A Chef’s Journey through Persia recounted in London with Saraban authors Greg and Lucy Malouf

SARABAN: Published by Hardie Grant, price £30, Hardback

SARABAN is an unforgettable culinary journey through modern-day Persia. Following ancient spice trails, Greg and Lucy discover a land of generous hospitality, of tea-houses, mosques and caravanserais. They meet pistachio farmers and toffee makers, saffron growers and boat builders, eat in exotic restaurants, bustling bazaars and tiny soup kitchens and are invited time and again into the homes of people they meet along the way.

Lavishly illustrated throughout, SARABAN offers a unique and remarkable window into a world steeped in history and tradition, and a comprehensive introduction to the delights of Persian cuisine.

Master of Middle Eastern cooking, Greg Malouf and award-winning writer, Lucy Malouf, will be visiting the UK in February 2010 to promote SARABAN with events at some of their favourite London venues.

Dock Kitchen Dinner

Monday 7^th February 2011 -from 7pm

Greg Malouf will join head chef Stevie Parle and his team in the kitchen where they will prepare a Persian feast of dishes inspired by Saraban. The Dock Kitchen will then run the Persian menu for the remainder of the week.

£35 per head for 4 courses not including drinks.

Bookings – 0208 962 1610 or via the Dock Kitchen website

www.dockkitchen.co.uk

Books for Cooks Lunch

Tuesday 8^th February 2011- from 12 noon

Greg and Lucy will be hosting the Tuesday Vegetarian Lunch service at Notting Hill’s famous cookbook shop.

£5 per head per head for 2 courses not including drinks

Bookings –not taken, tables are allocated on a first come first served basis. They are always full.

www.booksforcooks.com

La Fromagerie Talk and Dinner

Tuesday 8^th February – 7.00pm

A seasonal Saraban-inspired menu at the stylish and unconventional La Fromagerie in London’s Marylebone. Greg and Lucy will host a feast-like dinner with a short talk on their journey through modern-day Persia.

£65 per head includes accompanying wines

Bookings – via La Fromagerie’s website

www.lafromagerie.co.uk

Fortnum & Mason Talk and Evening Demonstration

Wednesday 9^th February 6.30 – 7.30 pm

During an hour-long evening event at London’s centuries old, quintessentially English store Greg will show guests how to recreate his favourite Persian dishes using ingredients from the Food Hall at Fortnum & Mason.

£15 per head

Bookings – 0845 602 5694.

www.fortnumandmason.com

The Saraban Reception

Thursday 10^th February – 7.00pm

An evening talk & reception with the Iran Heritage Foundation at Made in Camden. Greg will give a talk about Persian cuisine whilst Lucy will relive their journey and illuminate their experiences. The talk with be illustrated by a collection of photographs taken for the book and whilst travelling around modern-day Persia. A selection of nibbles will be prepared by Made in Camden Head Chef, Josh Katz.

£15 per head

Bookings – via the Roundhouse website

www.roundhouse.org.uk

Petersham Nurseries Demonstration and Tasting

Saturday 12^th February – Morning Demonstration SOLD OUT. Lunch- from 12.30pm. Afternoon Demo- 3.30pm

A talk, tasting and cooking demonstration by Greg and Lucy. Following the morning event, Petersham Nurseries’ Head Chef Skye Gyngell will cook a lunch menu based on recipes from Saraban.

Price £35 for the demonstrations and tasting or £65 for lunch

Bookings – 020 8605 3627

www.petershamnurseries.com

Press Contact; Sarah@spoon-pr.com 020 7610 9821

Saraban London Tour

An excellent time was had by all during the Saraban London tour last week. A multitude of Persian delights were served at some of London’s top foodie hotspots. You can browse the tantalising menus below.

Saraban shortlisted for the 2010 André Simon Food and Drink Book Awards

Saraban has been shortlisted for the 2010 André Simon Food and Drink Book Awards. Brilliant news!

