Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Diya Kotecha-Lodhia: Family recipes to a MasterChef dream

The kitchen queen discusses her journey, MasterChef appearance, future plans and top cooking tips

Diya Kotecha-Lodhia: Family recipes to a MasterChef dream

BEING selected as a contestant on the most recent season of MasterChef UK was a happy and sad moment for Diya Kotecha-Lodhia.

The talented chef’s late mother had wanted her to apply for the show but passed away years before that dream became a reality. Although she didn’t win the iconic show, the memorable appearance was a homage to her beloved mother and a personal victory.


What she describes as a fun and fantastic experience added to a cooking story, which began as a child and has exciting chapters ahead.

Eastern Eye caught up with the kitchen queen to discuss her journey, MasterChef appearance, future plans and top cooking tips. She also revealed the importance of her Gujarati heritage and the power of food to bring people together.

What first connected you to cooking?

I have been cooking since the age of four. I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed it. While other kids played with dolls and toys, my favourite hobby was literally watching my mother cook up a storm in the kitchen and letting me have a go. After 35 years of cooking, I’m learning so much more about food with each day.

 How has working in the travel industry fuelled that passion?

Having travelled to more than 50 countries, the different cultures and cuisines inspired me significantly. Working in the travel industry for over 22 years has given me the opportunity to see the world, which reflects in my style of cooking.

As a British-born chef with Gujarati roots, how has your Gujarati heritage been influential?

Being born in a Gujarati family, food is an integral part of our daily lives. If it’s not cooking, it’s thinking about what to make for our next meal. I have very fond memories of my mother making a full three-course meal every single day, which had so much variation, with all the traditional much-loved Gujarati dishes. Until today, I try to make as much variation as possible, despite having a busy life, because it’s imprinted in me.

What was the most challenging aspect of competing on MasterChef UK?

There were loads of challenging aspects of competing on MasterChef. A significant one was having to produce a number of dishes in a limited amount of time, in a kitchen that is not yours, surrounded by cameras, and with other people cooking as well, while being interviewed. Once all that is over, it’s that long wait to find out whether you have done enough to make it through to the next round.

What was your most memorable experience from the show?

My most memorable moment was getting my very first apron. That alone for me was a moment of victory. I didn’t think I was going to even go through to the next round, but then to be told I’ve made it, with the very top dish of the day, was the happiest and ecstatic moment for me.

What has been the biggest source of inspiration in your culinary journey?

My biggest inspiration for my cooking journey has to be the very first person who taught me how to cook, my mother. My travel experiences have been a great inspiration behind my dishes. Also, watching famous TV chefs such as Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay, Michel Roux Jr, and Rick Stein only made me want to cook even more, as they made it look so easy.

What are some cooking tips or techniques that you can share?

The most important thing with food is that it shouldn’t be a chore. It should be fun. When this becomes a fun thing, your food will naturally start tasting so much better. Another important aspect is to take risks and play with ingredients. Not everything works, but at least you know what works for you, and how it can be improved for next time. Pushing the boundaries will push you to do better.

Capture 22 Diya Kotecha-Lodhia

What role do you think food plays in breaking down cultural barriers and building understanding between communities?

Food is absolutely everything. It brings everyone together, unites people and cultures, and builds understanding in people’s minds, of the world that we live in. I have even mentioned from the very start on my blog that food brings people together. There is something about cooking for everyone and seeing them appreciate your food - it is the most fulfilling and happy feeling.

What’s next for you in your culinary career?

Being part of MasterChef was a major confidence boost and helped me believe that there is more I can do to follow my cooking passion. At this stage I have two children, a five-year-old and a one-year-old, so life is a little stressful. But in the next year, I hope to write a cookbook with different cuisines that come together in a celebrated amalgamation of cultures.

What else do you have on the way?

I am also currently working with a few brands that have approached me to create recipes, which I’m excited about. I’m also looking forward to working with an organisation that promotes women’s empowerment.

Finally, if you could cook a meal for anyone in the world, who would it be?

I would take it back to my past, and re-create recipes my mum made, growing up. Waking up on a Sunday morning, to the smell of full nasto of puris, ghatiya, jalebi, dhokla and thepla. That was a moment of pure bliss, which I would like to recreate for my dad, sister, husband and children. Ultimately, it’s about remembering who you are and where you’ve come from, which is the most important life lesson my mother taught me.

More For You

Beck Theatre gears up for World Theatre Day with an exciting lineup of shows

Beck Theatre is proud to announce its exciting 2025 programme

Beck Theatre

Beck Theatre gears up for World Theatre Day with an exciting lineup of shows

As World Theatre Day approaches on 27 March, the Beck Theatre is excited to share news of its vibrant new programme, celebrating the magic and significance of live performance. After undergoing a period of transition last year, the theatre is now back on track, offering a fantastic lineup that highlights the power of theatre to unite communities and entertain audiences of all ages.

Located in Hayes, London, the Beck Theatre has been a cultural hub for decades, hosting a wide range of live performances, from musicals and plays to comedy and community events. With its commitment to providing diverse entertainment for the local community, the theatre is looking forward to a busy year ahead. In honour of World Theatre Day, the Beck Theatre is proud to announce its exciting 2025 programme, which features a mix of high-profile acts and community-driven events.

Keep ReadingShow less
Anoushka Shankar

Anoushka Shankar will perform Passages in full in a Brighton Festival

Getty Images

Anoushka Shankar, Rachel Portman, and Susanna Mälkki to perform at Brighton Festival 2025

Brighton Festival 2025 is set to bring an exciting array of collaborative classical performances that span centuries and generations, with a dynamic lineup of artists showcasing music from across the ages. The festival's classical programme, curated under the artistic direction of the Grammy-nominated sitarist and composer Anoushka Shankar, promises a journey through time with performances that bridge both the Baroque period and modern orchestral works.

Anoushka Shankar will also be gracing the stage herself, performing music by her father, the legendary Ravi Shankar, alongside the Britten Sinfonia and Indian classical musicians, in a rare live rendition of Passages, an album created by her father in collaboration with the minimalist composer Philip Glass.

Keep ReadingShow less
Monica Ali reflects on Brick Lane, identity, and her writing journey

Monica Ali

Monica Ali reflects on Brick Lane, identity, and her writing journey

MONICA ALI, who made her debut as a novelist with Brick Lane in 2003, was the main attraction at the London Book Fair last Wednesday (12).

As “adult author of the day”, she was interviewed before an international audience by fellow writer and critic Chris Power.

Keep ReadingShow less
National Trust using cutting-edge
methods to save ‘rarest native tree’
Propagation of new native black poplars at the National Trust\u2019s Plant Conservation Centre in Devon

National Trust using cutting-edge methods to save ‘rarest native tree’

THIS year’s much-anticipated Octavia Hill lecture will be given on April 1 by professor Alice Roberts, the National Trust has announced.

She “will focus on, ‘Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?’”

Keep ReadingShow less
Shafeeq Shajahan’s ‘The Bollywood Guide to Revenge’ brings drama and disco to Soho

Shafeeq Shajahan and Vasilis Konstantinides

Shafeeq Shajahan’s ‘The Bollywood Guide to Revenge’ brings drama and disco to Soho

GROWING up as an academically inclined south Asian student in Malaysia, Shafeeq Shajahan was determined not to be placed in a rigid box and found his refuge in creativity.

Drama and music classes became a gateway to discovering his inner storyteller. Raised on legends, fables, and myths by his mother, that connection only deepened, leading to an award-winning stage career.

Keep ReadingShow less