Meet Zuri Camille De Souza: A Chef Guided by Her Roots and Passion

A culinary journey filled with memories, authentic flavors, and a rich heritage.

We had the immense pleasure of speaking with Zuri, a passionate and talented chef whose cuisine is a vibrant tribute to her Indian roots and her love for authentic flavors. Originally from the southwest of India, Zuri draws inspiration from her cultural heritage and childhood memories, blending tradition and modernity with remarkable finesse.

How did you fall in love with cooking? What is your earliest memory of cooking?

I remember sitting on the red terrazzo floor in our home in the village of Kansa in Goa, India. Eating a bowl of yogurt under the sun with my mother by my side, I could hear peacocks calling as they wandered among the cashew and mango trees. What stands out most is the golden light filtering through the roof.

I also recall the market, the woman who used to come to our house to sell shrimp in a bamboo basket, and the bakers cycling around the village with baskets of warm bread tied to their bikes.

Cooking was always part of daily life at home since both my parents were passionate about it. It’s a language of love for us.

© Zuri Camille de Souza

How has your cultural heritage influenced your approach to cooking?

My cultural heritage—I’m from the southwest of India—is deeply rooted in fresh and tangy recipes, lots of spices (as many are cultivated in the region), rice, and coconut. These are the flavors I try to bring to life in my dishes.

© Camille De Souza

What are the essential ingredients or flavors in your cuisine?

Chilies in all forms, tamarind, coconut (milk, oil, and flesh), tephal pepper (similar to Sichuan pepper), coriander seeds and leaves, dill, curry leaves, as well as fruity, dark chocolates, citrus, cinnamon, summer fruits, and bitter winter salads.

How do you balance tradition and innovation in your creations?

I look beyond traditional flavors and recipes. I study techniques and ways to work with raw ingredients. For me, it’s very natural—and important—to create connections between the past and the present.

What is the role of a chef in today’s society, particularly regarding food and culture?

A chef’s role is to support sustainable agriculture, craftsmanship, and ancestral know-how. It’s also to inspire people to eat better, to find joy in a meal, and to reconnect with nature and ecology.

What is your definition of a good meal?

The first thing I eat when I arrive at my mother’s and grandmother’s house.

© Zuri Camille de Souza

If you could choose only one dish for the rest of your life, what would it be? What’s your favorite dish from your cookbook, and why?

Probably rice. I love the recipe for coconut milk and turmeric rice—it’s so delicate, and I could eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

What’s the best culinary experience you’ve ever had, as a chef or a guest?

I think it was one morning in India, in the Maharashtra region. We were on the coast with my partner. We found a small stand run by a lady selling *poha*—the classic breakfast where I’m from—served with masala chai. It was pure joy.

What’s your favorite piece at Jamini? Why?

I love everything, truly. The colors and fabrics remind me of home.

© Zuri Camille de Souza