At Manpada in Thane, 20 people have gathered at a home studio for what sounds like a potluck. Except it is a group of like-minded cooking enthusiasts—from the 1,000-strong sourdough community on WhatsApp, started by Dr Kasturi Sonalkar—who have come together for a themed lunch. A dentist and clinical nutritionist by profession and baker by heart, Dr Sonalkar is a sourdough baker and recipe developer. What started as a casual potluck for friends who made dishes from the recipes posted on Instagram by Sonalkar became monthly meetups focusing on regional cuisines.

This time, the theme was Kashmiri cuisine, and each attendee brought a dish they carefully researched, drawing inspiration from cookbooks and traditional recipes. From  Kashmiri lal paneer roganjosh, chaman qaliya, rajma, and doon chutney, to Kashmiri phulka, sourdough naan and focaccia, modur pulao, lobia ke kebab, baingan seb sabzi, a Kashmiri-themed salad to kheer, phirni, mushroom yakhni, dum aloo, pumpkin raita, and apple cinnamon-infused sevaya kheer—there was a whole lot of flavours in the room. “Nonstop banter, laughter, lip-smacking food and loads of hugs are always the highlight of our meet,” she adds.