Shirin is an independent food writer, researcher and content & communication strategist currently based in Delhi. She writes about food, culture, society and is specifically interested in writing about the foodscapes of urban spaces. Her work has been published in Whetstone‘s Rasa Magazine, The Juggernaut, Hindustan Times (Weekend & Brunch), National Geographic Traveler, Conde Nast Traveler, Roads & Kingdoms, Goya Journal, Mint Lounge among others. In addition to the above, she publishes a monthly newsletter, Deep Fry, focusing on food stories from South Asia. She also consults small brands and entrepreneurs (specifically food related) with creating content for their website and social media platforms, writes reports and consults as a food & culture researcher for various brands.

In her career spanning 15 years, Shirin has been associated with food in various ways. She started her career with Burrp!, India’s first restaurant listing website, and then moved on to being an independent journalist writing about food, travel and culture. Shirin has also consulted with a well known travel company to help them launch culinary itineraries in India and has briefly worked with a social enterprise in the agriculture space as a communication manager.

Apart from writing and consulting, Shirin has run food pop-up project called The Literary Table where she, along with her business partner Chef Shriya Shetty, hosted a series of dinners inspired from the works of fiction.

In the past few years Shirin’s interest in food became anthropological and to pursue that interest she went to SOAS University in London to study Anthropology of Food. During her master’s while working on her dissertation, Shirin launched a limited series podcast focusing on the affects of Covid-19 on the food supply chain in India.

Apart from writing, talking and reading about food, Shirin’s interests include cooking (she makes mean shaami kababs), folding paper into cute animals, practicing Urdu and poring over Ghalib’s poetry.

If you’re interested in commissioning her for a writing assignment or other research-related consultation work, write to her at shirinmehrotra@gmail.com.