About me

Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

I’m Chandrima Sarkar. A professionally trained visual designer turned into a self-taught home baker, digital content creator, food photographer & stylist.

I’ve studied Bengali literature and did a course on Fine Arts and Graphics. Apart from my interest in painting, making crafts, sketching, stitching, and graphics, I’ve got a great love for cooking. Born and brought up in Kolkata, I moved to North India after my marriage. After living 13 years in Delhi, we shifted to Navi Mumbai at the end of 2018. We’re enjoying our days here in this part of Navi Mumbai, India by eating the fresh seafood, street food, and traditional baked goodies that the place offers. I love cooking with the fresh Prawns and Bombay duck (Bombil) I get here, among many other local fresh produce.

Along with Bengali food, I’ve explored several other cuisines over the years also, and I take a deep interest in Baking. I keep doing constant food experiments around random ingredients, which results in many workable, original recipes that you get to see on my Blog/YouTube. Many times, I love to shape up food with new concepts that can come alive in any kitchen by following the easy instructions I share in my recipes. It’s necessary to create new ideas around food just the way we make new ideas for design. And this is how the present transformed into a glorious past, leaving something to cherish for generations.

I feel fortunate enough to always get love & support from my wonderful readers, and I get overjoyed when they share their cooking/baking experiences with me. 🙂

I need your constant suggestions, support, feedback, and comments to do these things in a better way. So please be there for me, always.

Not Out of the Box was started in 2012 when Sufi (my daughter) was 1.5 yr. old. It began its journey as a FB page. After spending a little more than 1 year on Facebook, I thought I must start a blog with all of my recipes, so, here it is, the place where I share the things that I enjoy doing most. Food Photography, Cooking, and Baking. Life is precious, do what you Love!

How to Work with me:

For all kinds of food & beverage product reviews, recipe videos, professional food styling inquiries, collaborations, and other enquirers email me at notoutofthebox@gmail.com

Else, drop a message on my facebook page or Instagram handle.

Featured & Mentions:

Awards & Achievements

Interviews:

Workshop & Events:

  • Worked as a Food Stylist for Go Air Inflight Food Menu 2020-21.
  • Worked as a Food Stylist in Grofers Mothers Day TVC.
  • Workshop has been conducted with German students on Indian Spices at Carmel Convent School, New Delhi.
  • Workshop has been conducted on Smartphone Food Photography for Cookpad India’s Delhi Community members.
  • I was invited to judge Iridescent 2018 (Capture the Market) event organized by Carmel Convent School, New Delhi.
  • I was invited to judge the 6th NLFP Ace Chef Inter-School Competition organized by Nalanda Foundation and curated by The FBAI.
  • An online Cook along Session was hosted by me in October 2020 for Acuity Knowledge Partners, Bangalore.
  • A Workshop has been conducted on the Basics of Video Creation for Kool Kanya community.
  • An online Cook along Session has been conducted for SlurrpHT.

Some of the Brands I’ve worked with:

 
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22 Comments

  1. Lovely blog Chandrima. It is a treasure for foodies like me.

    Likhte thakun, amra achi apnar sathe.

     
  2. I just started food blogging, after quitting a grueling job that had me out of touch with my kitchen, and I’ve spent the morning combing the internet for down-to-earth food blogs I feel I can connect with. I have to say, your site seems very genuine, which is refreshing.

    I may struggle to find some of the ingredients you use, given I live in Korea, but I’m excited to learn a little more about Bengali food. I’ll definitely be adding you to my little fledgling blogroll. Thanks for keeping it real.

    Liz

     
    • Hi Liz! 🙂 Thanks for visiting my place, glad to know that you liked my recipes. Just checked your blog, you’re doing great…keep it up. And keep in touch via Instagram, I’ve started following you there. Cheers!

       
  3. Dear Chandrima, I am truly amazed to see your blog…..your photographs, concept and art of presenting the food are so wonderful that I often come to your blog to de stress myself…your blog is truly an inspiration to me….I used to follow many of your recipes and they came out really great.
    Wish you all the very best.

     
  4. Hi Chandrima,

    What lovely blog… Do you teach baking by any chance. If you do please let me know. I am very interested in learning being but didst wanted to learn from a professional. Looking for more of a self learner.

    Thanks in advance.

     
    • Hi Neha,

      Thank you for the words of appreciation. I’ve not started my classes yet if I do in the future will definitely post about it. 🙂

       
  5. Hi Chandrima,
    What a lovely blog you have, I can’t wait to try all your recipies, I found you on Instagram and started following you. Today i was browsing your blog and don’t have words to admire you. The photography, mood , recipies- love everything- I am a big fan of Bengali food . Being a foodie and love cooking- want to start a food blog but with a baby I keep my foot away from it. Today I found your blog and was amazed to see that you started your blog when your daughter was 18 months old. I can imagine how tough it must be. You have inspired me . May be some day I will also start. Tomorrow my day will start with your atta apple cake, my little son who is 16 months old love apple sauce what can be a better option for him than atta apple cake😃.

     
    • Hi Shaweta, Thank you so much for visiting here and for all the kind words, meant a lot to me. It’s all about what we love to do and how we can love it more by doing our very best towards the same. Happy Baking and I hope your little boy will like eating the cake. 🙂

       
  6. Dear Chandrima,
    Greetings…
    I came across your Blog through Fishvish and hence writing to you.

    Loved your recipes and request you to add my email id for any future updates.

    Thanks,
    Monica Joseph

     
    • Hi Monica, Thank you so much for the kind words. 🙂 We will be activating the email subscription option soon here, till then please follow my social media handles for regular updates.

       
  7. Hi Chandrima ,
    I was looking for the masala for Jhal muri that I used to eat when i was in Kolkata , Thank you so much i saw it under the Aloo kalabi, all your recipes are amazing , I will try out and let you , Thank you for the authentic recipes .

     

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