I am Sonali and I create recipes, style and photograph food for a living.
Sugar et al. is a place where I share my passion for food (mainly sweet), photography, colors and all things beautiful and creative. Sweet food is celebrated here and quick, simple, savory cooking is encouraged. We want to reserve our time and calories for the naughty treats.
I live in Sydney, Australia with my wonderful husband and amazing little twin boys.
I started this blog in early 2013, a few months after I came to live in Sydney, smitten by the passionate food industry here, the gorgeous Australian produce and my need to cook with them every single day.
What began as a humble effort to share recipes and my constant experiments in the kitchen soon turned into a full time food photography venture. A contributor to StockFood (Photocuisine) and other stock agencies, my work has been published globally across a range of media including magazines, cookbooks and advertising.
I love partnering with brands and businesses to create visually stunning content. Over the last two years I have collaborated with both international and local businesses to bring their creative vision to life through food photography. To have a look at some of my recent work please click here or check out my page on Instagram. If you like what you see and would like to initiate a conversation, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at sonalighosh21@gmail.com
What you can expect on my blog are sweet recipes that focus on the different flavors, textures and visual aspect of food. You may come across indulgent recipes and gluten free, low fat, healthy recipes as well. Spices are a part of my heritage so I pair them often with my sweet creations.
I almost always include shots from various angles to give you a clear idea of the texture, height and feel of my recipes.
My Photography is self taught and I am learning something new everyday. I love plating up and styling food and most definitely ‘eat with my eyes’ first. My style is rustic along with the usage of plenty of bold colors.
More about me:
The sweet treats I make today are very different from the ones that I grew up eating though I largely draw the inspiration from my childhood favourites. I grew up in the city of Kolkata, India a place known for it’s fascinating share of Indian delicacies and gorgeous sweets. I don’t know when and how I fell in love with baking because baking was not all that popular in India at that time, not even today. I do remember however how much I was in awe of the little round portable oven in my house and would skip my time with friends to help my Mom. Years of reading cookbooks, watching videos on YouTube and practice helped me feed this passion and today, baking is what I enjoy the most.
In a no-so-long-ago life, I had a very successful career in the banking industry. I decided to take a career break when I became a mother to twin boys and that is when I reconnected with my passion for baking and cooking.
Sugar et al is a wonderful outlet for my creativity and I love coming back to it every day. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Disclaimer: All content in this blog are copyrighted and rights reserved. Please seek permission before use.
Oh wow! A Bengali food blogger based in Australia! I’m guessing there aren’t many of us! It’s been lovely to stumble upon your blog (via Nuffnang!) and I look forward to following your posts!
Thanks a lot Moni! The pleasure is mine:-)
I love the pictures of your cake! I was really attracted by the new colours and the new technique, it is very original and it shows that you spend a lot of time choosing the colours and the scene. Congratulation for a fantastic work and Wish you all the best.
Thank you so much Dalia:-) I do spend a lot of time planning out my shots and styling because this is something I love to do. So glad you stopped by!
Beautiful blog, and scrumptious food. It’s great to see another Bangali blogger.
Thank you so much! I am thrilled that you like the blog:-)
Hi! I happened across your Instagram profile (and subsequently fell in love) earlier this morning. I’m 17, I live in Toronto and I’m often teased by friends for how much I love baking! Regardless, it’s something I adore.
Recently, since my summer break started I’ve been trying to branch out and try baking/cooking new things. After coming across your profile, I think I went through almost every single ones of your posts! I am simply amazed by your unique talent. I just wanted to share my appreciation with you. The cultural, and artistic aspects of your blog have enriched my interest in learning new recipes.
Thank you so much for not only making my day, but also inspiring my summer!
Best wishes & God bless 🙂
Awww..you certainly made my day:-) Thank you so much. Baking is therapeutic and amazing…you are creating something beautiful with just a few pantry ingredients. I am glad that you think like me. Hope you have a great summer and bake up a storm:-)
I am so inspired by your styling and beautiful photographs. Great job Sonali.
Hi Ratna! Thank you for stopping by and I am so thrilled that you like the photos:-)
Hi! Just found your blog via insta….. I’m also a twin mum who started food blogging at http://www.bakemehappy.me.uk as a creative outlet when my twins were born! Still at the early stages here but am finding your blog and photography inspirational! nice to e-meet you! Xxx
Very happy to meet you:-) Wish you luck with your blog and thanks so much for your sweet comment!
Beautiful blog with stunning images !!
Thanks so much:-)
Absolutely stunning work! Congratulations on winning the DMBLGiT overall category.
Yay! Thank so much Roy. It is an honour to be part of such a talented group of individuals!
Hi Sonali!
I just started my own food blog http://www.afeministcooks.wordpress.com and I was wondering if I can share some of your recipes on my Facebook page (including links, of course).
Best,
Tamar
By the way, I love all your pictures and food 😀
Thank you so much:-)
i’m seriously obsessed with your blog and i can’t stop open all the recipes. i have lots and lots of tabs opened and i can’t decide what to try first!
That’s so lovely of you Helena! Thank you so much:-)
I am a follower on Tumbrl.
Just want to say that your work is stunning beautiful!
Oh thank you very much:-)
I just love the new look of your blog. Do you take your Instagram pictures with your Dslr camera Sonali? If so can you share a link on how to transport the Dslr pictures to Instagram please. Thank you.
Hey Ratna, sorry I missed this comment. Lately I haven’t been receiving email notifications on comments like I used to…I’m trying to fix it:-( Yes, most (if not all) images on my IG are taken on my Canon. After editing photos and saving them on my laptop, I send them as attachments to myself on my gmail. I open the email on my phone and save them on the phone as well. Then I post them on IG. This is my way of doing it. I’m sure there are various ways of doing it but I find this convenient. Hope this helps:-)
Hi Sonali!! Your content is absolutely stunning!! So much texture!! I love it..
What canon camera do u use..and whats your most used lens?? Would love to know!
Thanks for everything you do!
Hi Puja, sorry I missed your comment earlier. Thank you so much. I use a Canon 5d Mark III since August 2016. Prior to that I was using a Canon 60d. I hope this helps:-)
Dear Sonali,
You create magic not only in food but also through your lens. You are such an awesome presenter and a visual inspirer to struggling bloggers like me. Seriously, I struggle a lot to take decent pictures. I have almost seen every picture of yours in Instagram and wish that I atleast do 5% of what you do. I would consider that an achievement. Happy to meet you in blogosphere And I wish you the best. Goodluck and keep it coming. Cheers and Happy Coo(Ba)king.
Oh thank you so very much. Your comment made my day:-)
My pleasure. I am just taking the liberty to request a recipe. Why don’t you make Caramel Falooda.Would love to see through your lens
Your instagram feed is one my favorites! I am so happy I finally took the time (and remembered!) to come check out your blog! I am SO excited to browse through all the recipes (and subsequently pinning half!) and trying them out!
Your About page is so well written. I am so happy that you have been able to find something you are passionate about. Your photography is beautiful! You style those image SO well! I’d love to come and see how you do it! Maybe you can do a ‘behind the scenes’ – how you get inspired for your images, how you set things up, where you buy your accessories..!
http://www.elleisforlove.com
Love your work. Such an inspiriation and I just love how you play with colours and your bold design. Very much my kind of taste and I hope to try your recipes soonest possible. Keep on posting and hello from Malaysia.