Rashmi Singh

Connect What is your signature dish?

If I had to pick, it will be the Daal Pitthi: a humble Bihari comfort dish made with wheat dumplings simmered in lentils. It carries the warmth of my grandmother’s kitchen and the kind of cooking that turns simple ingredients into something deeply emotional.

Who is your culinary inspiration?

My biggest inspiration are the women in my family: my mother and my Naani (grandmother). They cooked without measurements, but with instinct, resilience, and care. Watching them taught me that food is never just about feeding people; it’s about creating safety, joy, and belonging around a table. Their ability to make something extraordinary out of the simplest ingredients continues to shape how I cook, host, and tell stories through food today.

What would you do with the $25,000?

If I won the $25,000, I would use it to grow Laalima: my passion project rooted in Bihari food, storytelling, and community. The funds would help me invest in better production and content creation, document recipes and stories from my culture, and create accessible experiences that introduce people to regional Indian cuisine in a modern, thoughtful way. More than food, Laalima is about preserving memory, celebrating identity, and building connection through shared meals.