Bio
Lavanya is an Indianapolis-born, India-bred restaurant critic, recipe editor and food writer. As a South Indian vegetarian straddling two worlds, she views food as the cross-cultural connection that brings people together. She believes that food is simply a lens through which culture and community congregate and that we can learn so much about each other by educating ourselves about what’s on each others' plates.
While Lavanya doesn’t have a favorite cuisine or ingredient, she’ll never turn down a crisp Diet Coke, an innovative seasonal vegetable dish, a well-marinated paneer or anything made with condensed milk.
She began her career in food media in 2016 as a restaurant critic and food writer for The Hindu, India’s leading English-language newspaper, in the southern city of Chennai, India. She then made her foray into U.S. media as an Editorial Fellow for Buzzfeed. She remained there for four years before becoming Food Network Magazine’s Associate Food Editor in 2023, embracing the Big Apple and all its culinary delicacies. Freelancing extensively for multiple publications including Food52, Plate Magazine and The Kitchn, Lavanya returned to Indianapolis to be with her family in the Midwest and currently splits her time between Indiana and India.
Experience
Lavanya has lived in some of the best food cities across the world, spanning from as far east as Chennai to as far west as Los Angeles. The pinnacle of it all, of course, has remained New York City and its many culinary adventures.
Her writing and recipes have been featured in Food52, Plate Magazine, The Kitchn, BuzzFeed, Food Network Magazine, Indianapolis Monthly and Edible Indy.
Education
Lavanya graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington with a B.S. in Nutrition Science.
