About - A Flavour Affair

Hi, I’m Katya, and
I am so glad you are here!

I am a passionate cook, food photographer & blogger, and this space is where I share my love for cooking – which for me is so much more than just preparing a meal. It’s all about having fun, getting creative, pushing boundaries and exploring all things new!

Life is too short for bland dishes, and my mission is to inspire home cooks to experiment with spices, dressings, sauces and condiments, creating exciting new flavour combinations and culinary experiences for the entire family.

What will you find here:

Delicious and varied family-friendly recipes inspired by international cuisines.
Quick, easy and flavourful one-skillet dinners.
Scrumptions vegetables and salads with seasonal ingredients.
Inspiring ideas on how to enhance your usual chicken, meat or fish dinner with an array of flavours from different spices and blends.
Lots of good-looking food! I am convinced that it not only tastes better when it’s pretty, it’s also easier to persuade your fussy eater to try it 😀
Intriguing and exciting flavour combinations – such as my bacon and scallops linguine, spiced cauliflower and mushroom cream soup, za’atar prawns in orance & balsamic glaze and many more.
Spice profiles and spice blends.

What you will not find here:

Calorie count. Most of my recipes are calorie conscious as I do try to stay in my jeans size, but flavour comes first! And if my steak bavette screams for buttery potatoes, then so be it 😀
Overly complicated recipes. I love a little sophistication, but I’m not one to spend an hour watching over a sauce…
Recipes that require a lot of hands-on time. If you see a long prep time, know this is an ingredient just sitting in the fridge on its own, soaking in the marinade.
Exact measurements for dressings and spice blends. We are all so different in how we perceive flavours that I find it hard to come up with one recipe that fits it all. It’s more about guidance, ideas and inspiration for you to explore and discover your unique flavour profiles.

A Bit More About Me:

I was born and grew up in Moscow, my husband is Danish, and we have two children who are now teens. Felix was born in Moscow, Olivia – in Hamburg, and since 2012 we have been living in Dubai. Years back I worked in international shipping. In 2016 I quit the corporate world and have since been engaged in various projects, most important of which was and remains my family. Together, we love to play board games, go out for nice meals, travel and watch movies together on Sundays. They are my rock, my inspiration and a source of indefinite love.

My cooking journey started during Covid. I vividly remember March 2020: it was all about dealing with the shock of the drastic, sudden change as things were moving very fast down here in the UAE. That’s when I started to put an extra effort into transforming our daily meals into something special. It was an attempt to create a bit of novelty and excitement to help us all cope with the monotony of our new routine. Little did I know that it was also the beginning of a new chapter in my life!

The WHy:

What does “we are what we eat” mean? Is it really just about keeping a healthy body by making healthy food choices? Or can it be about sparking curiosity, opening our minds, taking risks, and feeling adventurous? With my blog and my recipes, I aspire to show and share how much more there can be to cooking than an act of making and serving a meal.

I believe that through food you can teach your children to embrace novelty. When I make a new dish, the greatest reward for me is not to hear ‘Oh wow that was amazing’. It is when my youngest, who is still a bit of a fussy eater, takes her first bite and her eyes widen: “I didn’t think I’d like it! But this is actually really good”! Yes – you go for it, girl. Always go for it.

I hope you join me on this flavourful journey of learning and discovery, and together, let’s turn every meal into a delicious and exciting experience!