About Meena

An expert in herbs and spices, Meena has been an esteemed name in the world of food for over 30 years.

Her knowledge of seasonings and global cuisine is second to none and has been carefully fine-tuned, thanks to an absolute passion for food and a genuine love of travel. It’s with this enthusiasm that Meena seeks to discover new flavours on every one of her trips to inspire people at home.

Growing up in India, Meena became interested in food from a young age. After graduating from her studies in food technology, she joined the banqueting team of a world-renowned hotel in Bombay.

She married her husband Kirit Pathak in 1976 and moved to the UK with him, where his family ran a small Indian food business – Patak’s. Meena’s strong desire to recreate authentic Indian flavours away from home eventually led her to take up an active role in the family business. This proved to be her real break.

Meena’s creativity with herbs and spices helped transform this family-run company into the worldwide enterprise that it is today. By creating authentic sauces, pastes, pickles and chutneys that people could use at home, she helped to unlock the secrets of Indian cooking and bring the spirit of the country into British homes.

In 2001, Meena was awarded an OBE for her contribution towards the food industry, as well as receiving numerous other awards for her business achievements. She has also published three award-winning recipe books.

Meena retired from Patak’s in 2007 and is now devoting time to her own signature brand of sauces. She continues to travel, unearthing new culinary discoveries from other countries to fuel the home cook’s imagination.