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Around the Table in 365 Days

Around the Table in 365 Days

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 year ago today? We all had specific hopes and plans of course, but alas the best laid plans… And though the year may have had it’s challenges, and the Oxford dictionary word of the year is “toxic,” I like to believe there was more good than ugly. More nourishment than toxicity. More magic than madness.

Call me an eternal optimist but the world is filled with wonder. Science advanced, new planets were discovered, more women were elected into government, friendships were fortified, people in love found each other, new skills were learned, music was heard, and flowers bloomed. We made it through life’s ups and downs, and came together around tables in New York, Tehran, Tokyo, and beyond.

Around those tables live my favorite memories of the last 365 days. Arguably, there is nothing more precious than those moments shared with friends and family, old and new. In that spirit, here are some of our favorite recipes… cook them for someone you love.

So Happy New Year, friends! Or as Charles Dickens said, “May the New Year be a happy one to you, happy to many more whose happiness depends on you!”

Naz

Basil & Roses Favorite Recipes

Skillet Chicken Thighs With Shallot, Lemon & Herbs

Spicy tomato shakshuka with spinach, feta, jalapeno & za’atar.

Healthy & Gorgeous Tuna Salad with Mint

20 Minute Roasted Butter Salmon

Taco Tuesday Chicken Tacos with Salsa Fresca

Roasted Cauliflower with Schug

Nani’s Decadent But Healthy Butternut Squash Soup

Spicy Thai Basil Beef

Pretty Pickled Onions

Happy Hanukkah from Basil & Roses!

Happy Hanukkah from Basil & Roses!

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 share mine with you.

The Hanukkah story is the story of an oppressed people triumphing over the tyrants who sought to take away their freedom. It is the story of light triumphing over darkness, of a people overcoming seemingly impossible odds. That’s beautiful. Later this month we will celebrate the Persian holiday of “Shabeh Yalda” which carries a similar theme of light overcoming darkness. Yalda , the first day of Winter (Winter solstice), marks the longest night of the year. From there, the days start getting longer, so, culturally it represents the symbolic victory of light over darkness.  The symbolism is incredible! And  what better way to celebrate than with a festive meal! Below are some of our favorite recipes to inspire your Hannukkah menu and beyond.

“Nothing can dim the light that shines from within,” said Maya Angelou.

Wishing you all light and love today, this holiday season and always!

Homemade Falafel with Herb Tahini Sauce and Shirazi Salad

Beer + Basil Braised Brisket

Green Garden Herb Basmati Rice with Basil, Mint, Chive + Rosemary (and an unexpected virtual trip home)

Skillet Chicken Thighs With Shallot, Lemon & Herbs

Persian Stuffed Peppers (Dolmeh)

Persian Cucumber Salad with Red Onion & Thai Basil

Roasted Cauliflower with Schug & A Quick Trip Around the World

Breaking Bread, Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges

Breaking Bread, Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges

“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 it “Breaking Bread together In Style.” But no matter what your style, customs or origin story- when we gather to enjoy a meal, we are unified in engaging in a tradition as old as humanity—one which transcends national borders and cultural divides.  I wrote about the magic of gathering around the fire, and how we gather around the hearth and our tables to pay homage to the gift of generosity we’ve received in our lifetime. Today, I am wondering, how to expand that circle further.

As I reflect on my own experiences, I realize what a privilege it was to grow up in a home with many gatherings. My parents were extraordinary hosts who believed in the art of bringing people together and creating memories.  Indeed much bread has been broken under the roof of their loving home.

Today, the long dining table in my family home has a magical aura about it. It is as if, the collective energy of the all the people who have shared a meal around this table has penetrated the wooden top, permeates the room and gives back a little bit of that joy to every newcomer. That energy gives the dining room the fragrance of light happiness, gently perfumed by the memory of the scent of the 68,000 estimated onions chopped in its adjacent kitchen over the past twenty two years.

It is that magic which I want to spread with this essay and with my cooking. It is undoubtedly special to share a meal with those dear to us. Wouldn’t be nice if we extended that offer to others we have the opportunity to get to know better? I’m not suggesting inviting strangers off the street into our homes, but maybe we can expand our reach and open our tables to those we don’t know as well. To those with different political points of view, different religious beliefs, different lifestyles. Though not an easy task, perhaps while we’re breaking bread together, we can learn to listen to each other, break barriers and build bridges to ultimately learn from one another.

Our society seems more segmented than ever today. But when we break bread together, somehow we are equal. Through the ingredients of the meal, we share a common connection to the the earth and sun which worked to create sustenance for us. There are organizations all over the US doing great work with their own “breaking bread, breaking barriers” projects supporting refugee communities. Community meals are sponsored by Churches, Mosques and Synagogues everywhere. Community restaurants like Soul Kitchen in NJ, are offering locally sourced ingredients along with dignity for those in need.

