I’m thrilled to announce that my book, “Bitter & Sweet: Global Flavors from an Iranian-American Kitchen”, is on sale now.
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Bookshop
Built on more than 20 years of cooking, teaching, and demonstrating the power of food to build bridges, Bitter & Sweet is not only a collection of 75 recipes but also the story of my immigrant journey from Iran to America and my appreciation for Iranian and global cuisines.
Bitter & Sweet is my love letter to food’s ability to bridge cultures, sparking curiosity and underscoring humanity’s need for connection and belonging. Writing it was a deeply personal journey of self-reflection, exploring what it means to be Iranian-American.
This book is dedicated to everyone with a “hyphenated” identity and to the allies who see the merits of immigrants’ contributions to our shared culture. The title “Bitter & Sweet” reflects not only flavor profiles but also the personal stories that begin each chapter.
These recipes showcase the diversity of my culinary journey, with simple tips for improvisation to help you cook more intuitively. I’ve written them to feel as if I’m right beside you, guiding you through each step.
Recipes include Persian classics like Chicken in Pomegranate Walnut Sauce (Khoresh Fesenjun), Sour Cherry Rice with Petite Meatballs (Albalu Polo ba Ghel Gheli), and Rice with a Crispy Saffron Layer (Polo ba Tahdig) alongside international dishes such as Braised Burdock with Carrots (Kinpira Gobo), Creamy Smoked Fish and Vegetable Soup (Cullen Skink), and Fried Potato and Bulgur Kibbeh (Kibbet Batata bil Lahmeh).
ACCESSIBLE: Written in a conversational format that makes this complex and delicious cuisine easy to cook for anyone, regardless of experience.
IMPROVISATIONAL: Each recipe includes simple tips for modification based on what you have on hand, with deeper instruction on how to become a more mindful and intuitive cook.
NARRATIVE-DRIVEN: Each chapter features a story from my life and the impact it had on my culinary journey from Iran to the US.
INSPIRING: Bitter & Sweet is a love letter to food’s ability to bridge cultures, sparking curiosity and underscoring humanity’s need for connection and belonging.
As a first-time author, I was supported by many whose encouragement helped me share my food and stories, hoping they would resonate, evoke curiosity, and foster connections between people and cultures.
This dream wouldn’t have come true without the support of my tireless agent, Wendy Sherman, and my publisher, Insight Editions & Weldon Owen
Peter Behravesh, my editor, believed in my vision from our first conversation and remained a steadfast advocate throughout this 2-year journey.
Ken Carlson at Waterbury Publications brought my vision for photography to life with stunning images.
Joshua Hake, a talented artist and stylist, made each dish shine and left me in awe.
Lauren Ko graciously wrote a thoughtful foreword that beautifully captures the book’s message, moving me each time I read it.
Reem Assil, Naz Deravian, Tom Douglas, Aran Goyoaga, Marjan Kamali, Scot Louie, Becky Selengut, Nik Sharma, and Pat Tanumihardja contributed beautiful blurbs.
Finally, RJW, my rock and emotional support, helped me navigate this wild journey of writing a book.
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