Interview | Growing Up Irooni- Caspian Chef discusses returning to his Iranian roots after decades of assimilation
58m
·
Learn Persian with Chai and Conversation
·
In this Growing Up Irooni we talk to Omid Roustaei, better known as the Caspian Chef. In this conversation, we discuss the process of coming to the United States on his own and figuring out his own path for assimilating into American culture as a means of survival. Omid has has a very rich and varied path, first studying biotech engineering, and then becoming a personal chef and yoga teacher, to pursuing a career in psychotherapy, to returning to cooking and his Iranian roots only in the past few years.This was one of the most fascinating conversations I've had- and we really go into some territory that I think will resonate with so many of us- life is certainly not linear, and we can see that in Omid's story. We talk about career and pursuing your dreams- he first went down the ‘traditional Iranian path' of becoming a biotech engineer and worked in that field for a while, before pivoting to the perhaps more American notion of pursuing his passion- cooking and psychotherapy. We also talked about the process of assimilation as a coping mechanism- what it means to arrive in a country and need to fit in. And finally, what led Omid back to the path of rediscovering his Iranian roots- from cooking Persian food, to becoming reacquainted with the Persian language, and to ultimately seek out and become part of the Iranian diaspora community again.I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did!
Related links:
- The Caspian Chef blog
- Ghormeh Sabzi blog post
- The Caspian Chef instagram page
- My Persian Corner instagram page
- English with Bardia instagram page
- Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamali
The episode Interview | Growing Up Irooni- Caspian Chef discusses returning to his Iranian roots after decades of assimilation from the podcast Learn Persian with Chai and Conversation has a duration of
58:08. It was first published
More episodes from Learn Persian with Chai and Conversation
Poetry | Baba Taher's khoshā emshō, Introduction with Yara Elmjouie
In this shabé shehr episode, we go over the poem khoshā emshō by the poet Baba Taher with special guest Yara Elmjouie. This poem is about enjoying the night, and the company of the night- it's short, simple and sweet, and reminds you to take pleasure in the joy of living.
Speak Lesson 73 | A Separation, Part 2
In this lesson, we watch a clip of a conversation between Nader and Razieh, who he is hoping to convince to come work for him. We are joined in the lesson by Yara Elmjouie.
Speak Lesson 72 | A Separation, Part 1
In this new series, we watch clips chosen by Yara Elmjouie from the movie A Separation. To WATCH this lesson (highly recommended!), check it out on our website.
Poetry | Hafez's payāmé naseem, Part 6
In this lesson, we go over the last lines of the poem payāmé naseem by Hafez:
میای دارم چو جان صافی و صوفی میکند عیبش
may-ee dāram chō jān sāfee ō soofee meekonad aybash
خدایا هیچ عاقل را مبادا بخت بد روزی
khodāyā heech āghel rā mabādā bakht bad roozee
Poetry | Hafez's payāmé naseem, Part 5
In this lesson, we go over the following lines of the poem payāmé naseem by Hafez:
جدا شد یار شیرینت کنون تنها نشین ای شمع
jodā shod yāré sheereenat konoon tanhā nesheen ay sha'am
که حکم آسمان این است اگر سازی و گر سوزی
ké hokmé āsemān een ast agar sāzee ō gar soozee