Bitter & Sweet Book Launch + Cooking Class with Chef Omid Roustaei (Night 1)

Join Chef Omid Roustaei and author Marjan Kamali for an evening of Persian cooking in celebration of the launch of Bitter & Sweet, Roustaei’s narrative-driven cookbook exploring the intersection of Persian flavors and global cuisine. Dive into the world of Iranian flavors and learn how simple ingredients – like tomatoes, saffron, pomegranate, and turmeric – work together to create complex and rich flavors. Omid and Marjan’s tales of Persian culture will weave throughout the evening’s demonstrations, providing context for the recipes and deepening your understanding of the cuisine. Signed copies of Bitter & Sweet will be available to purchase for class attendees. Night 1 Menu: Sabzi Khordan: Traditional Iranian fresh herb platter with flatbread Khoresh Fesenjun, a winter-appropriate chicken and pomegranate stew with walnut sauce, served with Iranian rice and Tahdig (crispy saffron layer) Persian baked goods from Tabrizi Bakery Cocktail from Bitter & Sweet: Sekanjebin Cocktail, Iranian-inspired minty gin and tonic Night 2 Menu: Salad Shirazi: Classic Iranian salad Havij Polo ba Morgh: Carrot and Candied Orange Rice Pilaf with braised saffron chicken Persian baked goods from Tabrizi Bakery Cocktail from Bitter & Sweet: Sekanjebin Cocktail, Iranian-inspired minty gin and tonic About Omid Roustaei: Omid Roustaei is an Iranian-American chef and culinary instructor who has been deeply involved in the culinary world for over 20 years. Born and raised in Tehran, he attended the School of Natural Cookery in Boulder, Colorado, where he studied the art of intuitive cooking. Omid now balances a career as a psychotherapist with his enthusiasm for teaching and writing. He shares Iranian culture and traditions through cooking and storytelling, using the power of food to foster connections and serve as a gentle form of advocacy and activism. About Marjan Kamali: Marjan Kamali is the award-winning author of The Lion Women of Tehran, an instant national bestseller, The Stationery Shop, a national and international bestseller, and Together Tea, a Massachusetts Book Award finalist. She is a 2022 recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship. She currently resides in Lexington, Massachusetts. Please note: this is a cooking demonstration class. While attendees will have a chance to participate by practicing their knife skills and flipping the Tahdig, the the majority of the cooking in the class will be conducted by Omid. Attendees will be served a sampling of each dish prepared during class. If for any reason a class needs to be cancelled, we will postpone the class to another date. Refunds will be given to those unable to make the new date.