran talks us through her new cookbook, her background and what inspired her to launch the brand. If you haven’t tried these sauces yourself, the Crack Sauce (which is sweet, salty and spicy) will be all the convincing you need to buy into her line. The range of sauces that complements her recipe book provides beautiful colour and flavour to your home-cooked dishes, with some containing a spicy kick.

The cookbook is now available at Bookazine and online at Amazon and her website.

Simran has been busy and is keeping us on our toes she’s just launched a cookbook (also named after her brand), A Spark of Madness, that focuses on vegan and vegetarian pan-Asian recipes and also recently headlined at Test Kitchen. She’s trotted the globe and has more than a decade of experience under her belt as a restaurant consultant and, now, author. Known as the girl with the spark, Hong Kong-based Simran Savlani is passionate about food and cooking – passions we share.

Cooking madness guide