After writing my last article about Persian Cuisine, where I described my experience as a lone customer and food lover, I was not expecting that life will grant me very soon another opportunity to enjoy this great cuisine, but now with a group of friends.
My classmates from the Translator Training Program of last year and my colleagues, they decided to organize a small gathering and have fun after a couple of months. We choose to have our dinner at a Persian restaurant: Restaurant Shabestan. You can also find this restaurant with the name سفره خانه سنتی شبستان (Sofreh Khaane Sonati Shabestan)
The word Shabestan ( شبستان ) is composed by 2 words: شب + ستان Where the word “shab” means “night”, and the suffix “-estan” meaning “to stay”, “to stand”. Shabestan is an underground space found in houses, usually related to pleasure. There are other meanings related to this word that can be found on the Internet.
We were seated on rugs in the traditional way, and reclining on cushions. We could conduct our gathering in a relaxed environment.
We started our meal with Kashk-e Bademjan (کشک بادمجان ) made with mashed fried eggplant topped with fried onions, garlic, mint. It is usually eaten as a dip with flatbread. Some fresh green vegetables were served as starters.
Kashk-e Bademjan (کشک بادمجان )
Our dishes included: Torsh Kebab, Qormeh Sabzi, Baghali Polo, Zereshk Polo and Dizi. In my previous article about Persian cuisine, I wrote about Qormeh Sabzi (قورمه سبزی ), and Dizi (دیزی ). I post here some pictures about the presentations of both dishes in this restaurant. I had the opportunity to eat Dizi in a traditional way, separating the liquids from the solids in different plates, and then the meat and the vegetables are mashed while the broth is eaten with bread.
Dizi (دیزی )
Qormeh Sabzi (قورمه سبزی )
Torsh Kebab (کباب ترش ) is similar to Kebab Kubideh (کباب کوبیده ), a dish that I described in my previous article. But Torsh Kebab is a recipe from the North of Iran, where the meat is marinated in pomegranate juice, olive oil, garlic and other vegetables.
Torsh Kebab (کباب ترش )
Baghali Polo (باقالی پلو ), is presented as lamb shank served with dill rice and fava beans. In Persian, this dish is actually known as Baghali Polo ba Mahicheh (باقالی پلو با ماهیچه ). The word “Polo” ( پلو) refers to the famous Pilaf rice that is popular in the Middle East. Baghali or Baghla ( باقلا ) refers to the use of Fava beans.
Baghali Polo ba Mahicheh (باقالی پلو با ماهیچه )
Zereshk Polo ( زرشک پلو ) is presented as Barberry rice with chicken. In Persian, this dish is actually known as Zereshk Polo ba Murgh ( زرشک پلو با مرغ ). This is another way to prepare Pilaf rice
Zereshk Polo ba Murgh ( زرشک پلو با مرغ )
As a dessert, we had Faloodeh and a traditional Persian Ice Cream mixed with pistachio and saffron. Faloodeh ( فالوده ) is an Iranian cold dessert that has cooked vermicelli in small pieces mixed with semi-frozen syrup made with rose water and sugar, It is usually served with Lime juice. It is believed to be originated in Shiraz.
We end up this gathering drinking Persian Tea, chatting, listening to music and dancing. I want to thank Delaram, for the organization and to introduce us to the different traditions of Persia related its cuisine.
Sharing a great evening with my friends
