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THERE’S something about grandparents that we all love and their wisdom and knowledge can prove invaluable for those lucky enough to spend time in their company.
One endearing quality is that many of them know how to cook. That’s probably because there wasn’t the vast array of fast food outlets around during their younger days which we take for granted today.
Fortunately some have passed on their secret recipes to the next generation ... and thanks to that very fact the recently-opened Persian Room has created a culinary sensation on the island.
The place to be – particularly on the last Thursday of the month – is the bright, turquoise and glittering venue located on the Lagoon on Amwaj Island when the regular ‘taste of Persia’ night is presented to the kingdom’s gourmets.
Run by celebrated US artist Mahak Monica Vaziri, the restaurant itself is a work of art but the real masterpieces are on the menu.
“I always wanted to have a restaurant of my own,” said Monica, as she is known by her friends. “And, I knew once people tried homemade Persian food they would love it.
“To me, my grandmother was a super woman – she knew how to cook the best Tehrani food.
“Her name was Tarlan and everyone used to call her Tala, which in Farsi means gold, and she was born in the heart of Tehran in 1917. She moved to the US to be with me and my sister in the 1980s and just stayed there with us until she passed away in 1996.
“Everybody use to call her for recipes and visitors would just enjoy being with her in the kitchen to see what she was doing.
“Every meal with her was a feast. And, from what I hear from my dad, her mother was a fantastic cook as well. And, now with the Persian Room, we have her special recipes and some of my own.”
Monica met her Bahraini husband Nadeem Asghar Ali, a businessman and restaurateur, in Washington DC and when she came to visit Bahrain she fell in love with the kingdom and they settled down on the island after they wed. The couple have a three-year-old son, Nadal.
During her career in the US her works of art were in great demand and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, billionaire businessman Donald Trump, former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney and actress Kim Basinger are all fans.
Not surprisingly, the Persian Room is not your ordinary outlet. “I started working on the concept and decided it had to be a piece of art too,” explained Monica. “In the history of great places, the rooms were always named and since this restaurant was so special I wanted to name it, just like a special room.
“So I chose Persian Room – it just sounds exotic, exclusive, cosy, artistic – all-in-one. And, since we are by the water at Amwaj Lagoon with the perfect view, I just couldn’t ask for more!
“As I started working on the interior I wanted to make sure it didn’t look too old-fashioned, or too modern and cold ... but a place where people could come and see all the art work and admire it.
“I chose turquoise as the main colour theme as the stone is very popular in Middle Eastern culture and it’s so pretty anyway. I added an element of paisley, gold and ‘evil eyes’ which all play a big part in the culture as well as the history of the region.
“Everything in the Persian Room is created by artists – even the curtains are made by a calligrapher featuring an old Persian poem.”
The Persian Room is also a family affair in more ways than one. Monica’s father Hamid Vaziri, an arthitect and engineer, has created the entire ceiling artwork for the restaurant which is a talking point in its own right.
“My husband Nadeem has also helped me every step of the way to make sure this venture succeeds,” explained Monica. “We are very passionate about all that we do and it’s truly a labour of love.”
When it comes to the last Thursday of each month, the Persian Room is becoming the ultimate love affair for connoisseurs of fine food. There is a distinctive difference between Persian fare and other regional cuisines, which is down to the use of saffron, the world’s most expensive spice by weight.
“We do what we call a ‘Taste of Persia night’ which has become very popular, especially with the expat community. The entire dining room gets filled with people – some come in big groups and just have a feast – family-style!
“It’s just great to see everyone enjoying themselves and reminds me of the dinners we had with my grandmother.
“Almost the entire menu comes to your table at one point or another. It’s a lot of food. We start you up with the soup and move to at least eight appetizers, hot baked bread and fresh herbs ... and then comes the main course with a variety of grilled kababs, at least four different rice dishes and selected stews, then to finish of a variety of mouth-watering freshly-made desserts.”
All this for just BD8, not including drinks and service charge, of course. Book a table in advance to avoid disappointment.
