It all began over 40 years ago with a couple taking turns every Sunday to cook a meal for their eight children at home. That's the sort of childhood Chris Kane had while growing up in Andheri West, as part of a large East Indian family. Her father ran a catering business, and he would transfer his culinary skills to the kitchen on alternate Sundays to cook up a feast, leaving the next weekend in his wife's able hands. Kane clearly grew up in an environment where food played a big part in her life, and by the time she was 12, she and her elder sister were capable enough to take the mammoth responsibility of feeding 10 people off their parents' shoulders. They took care of preparing the Sunday feast themselves, giving both mum and dad early retirement from the kitchen. And that laid the seeds for The Singing Home Chef, a venture that Kane launched last month in Andheri West, which is where she resides to this day.

"Singing" because music is the other defining childhood influence she retains. Kane and her sisters were part of the choir at St Blaise Church in the Amboli neighbourhood of Andheri, where she chiselled her voice singing high soprano. Her musical diet was as robust as the meals she laid out on the table, which she'd prepare while singing to tunes playing in the background. It only made sense in that case to theme her new project on both these passions. Her loved ones — in-laws, husband, three children and niece — gave her all the individual support she needs. It's a family-run operation. They are Kane and able, so to speak.