Unlike most food bloggers, Annika Panikker uses a unique hashtag #PositiveNinjaVibes when she posts her food stories on Instagram. (How cool!)

With her, we share our love for Indian sabjis cooked with the Indian tadka.

Got some fresh Okra aka Lady Fingers cooking in coconut oil with cumin powder, salt and pepper. Gonna have this with some yellow dal (lentils) and roti for dinner. Simple food at its finest. Your just too good to be true. Can’t take my eyes of you….yes lady fingers make me happy and sing (no pun intended😜😇👐🏼) Just saying. #instamoment #food #veggie #saturday #foodie #foodporn #foodgasm #foodstagram #foodlover #foodbloggers #indian #indianblogger #indianfood #instafood #instagood #instalove #instadaily #health #healthy #okra #healthychoices #healthyliving #healthylifestyle #fit #dinner #vegetarian #love #gogreen #positive #happydays

A photo posted by Annika Panikker (@annikapanikker) on May 28, 2016 at 10:07am PDT

 

Like her, we, too, are a fan of peanut butter which she posts about using the hashtag #KillEmWithKindness. (LOL!)

Post work out goodness and chilled vibes with Fitness Guru @lorrainechivandire Peanut butter oats with cinnamon honey and almond milk, coming right up! “Karama. You get what you give out.” Word. Positive Ninja Vibes alert! #oats #peanutbutter #honey #cinnamon #chilled #positive #positivevibes #postworkout #postworkoutmeal #cravings #yummy #healthy #dinner #meatfreemonday #love #fitness #instafit #instagood #instafood #food #foodie #foodporn #foodlover #foodgasm #foodstagram #healthychoices #healthyliving #healthylifestyle #killemwithkindness #happydays

A photo posted by Annika Panikker (@annikapanikker) on May 16, 2016 at 10:55am PDT

 

Talk about her favorite self-time? It’s talking to fishes in the flea market. (No Kiddin’)

When I saw this fish, for some reason it looked like it was singing “Hello from the other side.🙋🏻🐠” By Adele. 😕 Fresh produce makes all the difference in the world when cooking. #throwback #malaysia #travel #travelingram #happiness #positive #positivevibes #sunday #healthylifestyle #healthychoices #healthyliving #foodpics #foodstagram #foodgasm #foodpics #foodstagram #foodporn #food #foodie #travel #instalove #instamood #instafood #healthy #oragnic #fishmarket #produce #fisheye #fish#instadaily #fresh

A photo posted by Annika Panikker (@annikapanikker) on May 8, 2016 at 1:25pm PDT

 

This weekend, we decided to catch up with the Dubai-based Food Blogger and Enthusiast who, apart from having a cool name and an awesome hairstyle, has got some fresh food stories to share with us!

Your Instagram page says – ‘homemade bread are short in today’s world.’ Explain.

“I mean it in every word. Food today has been exploited, misused and adulterated. The simple concept of a “home cooked meal” is lost. If a regular meal is now the usual Chinese takeout from Chin Chin downstairs, then the chances of your stove being dusty are most likely. This means people don’t know the joy of freshly baked bread out of the oven at home or getting your hands dirty with the dough.”

How cool it is to be a Food Enthusiast. We want to be one, too! What inspired you?

“Stress and Positive Reinforcement. I realized every time I was stressed; the kitchen was my go to place. Also, the person who was my positive reinforcement was the British Celebrity Chef, Jamie Oliver.”

Do you need to keep yourself updated?

“I read and watch cookery videos. I’m always keeping myself up to date by reading what’s hot in the culinary world like how people know about The Presidency Campaigns. From books to websites to blogs to articles to journals to documentaries, I am quite a nerd in that aspect.”

What’s new in the food industry that we must try?

“Two trends which are here to stay: Food Trucks and Healthy Alternatives. What else? Check out Coconut cream cheesecakes and gluten free mouth watering croissants, Doughnut Milkshake, and the Raindrop Cake!”

Did you happen to meet any interesting person during your food journeys?

“I’ve been blessed to have worked, come together and brushed shoulders with some great pillars in the culinary industry. I got the opportunity to work with Sanjeev Kapoor, Siba Montaga, Jenny Morris, Reza Mohammed, June Tanaka, Eric Landlard, etc. and was associated with Jean Christophe Novelli, Gary Rhodes, Atul Kochar, Maggie Beer. These are the known names. However, there are a lot of motivating people in this industry, too! High 5 to all of them! A prominent motivation in my culinary life came from my mentor at ICCA Dubai, Chef Aziz, from my training as a student in the kitchen. He once told me, “If you love what you do, you don’t ‘work’ a day in your life.” Well, he said that right before he made us chop many onions for being late to one of his classes.”

If you love food and live in Dubai get yourself down to @tastedubai to enjoy a world of culinary experiences. @iccadubai very own chefs are down there with our students to make those experiences even more delicious. @azizrajab01 at the cookery school cooking up a mean pad Thai. Stay tuned for more pics of our chefs hard at work, getting it in on a weekend. #padthai #thailand #weekend #tasteofdubai #mydubai #friday #cooking #food #foodstagram #foodie #instafit #instapic #picoftheday #instafood #instagood #iccadubai #iccachef #chef #chefsofinstagram #cheflife #happydays

A photo posted by Annika Panikker (@annikapanikker) on Mar 11, 2016 at 5:53am PST

 

You are also a fitness junkie. How do food and fitness go together in your life? It’s difficult for most of us.

