Ep 3: Comfort on a Plate - Sohini’s Story of Food, Home & Hosting

In this episode of Roots | Hands | Hearts, I sit down with Sohini, the creative force behind Smoke & Lime, a beloved Bangali-inspired supper club that began in her tiny one-bedroom flat in North London back in 2018. What started as an intimate gathering around a shared table has grown into a community built on warmth, stories, zero-waste cooking, and the rich culinary traditions of Bengal.

Sohini’s dishes are more than just plates of food — every recipe carries a story. From colonial histories to adaptations born out of struggle, from after-school meals in her childhood home in the North West of the UK to the handwritten recipes passed down by matriarchs in Kolkata, Sohini brings memory, heritage, and meaning to the table. Her cooking blends global influences with seasonal produce, rooted in Bengal but shaped by her travels around the world.

Sohini has been featured in British Vogue, The Telegraph, The Times of India, and has spent the last decade working alongside some of London’s top chefs. But at her heart, she is a storyteller — someone who wants to bring people together, spark conversation, and create a space where everyone feels seen, welcome, and nourished.

In this episode, we talk about:
✨ Her childhood memories and the foundations of her food philosophy
✨ Her cooking motto and the values that guide her work
✨ What it means to grow up as an Indian in the UK
✨ The inspirations that shaped her life and craft
✨ Her journey as a freelancer in an expensive city like London
✨ The joys and challenges of creative independence
✨ Her future plans — both personally and for Smoke & Lime
✨ How she continues to build a community centred around food, joy, and zero-waste cooking

Pull up a chair, pour yourself a cup of chai, and join us as we explore the roots that shaped Sohini, the hands that craft her beautiful food, and the heart behind the community she’s building — one shared plate at a time.