Hi, I’m Cindy

I was a newspaper reporter for more years than I care to admit, which means I still carry notepads in my purse, stick pens behind my ears and ask more questions than I should when at a party.

I’ve worked as a bartendar, cocktail waitress, shot girl, banquet server, ham carver, fromager, pastry assistant and coffee mistress.

I’m a native Angeleno, totally normal and avoid all LA freeways between the hours of 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

I’m biracial and it has played a huge part in who I am as a person. I had an Indian father who taught me how to cook curries and parathas and a Guatemalan mama who raised us on a hearty diet of frijoles negros, Latin guilt and cumbias.

I’m a fan of any and all fruit tarts, crisps, crumbles and the occasional grunt.

Coffee is my spirit animal.

Eleanor Roosevelt was my superhero in 6th grade. And still is now.

I am the mother of a tween boy who loves Hot Cheetos, sleeping in late, and calling me “bruh.”

I feel happiest living by the ocean. But don’t … yet.

I almost flunked out of high school for refusing to run “the mile” and then became a runner as an adult. #runnerlife

Cindy Arora was a staff writer at The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, The Orange County Register, The Stockton Record and Sacramento Magazine. She’s been a lifestyle + food writer for the last few years, penning prose for Saveur, Tasting Table, Orange Coast Magazine and was the Dining Editor for Fodor’s Travel Guide (Los Angeles.)  She loves a good New York Steak, whiskey over ice and banana splits. 

Heartbreak Cake is her debut novel.