The Delicious Creations of a Hot, Young Chef
Harriet Van Horne once wrote: "Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all." It's very easy to see the wisdom of this point when you understand the creative fire, enthusiasm, and passion of Yasamin Beitollahi, one of the hottest chefs to emerge in years.
This extraordinary woman is a world thinker, a world traveler, and a world connector. And it's clear that her experiences are very much apart of who she is, and what she creates. Her popular website, Pinch My Saffron, specializes in the very best of Persian and Mediterranean cuisine.
Yasamin's craft is nothing short of impressive. This woman knows her flavors, and, as they say, always brings the sizzle. You'll love her perspective and be more than taken with the culinary delights of this extraordinary food enthusiast.
It is amazing to see that dance really is a universal language that unites the world, no matter what our differences are. Sharing a passion for cooking, much like sharing the art of dance doesn't require a common language. That's the beauty of how it's become a cultural ambassador. Cooking by its very nature needs no translation. It communicates directly with the senses; a universal language of bringing people together. Instead of using words, we pair our local vocabulary of ingredients with our familiarity with another culture to speak that other culture's language, which is then represented on the plate.
I enjoy listening to music when I'm cooking. And, dancing naturally follows. My kitchen is a great escape and music helps achieve that special nirvana. The music is the vehicle to get in touch with my ingredients, techniques and utensils. Rock on!
You have a great, culturally rich background. How has it informed your approach to cooking?
I grew up in a household where bookshelves, hobbies, conversations, and obsessions invariably centered on food. Coming from a Persian background food was the center of our existence, and a big part of my life even at a very young age. So, I was exposed to different flavors and dishes that I wanted to create myself. I call upon my rich cultural history and love of bold flavors to create authentic dishes that pay homage to my Persian roots, while keeping it as simple as possible. My passion for good food has allowed me to develop innovative combinations without diminishing centuries' old Persian authenticity. I have always had a love for all things Persian and Mediterranean cuisine, and they say you crave the food of your ancestors, I find myself wanting to put saffron or feta cheese on just about everything.
Your first cookbook, Nobody Puts Saffron in the Corner, is coming out in February 2010. What delicious tidbits can readers expect?
My cookbook offers recipes and tips to everyday cooks, many of whom are rushing home to prepare no-frill meals for their families. Part of the book is definitely seasonal, but people expect to see certain classics as well, such as Ghormeh Sabzi, a stew made with leek, parsley, and fenugreek, served over a bed of Saffron Rice. A myriad of kabob recipes and so on. We blend the cookbook in a way that you have an opportunity to have a Persian classic with something that is more modern in its approach or Mediterranean inspired.
As with many food enthusiasts, collecting cookbooks is a passion of mine. I have been collecting cookbooks for many years now, most I have purchased but some have been given to me by dear friends and some have been handed down to me by family members. One downside to collecting and owning so many cookbooks is where to put my ever-growing collection. My love of a tidy kitchen, is the driving force behind the decision to launch Nobody Puts Saffron in the Corner as an e-book. Instead of having books scattered around the counter while you're cooking or baking, with e-books you can print out just the recipe you will be working with. What a concept!
Perhaps the most exciting thing about my first book is that Pinch My Saffron will donate 20% of proceeds from sales of our cookbook, Nobody Puts Saffron in the Corner, to Livestrong, Susan G. Komen For The Cure, Alex's Lemonade, and Charity Water. I have supported these charities for a while now, but the book will enable me to support them at a scale that I otherwise would not be able to.
Thank you to our friends on Twitter, Facebook, and to fellow foodies that follow my blog. It's much appreciated. Look out for the tweet, "I've submitted the manuscript!"
Much success on your book. That's quite an accomplishment. What's next for you, and what are your long-term plans for your site Pinch My Saffron?
Thank you for your wishes. It's an exciting time for Pinch My Saffron. Ultimately, creating an insightful blog that captures the flavorful and vibrant spirit of Persian and Mediterranean cuisine is what we sought out to do. We want to guide Persian food lovers on a non-intimidating and flavorful foray into home-style Persian cooking.
An online cooking show with guest co-hosts is our next exciting adventure. Each week, viewers will be invited into our kitchen to celebrate delicious, everyday Persian & Mediterranean meals that can be made with minimal fuss; a place where viewers can join us for a love affair with all things Persian & Mediterranean cuisine. The show will be made as a labor of love with this motto: Don't hesitate to pursue a fling with Persian cuisine --it may turn into true love!