“The shared meal elevates eating from a mechanical process of fueling the body to a ritual of family and community, from the mere animal biology to an act of culture.” says Michael Pollan.

Eating delicious food is an indulgence. But there can also be great satisfaction with sharing your food with others.  Whether you break bread with two people or your entire community, try reaching out. You may be surprised how many people are interested in your traditions. Consider the potential of the connections you can create with this small effort. We live in a world in which there are 7,000 estimated languages spoken, but there is one that is universal and that is food! Let’s start the dialogue… or simply, invite those neighbors which we never got to know, over for dinner one night next week.

“In the shade of the lemon grove I break off a hunch of bread, sprinkle it with the delicious fruity olive oil, empty my glass of sour white Capri wine; and remember that Norman Douglas once wrote that whoever has helped us to a larger understanding is entitled to our gratitude for all time.” A beautiful quote from Elizabeth David- a soulful food visionary of the 1950’s.

What is the moral of the story here?

Eat well and eat together.

Below I share with you photos of the gorgeous dishes our generous hosts prepared for us this past Passover. Once again, I was grateful for meeting new faces at these tables, and the indulgences inspired but family, tradition and love.

Hope to see you at a table soon and break break together in style!

 

 

Gather

Gather

Hanukkah, Christmas, Festiuvs, Yaldaa or surviving 2017: No matter what we  just celebrated, we sent off last year with a bang and welcomed 2018.

New beginnings are a good time to press the wellness reset button, but healthy living can be a year-long lifestyle and need not be limited to new year resolutions. As we begin the year, I remind myself to set achievable goals, eat nutritious but delicious food, learn as much as possible, be kind to myself and others, let old wounds heal, practice gratitude, and make life as colorful as possible.

Last year was certainly colorful. 2017 tested me. But as I reflect on the last twelve months, I realize the positives outweighed the challenges and there was much to be grateful for. Mostly, the incredible people I have in my life and the extraordinary experiences we shared. Not surprisingly, many of those occurred around the table as we broke bread together, told our stories, laughed at our fortunes, waxed poetic about the future and perhaps even learned a bit about ourselves along the way. “Without the sense of fellowship with men of like mind,” Einstein wrote, “life would have seemed to me empty.” Indeed.

I have written about gathering around the fire. Today, on a cold snowy day in NYC, I sip hot chai and reflect on the warm memories of last year. I smile remembering the gorgeous tables we gathered around, the delightful food we ate, and the marvelous people who’s company I had the pleasure to keep. Michael Polan says “the shared meal is no small thing. It is a foundation of family life, the place where our children learn the art of conversation and acquire the habits of civilization: sharing, listening, taking turns, navigating differences, arguing without offending.” It is also a place where our fondest memories live. Where we receive the gift of love by those who prepared those meals for us. It is where we are reminded of the power of coming together.

My memories of this gift begin in Naz year zero. My parents have always been extraordinary and generous hosts. Bringing people together and creating countless memories is an art form they have mastered a thousand times over. The loving energy created around their tables, is my eternal source of inspiration. I wrote more about that here.

In the meantime, I want to point out the only difference between the first two photos in this post are 37 years and geography. Otherwise, in both photos you see my beautiful Mother at the head of the table of her loving home, and me really excited about what we’re about to eat! Just a bit of role reversal in who’s serving whom.

Happy new year from Basil and Roses! Below are a few of our favorite “gatherings” of 2017 and the recipes they inspired.

Wishing you a colorful and meaningful year!

Naz

“Not what we have But what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.” Epicurus

Pretty Pickled Onions

Roasted Cauliflower with The Evergreen Chimichurri Sauce

Beer & Basil Braised Brisket

Nani’s Classic Omelettes

Mama’s Mexican Fiesta (Fish Taco, Guacamole, Mango Salsa, Cabbage Slaw, Pico, Fresh Margaritas)

Tuscan Inspired Lemon-Rosemary Chicken with Cannelini Beans

Persian Stuffed Peppers

Muffin Tin Egg Frittatas 

Shirazi Salad (or Israeli Salad or Mediterranean chopped salad)

Sesame Crusted Baked Salmon

Cindy’s Fabulous Holiday Rib Roast (Recipe coming soon)

Green Goddess Basmati Rice with Basil, Mint, Chive and an Unexpected Trip Home

Smoked Salmon & Creme Fraiche Canapes with Fresh Dill

Chickpea & Cauliflower Coconut Curry

Other Top 2017 Recipes to try:

Nani’s Healthy But Decadent Butternut Squash Soup

Spicy Thai Basil Beef

Citrusy Chicken Skewers with Mint-Basil Sauce

Panko-Crusted Dijon Cod

The Best Steak Of Your Life

Roasted Veggie Quinoa Medly

Mint & Cannelini Bean Tuna Salad

Roasted Cauliflower with Tangy Tahini Sauce

Baklava