Master the Art of Indian “home-style” Cooking
Bhavna Kalra Shivalkar leads Sydney’s Indian cooking school, The Modern Desi Co. Bhavna breaks stereotypes about Indian cooking and cooking with spices.
Her classes showcase a love for food and are infused with storytelling, so participants can appreciate where the ingredients came from and discover how easy it is to create an Indian meal.
More than“Butter Chicken”
Bhavna Kalra Shivalkar is a Mumbai-born, Sydney-based entrepreneur with 12 years of experience in the food industry, focusing on Indian cuisine and cultural immersion.
Bhavna is the founder and CEO of The Modern Desi Co, an Indian food venture in Australia that merges traditional culinary techniques with modern business strategies.
Bhavna is known for designing distinctive Indian cooking classes and food tours that provide cultural insights and challenge misconceptions about Indian food.
Learn about Indian food & culture with Bhavna
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Indian Cooking Classes
Public classes, private one-on-one and cooking demonstrations.
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India Tour with Bhavna - 2026
My bespoke small group tours of India. 2026 dates now live.
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Little India Tours in Harris Park
Indian Breakfast and Evening Street Food Tours.
Over 1200+ Aussie’s have attended my cooking classes in Sydney!
When I first started out, most of my bookings came through Class Bento and Sydney Community College and I still list my classes on there. These classes are hosted by me, The Modern Desi so you can book your ticket direct from from me on this website. These classes are smaller, between 6 - 12 people and you’ll learn foundational Indian home-style cooking skills.
I often get asked to host cooking classes with interactive demonstrations showcasing Indian food and culture (eg. events with Masala Kitchen, Sydney Seafood School and Simon Johnson etc). These are fun social cooking experiences for larger groups (16 - 50 people) often including alcohol. Tickets are booked via the host company and the menu is based on their facilities.