An inspiring conversation with Chef Nadia Deljou of Delle Dining on preserving culture through the sounds, smells, and tastes of Persian food and music. 

 

Background - raised in an Iranian-American family with a father being of Jewish faith.  Family and extended family were involved in art, creation, and food with family at the foreground of everyting.  Nadia has been able to identify with her culture in a multi-faceted way.

 

Nadia’s approach and mission:  To develop greater meaning for self (feeling empowered by culture, confident, and dominant - “wearing my Iranian-ness as loud as I can”), and then package it and expose it to the world in both a traditional and non-traditional way.

 

Deljou - interpretation and meaning of Nadia’s chosen family name (chosen by father’s side of the family):  someone who is always in search of the goodness in others

The Farsi word “Del” - an extension of who she is;  two references - the heart and the stomach, heart, stomach, and soul

 

Nadia also has a background in music!  With concentration in independent music

 

The cross-over and communality among cultures

• Persian and Moroccan food culture, specifically with spices
• Hospitality and offering food in the home and for guests
• How one cooks and eats

 

Food etiquette (like a dance)

• Integrating fresh herbs as an integral part of the eating experience - fresh, cooked, and/or fried

 

Nadia is involved in many facets of integrated Persian cuisine and culture:

• Private dining
• Cooking classes
• Store:  pastries, breads, scented candles, apparel (shirts, aprons, hats)

 

Dining events - pairing food with music for an overall immersive experience

“Food is so much more than food”

 

Nadia’s candles - a tangible product that evokes place, culture and flavor through scent.  An interactive quality including aroma (taste/smell) and music to create a mood and feeling

 

 

 

• At Mamani & Baba’s: smoky citrus + earthy cedar-wood:  “Limoo Amani” (Persian dried lime), a powerful flavor which Nadia loves - each candle comes with a recipe (ghormeh sabzi) and a song pairing (referenced in podcast) for a global experience.
• Stay For Chai: soothing jasmine + bright bergamot - the aroma that brings people together
• Poetry & Perfume: warm vanilla + sweet rose - royalty and sweet comfort
• Black peppercorns and rose petals paired with akbar mashti, Persian ice cream, rose water, cardamom, saffron

 

The intuition of cooking -

“Cooking is primitive and so much easier than what people think”

Using fire at the end of the day is very primitive

 

Where to find Nadia

Website:  Delle

Instagram handle:  @delledining

 

All Modern Persian Food episodes can be found at: Episodes

Co-host Beata Nazem Kelley blog: BeatsEats – Persian Girl Desperately Addicted to Food!

Co-host Bita Arabian blog: Oven Hug - Healthy Persian Recipes | Modern Persian Recipes

Podcast production by Alvarez Audio