Celebrate the Persian New Year
Image: Maryam Azady is the owner of Pyrmont restaurant, The Persian Room. Credit: Supplied
BY JESSICA HILL
I didn’t know much about Persian cuisine before my chat with local restaurant owner, Maryam Azady. I soon discovered a cuisine with a long history, new flavours and lots of options for those who eat gluten free.
Maryam has always been passionate about food and was taught to cook by her grandmother and mother. She is extremely proud of the food from her home in Iran. Maryam explained people have been cooking Persian food for more than 3000 years, making the cuisine fundamental to the heritage of Persian people.
While Maryam was running a number of retail shops in Darling Harbour during the Sydney Olympics in 2000, she noticed there was a gap in the Sydney restaurant scene. There was hardly anywhere cooking authentic Persian food.
“If you visit Europe or the US, Persian is in the top 3 favourite cuisines but in Australia is a very new cuisine,” she explained.
Maryam now owns The Persian Room, located in the inner city suburb of Pyrmont. The restaurant sits on the Jones Bay Wharf and has beautiful views of Sydney Harbour.
The Persian Room is especially busy during each March year, catering to people who come along to celebrate Nowruz, or Iranian New Year.
Nowruz marks the first day of the first month in the Iranian calendar. It also celebrates the beginning of spring in Iran and the rest of Northern Hemisphere.
“It’s a celebration of the New Day. When we celebrate our new year it’s all about spring, all about new life,” said Maryam.
“This amazing culture is big in Canada, it’s big in the US, big in England, big in Paris, big in Italy.”
Food is a big part of the celebration of Nowruz.
“We eat lots of seafood dishes and vegetarian, and we eat lots of nuts and sweets,” explained Maryam.
Maryam pays a lot of attention to the ingredients she puts in the food at The Persian Room.
“Every Monday I go to the organic farm and I pick all my organic vegetables,” she explained.
Persian food is almost completely gluten free and Maryam has a following of fans that are excited to enjoy a delicious meal without having to worry about becoming unwell.
“People travel from all over Australia and New Zealand to come to my restaurant that want gluten free,” she said.
Persian food is known for balance of flavour, and mixing sweet and sour together. At The Persian Room you will find some dishes you are familiar with, such as Persian kebab. You may also find something you have never tried before. ‘Most o khiar’ is Persian natural yoghurt with sundried mint, rose petals and fresh cucumber. ‘Kashkebademjan’ is dish made from eggplant that’s smoked for four hours and served with garlic and walnuts.
“My restaurant is authentic Persian cuisine, I put so much love and effort into it. If you came to my home you would eat the same food,” said Maryam.
The Persian Room is located in Pyrmont on Jones Bay Wharf. For more information visit thepersianroom.com.au or call 9692 9299.
