Meet Shilpi Ranjan of EZ Compliments Indian Cooking Classes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shilpi Ranjan.

Shilpi, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am Shilpi Ranjan – wife, mother, passionate cook, traveler and an educator.

I have always loved teaching – However, I gave up my full-time middle school teacher position to take care of my son, who has cerebral palsy and needed time and attention. I still had the fire to teach and pondered what I could do such that I could have flexible time of work and care for my son.

My family and friends always ‘complimented’ me on the creative dishes I prepared – So, I decided to leverage my teaching and cooking love to start cooking classes and help spread the Indian flavor. I started by offering a couple of classes through the local department of community services and then expanded to offer classes through my website, EZCompliments.com; spreading the word through social media and Facebook. This fall, EZCompliments will celebrate 10 years in business!

I was born and raised in India where language, culture and cuisine varies from region to region. I have traveled a lot across continents and within the country in India and the USA. While breaking bread with local people in new places, I got to know them, their culture, and their ideas over a shared meal. I love to share this joy and community with my guests in the kitchen.

I cook because I feel blessed to be gifted in the art of cooking and enjoy food. I have received many compliments for my Indian and Fusion cooking and like to share my passion with my clients.

I love the social aspect of my job the most. My guests come as strangers, but they leave as friends! In the course of the social interaction, there is learning about spices, food, customs and cultures. There is creativity in dishes prepared, as well as inspiration from the tales of travels and memories made. Most of all, there is the love of food and passion to learn and happiness from food and being together.

Has it been a smooth road?
I did not expect it to be a smooth road, and it has not been one. It’s been hard to reach out to people to debunk the myths that there is about Indian cuisine. I often find myself explaining to potential clients that all Indian food is not necessarily spicy. It’s hard to explain that there is more to Indian food than what is served at Indian restaurants.

I teach cooking so that everyone can go home and cook it to their taste. All of us are unique people, and one recipe does not fit all. I teach my clients to tailor the dishes to their comfort level after all that is what home cooking is all about- Comfort food! It has been and still is a struggle to get my message to people who have not attended my classes. Everyone who has come has gone home very happy and satisfied. 🙂

So, as you know, we’re impressed with EZ Compliments Indian Cooking Classes – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
EZ Compliments, Indian cooking classes offer the pleasures of cooking Indian food at home. It’s an insight into Indian culture and food, dispelling some of the myths and misconceptions commonly held about the cuisine. I invite my clients for a feast of the senses.

The class begins with an introduction to the wonderful world of spices, herbs and other ingredients used in Indian cooking, followed by the theme/menu for the day. Historical, cultural and religious impacts on the cuisine is also discussed. The class is hands-on, everyone is encouraged to participate in all activities including prep, blend, cook, taste. 🙂 All classes culminate with a sit-down meal that was prepared.

I get compliments from my patrons often about my, “warm, hospitable personality and sense of humor, Shilpi brings lots of excitement and energy to the cooking experience.

She adapts her cooking and teaching to the busy lifestyle, spice levels, and abilities of each participant. All her classes offer balance Indian menus- easy, flavorful, gluten free, vegetarian, non-vegetarian, vegan, diabetes-friendly and healthy options- that incorporate lentils, vegetables, meats, whole grains and Basmati rice.”

I am super proud of every review I have gotten, because my classes are not only about just teaching the dishes on the menu, but also to connect people at so many different levels. By breaking bread together (with me and others in the class) strangers become friends; there is appreciation of cultures of the places where my clients come from and of India.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the people the most for they are open to diversity and are curious to read, travel and learn. Its a pleasure and honor to share my passion of cooking and my Indian culture with the people who come to my classes. That I have been running my classes for the last 10 years is testament to the people of the greater Boston area, about their interests to not only eat and enjoy an ethnic cuisine but to try and learn to cook it, so that they can make it their own.

What I least like about my city is the traffic on the roads. I may not like it much, but do appreciate the people who travel long distances to work. The traffic also reminds me of India, so feel very much at home. 🙂

Pricing:

• $75 a person which includes a full balanced Indian meal(that has been prepared during the class), all ingridients, recipe handouts ,spice samples and loads of fun.
• $300 – a class for 2 (date night)
• $450 for a group of 6 private class at my kitchen or at client site

Contact Info:

• Address: 149, Haggett’s Pond Road, Andover- MA- 01810
• Website: www.ezcompliments.com
• Phone: 9786864322
• Email: sranjan@comcast.net
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ezcompliments/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ez-compliments-indian-cooking-class-andover

Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.