To read more about Yasamin Beitollahi's awesome culinary dishes, log on to her site PinchMySaffron. You can also connect with her through her Twitter feed and Facebook page. Her eagerly anticipated e-book, Nobody Puts Saffron in the Corner, is slated for a February 2010 release.
This post was originally published at 2morrowknight.blogspot.com.
Follow 2morrowknight on Twitter: www.twitter.com/2morrowknight
Les Leopold: To Create Jobs on Main Street, We Need to Kill Jobs on Wall Street
The Billionaire Bailout Society is not a shared society. We're not in it together. What's good for Wall Street is not good for the rest of us...they even get their swine flu shots before we do.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Yasamin, Love what you do and your passion that I share. Much luck with your new book. Namaste, Vanda
Forget the Food Network, my stomach is calling RIGHT NOW. The site looks great and the recipes look even better. Congratulations and keep it up.
Arman, I am immensely excited that you have visited the site. Thank you so much for the lovely words. Now you can surprise M with a yummy Persian dinner.
OK...SO I actually tried the Tahchin recipe that I found on Pinch My Saffron,
and for someone that doesn't cook, I have to say I was quite impressed with my creation..... I'm excited to try the next dish... congratulations to this young lady :)
Mike, thank you for visiting my blog and for your kind comments. I do have a soft spot for Tahchin. :)
I just had the persian pasta with potatoes on wednesday and I seriously can't stop thinking of it - I love persian food but sometimes can be sooo heavy and always end up in a food coma - but with her added style of cooking and recipes I feel so light and the flavors are so vibrant without all the butter and oil that most persian use just to hide their lack of cooking skills!!:) and I am sucker for presentation so hooray
Aree, thank you for your comments and for sharing your experience! While I can't take all the credit for the Persian Macaroni, I'm glad you enjoyed it as much I did. The recipe I used was from my friend, Navid Firoozi--his blog post and recipe are up on the site.
Everyone always thinks their family members are extraordinary, and I'm thrilled that the rest of the world finally gets to see my baby sister in all of her glory. Her attention to detail with every recipe is a true gift and I'm lucky enough to be one of the first ones to taste each dish. Congrats sis!
~ Nancy
Nancy, thank you for the endless support and for being a wonderful taste tester and sister!
Im so proud of my girl, Yasamin! Everything she touches, turns into gold. Her passion for food and her love for working magic in the kitchen is unmatched. She glows when she cooks. I've had the privilege of tasting some of these delicious recipes, and let me tell you, they are YUMMY! And the best part of it is that her recipes are simple and easy to follow. I love Persian food, but I was always turned off from cooking it because it is so time consuming. Yasamin has made it quick and easy without taking the taste and authenticity out of it. Cheers to a delicious future for my girl!
Ellie, thanks for the lovely compliment. It’s so nice that we still go back to the food we ate as children-and do a pretty good job of whipping it up too!
Firstly, 2morrowknight, thank you for your kind words of introduction and for inviting me to this interview. The flow of your questions were so natural, thanks for a great conversation. And, coming from someone as awesome & accomplished as yourself makes it all the more humbling. Much love, Yasamin
This woman knows her food: "Ghormeh Sabzi, a stew made with leek, parsley, and fenugreek, served over a bed of Saffron Rice". That's one of my favorite dishes. Good to see new faces on the scene.
The Food Network should be calling her right now.
"The Food Network should be calling her right now."
Absolutely. Reading the interview, you just know great things are in store for this woman.
See 2morrowknight's Profile
"The Food Network should be calling her right now"
I completely agree with you. This woman has presence, and I love her approach to cooking. The Food Network would be a natural fit.
Thank you for your unbelievable support everyone! Hearing from The Food Network would be an incredible honor. Not to mention, a dream come true. Come to think of it, they don't have a Persian chef in their kitchen. Hmm...? :)
Oh yeah. I really liked this interview. Loved it in fact. Her excitement about Persian and Mediterranean dishes is truly infectious. I wish her much success on her her culinary journey.
See 2morrowknight's Profile
"Her excitement about Persian and Mediterranean dishes is truly infectious"
This is a woman who truly lives and breathes her culinary craft. To hear her go into detail will give you another level of excitement. Her blogposts on food are equally awesome.
As someone new to the blogging world, you don’t know how much these comments mean to me. Thank you so much! Happy cooking & eating!
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
