SAMANTHA SENEVIRATNE

FOOD WRITER

Samantha is a wearer of many hats in the food world. She is a food editor, stylist, recipe developer and writer of award-winning blog Love, Cake. As a baker and cookbook author, she is also known for her spice-focused dessert recipes.

Samantha’s introduction to baking came early, when instead of the Easy-Bake Oven she’d asked for, her mother let her use their regular oven at home. Culinary school night classes later followed, eventually leading Samantha to her first food media gig at Good Housekeeping. She credits her signature use of spice to growing up with Sri Lankan food, where spices were always the focus of a main dish. This is reflected in her first cookbook The New Sugar And Spice, where each chapter is divided by spices inspired by her grandmother’s garden – and for which she was nominated for a James Beard Award.  Her latest title, The Joys Of Baking, was also highlighted as ‘one of the best baking cookbooks of the year’ by The New York Times.

Samantha is currently the host of two web series: the Food Network’s Unchoppable, and Food 52’s Chef and A Half– which she presents with her young son Artie.