About

With 26 years of tenacity as a sole trader, Sharmini Thomas has evolved from a Community Education Tutor into the founder of the “Nation’s Best Curry School” (2023). Named “The Curry Queen” by The Sunday Times, Sharmini’s expertise is a national benchmark for excellence, demonstrated by sweeping 10 major awards in a single year.

The Yorkshire Curry Vision Victory

Sharmini demonstrated the power of authentic home-cooked delicacies by surpassing professional restaurant chefs to secure the Yorkshire Curry Vision Contest title. Her traditional methods resonated with the public, with 95% of voters ranking her rich, home-style flavours in the top three. This victory serves as definitive proof that once the art of cooking is demystified, an incredible depth of flavour is achievable for everyone.

The Cognitive Culinary Method

Sharmini distinguishes herself by merging a Psychology degree and NLP Master Practitioner insights with traditional Indian heritage. This unique framework treats cooking as a form of intuitive mastery rather than mere rote repetition:

  • The Sensory Language of Spice: Students move beyond isolated recipes to understand the fundamental “why” behind every ingredient.
  • Behavioural Mastery: Using psychological insights to remove kitchen anxiety, replacing it with the instinctive confidence required to cook without a manual.
  • The Kitchen as a Leveller: This expertise makes her a leader in corporate team-building, where job titles are set aside to refine interpersonal soft skills through the shared synergy of a feast.

Heritage & Adaptive Artistry

While her methods are scientifically grounded, the soul of her cooking remains rooted in ancestral recipes. For over 20 years at the York Food & Drink Festival, she has championed fresh, local produce and inclusive cooking. Her recipes are meticulously designed for individualisation:

  • Inclusivity: Expertly adapting authentic flavours for vegans or those with nut and lactose allergies.
  • Nutritional Insight: Providing deep knowledge of the medicinal origins and health benefits of spices—a perspective often overlooked by many experts.
York Food Festival: Yorkshire chefs, Demo Area, St Sampson’s Square
Sharmini Thomas, Indian cookery guru, will be demonstrating Curries from Food Paradise-Kerala, India. ‘Experience the journey of creating authentic flavored curries from the land of spices Kerala with fresh and locally sourced Yorkshire produce

You can follow Sharmini on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter & LinkedIn for recipes, updates on classes or even to have a friendly conversation.

Contact me

Qualifications:

  • City and Guilds 7307 Further and Adult Education Teachers’ Certificate
  • Certificate in Home Science
  • Food Hygiene Certificate
  • Safeguarding Awareness Training
  • Certificate on Vegetable carving
  • Degree in Psychology
  • Practitioner in Neuro – Linguistic Programming
  • Certificate in Life Coach
  • Practitioner in Mindfulness