Meet Prajakta Patil

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Prajakta Patil. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Prajakta below.

Prajakta, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I’ve always had a passion for food since I was a kid, but I never took it seriously. Growing up in the ’90s, cooking as a career wasn’t seen as a viable option, so I followed a more conventional path and earned two degrees in engineering. I even moved to the US hoping to build a career in tech, despite barely enjoying it.

After being laid off from my tech job during the pandemic, I felt lost and couldn’t bring myself to interview for another tech role. It was a turning point for me, and I decided to take a break and reflect on what truly made me happy. Looking back to my childhood for answers became an incredibly healing journey—it unlocked so much clarity.

I knew then that I wanted to pursue cooking as a career. Instead of taking on more debt for a culinary degree, I reached out to local restaurants to see if they would take me on in their kitchens. One restaurant gave me the chance, and I started working as a line cook. That led to an opportunity working with a pastry chef, and through those experiences, I realized just how much I enjoyed cooking and being part of a community that shared that passion.

That was when I knew I had found my true purpose.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I own an Indian-inspired ice cream business in Seattle called Sookh. In Sanskrit, Sookh means happiness or inner peace. I started this company during a time when I felt lost in life, and it became my source of joy and peace—hence the name.

Since moving to the US, I’ve noticed that Indian food often isn’t represented to its fullest potential. Through my ice creams, I aim to highlight under-appreciated Indian ingredients and flavors, infused with a touch of creativity inspired by my travels. One of our most popular flavors is cardamom with soy sauce caramel—a unique blend that is fragrant and toasty.

While we don’t have a physical store yet, you can find us at farmers markets, pop-ups, and events around Seattle. We regularly share updates about our locations on our Instagram, @sookh.icecream, and offer pre-orders for pints through our website, www.sookh.us. Pre-orders are currently available for pick-up only.

In addition to running Sookh, I am a culinary instructor at The Pantry, where I teach Maharashtrian cuisine, sharing the rich culinary heritage of Maharashtra, the state where I was born and raised. I’ve also recently launched my YouTube channel, @sookh.kitchen, where I share unique Maharashtrian cooking techniques, recipes, and introduce uncommon ingredients.

I’m passionate about popularizing Maharashtrian cuisine, an often underrated gem among India’s diverse regional cuisines, and hope to bring it the recognition it deserves.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, I believe the most impactful quality to have is courage. Everything in life is learnable, but it starts with the bravery to take the first step, even when the path feels uncertain or intimidating. Courage isn’t about being fearless; it’s about moving forward despite the fear. If you’re feeling stuck in life, the best way to break free is to try something new, even if it feels scary. Once you do, reflect on the experience—consider what aspects you enjoyed, what didn’t resonate, and why. This process helps you uncover new directions and possibilities.

Another essential skill is the ability to hone your craft for its own sake. Dedicate time to improving at something you love, without focusing on external rewards like money or recognition. There’s unmatched joy in striving to be the best at what you enjoy simply because it fulfills you. This intrinsic satisfaction nourishes your soul and creates a sense of inner peace that no external achievement can replicate.

Finally, I’ve found that one of the most important guiding tools is to listen to your gut. Your intuition often knows what’s best for you, even when logic or external pressures try to steer you otherwise. Trusting yourself can lead to decisions that align more closely with your passions, values, and long-term happiness.

For those early in their journey, my advice is to embrace bravery, focus on self-improvement without external expectations, and trust your instincts. These qualities will not only help you navigate challenges but also lead you toward a more meaningful and fulfilling path.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Maharashtra is a vast and culturally rich state, home to diverse communities, each with its own distinct cuisine and cooking traditions. Unfortunately, many of these gems remain undocumented, making it difficult to learn about dishes and techniques beyond what I grew up eating. I’m deeply passionate about preserving and celebrating these traditions, and I see collaboration as a vital way to make this happen.

I’m looking to connect with fellow Maharashtrians who are enthusiastic about sharing their family recipes, food stories, and culinary techniques. Whether it’s an heirloom recipe passed down through generations, a unique ingredient from your hometown, or a rare cooking method, I’d love to learn and showcase these treasures through my work. Beyond family recipes, I’m also interested in collaborating with chefs, home cooks, and food historians who focus on Maharashtrian cuisine. Together, we can document these recipes, explore their origins, and bring them to a wider audience, ensuring they don’t fade into obscurity.

In addition to this work, I’m also on the lookout for a permanent spot for my ice cream business, Sookh, in Seattle. We specialize in handcrafted Indian-inspired ice creams that celebrate bold flavors and the joy of shared moments. Our goal is to bring these creations to more people and create a cozy, inviting environment for the community to experience them. We’re searching for a location to call our own—whether it’s a small storefront, a shared kitchen space, or a creative setup with another food business. If you know anyone who has a space available or is open to sharing, I’d love to connect. We’re open to creative possibilities and partnerships that align with our vision.

Whether you’re passionate about food stories, recipes, or even helping build community connections for Sookh, let’s join hands. You can reach me at sookh.llc@gmail.com. Together, we can celebrate diverse culinary traditions and create meaningful food experiences for everyone to enjoy!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Subhabrata Majumdar
Sarah Tan

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