Already a respected food authority at age 35, Saran is making great contributions to furthering appreciation of Indian food in America. Most recently, The Culinary Institute of America named him Chairman, Asian Culinary Studies for its World Cuisines Council. Saran has taught all over the USA privately and for culinary centres. Saran enjoys working on his 68-acre American Masala Farm in upstate New York. Raquel Pelzel is a freelance cookbook author and food writer. She previously collaborated with Suvir Saran on American Masala, which was included in the New York Times' cookbook rounup for 2007. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and son. Ben Fink is a freelance photographer who has photographed for New York Magazine and Random House, among others. He lives and works in New York.