My story began eight years ago when I migrated to Canada, carrying with me the memories of home, the colours of my Bengali heritage, and the courage to rebuild my life. I married young, became a mother at 18, and grew up in a conservative family where a woman’s world was expected to revolve around her husband, children, and household. Education, ambition, and dreams were things I had to secretly hold inside my heart.
But life gifted me a partner who believed in me before I believed in myself. My husband encouraged me to finish my studies, and with determination, I completed my Master’s degree. After coming to Canada, I reshaped my career—first becoming an Early Childhood Educator, and later earning a second Master’s in Public Policy. Today, I work confidently in the policy sector, a place where I learned the power of voice, resilience, and reinvention.
Yet beyond my career, cooking has always been the space where my soul breathes.
My Creative World
Cooking is my creativity zone—a place where I play with spices, balance flavours, and express emotions that words can’t always hold. My recipes are rooted in my Bengali heritage, inspired by the aromas of my grandmother’s kitchen and shaped by the yearnings of my own identity.
Spices are my language. They guide me, challenge me, and allow me to tell my story in every dish I create.
But my journey into cooking did not start beautifully.
"On the second day of my marriage, my mother-in-law asked me to cook something simple. I chose to make dal—the easiest dish. I had no idea how to cook, so I kept adding turmeric until it turned completely yellow and inedible. She criticized me harshly, saying my mother never taught me to cook."
That moment broke me, but it also built me.
It was the turning point that pushed me to learn, improve, and eventually take pride in my craft. Today, that painful moment is the fuel behind my passion.
Other Pieces of Me
Outside the kitchen and work, I am a woman of curiosity and courage.
I love driving. In Dhaka, I always believed driving wasn’t for me. I never even tried. But in Canada, my car became my personal world—where I talk to myself, dream fearlessly, and even research new ideas. Driving reminds me of my independence.
I love skydiving. It was my way of challenging myself, proving that fear cannot hold my life hostage. I want to live fully—as a human with dreams, depth, and daring.
I love exercising. Workouts give me internal energy, mental strength, and a sense of direction.
I love simple food. My favourite meal is two perfectly cooked sunny-side-up eggs with unbroken yolks and a multigrain toast with butter and honey. Simple things remind me how beautiful life can be.
My Purpose
My dream is to bring Bengali food to the world—to show its richness, its soul, its depth, and its artistry. I want to present our dishes not just as recipes, but as stories, traditions, and emotions. Through “Homeplate by Sharmina,” I hope to introduce Bengali flavours in a remarkable, unforgettable way.
My life is proof that change is possible. You can rewrite your story. You can reshape your identity. You can rise, even when others doubt you.
If your intention is to grow, life will open its doors.
Welcome to my journey, my kitchen, and my world—where every dish holds a piece of who I am.
