Who are we
WHO ARE THE FOUNDERS OF SPIZING?
Valia and Ivo.
WHY DID YOU CREATE SPIZING?
Ivo: In the late 90s “Ramayana” (my favorite Indian restaurant in Sofia) closed and I began to buy spices from England to cook at home. Gradually more and more people started asking me for recipes, spices and places from which to buy them. About three years ago me and Valia worked together and then we came up with the idea to make a Youtube channel with recipes for seasonal cooking. This idea over time evolved into Spizing.
Valia: Recently more and more people around me started to cook and pay attention to the food they eat. Many of them watch cooking channels, the purpose of which however is to entertain, not necessarily to teach you to cook. Many video recipes on the web do not give a quick answer to the question “What to cook today?”. So we decided to create a detailed video recipes bundled with all the necessary spices, so that everyone can easily prepare genuine and healthy food.
WHY DO YOU USE MANY SPICES?
Ivo: I love strong and pure flavors, tastes without compromise. There aren’t better aromas than the ones created by nature. The healthy and healing properties of spices and herbs are known for millennia to humanity. When used in sufficient quantities, in an appropriate manner and for long enough, spices have their positive effect on people’s health and tonus. The best way to use spices and herbs is to include them in your daily menu.
Valia: It all started with an ayurveda cooking course 7 years ago where Yuri – our instructor taught us how to use spices and what are the benefits of their use. After each of my trips since then I come home with new spices and a few new favorite dishes. Now I use a lot of spices regularly even in my morning smoothies.
WHAT IS YOUR FIRST KITCHEN MEMORY?
Ivo: Iraq, Baghdad, uncle Radko from Dragoman is cooking on the stove and I am standing on the door – he is not letting me in so that I don’t spill the oil.
Valia: When I a little I did not like to eat a lot and go into the kitchen because someone was inevitably going to try to convince me to taste something.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST THING YOU COOKED ALONE? WHAT WAS IT?
Ivo: My mom and dad went to see a child restricted movie, I had nothing to do and cooked a borsch I saw in a cookbook with yellow covers. I took half the necessary products from our neighbor. It was 1973 or 1974.
Valia: I made pancakes and the result was dramatic. Most of them stick to the pan and burned because I did not put enough butter.
LIST YOUR THREE MOST FAVORITE DISHES?
Ivo: Rogan Josh, Paella Valenciana, Bivolak beans (baked beans with rice).
Valia: Vindaloo, Imambayalda, Shrimps with coconut and mustard.
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE FIRST RECIPES?
Ivo: These are the most popular dishes cooked with more than 10 types of dry spices.
Valia: And some of the spices used are difficult to find in Bulgaria.