The Dock Kitchen- Monday 7th February

Last Night's Menu

Greg Malouf at The Dock Kitchen

Greg and Lucy Malouf’s London book tour began last night at The Dock Kitchen in Ladbroke Grove. Greg joined chef Stevie Parle and his team in the kitchen to cook a Persian inspired feast using recipes from Saraban.

The Saraban Reception- Thursday 10th February – 7.00pm

Master of Middle Eastern cooking, Greg Malouf and award-winning writer, Lucy Malouf, will be visiting Made in Camden on Thursday 10 February for an evening with the Iran Heritage Foundation. Greg will give a talk about Persian cuisine whilst Lucy will relive their journey and illuminate their experiences. The talk with be illustrated by a collection of photographs taken for the book and whilst travelling around modern-day Persia.

A selection of canapés inspired by Saraban will be prepared by Made in Camden’s Head Chef, Josh Katz.

Tickets: £15

Time: 7 – 8.30 pm (Talk starts 7.15pm)

Booking: Tickets available from the Roundhouse website

www.roundhouse.org.uk

Fortnum & Mason Talk and Evening Demonstration-Wednesday 9th February- 6.30 – 7.30 pm

Fortnum & Mason Talk and Evening Demonstration- Wednesday 9^th February

During an hour-long evening event at London’s centuries old, quintessentially English store Greg will show guests how to recreate his favourite Persian dishes using ingredients from the Food Hall at Fortnum & Mason.

Greg will be demonstrating three dishes: Mahi-e mast-gerdu, a yoghurt baked fish with walnut-herb crumb, Chelow, a traditional Persian rice with a golden saffron crust and finally, Ash-e sak, a spinach soup with egg and a little spicy lamb koofteh.

Tickets: £15 per head

Time: 6.30 – 7.30 pm

Bookings: 0845 602 5694.

www.fortnumandmason.com

Books for Cooks Lunch- Tuesday 8th February 2011

Books for Cooks Lunch- Tuesday 8^th February 2011

Greg and Lucy will be hosting the Tuesday Vegetarian Lunch service at Notting Hill’s famous cookbook shop.

Tickets: £5 per head per head for 2 courses not including drinks

Time: From 12pm

Bookings: Not taken, tables are allocated on a first come first served basis and fill up quickly

www.booksforcooks.com

Dock Kitchen Dinner – Monday 7th February 2011

Dock Kitchen Dinner- Monday 7^th February 2011

Greg Malouf will join head chef Stevie Parle and his team in the kitchen where they will prepare a Persian feast of dishes inspired by Saraban. The Dock Kitchen will then run the Persian menu for the remainder of the week.

Tickets: £35 per head for 4 courses not including drinks

Time: From 7pm

Bookings: 0208 962 1610 or via the Dock Kitchen website

www.dockkitchen.co.uk

Greg and Lucy Malouf at Petersham Nurseries

12th February: Talk and tasting demonstration with Greg Malouf

When Greg Malouf last visited Petersham Nurseries in 2007, he delighted and inspired his audience with a talk and tasting demonstration of Lebanese and Syrian cuisine, based on recipes from his beautiful cookery book ‘Saha’. Since then, Greg and Lucy Malouf have co-written ‘Turquoise’ – a celebration of the food of Turkey and now they are returning to present their new book ‘Saraban’ – a journey through modern-day Persia, uncovering a land where the rich diversity of climate, countryside, architecture and poetry provide a fitting background for an equally varied and rich cuisine. Greg, who is a friend of Skye Gyngell and one of her favourite chefs, will talk about his travels and cook recipes from his latest book for you to taste. His co-author, Lucy Malouf will also present a fascinating slide show of photos from the journey they took together, offering a woman’s perspective on life in Iran, a fascinating country that remains largely inaccessible to the West. All attendees will be given priority booking in the restaurant for that day and Skye’s set lunch menu will be based on recipes from ‘Saraban’. Food which rejoices in an abundance of fresh herbs, wonderful combinations of meat and fish with exotic spices such as saffron, cardamom and dried limes. Greg will also be signing copies of his book.

