Cooking up a storm Somy Ali
ANITA RAHEJA- HEENA AGARWAL
Somy Ali. who had a fleeting fling with Bollywood in the 1990s, currently lives in Miami, Florida. Her eclectic diet is testimony to the fact that she loves both Eastern and Western food and is a dedicated fitness freak. The Free Press Journal caught up with her for an exclusive conversation. Excerpts:
First thing in the morning: I have two cups of coffee with low-fat milk and no sugar.
I am basically: A non-vegetarian.
For breakfast, I have: I skip breakfast.
Around 11, I have: Nothing.
My lunch is: Baked salmon or baked chicken with vegetables.
One thing which is a must with my meals: When it comes to Indian food, I like to have achaar with my meals.
My evening snack is: Plain yoghurt with a sprinkle of blueberries or any other form of berries.
For dinner, I eat: I skip dinner as I practice intermittent fasting.
My favourite desserts are:
Tiramisu and gajar ka halwa.
To keep fit: I work out at home as I have every possible weight and a
Peloton treadmill. Before I exercise, I have plain yoghurt and a banana. I am heavily into weightlifting and do not have a personal trainer. I lift weights and have specific days for legs, triceps, biceps, shoulders, and abs. I exercise every day except on Sundays. A Sunday is a day when I let my body rest and also the day that I deem a cheat day and consume carbs and my favourite dessert, tiramisu!
For health reasons, I consciously avoid: Sugar, rice and bread.
I can cook: Masoor dal really well.
Any cooking disaster: None so far.
My favourite cook in my family is: My aunt from my mom’s side. She makes the best chicken biryani that I have ever had in my life.
My childhood memory of food: Dal chawal with mango achaar.
For a romantic meal: Ideally. I would stay home and cook my favourite dal and chawal with achaar, accompanied by red wine. Also, I would love to play my favourite board game, scrabble.
The fruit/vegetable I resemble: A tomato as it’s a fruit and a vegetable and healthy for us.
My favourite restaurants in Mumbai and abroad are: In the US, Nobu and my friend Pravin’s restaurant called Mau. In Mumbai, my favourite restaurant is Shiv Sagar as they have the best pav bhaji ever.
My favourite food: Spaghetti and pav bhaji.