I enjoyed the story behind this book and the mother and daughter aspect of it. The recipes were very approachable and I love all the beautiful photography in it.

"Maman and Me" cookbook by Roya Shariat and Gita Sadeh is a delightful fusion of culinary expertise and heartfelt storytelling that celebrates the unique bond between mothers and daughters. Through its sumptuous recipes and enchanting narrative, the cookbook not only offers a treasure trove of delicious dishes but also captures the joy, love, and tenderness shared between a mother and her child.

At the core of "Maman and Me" lies the relationship between the young protagonist and her mother, affectionately referred to as "Maman." From baking cookies to preparing hearty stews, the cookbook follows the duo as they embark on a culinary journey together, infusing each dish with memories and meaning.

Shariat and Sadeh's writing is evocative and lyrical, imbuing each recipe with a sense of warmth and intimacy. Through their words, they pay homage to the nurturing spirit of motherhood – the loving guidance, unwavering support, and the shared moments of joy in the kitchen.

However, what truly sets "Maman and Me" apart is its stunning photography, which brings the recipes to life with vibrant colors and captivating details. From the bustling markets of Tehran to the cozy confines of the kitchen, the photographs transport readers to the heart of the culinary experience, allowing them to savor the flavors and aromas through the pages of the cookbook.

As readers explore the recipes and anecdotes woven throughout the cookbook, they are reminded of the importance of cherishing the bonds we share with our loved ones and the role that food plays in bringing families together. Whether you're a seasoned cook, a novice in the kitchen, or simply a lover of heartwarming stories, "Maman and Me" promises to inspire, nourish, and delight.

In conclusion, "Maman and Me" is a delightful and heartwarming cookbook that celebrates the universal language of food and the enduring bond between mothers and daughters. Roya Shariat and Gita Sadeh's exquisite recipes and enchanting storytelling make this cookbook a must-have for families everywhere, inviting readers to create cherished memories one delicious dish at a time.

This is a great book and I really enjoyed all the recipes. Some ingredients might be a little harder to source locally but it is worth the effort. The photographs are beautiful and the entire book really teaches you more about Iranian cuisine.

Excellent Iranian cookbook!! Iranian cooking is my absolutely favorite cuisine but unfortunately I find some recipes or procedures a bit complicated. This book includes easy steps for all recipes. Measurements are given in both imperial and metric, I love that in a cookbook. Was happy to find all my favorite rices in one single book - Estamboli polo, Baghali polo and my absolute favorite Adas polo, all with easy to follow instructions. Actually this book contains many more rice recipes. Ingredients used are easy to find locally most if not all in normal supermarkets, so no need to order at specialty shops.
Excellent book, highly recommended. I will definitely purchase a paper copy since I prefer those over ebooks.

The cookbook "Maman and Me: Recipes from Our Iranian American Family," written by by Roya Shariat alongside her mother, Gita Sadeh, is a great addition to the cooking-as-its-own-family-story genre of cuisine writing. The photos that accompany the recipes are also fantastic, and the added bits of family information and photos make the book fun to read through even when one isn't looking for a dinner plan.

My one complaint about the book is that the author comments in the introduction that she's specifically and intentionally titled the cuisine "Iranian-American" rather than "Persian-American," but then doesn't present any recipes that are representative of Iran's other ethnic groups. If this included Azeri, Kurdish, Armenian, etc dishes, pointing out that title distinction would make sense, but it doesn't.

Nitpicks aside though, this will be a fun one to cook through!

I had an eARC from NetGalley, but I think this is one that would be worth having in a physical copy in order to fully appreciate the food photos.

Having grown up in an Iranian-American family and cooking meals with my own maman (though mine is my grandmother), I almost feel like I could have written this book. It's a gorgeous cookbook, with lots of great information about Iranian culture, especially around food, and the background of the dishes. The photos are gorgeous and mouthwatering and the recipes seem easy to follow.

I'm looking forward to making something new with my own maman!

A wonderful collection of unique recipes. Includes beautiful photographs, native names, and fun details for cultural education.

Nice cookbook with great photos. I’m not familiar with Iranian food as much but I have a friend from there and I wanted to check out the recipes. The photos are nice and I would try some of these rice recipes at home. It could be a great gift for my friend too. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

A lovely cookbook that embraces the hyphenated experience and delicately introduces Iranian flavors in a honey way. Lots of lovely pictures too

Family, food, culture, and joy! The Iranian recipes are authentic but homey and so personal — a love letter to family and Iranian roots through home cooking. The recipes are terrific and the pictures are great, too! Love it and would be happy to add a hard cover copy to my personal cookbook collection.

