Eat Offbeat: Persian Cuisine Dinner + Cooking Demo

Persian cuisine is a centuries-old culinary tradition built on a delicate balance of flavors, colors, and aromas. Rice, or Berenj, holds a place of honor, often prepared as a fluffy, saffron-tinted Polo or layered into a Chelo with a crisp golden crust called Tahdig. Meats like lamb and chicken are frequently slow-cooked into rich stews, or Khoresh, combined with fruits, nuts, and herbs, like pomegranate and walnut in Fesenjan, or dried limes and split peas in Gheimeh. Fresh herbs such as mint, parsley, and dill appear generously throughout, alongside warming spices like saffron, cinnamon, and turmeric. Meals are often rounded out with tangy yogurt dishes, and a spread of fresh herbs and flatbread known as Sabzi Khordan, reflecting a cuisine that prizes both hospitality and harmony on the plate. 

Join Chef Sahar for a cozy evening of Persian food and treats, featuring a hands-on demonstration of one of the cuisine's most beloved dishes. Through a four-course dinner rooted in family recipes passed down over generations, guests will savor the rich, aromatic flavors that define Persian cooking. 

About the Chef:

Chef Sahar's love for the kitchen kicked off in her twenties as a hobby, slowly turning into a real passion for cooking and baking. After finishing her master's degree, she realized baking was what she truly wanted to do, so she dove in and started practicing and perfecting her craft. In 2022, she turned that passion into Sahar Bakery, her home bakery in Rochester, NY, where she has been baking Persian breads and sweets ever since, sharing a little piece of home with everyone who tries them. 

On the Menu:

• Welcome Drink: Lebanese Organic Wine
• Drink: Sour Cherry Sharbat
• Demo: Tahchin (crispy saffron rice casserole stuffed with chicken)
• Starter: Persian Shiraz-style curry with onions, potatoes and tomatoes (Do Piazeh)
• Main Dish: Tahchin, Shirazi Salad
• Dessert: Persian Fereni