Cooking Class with a Mission!
Sep 26, 2021
SISCA hosts a September 26 fundraising event to help Afghan families arriving in Washington State
Learn how to cook delicious Afghan food from two expert chefs and help raise money in support of Afghan refugees. Online via Zoom, September 26, 2 pm to 3:30 pm PST.
Sponsored by the Seattle-Isfahan Sister City Advocacy, this virtual class will feature Seattle-area Afghan Chef Nasrin Noori and Chef and SISCA Board Member, Omid Roustaei as they converse and prepare the Afghan national dish of Kabuli pulao.
All funds raised via the registration fee and any additional donations will go directly to the Emergency Afghan Refugee Fund for WA State, a registered nonprofit that shares funds among several groups supporting Afghan refugees.
https://www.launchgood.com/.../emergency_afghan_refugee...
This event aligns with SISCA's goal of using delicious food to raise funds and foster better understanding between cultures. Many Iranian Americans have shared in the refugee and immigrant experiences that newly arrived Afghans are now facing.
THE CHEFS
Nasrin Noori
Even as a young girl growing up in Afghanistan, Nasrin Noori loved being in the kitchen, where she would challenge herself to craft delicious meals from limited ingredients. Nasrin moved to the U.S. with her family at age 11, and by the time she was a teenager, relatives, and friends knew how creative she was in the kitchen. They enlisted her help cooking for big events, and Nasrin was also responsible for preparing dinners for her family of 10.
In her late teens, Nasrin became interested in nutrition, the U.S. food system, and the benefits of organic foods. She became certified as a health coach and eventually opened Jazze’s to offer healthy Afghan fusion food prepared with organic, local ingredients. Her menu caters to a variety of dietary needs and preferences and includes paleo, vegan, and gluten-free options.
https://foodinnovationnetwork.org/.../meet-jazzes-owner.../
Omid Roustaei
Omid Roustaei, also known as The Caspian Chef, is an Iranian-American psychotherapist, SISCA Board Member, and culinary instructor who is passionate about sharing Persian culture and traditions through food and story-telling. His mission is to spread awareness of Persian culture and cuisine, which he does by writing his blog (www.thecaspianchef.com), teaching online and in-person cooking classes, and through his work with SISCA.
THE DISH
Kabuli Pulao is considered by many to be the national dish of Afghanistan. Featuring long grain rice with lamb or chicken and topped with carrots, raisins, and cardamom spice, Nasrin jazzes up this dish a bit by adding almonds, pistachios, cranberries, and fresh orange zest. It’s been a favorite in her home for many years, especially in the fall months, with all the beautiful fall colors on top of meat and rice. It’s a tradition at her family's Thanksgiving dinners.
