I’m coming up for air after a wild week of book events, and finally have a chance to post the photos from the two book dinners I did in San Francisco. They were amazing nights, with more glorious food and shining faces of friends than I could have imagined. And I even got to spend time in restaurant kitchens for the first time in God knows how long, and it was FUN! I’m grateful to the food community of this city, who has made me feel so welcomed. From bookstore owners to food writers, from chefs to food activists, and people who simply love to eat, I’m in awe of the amount of support I’ve received here. [click to continue…]

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Inspiration from Bar Tartine

by Louisa on May 2, 2013

Today was a very exciting day for me, because I was back in a restaurant kitchen with a knife in my hand for the first time in years. I’m happy to report that I did not cut myself! [click to continue…]

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The New Persian Kitchen Arrives, + A Simple Artichoke Recipe

April 16, 2013

Well, the day that has seemed so far ahead of me for the last couple of years is finally here. The New Persian Kitchen comes out today, and I couldn’t be more excited. As I’m sure everyone is feeling, my happiness is muted by yesterday’s tragic events in Boston. I send my most heartfelt wishes [...]

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San Francisco Spring

April 6, 2013
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I’m spending the spring in San Francisco for a few reasons. First of all, it’s warmer than Brooklyn. Second, I’ve always thought of SF as my spiritual home since living here a decade ago. And third, for the book release on April 16, I wanted to be close to Tehrangeles, aka Los Angeles, home to [...]

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Kimberley Hasselbrink, The Year in Food

March 28, 2013
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I recently met Kimberley Hasselbrink, the talented woman behind the lusciously photographed food blog, The Year In Food.

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Where to Find Persian Ingredients

March 21, 2013
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Norooz’eh Shomah Mobarak! Happy Persian New Year!
Today is Norooz— “new day”—the biggest Iranian holiday of the year. It’s an ancient Zoroastrian celebration whose roots likely go even further back than that.

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The Shurka Bazaar, April 14 in NYC

March 17, 2013
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Two very inspired ladies of Iranian descent are planning an amazing event called the Shurka Bazaar, to take place on April 14. The idea is to recreate the charm and magic of a classic Persian Bazaar, but with some fantastical twists, as only some creative, big-thinking New Yorkers could dream up. The Bazaar will be [...]

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San Francisco, A Composter’s Dream

March 4, 2013
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As I clean up my kitchen after preparing a seven-course tasting, I sadly eye my two big containers of composted food scraps, and contemplate the schlep to the Union Square Greenmarket compost drop-off. I bag up the compost and heave the bags over my shoulder for the umpteenth time, and walk to the subway while [...]

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Happy Chinese New Year!

February 11, 2013
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Today is the first day of the Year of the Snake. As some Chinese friends told me about their preparations for the new year, such as cleaning the house from top to bottom, I noticed some parallels with the Iranian new year, coming up on March 21.

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Books About Iran

January 27, 2013
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Ding ding ding (sound of bells), big announcement: The New Persian Kitchen is available for pre-sale! Yep, my new book lands in bookstores on April 16, but you can order it now online. It’s a collection of over 75 recipes, some of which are classic Iranian dishes, while others are new and delicious creations inspired [...]

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