I’m a Dubai-born writer, illustrator, and guidebook author who tells stories about food, travel, and culture. 

My writing has appeared in National Geographic, TIME, Lonely Planet, EATEN Magazine, Southern Living, AllRecipes, Yahoo Life, Healthline, webMD, among others.

I’ve written and co-authored several major guidebook titles for Lonely Planet including Dubai & Abu Dhabi, Oman, UAE & the Arabian Peninsula, and multiple India editions. Whether I’m tracing the history of a dish, a city, or a landscape, I’m always drawn to the quiet details that reveal how people live, eat, and create.

Alongside writing, I work as an illustrator and surface-pattern designer. I mix gouache, digital collage, and photography—mediums that let me translate the same sense of place I chase in words into color and form. My visual work often begins in the margins of my notebooks: field sketches, color studies, and patterns inspired by the architecture, flora, and street life I encounter while traveling.

In both writing and illustration, I’m interested in the spaces where cultures overlap—the ordinary beauty of the in-between.

Here are some writing samples: 

Features & Essays 

• 200 years ago, tourists flocked to Paris—to see decomposing corpses – National Geographic
• The blackout that nearly broke New York—and the logo that saved it – National Geographic
• Delivering Tradition – EATEN Magazine
• India’s coffee-growing tradition thrives with new gourmet producers – Nikkei Asian Review
• Street Food and the City – Lonely Planet
• Pearls, Petrol and Progress – Lonely Planet
• Building Narratives of the UAE – Lonely Planet
• The Canvas of a Nation – Lonely Planet
• OMGhee: From South Asian Staple to Goop’s Golden Liquid – EATEN Magazine
• Why You Should Be Buying Sustainable Spices and Where to Find Them – AllRecipes
• A Guide to Buying and Drinking Sustainable Wine – AllRecipes
• Why Your Bodys Gut-Brain Connection Can Affect Your Mental Health – Cooking Light
• How Sustainable is Your Seafood – Cooking Light

Travel

• Dogon (Worldʻs Greatest Places 2025) – TIME
• Mayurbhanj, India (Worldʻs Greatest Places 2023) – TIME
• I’ve lived in DC for 10 years — here’s my list of under-the-radar spaces and fascinating places that most tourists miss – Business Insider 
• The only 7 hotels — and one Airbnb — you should consider booking in DC, according to a local travel writer – Business Insider
• 10 Noteworthy Destinations to Inspire Your Next Trip – Marriott Bonvoy
• Explore Your Own Backyard on Wellness Staycations in the Middle East and Africa – Marriott Bonvoy
• From Mighty Mountains to Secluded Beaches, Find Your Version of Zen in the Middle East and Africa – Marriott Bonvoy
• Across Europe, the Middle East and Beyond, 9 Ways Travel Sparks Connection and Renewal – Marriott Bonvoy
• Find Solace at These 7 Secluded Islands in the Middle East and Africa – Marriott Bonvoy
• Transformative Experiences Await on 5 Spiritual Road Trips Around the World – Marriott Bonvoy
• Check Into the Most Dazzling New Hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa – Marriott Bonvoy
• Get Married with a View: 15 Spectacular Wedding Venues Where You Can Say “I Do” – Marriott Bonvoy

Food & Chef Profiles

• When happy hour in America meant a cheap beer … and free caviar? – National Geographic
• Know Before You Go: Visiting the Burj Khalifa – Viator
• Know Before You Go: Shopping at Souks in Dubai – Viator
• Food in Dubai: 10 Quintessentially Dubai Dishes and Where To Eat Them – Viator
• DC’s Eastern Point Collective is serving more than just great food on Capitol Hill – OpenTable
• James Beard Award-winner Ellen Yin debuts first DC restaurant – OpenTable
• How Ryan Ratino of DC’s two-MICHELIN-starred Jônt is building a national restaurant empire – OpenTable
• 12 Washington, DC restaurants that our local editor loves – OpenTable
• How one of D.C.’s hottest chefs pays tribute to his Greek and Italian roots – OpenTable
• A talented new chef reimagines the menu at D.C. area stalwart Vermilion – OpenTable
• The Sage Restaurant Concepts Team Brings Californian Cuisine—and an Epic Boat Bar—to D.C. – OpenTable
• 100 Years of Tabard Inn: A D.C. Dining Stalwart Marks Its Centennial – OpenTable
• Acclaimed Restaurateur Behind Lupo Verde Honors His Mediterranean Heritage at Hot New D.C. Opening – OpenTable
• Washington, D.C.’s Finest Bars: Where to Drink in the District – OpenTable
• 13 destination restaurants across the U.S. for your next culinary adventure – OpenTable
• How to Stock Your Pantry for a Summer of Grilled Meals – AllRecipes
• Faux Fish Is The Next Big Plant-Based ThingHeres Whats In It – Cooking Light
• 12 Hottest Summer Dining Experiences Across the Middle East – Marriott Bonvoy
• Meet the Brewers Bringing West African Flavors to America – October Mag
• This 118-year-old Jewish bakery in India is a hit on Christmas – JTA
• India’s Jew Town only has a handful of Jews left. But Jewish traditions and landmarks remain – JTA
• Mozzarella Monks of Bengaluru – The Hindu

Recipe Writing

• Vegan Black Eyed Peas – Taste of Home
• Thai Red Chicken Curry – Taste of Home
• 16 Ramp Recipes That Celebrate the Start of Spring – Taste of Home
• How To Fix a Dry Cake: Top Tips From Pastry Chefs – AllRecipes
• How To Store Lemons So They Stay Fresh Longer – Southern Living 
• Creamed Chipped Beef & Toast – Southern Living 
• Can You Freeze Cranberry Sauce? – Southern Living
• Classic Old Fashioned – Southern Living
• Watergate Salad – Southern Living

Health & Wellness

• Why dancing can be more powerful than antidepressants – National Geographic
• The 7 best yoga apps to take classes at home, according to a yoga instructor – Yahoo Life
• Life without a mind’s eye – BrainWise
• Can Eating Garlic Make Your Skin Smell? – Everyday Health
• 10 Foods That Help You Poop, According to Experts – AllRecipes
• 10 Probiotic-Rich Foods That Aren’t Yogurt – AllRecipes
• 6 Sneaky Reasons You Can’t Poop – EatingWell
• Cultivate 4 Wellness-Inspired New Year’s Resolutions While You Travel – Marriott Bonvoy

Commerce Writing

• The Most Common Types of Coffee Makers, Explained – AllRecipes
• How to Make AeroPress Coffee at Home – AllRecipes

Guidebooks

• Lonely Planet India (2024)
• Lonely Planet South India (2024)
• Lonely Planet Dubai & Abu Dhabi (2024)
• Fodorʻs Essential India (2019)