Famous Indian chef, Moshe Shek, meets the Masala Mamas

Moshe Shek, the founder of the famous "Moshe's" cafe-restaurant chain in India, generously opened his teaching kitchen school, 'A World Away', to the women of the GPM women's empowerment group. 

Chef Shek lending some cooking advice

Mr. Shek and his staff gave cooking lessons to the sixteen women from Kalwa who produce and deliver hundreds of meals to children in school every day, in order to help them improve their techniques and learn from one of the most successful chefs in the country. 

The women traveled by boat to Mr. Shek's retreat at Awas for the day -- some of whom had never been on the water before -- and were treated to a lovely day of learning, eating, and relaxing in the beautiful country setting . Many of the women were so used to serving others that they had to get used to being served by the staff. 

"This was one of the best days we have ever had," said Indu Mane, one of the managers of the women's cooperative. 

Mr. Shek and his team taught the women four new recipes, which the women will incorporate in their work. The women are the catalysts behind the GPM "Eat 2 Learn"  that provides children with hot meals in school -- a strategy that keeps kids in school, alleviating hunger, illiteracy and child labor in the Kalwa slum. It is a win-win model for social change. 

The recipes will also be included in the forthcoming cookbook, "Masala Mamas: Recipes and stories from Indian women changing their communities through food and love." The cookbook, brings forth women's food experiences as well as recipes, in order to to share with the world their story of social change. 

Having fun in Chef Shek's Kitchen 

"It was so beautiful to be on the receiving end of Mr. Shek's incredible generosity," said cookbook editor Elana Sztokman. "Food takes on the energies of the people preparing it. Mr. Shek gave of his heart to support the women, just as the women give to the children with their hearts every single day. This is about food as a vehicle of love, and it was so wonderful to experience that with Mr. Shek." 

The cookbook "Masala Mamas: Recipes and stories from Indian women transforming their communities through food and love" is set to be released in December 2017. You can reserve your copy here and become a sponsor of the project.