During the 2020 lockdown, when we were all stuck at home and exploring new hobbies to beat the boredom, I discovered Shivesh Bhatia’s YouTube page and safe to say, it was love at first recipe! Five years and hundreds of recipes later, when I got the opportunity to interact with the man who made me fall in love with baking, I grabbed it with both hands! In an exclusive chat with Curly Tales, Shivesh Bhatia talks about his new cookbook, his love for travel, and his journey as a baker. Here are excerpts from the interview.
How did baking come to you? Tell us a little about your baking journey.
Baking runs within my family—my mother and grandmother adored it, and I believe I took it up from them. Baking was never in the cards for me, coming from a teaching background. I graduated from Sardar Patel Vidyalaya in 2014, studied Political Science at Hindu College, and enjoyed writing for newspapers.
However, in Class 11, I made vanilla cupcakes with my cousins, from a Betty Crocker mix, and fell in love with the technique. I began posting my bakes on Instagram, and when the response was so excellent, I took it seriously. That’s how my blog began in 2014 and has served as a joyride ever since!
You’re also an avid traveller. Which is your favourite city in the world when it comes to food, especially desserts?
London is by far my favourite city, and I return there frequently. Every time I return to London, I have a big list of restaurants I want to try because the city’s food and dessert culture is so vibrant. Every meal looks so different from the one before it since the city is so cosmopolitan and people from all over the world bring their cultures and cuisine with them, which makes it so exciting.
Among my favourites are the Chocolatey Signature from Kayu, the Cylindrical Croissants from Yeast Bakery, and the Chocolate Chip Cookie with Cereal Soft Serve from NAC.
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As a Delhi boy, which dessert would you suggest to someone who is coming to Delhi for the first time?
Definitely Daulat ki Chaat! It’s like biting into a cloud. This winter delicacy is produced by beating milk until it becomes frothy and light, then topping it with saffron, sugar, and almonds. The tastes are subtle, the texture is amazing, and it just melts in your tongue. You can only locate it in the centre of Old Delhi, which is an adventure in itself!
A baker, a content creator, an author—which is your favourite cap to don and why?
My favourite cap to don has to be content creation because of which I am able to do a little bit of everything that I enjoy and am passionate about, including writing for my blog and books, baking something new and interesting every single day, styling and photographing it. Most importantly it also gives me a chance to interact with so many different people over the internet that over the years have become my virtual family.
Your latest book, Chocolate, is filled with recipes about sinful chocolate desserts. Tell us a little about it and your favourite recipe from the book.
Chocolate celebrates all things delicious. It’s jam-packed with simple yet delectable meals that will make you fall in love with them. My favourite has to be Triple Chocolate Cake. It’s layers of chocolatey delight that I can’t get enough of, it will definitely be a show-stopper at any table!
Take us through the process of how you come up with new recipes. How do you and your team craft that ‘perfect’ recipe?
It all begins with inspiration—sometimes a childhood memory, other times a dish I enjoyed while travelling. Everything comes down to testing, adjusting, and experimenting after that. Until it feels perfect, we experiment with flavours and textures. When the ideal recipe is accomplished, it’s messy but incredibly satisfying!
Aesthetics are a big part of making a dessert look tempting. As a content creator and baker, how much do you agree with this?
Totally! Desserts must be aesthetically pleasing as they are delicious. I take it that we eat with our eyes first! I enjoy experimenting with plating, colour choices, and textures to create desserts that are hard to refuse. It’s a creative technique that gives baking a magical touch.
Of all your recipes, which one is your personal favourite that you’ve made multiple times?
A traditional chocolate cake! It’s basic, comfortable, and consistently brings joy to people. It feels like a warm hug every time, and I’ve made it many times. This is my go-to comfort bake!
From the top of your head, 5 tips that you would like to give to someone baking for the first time.
1. Before beginning any recipe, always read it very carefully.
2. Take exact measurements—baking requires accuracy!
3. Maintain a light batter and avoid overmixing it.
4. You must preheat your oven at all times!
5. Unwind, have fun, and relish the process—learning involves making errors!
Which is your favourite Shivesh Bhatia recipe? Let us know in the comments!
Cover Image Courtesy: Supplied
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