“I choose to eat everything and enjoy good food, guilt free. To do that I have to maintain and endure some form of physical activity to indulge my taste buds. Hence, it goes hand in hand. A fitness guru of mine Chef Lorraine mentioned something to me which stuck like jam on bread, “Fitness means 80% Diet and 20% Exercise.”

I am not a six-pack person, but I like to wake up feeling good about myself. Also, the indulgent slice of a rich, creamy New York Cheesecake feels less guilty!”

Is organic farming your thing?

“I managed to grow a few fresh herbs in my house for a good year. However, we live in a dessert where it’s hot, hotter or take-your-clothes-off-sweat-like-a-manic-like-your-exercising-but-your-not-kinda-hot. This makes it difficult to sustain a farm unless it’s done under controlled temperatures. Otherwise, I have been to an organic farm to understand how it works. It, in fact, is a fascinating pillar in the culinary industry.”

How can India explore the idea of having food banks?

“The concept of food banks essentially is to ensure people are fed. I refuse to accept that food banks cannot be implemented in any part of the world more so India. It’s a cycle you see, the higher the population, the higher the demand, the higher in supply, the greater resources used, the income received. Hence, having a large population shouldn’t be a liability but an asset to the country.”

 

What is the future of Food Blogging?

“The future of food bloggers is as bright and shiny as a Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. It is these blogs that create a portal for all restaurants, cafes, clubs, lounges, bars, bistros under one roof. Today recipes are readily available. Anything under the sun is online, from reviews describing everything down to the paper napkins. Trust me; the world needs Food Critics who bridge that gap between food and the audience.”

How can one polish the art of food photography?

“I am an aspiring food photographer. I think we should ONLY focus on the main ingredients. Sometimes people get so carried away with props, lights, and lenses that the focus from the food is lost. Also, keep in mind the image is a mere fragment of what the dish is hence, it should look better than it tastes to capture the eye of a viewer.”

We want to know a little more about the spoon with Ammni Panikker’s name inscribed on it. It’s captivating.

Yup that’s a pic of a spoon. Not any spoon though, earlier in India (not sure if anywhere else in the world) when one would purchase cutlery or utensils, the owner or his wife’s name would be inscribed on it. That spoon belonged to Ammni Panikker, who was my dads mum. Traditions. #instapic #cutlery #tradition #instagram #picoftheday #instadaily #india #love #loveit #vibes #positivevibes #family #nostalgia #thisishowweroll #squad #squadgoals #home #kitchen #happydays

A photo posted by Annika Panikker (@annikapanikker) on Apr 7, 2016 at 1:49pm PDT

“Ammni Panikker was my Grandmother (my father’s mother). I never got the chance to meet her as she passed way before I was born. However, back in the day, having your family name inscribed on the utensils, which were bought or gifted, was common. Ammni used to collect glassware and cutlery, and she managed to have her name or at least our family name “Panikker” inscribed onto them. There are a few spoons and knives I’ve brought along to Dubai. They bring an overwhelming sense of home and nostalgia.”

Name one Indian dish that you think is underrated.

Palak Paneer and Gajjar ka Halwa.

What’s your favorite food to make?

Apart from a simple Apple Pie, refreshing summer salads, and Pizzas I have to say Bread, Shepherd’s Pie and a Buttery Pistachio Rose Water Pound cake.

What’s your Cheat-food?

PIZZA. PIZZA. PIZZA. PIZZA. Chocolate cake (homemade). PIZZA. PIZZA. PIZZA. Did I mention pizza?

Beetroot Chocolate Cake. Gluten free. Mouthwatering. Sugar free. Heavenly. Low fat. Moist. Guilt free. Deliciousness x 100. Amen to that🙏🏼 Thankyou @thenigelslater for the inspiration. Obviously had to add a few things of my own. #organic #beetroot #sugarfree #picoftheday #glutenfree #instafit #fit #lowfat #instapic #health #fitness #instafood #fitfam #healthy #instagood #fitnessaddict #healthyeats #food #healthyfood #foodporn #cake #chocolate #love #cheflife #baking #coconut #beetrootchocolatecake #happydays

A photo posted by Annika Panikker (@annikapanikker) on Mar 5, 2016 at 8:15am PST

 

Name your go-to ingredients.

Avocado, Corn, Bacon, Salmon, Whole wheat bread, Tomatoes, GARLIC, oregano, walnuts, Balsamic vinegar, peanut butter, dark chocolate, berries, mangoes and coconut.

Reveal one kitchen secret from your mommy’s or granny’s kitchen.

If told you it wouldn’t be a secret now would it?

Lol, well my Grandfather (my mum’s dad) was a professional chef, and he always said, “Love is like salt, you need to season your food generously with love.” Yeah, he was quite the romantic.

Name three female chefs we should be totally following on Instagram.

Julia Child, the lady who gave Women Chefs a space in society and chauvinists’ a run for their money.

Nigella Lawson, who redefined home cooking for family and friends making it look all so easy.

CristetaComerford, the first female White House Executive Chef.

Lastly, suggest us one surprise-your-bff birthday meal.

A good old pizza, from scratch with fresh produce. And might I just take a moment to say homemade Nachos with all the trimmings are the best? So is an orange coconut tea cake. Life is built around humble, tasty, freshly made food.

Photo Source: Annika’s Instagram