These authors make cooking recipes from unfamiliar culture approachable! The recipes are written in a traditional and easy to follow manner. Beautifully photographed cookbook! The few dishes I cooked and tried were easy to make, and I enjoyed them. I enjoy the authors commentary before each recipe. If you’re looking to try new middle eastern food, check this cookout out!

Middle Eastern food is awesome, and popular everywhere. Most of us eat it in restaurants, because it is foreign and has some specialty ingredients. However, mother-daughter team, Roya Shariat and Gita Sadeh have released an excellent cookbook, Maman and Me: Recipes from Our Iranian American Family, that contains dozens of mouthwatering dishes that are easy to make at home. While the recipes included are not well-known to those of who aren’t particularly familiar with Iranian cooking, they are very appealing.

The recipes are written in the traditional manner with the ingredients listed first, followed by step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow. Each recipes is prefaced by a paragraph of helpful and interesting comments that help add * to each of the recipes. The recipes are simple enough to be made into picture perfect dishes by cooks both advanced and beginning.

The cookbook includes beautiful professional photographs of almost every recipe which makes it difficult to decide what to make first. The recipes are diverse enough that everyone - even picky eaters – will find dishes they want to eat.

All told, the book covers every category, including appetizers, main dishes, desserts, soups, side dishes and salads. This is one that is worth buying and makes a nice addition to any good cookbook collection. This is a beautiful and excellent cookbook.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Here is a lovely cookbook that is written by a mother and daughter who enjoy cooking the foods of their Iraninan-American heritage. Those who pick up this book will learn a lot about Iranian food and will enjoy some delightful meals.

Throughout these pages there are many photos to accompany the recipes. Some of these will make readers hungry. Try everything from breakfast to dessert with the rest of a day in the middle.

Start with Sweet or Savory Labneh Toast or with a Sweet Date Omelet. Later, indulge in a Saffron Shrimp Pilaf or a Garlicky Lamb Shank. Then, how about a Sweet Rose and Rice Flour Custard? Readers will be able to enjoy eating these these thanks to the clear directions that accompany the recipes.

This is an appealing cookbook and one that will, perhaps, open up a new cuisine to home cooks.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

This cookbook has a wonderful collection of recipes from an Iranian-American mother and daughter with food that represents their family, experiences, history, and cultures. It's a story of immigration and family expressed through food. That’s what makes this book unique! Roya's and Gita's love for food is apparent on every page, in every recipe, in every photo, and in every story.

Some of these recipes are still very much Iranian, and some have been adapted to create something new; sometimes there's an Iranian twist on an American dish and sometimes an American twist on an Iranian dish. For instance, there's the typical American french toast to which cardamom and orange are added, and a beautiful salmon topped with a very American ranch ressing tweaked with saffron and turmeric! Then there are sambusas made with wonton wrappers. Who doesn't love a trick to simplify a recipe and save time?

There are some specialized ingredients that might need to be sourced in Southwest Asian grocery stores or online. The book has suggestions for online sources. However, most of the ingredients you can find at your local grocery.

The Recipes are broken down into the following sections:
Breakfast
Mazzeh: Snacks and Sides
Salads and Soups
Rice and Pilafs
Main Dishes and Stews
Drinks
Desserts

What I Like About This Cookbook

- Each recipe includes a lovely picture and a brief story about how the recipe is used in the family, how it was developed, why it is culturally important or why it was popular in a specific region of Iran.

- The recipes are written in a clear and easy to follow format.

- All of the recipes include the fascinating blend of sweet/savory or sour/sweet/salty that is typical of Iranian food, even if the recipe isn’t a traditional Iranian recipe.

- There are many vegetarian and vegan options. In some recipes with meat, vegetarian options are provided.

- Because herbs play such an important role in the cuisine, there are directions on how to dry herbs in the microwave or how to best store fresh herbs.

- There is a great tahdig 101 primer before the rice recipes. It’s worth reading!

Experience Level Needed

This cookbook can easily be used by beginning cooks and more experienced cooks. The recipes run the gamut from simple to complex. Some are simple enough that they would be fun to do with children.

I received a free eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed it so much that I have already pre-ordered a hard copy!

