I have long since abandoned the harried quests of desperation trying to get this auntie or that to reveal her recipe for dosas, only to be met with a furtive look and haphazard index of implausible steps. The era of the jealous cook as inscrutable Sphinx guarding her ingredients is officially over, and thank goodness!

I recently caught up with Sailaja in between meals and asked if she wouldn't mind answering a few questions. Of her entree into food blogging, she happily describes how she began the odyssey November 2005: "It happened by chance when I was looking for some information on Ayurvedic cooking and Andhra food," she said. "I noticed there wasn't much information. Then I stumbled upon blogs, which were gaining in popularity by the day. I was soon hooked."

Interestingly, Sailaja hasn't travelled beyond Southeast Asia (although she will be going to Europe this year). So her lovely English is born out of convent schooling and time at a boarding school in Madanapalli, Andhra Pradesh.

Her already formidable blog will soon be getting a complete makeover, and Sailu is excited about the fresh layout and a few novel features. It also may not be long before we see a cookbook from her either, as she has indicated a desire to do one.

As for a number of her talented blogging compatriots, opportunities are coming Sailu's way; she was recently invited to do a cooking show for a Dubai-based entertainment channel in Kerala, but the deal fell through because it posed a scheduling conflict.

Similarly, Canada-based Trupti Shukla's recipes and patter are regularly featured by Food Network Canada on its site.