Raghavan Iyer was a chef cookbook author and culinary educator who according to The New York Times taught more Americans to cook Indian food than anyone else in history. Raghavan won a James Beard Award for his video series Indian Curries: The Basics and Beyond and was nominated twice more for his EatingWell article “South Indian with Ease” and for his cookbook The Turmeric Trail. He co-founded the Asian Culinary Arts Institutes and became president of the International Association of Culinary Professionals after winning two IACP awards. He won an Emmy for his documentary Asian Flavors and was named one of Epicurious’ top 100 home cook influencers.

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Raghavan Iyer on extracting flavour from herbs

Raghavan learned to cook out of necessity at age 21 after moving from India to the United States to study hospitality. He met his long-term partner Terry on his very first day in his new dorm room but vegetarian meals proved more elusive than same-sex love in a small Minnesota town. Raghavan rose to the challenge honing his skills until he landed a book deal by serving lunch to a group of executives who had no plans to publish an Indian cookbook until they tasted Raghavan’s food. That book Betty Crocker’s Indian Home Cooking launched his successful career as an author cooking teacher spokesperson and consultant for restaurants and brands including General Mills and Target.

Raghavan was recovering from cancer treatment when a dietician inadvertently inspired his latest project by giving him Eurocentric advice on recovery meals. With stage 4 colorectal cancer knowing he had little time he started a crowdfunding campaign to create a database of healing comfort foods from around the world filtered by cuisine and health condition. Always meticulous with food he planned a menu for his own funeral using the Bombay street food of his youth. Raghavan died in March 2023.

BS in Chemistry Bombay University BA in Hotel Motel and Restaurant Management Michigan State University