This was such an amazing cookbook. I was not familiar of much of this cuisine but the ingredients are (mostly) familiar just in the most interesting combinations. And all the recipes sound so delicious. The pictures (of which there are a ton. Added star just for that) are so pretty they will make your stomach growl.

I received a copy of this eBook for an honest review from NetGalley.

I love this cookbook! So many beautiful pictures of what I assume is deliciously eatable food. I've had very little Iranian food in my life but I think that needs to change. It looks healthy, easy and fun to cook. I will be getting myself a copy of this book.

I have almost two dozen Phaidon global cuisine cookbooks: Greek, Thai, Chinese, Mexican, etc. They’re beautifully presented and a great way to learn about the cuisine of other cultures. But their expansiveness and lack of photographs for every dish can be intimidating—they’re more a reference and source of inspiration that being a place to go to to learn about a bit about a particular global cuisine that you can use to get a meal on the table for Tuesday night’s dinner.

In contrast, “Madman and Me’ is also beautifully presented, but it focuses on dishes that expose the reader to Iranian American cuisine and cooking methods (such as how to produce the perfect Tahdig) in a way that inspires and is practical for a cook who may not have ready access to specialized ingredients or an endless amount of time. Of particular interest were:

Carrot Jam
Orange and Cardamon French Toast
Rose Pancakes
Crunchy Baked Saffron Rice with Chicken
Green Bean and Beef Pilaf
Sweet and Sour Pomegranate and Walnut Stew
Saffron Salmon with Ranch Dressing
Spaghetti with Tahdig

The value of this book is that it inspires you to cook and is well-curated, consisting of recipes that make sense for a busy family interested in trying Iranian American cuisine either for the first time or to deepen their knowledge of it.

"Roya's Family Kitchen" by Roya Shariat and Gita Sadeh was a delightful and mouthwatering cookbook that deserves a solid five-star rating. The cookbook offered a loving invitation into the authors' Iranian American home, where they share their cherished family recipes that span soups and stews, main dishes, desserts, beverages, and more.

One of the standout features of the cookbook is its unique approach to Iranian cuisine. Roya and Gita celebrate the evolution of Iranian food in America, offering a blend of traditional recipes and contemporary twists that cater to various dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. This inclusive approach ensures that there's something for everyone, making it a versatile and practical cookbook for modern cooks.

The book was beautifully complemented by lush, full-color photographs that brought the dishes to life, making the recipes even more enticing. Whether I was looking to prepare Garlicky Eggplant Dip (Kashk Bademjoon), Chilled Yogurt and Herb Soup (Ab Doogh Khiar), Sweet and Sour Pomegranate and Walnut Stew (Fessenjoon), or one of the other delicious offerings, I was able to find clear and easy-to-follow instructions that made these Iranian American dishes accessible to me.

"Roya's Family Kitchen" also pays special attention to the art of making tahdig, a beloved crispy rice dish, offering three different tahdig variations and showcasing the versatility of rice in Iranian cuisine.

Whether you're like me and already a fan of Roya and Gita from their popular TikTok videos or new to their warmth and humor, this cookbook is guaranteed to inspire you to create fantastic Iranian-influenced meals that will delight your palate and impress your family and friends.

In summary, "Roya's Family Kitchen" is a five-star gem that opens the door to the rich and diverse world of Iranian American cuisine. Roya Shariat and Gita Sadeh's passion for sharing their family recipes shines through in this cookbook, making it a must-have for anyone looking to explore the flavors and traditions of this delicious culinary heritage.

I have not had many opportunities to try Iranian food, so I am not very familiar with it. I love trying food from new countries and cultures, so I was very excited to read this book.

I really enjoyed that it opened with descriptions of the pantry staples of Iranian food, I felt this provided great insight into the flavors I would find throughout the recipes.

I loved how the book is arranged by the meals and how so many of the recipes are approachable even to someone like me who is unfamiliar with the type of cuisine. I will definitely be cooking a lot of the recipes in this book and I can’t wait to so many new foods that look amazing.

I love Persian Food, and Iraq is probably my favorite region of said food. My memories of my college bestie and her mom cooking, making, and sharing food with my husband and I are foundational building blocks in my life.

Bu I have to admit: I hated almost every single recipe in this book.

I was hoping that this book would give me homey versions of the traditional recipes, tips and tricks, and maybe a few substituted, but they were not. Instead many of the recipes are abominations of those foods mixed with unappetizing Americanizations, like adding ranch. Ranch.

I have to pass on this chimera cookbook that does not fuse well.