But if Mr Blair and his wife would like to come for dinner, that would be wonderful. So I had to start cooking for myself.Who would you most like to cook for? And what would be on the menu? Mike Ashby, Milton KeynesI cook for all kinds of people, be they a humble workman or some grand actor. She knew how to cook very well, but I had never cooked anything myself. I had no interest in learning because the food was always so wonderful. There was a special breakfast where we would have pooris (puffed breads) and a potato dish with pickles, which I absolutely loved.When I came to Britain, there were Indian restaurants on Leicester Square, but what they served was nothing like what I ate at home. It was all very frightening and the even more frightening thing is that it is being repeated endlessly. Nobody learns from any of this.Is it true that, as a child, servants cooked for you? When did your love affair with the kitchen actually begin? Sarah Hartland, GlasgowWe had servants, but my mother was always hovering about.

I lived in Delhi and my classmates were half Hindu and half Muslim. As talk of partition grew, our class split right down the middle: Muslim girls on one side and Hindu girls on another. There was just no way to talk.Then, as the split happened, there were riots and killing, and I saw my father and brothers getting guns because mobs were approaching the house Then friends were killed. Seeing the country where you were born split into two pieces is devastating for a child. It was delicious, absolutely delicious.The partition of India happened when you were very young. Did it affect you personally? Nav Khan, by e-mailIt affected me very deeply I think it was the most horrible period in my life.

It started with a grilled mushroom, followed by pasta, and then some fruit. I love the way food is approached there – you take your time over a meal Italian food has excellent, fresh ingredients It can be very simple, rather like Indian food I remember one particularly good meal in Florence. You might just be overeating.Apart from Britain or India, what is your favourite country to eat in? Jackie Madden, by e-mailItaly. You just have to eat a good curry and you won’t have indigestion If it’s freshly made, you should have no problems And then make sure you don’t overeat. Maybe they have more salads now, but the philosophy hasn’t changed: the food is always heavy.What, if any, precautions can one take against post-curry indigestion? Kate Waight, BerwickI don’t have this problem so I’m not sure how to answer the question.