Braised Brisket

Braised Brisket

Comments 0 Comment

The holidays are around the corner, and though this year may look different than those past, those of us who are fortunate can still take comfort in the kitchen. Cooking has always been more than food to me—it’s a way of gathering, of carrying forward traditions, and of showing love. The Oxford dictionary defines “indulge” as allowing oneself to enjoy the pleasure of. For me, that pleasure is found in the simple things: preparing heart-warming family dinners, honoring traditions like…

Read More Read More

Chicken & Rice Soup with Glorious Garlic Chile Chips

Chicken & Rice Soup with Glorious Garlic Chile Chips

Comments 0 Comment

Rich and brothy with familiar flavors of home, this is a good-for-the-soul kind of delicious soup. It’s a simple and comforting recipe that I go back to repeatedly- a personal favorite which I’m excited to share with you. This recipe is chicken soup for the soul. Earthy, filling and nutritious, it tastes like home. Like something grandma made. The soup has body and richness. And the finishing drizzle of chile oil with garlic chips will make your taste buds dance!…

Read More Read More

Around the Table in 365 Days

Around the Table in 365 Days

Comments 0 Comment

The departure of a year welcomes many new memories. As we near the end of this year, I like to take a moment and reflect on the last twelve months; the challenges faced, the lessons learned, the new friendships built. And of course for the epicurean-hearted, the delicious meals shared with loved ones, breaking bread together, in style. Seneca, the Roman Stoic philosopher said “every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” Who knew what to truly expect a…

Read More Read More

Happy Hanukkah from Basil & Roses!

Happy Hanukkah from Basil & Roses!

Comments 0 Comment

Ah, ’tis the season for celebrations and merriment. I love this time of year. No matter which holiday you celebrate, which customs and folklore you subscribe to, and regardless of which heritage and ritual is the wellspring of your origin story; the themes of gratitude, gathering, tradition, family and love are universal. I especially love being invited to friend’s homes with different cultural and religious backgrounds and learning about new customs, legends and wisdom. And of course, I love to…

Read More Read More

Happy Thanksgiving from Basil & Roses!

Happy Thanksgiving from Basil & Roses!

Comments 1 comment

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! We’re in full swing here planning our feast at the Basil & Roses kitchen and wanted to take a moment to thank you for coming along this amazing culinary ride with us! The Persian poet Rumi says ” Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life.” I’m grateful for you, and for the opportunity to share my art, which is my cooking, with you and the world every single day. I hope the recipes…

Read More Read More

Happy Fall Equinox from Basil and Roses!

Happy Fall Equinox from Basil and Roses!

Comments 0 Comment

In honor of the beginning of Autumn and recent Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, I wanted to share a piece I wrote on the blog about “change” linked below. Today is the fall equinox, the day both the Northern and Southern hemispheres will experience an equal amount of daylight. I love both the science and poetry of this. For awesome facts on the subject, check out this great article from Vox, And, as the earth continues to turn on its tilted axis,…

Read More Read More

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day!

Comments 2 comments

Happy 4th of July from Basil & Roses! Hopefully you’re having a wonderful holiday, taking a moment to learn about our history (here’s a reading of the Declaration of Independence), and if you’re lucky like me, enjoying a nice hot summer day with friends & family. And of course what would a summer holiday be without gathering around the fire for the great American pastime of BBQ! We love to grill around here and what better than a juicy and…

Read More Read More

Cauliflower with Cardamom-Kissed Schug & A Trip Around the World

Cauliflower with Cardamom-Kissed Schug & A Trip Around the World

Comments 1 comment

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes,” said Mark Twain. Travel has always given me a sense of adventure, but more importantly a new window to the world, a new color palette, a new paradigm, and indeed a new set of eyes. I travel as often as possible but one need not physically go to a place to experience the magic of other cultures. Inspiration is everywhere. If you live in…

Read More Read More

Thank you, Mom.

Thank you, Mom.

Comments 0 Comment

Last week we celebrated Mother’s day. We were busy adoring my amazing mother and opening the garden for the season, so I’m finally getting to a proper blog post on the topic today. First and foremost, a belated Happy Mother’s Day from Basil & Roses! You inspired us, motivate us, bring us love and teach us to be better. In addition to my own queen mother, I am surrounded by friends and family members who have embarked on the journey…

Read More Read More

Breaking Bread, Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges

Breaking Bread, Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges

Comments 0 Comment

“Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance,” said Epicurus.   After celebrating a tradition-rich Nowouz which is the Persian New Year marked by the first day of spring, my family celebrated Passover. Over the same weekend some celebrated Easter, some seezdah-bedar, some weekly Sunday suppers- and many other traditions continued around the word. Though the observers and rituals may have been different, the common denominator was a festive meal.   At Basil & Roses we call…

Read More Read More