Events Details

Date: Saturday 12th February, 2011

Time: Morning Demo- 10.30am ~ 12.30pm. Lunch from 12.30pm. Afternoon Demo- 3.30pm

Ticket Price: £35.00 for tasting and demonstration

£65.00 for set lunch, if you would like to have lunch with us, please ask for a table when you book for the tasting

Bookings: email:info@petershamnurseries.com or call Orla Humm on 0208 605 3627.

Greg and Lucy Malouf at La Fromagerie

SARABAN – A CHEF`S JOURNEY THROUGH PERSIA

Talk and tasting Supper with Greg & Lucy Malouf

Date: Tuesday 8 February 2011

Place: La Fromagerie, Moxon St W1

Time: 7.00pm

Tickets £65.00 including wines

We are delighted to joined by Greg and Lucy Malouf for an inspiring talk and tasting supper celebrating  modern Persian food. Greg is widely acclaimed as the master of modern Middle Eastern cooking, having transformed the Australian restaurant scene with his innovative food, and his influence has spread through Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East. Greg is the executive chef at MoMo Restaurant in Melbourne’s Grand Hyatt Hotel. Lucy is an awarding winning food writer and editor. The Maloufs’ award winning food and  travel books have been translated into several languages and are now published around the world.

For this evening Greg will talk about his inspirational travels along with a demonstration of a recipe or two from their stunning cookery book ‘Saraban’ uncovering a land where the rich diversity of climate, countryside, architecture and poetry provide a fitting background for an equally varied and rich of cuisine.

His co-author, Lucy Malouf, will also present a fascinating slide show of photos from the journey they took together, offering a woman’s perspective on life in Iran, a fascinating country that remains largely inaccessible to the West.

Greg will be cooking alongside our head chef, Michelle, to create a delicious supper for you  inspired by recipes from the book, with various tasting plates including quail with saffron, classic Persian rice, Mahi-e mast-gerdu – fish baked with yoghurt and walnut herb crumbs, Kuku-ye kadoo, a baked omelette of courgette, mint and provolone, Sanbuseh, little spiced beef and cinnamon pastries, followed by Persian inspired desserts and herb tea.

Tickets to this fabulous tasting supper are limited.

Signed copies of Saraban will be available to purchase on the evening.

Tickets to this fabulous tasting supper are limited.
Please telephone La Fromagerie for further details: 020 7935 0341

Bookings via La Fromagerie website: www.lafromagerie.co.uk

 

Introducing the Authors

Greg Malouf

Widely acclaimed as the master of modern Middle Eastern cooking, Greg Malouf has transformed theAustralian restaurant scene with his innovative food, and his influence has spread through Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East. Greg is the executive chef at MoMo restaurant in Melbourne’s GrandHyatt Hotel, where he delights diners with the flavours of his heritage, presented with exciting contemporary flair. Greg travels widely for masterclasses and guest chef appearances. He also consults to restaurants in Melbourne, Broome, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Jordan.

Lucy Malouf

Lucy Malouf is a Melbourne-based food writer and editor. In addition to the books written with her former husband, Greg Malouf, she is the author of The food and wine lover’s guide to Melbourne’s bays and peninsulas, and The Season’s Plate Cookbook. In between the time she spends travelling and writing, Lucy works as a freelance editor and advisor for several leading Australian publishers and contributes features and reviews to newspapers, restaurant guides and magazines, as well as food, wine, travel and tourism web sites.

 

A comment on Saraban-

‘Greg & Lucy: your SARABAN took me back to my childhood in the 60s -I am just old enough to remember the last of the camel caravans coming into town on the outskirts of Tehran – we would hear their bells and go running to see them traipse by – always a great spectacle! Your book is the most beautiful book I have seen on Iran and its culture, in… well, ever! Thank you for this gem!’