Poll: Have you tried Iranian (Persian) food before?

[Jingthing]

I recently enjoyed yet another delicious Iranian dinner ... and wondered how many non-Iranians are familiar with the wonderful food culture of Iran/Persia?

So here is the poll, it is for all, I am assuming all Iranians have tried Iranian food of course, but it is for the general public here.

I am curious to know of the "market penetration" of this type of food for the non-Iranians.

If you haven't tried it, I highly suggest doing so if you have a chance.

It is light, elegant, healthy, and refined.

While I usually like more hard core options like spicy Indian or Sechuan, I still really love Iranian/Persian food.

It's more than kebabs!

Edited March 27, 2014 by Jingthing

[PoorSucker]

Got some in KL.

[Satcommlee]

Good post..

I was working in Iran about 7 years ago and literally got abducted off the street by some locals... I thought "here we go, I am the next Terry Waite!"

But it turned out to be a lovely Iranian family that insisted I drink tea with them and enjoy a good meal.

The meal was Lamb, and it was very very good.. I am Welsh so there is a precedent!

I spent a good hour with this family and left with the impression that Iranians are the most friendliest people on the Earth.

Although being dragged off the street was a little un-nerving...

The food was delicious and this was home cooked, yes like lebanese food.. Iranian cuisine is great.

[kurnell]

Same as Lebanese yes?

[Jingthing]

Same as Lebanese yes?

Not really.

Edited March 27, 2014 by Jingthing

[sustento]

I have drunk beer with Iranians but have never eaten Persian food

[tutsiwarrior]

smoked sheesha with some iranians in a Paris cafe once, my boy was havin' a blast and I couldn't drag him away...later, his mum threatened to call the cops on me...

no food though...

there was the 'Bongo Burger' near Telegraph in Berkeley in 'the old days' that served a bongo burger which was lamb kofta on a roll, very nice...there was stuff on the walls that said: 'down with the Shah'...

Edited March 27, 2014 by tutsiwarrior

[Michaelaway]

Same as Lebanese yes?

Not really.

WARNING: DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO IF IT'S LATE & YOU ARE HUNGRY (it's torture!)! Seriously, where in Pattaya (or Thailand) do they sell/can you get food like that??

[sam sen]

spent a month traveling through iran and found the food bland and boring to be honest, my taste buds were re-invigorated once i got to pakistan.

marvellous country and people though, pakistan too.

[Jingthing]

OK, some version of very roughly HALF of those dishes are easily available.

My only experience with Iranian restaurants is in the USA, KL, Bangkok, and Pattaya.

The ones in the USA cater to rich ex-Shah lover types so they are MUCH better than anything in Thailand.

What's on offer in Pattaya is mostly pedestrian quality, but much of it is MORE than serviceable.

All the Iranian places serve a range of the classic STEWS and a range of the classic kebabs.

Platters are always served with a side dish of leaves, raw onion, etc. It's good to order an Iranian style nan bread with that.

But dishes are always served with a large plate of the famous elegant Persian rice, so bread might be overkill on starch.

The no sugar yogurt drink is called doogh.

There is an Iranian buffet, 200 baht, to the left of the famous BOAT Thai restaurant on 2nd road, South Pattaya.

They often have the yellow rice with berries and I think sometimes the lima bean dill rice.

The quality there isn't great but it's good for a sampling of variety.

For better STEWS for Pattaya, try PARS a bit south of the Beverly Hotel, as opposed to Nayeb, even closer, where you might try the kebabs.

Both places have quite friendly prices for basic stews and kebabs.

Almost all of the places have LAMB shank, the price is usually 350 baht but keep in mind it will be from frozen meat.

I really don't find Iranian and Lebanese very similar. Lebanese is classic Arabic food and the focus is on MEZZE.

The Persian STEWS are very distinctive. My favorite part is the stews.

A famous Iranian stew using pomegranate is never found in Pattaya.

Edited March 29, 2014 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

spent a month traveling through iran and found the food bland and boring to be honest, my taste buds were re-invigorated once i got to pakistan. marvellous country and people though, pakistan too.

This does not surprise me ... only because I saw a t.v. show once saying that Iran isn't much a restaurant culture, that food there in restaurants is largely about body fuel, and the great stuff is done AT HOMES!

Probably the Iranian food catering to Iranians in Pattaya is at a similar level. In the U.S. which IS a big restaurant culture and so many wealthy Persians .. the restaurants are much better.

Iranian food even when great is not knock your socks off style like Pakistani (which I also love). I guess for someone like me who eats a lot of spicy food, sometimes I like something different as a more subtle bookend until the next spicy meal.

Thinking about this, it occurs to me the very best Iranian food I ever had was home cooked by a gay Jewish Iranian dentist trying to seduce me with his food. That's not a word string you see everyday -- gay Jewish Iranian dentist.

Edited March 29, 2014 by Jingthing

[seasia]

I`ve never tried it but after reading here and watching the video, I will do, think it is probably something I would like.

[Somtamnication]

Sounds wonderful. I am the adventurous type. Nothing in Phuket, though.

