Hamed Allahyari cooks for that joyful moment you can say ‘salamati’ (Farsi for ‘health’ and ‘cheers’) around the table. The food of his native Tehran is a resonant and delicious gift, and a way of staying bonded to a country he hasn’t returned to for a decade. The recipes are simple, celebratory, appealing, flexible, and full of flavour. ‘It’s sharing my culture,’ says Hamed. ‘It’s my dream that everyone tries Persian food. And with my food, they come into my family. They are sitting with me, with my grandparents, parents, and cousins, talking, sharing, and enjoying the feeling of being together.