Chef · Educator · Presenter
Teaching regional Indian cookery for 14 years — from cookery schools and pop-ups to screens worldwide.
In person · Birmingham
What started as eight strangers in a living room became one of Birmingham's most sought-after cookery experiences — with a six-month waitlist to prove it. Hands-on classes in Edgbaston where you'll learn the real techniques behind regional Indian cooking, completely from scratch.
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Online · Worldwide
An online Indian cookery education platform with a growing video recipe library, live Zoom classes, a Curry Clinic, and a thriving members community. Master authentic regional Indian cooking from your own kitchen — wherever you are in the world.
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About Monica
Monica Sawhney Haldar has been teaching regional Indian cookery for 14 years. It began in her mum's living room in Manchester — a supper club, eight strangers, and food that tasted like nothing you'd find in a restaurant. People kept coming back. And they kept asking the same thing: "How do you make this? Can you teach me?"
"Indian food isn't complicated. It's just misunderstood. I break it right down, so you actually understand what you're doing and why. Once you get that, you can cook it for life."
That supper club became a pop-up restaurant. The pop-up became a cookery school — first in Manchester, now in Edgbaston, Birmingham, where The Spice Club has built a reputation for teaching authentic regional Indian cooking the way it was always meant to be learned: from scratch, with technique, and with real joy.
Shikshak is Monica's online Indian cookery app, helping people around the world master Indian cooking from their own kitchen. With a growing video recipe library, live classes, a Curry Clinic and a members community, it brings the Spice Club experience to wherever you are.
A BSc (Hons) graduate of the Rosen College of Hospitality, University of Central Florida, Monica completed a food presenter course at Leith's School of Food and Wine and has cooked everywhere from fast food to fine dining. She created and hosted Monica's Mashups on Tastemade and Amazon Prime, and has appeared on BBC Two's Best of British with the Hairy Bikers.
The food
Kind words
"Having already done 8 classes, I'm still learning so much — all the different techniques, hints and tips, timing and those pearls of wisdom you'll never find in any Indian cooking book. Places The Spice Club in a league of its own."
"This was such a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Monica is a fantastic teacher and I learned many new skills which I am excited to try at home."
"Monica was warm, welcoming and engaging as she showed us how to make pakoras and biryani. She shared lots of tips and tricks and we finished by sitting down to eat the tastiest food I'd had in a long time. Highly recommend."
Recognition
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Work with Monica
Whether you're an individual who wants to finally nail a proper biryani, a business looking for a memorable team day, or a brand in need of a credible Indian food voice — here's what Monica offers.
Group or private one-to-one classes at The Spice Club in Edgbaston, Birmingham. From beginner evenings to deep-dive masterclasses in specific regional cuisines.
Book a class →Live Zoom cookery classes for groups or individuals — the full Spice Club experience from your own kitchen. Available as one-off sessions or through Shikshak membership.
Explore Shikshak →Hands-on Indian cookery experiences designed for teams. Previous corporate clients include Volvo, Kellogg's and the Team GB Sprint Team. In-person or virtual.
Enquire →Indian cookery workshops for schools and educational settings, suitable from age 2 upwards. Curriculum-friendly, hands-on, and genuinely joyful.
Enquire →Regional Indian menu development for restaurants, food businesses, and hospitality brands seeking depth, authenticity, and genuine culinary credibility.
Enquire →Regional Indian food writing and recipe creation for editorial and digital. Featured in BBC Good Food, Olive Magazine, Sainsbury's Magazine and Tesco Magazine.
Enquire →Recipe development, food styling, and social content creation for food brands. Previous clients include M&S Food, Sainsbury's and Quorn.
Enquire →Guided tours of Indian grocery stores and markets — learning to identify, shop for, and cook with authentic ingredients. A favourite for foodies, corporates, and curious beginners.
Enquire →Get in touch
Whether you're interested in a class, a collaboration, or just want to say hello — fill in the form and Monica will get back to you.