About Us

Dinesh Perera, The Spicy Gourmet

Dinesh Perera, The Spicy GourmetI’m Dinesh Perera, The Spicy Gourmet, and it’s my pleasure to bring you a unique culinary experience that lets you make authentic, delicious, exotic South Asian spice blends and classic dishes in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Growing up in the tropical island nation of Sri Lanka, off the southern tip of India, cooking with spices came as naturally to me as the warm breeze that rustled the palm trees outside our house. My grandmother and grand aunt were always preparing spice blends to use in an array of meat, fish and vegetable dishes.

They started by dry-roasting fresh, whole spices in large skillets. Earthy aromas signifying that a feast was in my future soon filled the house and drew me to the kitchen. I would watch my grandmother select pinches of this and that roasted spice and grind them together with a mortar and pestle to make a blend. She would then add salt and white rice vinegar and mold the mix into “spice balls,” which were used for a whole week’s cooking.

Later in the day, at least a dozen relatives and neighbors would join us for the meal that was always a big, noisy celebration full of laughter and good food – the ideal pairing. Those early memories greatly influenced my ideas about what life ought to be, and freshly blended spices were – and still are – a key ingredient.

Eventually, my two siblings and I lived with my father in the United Kingdom. Here was a man who had not made so much as a cup of tea in his whole life; yet he had to keep himself and his three children fed. It didn’t take him long to master the art of using spices to prepare excellent meals. Through trial and error and our occasional suggestion to “take it a little easy with the cayenne,” he became a good cook who loved to boast to family and friends about his famous kukul mus  (chicken curry) and parripu (lentils). We came to enjoy his food as much as his passion for preparing it.

Those childhood experiences of life and food in Sri Lanka and England – witnessing the play of spices, the laughter and joy in my grandmother’s kitchen, and my father as he lovingly mastered the art of cooking – have not only stuck with me, but made me The Spicy Gourmet. It’s a great legacy, and one I’m so happy to share with you.

Dinesh

The Spicy Gourmet

Watch Dinesh’s latest Recipe Video!


Dr. Schweta Kasbekar

Dr. Schweta Kasbekar is a native of the Chicagoland area and received her two undergraduate Bachelor degrees in both Biology and Spanish from Creighton University in Omaha, NE. She then attended the National University of Health Sciences in Lombard, IL where she achieved her Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine and the University of Chicago, IL where she completed her MBA.

Dr. Kasbekar has had a lifelong interest in fitness and health, as well as great experience addressing musculoskeletal conditions, chronic disease, and inflammatory disorders. Her background in clinical nutrition and current candidacy for her Diplomate for the American Board of Chiropractic Internists allows her to use extensive laboratory testing and evaluation.

The doctor, through her hundreds of hours of post-graduate study in nutrition, natural therapies, and acupuncture has successfully treated patients suffering from many conditions, including but not limited to: chronic disease, auto-immune diseases, fibromyalgia, weight management, fatigue, food allergies, and support for cancer therapies.

Dr. Kasbekar pursues a patient-centered, integrative medical approach to wellness. She believes that the combination of medical science and natural therapies is the key to responsible, safe, and effective health care.

Read Dr. Schweta’s latest Blog Article!


Our Spices

Read about our USDA Certified Organic Fair Trade spices
  • Testimonials

    Dear Mr. Dinesh Perera, My daughter-in-law and my son gave me the Spice Blending Collection for my birthday.  I absolutely love it.  And you ... — Sandy Hjortland
    Having been raised in an Italian-American household, I was always comfortable in the kitchen, whether preparing American, European or Asian meals. Howev... — Sabrina Papa, Recipe editor, food adventurer and Santa Barbara mom.

    Read More

  • Latest Recipes & Articles

    Video Recipes

    Easy Chicken Curry
    Posted on 01 November 16
    Oriental Fried Rice
    Posted on 06 June 16
    Sri Lankan Beef Curry
    Posted on 08 April 16
  • USDA Certified Organic Fair Trade Spices

    The Spicy Gourmet uses only GMO Free USDA Certified Organic Spices that contain no additives or preservatives of any kind. We purchase our spices from small organic farmer associations in Sri Lanka and from community farmers in India. Our Fair Trade status is vouched for by Trust Organic Small Farmers – an alliance for eco-ethical trade and goods.

    Read More


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USDA Organic Trust Small Farms