A Flavour of Sumayya
It all began in the kitchen.
The kitchen is the hub, the heart of the home for me growing up. It’s the place where we spill secrets and sprinkle spices, coming together and sharing together – it’s the epitome of belonging.
The misconception surrounding my culture is that the kitchen is a place of captivity. That women are subservient and squirrelled away simply to cook and provide. But the kitchen is actually a place of freedom, it’s where young girls learn from their ancestors and it represents feeding, nurturing and the importance of family. Here is where we soak it all in, the heritage, heart and history.
Women connect in the kitchen. It’s where I learnt resilience and reinvention.
I became an author in my forties. Before this I was a high-flying London lawyer, but the higher I climbed the ladder, the further I moved from my calling - my passion for cuisine, my culture and my innate creativity. So here I stand before you – a writer, a mother, a flavour maker and a proud Pakistani woman, now living in Scotland - sharing creatively and trusting intuitively, creating a kitchen of flavour and words for you to connect and to call home.
Stories to Celebrate and to Savour
My name is Sumayya Usmani, an author, a storyteller, free spirit and an intuitive writing guide. I found my creative voice through the art of ‘andaza’ (intuitive cooking). Growing up on a ship, my travels and experiences shape the stories I tell and the recipes I recreate.
I’ve taken what I’ve learned from my family and my home, along with what I’ve discovered along the way, escaping the shackles of corporate life and finding my creativity again in my forties.
And this is what you’ll discover here – a life of intuition and intention, a life well lived.
My life is about exploring texture, flavour and savouring each moment of life. My passion is to share this love and commitment to the craft of writing and creating meaningful memories through trusting your path.
Find your voice and create a new chapter.
Sumayya x
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