[tolsti]

There's a restaurant in Patong claiming to serve Persian food. Its called Casa Blanca and its just up from the Honda Dealer at the bridge but on the other side of the road.

[notmyself]

A famous Iranian stew using pomegranate is never found in Pattaya.

Fesenjan?

[Jingthing]

A famous Iranian stew using pomegranate is never found in Pattaya.

Fesenjan?

Yep.

It kind of reminds me of Iranian version of Mexican mole, but sweeter and not chile hot.

As far as I know it's on no restaurant menu in Thailand.

Which is weird.

It's common on USA Iranian menus.

Edited April 7, 2014 by Jingthing

[notmyself]

A famous Iranian stew using pomegranate is never found in Pattaya.

Fesenjan?

Yep.

Fesenjan.jpg

It kind of reminds me of Iranian version of Mexican mole, but sweeter and not chile hot.

As far as I know it's on no restaurant menu in Thailand.

Which is weird.

It's common on USA Iranian menus.

Very strange. Would be like not having tom yam on the menu in an overseas Thai restaurant.

I've a friend from Tehran due in a few day and she is bringing sour pomegranate and walnuts to make some. Also bringing saffron and pistachios which Iran is very well know for.

[Jingthing]

Fresh pomegranate is grown in Thailand.

I have seen pomegranate paste on dishes at a local Arabic food restaurant but have never seen that product in a local food store.

Maybe they make it from the fresh, but I doubt it.

Walnuts of course are sold here, quite expensive.

I vaguely recall talking to an Iranian restaurant guy about this some years ago and being told something like it was too "special" to serve here.

OK, now I remember something else, he said something specifically about a problem sourcing the pomegranate paste (or whatever it is) from Iran.

It would be expensive here because of the nuts and fruit ... but most places serve leg of lamb and that isn't cheap either.

Edited April 7, 2014 by Jingthing

[notmyself]

Fresh pomegranate is grown in Thailand.

I have seen pomegranate paste on dishes at a local Arabic food restaurant but have never seen that product in a local food store.

Maybe they make it from the fresh, but I doubt it.

Walnuts of course are sold here, quite expensive.

I vaguely recall talking to an Iranian restaurant guy about this some years ago and being told something like it was too "special" to serve here.

OK, now I remember something else, he said something specifically about a problem sourcing the pomegranate paste (or whatever it is) from Iran.

It would be expensive here because of the nuts and fruit ... but most places serve leg of lamb and that isn't cheap either.

Apparently the paste is produced from unripe pomegranates which is why it is sour. Could be that the market is so small that nobody produces it here.

True enough regarding lamb shanks, perhaps it is a perception thing regarding cost? Thailand also imports quite a bit of lamb which would drive the cost down to some degree though it is still very costly and for the most part pre jointed. Forget getting a neck of lamb for an Irish stew for example.

[sustento]

I've a friend from Tehran due in a few day and she is bringing sour pomegranate and walnuts to make some. Also bringing saffron and pistachios which Iran is very well know for.

We used to backload 20 tonne containers of pistachios out of Bandar Shapour. They always put a hundredweight bag on the bridge for free. Lovely!

[rhythmworx]

Chicken or prawn pathia is a nice curry.

[Jingthing]

Chicken or prawn pathia is a nice curry.

Interesting.

Apparently a dish associated with one region of Iran.

I've never seen that in any Iranian restaurant.

Also I hope people don't get the impression that they will find a menu of "curries" at typical Iranian places.

They won't. There are the stews of course which can be wonderful, but I wouldn't call them curries.

This dish yes looks like a curry:

http://mongoliankitchen.com/prawn-pathia-curry/

[David48]

I used to have an Iranian (Persian) girlfriend ... once you have tasted the real stuff ... I wouldn't bother in Thailand.

The family banquets ...

Actually the Persians are very quick to disassociate themselves with the larger Iranian population.

But this is my experience with one Persian Clan.

OH ... BTW ... some of the loveliest people I've had the pleasure to socialist with.

EDIT ... forgot the 'gf' bit

Edited April 14, 2014 by David48

[notmyself]

I've a friend from Tehran due in a few day and she is bringing sour pomegranate and walnuts to make some. Also bringing saffron and pistachios which Iran is very well know for.

We used to backload 20 tonne containers of pistachios out of Bandar Shapour. They always put a hundredweight bag on the bridge for free. Lovely!

What a lovely gift!

Many year ago I had an office in a small building in Hampstead, London where I exported high end second hand cars to China via HK (pre 97). The office next door shuffled top quality food stuffs around the world and seemingly had a never ending sack of Iranian pistachios in their reception area.

[Jingthing]

Here is an authentic Iranian dish that is new to me ...

Kale Pache

Let me check ...

Haggis or Kale Pache, which is more horrible?

[Costas2008]

Here is an authentic Iranian dish that is new to me ...

slide_295109_2427108_free.jpg

Kale Pache

Let me check ...

Haggis or Kale Pache, which is more horrible?

JT, Did you have to spoil everything?

I was getting hungry......till now.