2025 dates for cooking classes and culinary events

Introducing the calendar of new cooking classes and food tours in Rome

Hello everyone!

We have survived January! Well done to us all.

The lunar year of the snake has begun, which heralds transformation and wisdom, and boy don’t we all need that desperately. This email contains news of a little transformation of my culinary events, in which I hope I can cater better, and to more of you.

Until now, my culinary events — mostly Iranian cooking classes and occasionally some dinners — have been spot events; meaning I would do them seldom during the year and they’d sell out very quickly. I have received countless emails from many of you during the year asking when the next class would be. So I have created a calendar with cooking classes and other events where you can see when my next classes are happening. You can also subscribe to these events on Google Calendar or iCal as more events are added to them. All Rome classes are at Latteria Studio (Monteverde Nuovo, Rome) unless stated otherwise.

Check out the events calendar on my website

The calendar includes two new cooking classes. These delicious and hands-on classes are a fun and relaxed experience, suitable for all levels of expertise.

Coming up

CLASSIC IRANIAN COOKING CLASS

This is my most popular class that I have been holding for years. We will cook a 5-6 course meal, starting from a little snack and ending with dessert. We explore the basics of the food of Iran; expect saffron, (a lot of) herbs, pistachios, almonds, roses, rice and the magical tahdig (crust at the bottom) and much more. We always start with the basics, and we move on make more complex dishes, but always in a way that is replicable at home. We end with tea and something sweet.

MEDITERRANEAN BRUNCH CLASS

Inspired by the super popular breakfast events that I held in the past couple of years, I now introduce this Mediterranean brunch cooking class in which we will cook a 4-5 items for a feast of  the most delicious breakfast dishes from Iran, Turkey, Lebanon, Greece and Italy. Think Sheermal Bread (a brioche bread with milk and saffron from Iran), Fattah (toasted flatbread layered with a lemony, yogurt sauce with tahini, chickpeas and topped with pine nuts and fresh herbs, served as weekend breakfast in Syria), Filo triangles stuffed with cheese, egg dishes and much more. Tea, coffee, milk and fresh juice will also be served. Perfect weekend appointment.  

MEZE & MIDDLE EASTERN APERITIVO CLASS

In this brand new, and slightly smaller evening cooking class, we explore the glorious world of meze (or mezze) in the Middle East; little dishes served usually with a drink. These dishes can be found from Iran, to Turkey, all the Levantine countries, Greece and beyond. Little vegetable dips made of fava beans, beets, potatoes and much more, many, many varieties of salads for different seasons, battered and fried vegetables or little fish, just to start. Usually served with drinks (alcoholic or nonalcoholic), these little plates are my favorite way to entertain, sharing many little dishes with loved ones is the only way I want to eat.

We will cook a 4-5 plates to share. Sometimes we will make a drink too. We will also discuss the meze culture and (the misunderstood or often unknown) drinking rituals in the middle east.

For all these cooking classes Minimum n. participants: 4, Maximum n. participants: 7. You can also book a who class privately for a group of 1 to 8. If you can’t make it to the cooking class on this date, no worries. See the events page for other dates or send me an email to inquire about the day that fits you and your group. For prices and more details also see the event page. 

FOOD TOURS

Food tours are not my core business, and when I do lead one, it’s very far from a typical food tour (with which Rome is bursting) that feeds you mozzarella and prosciutto followed by carbonara. Passion, and later my job as a food writer and cook have brought me to know and love (almost) everything about the best local and authentic food in Rome. I’m obsessed with historical and social facts about food, I have a lot to say and I’m also very greedy, so I never say no to the delicious bites. 

In the last few years more and more people have asked for a tour, and they are fun.​​ My classic Rome food tour usually takes place in a neighborhood with an incredibly rich culinary history. I will tell you about the historical anecdotes and geographical curiosities that have shaped the micro-cuisine of Rome while tasting everything from cream-filled buns for breakfast, to seasonal vegetables and traditional dishes for lunch and many other snacks, ending with dessert, usually gelato.

The tour is always private and a one to one conversation, bespoke to whatever you want or need.

Previous guests on the tour have said:

A food tour with Saghar equals an adventure off the beaten path and it is perfect for anyone looking to experience Rome beyond the typical tourist itinerary.

Every bite and morsel had meaning, a story, a particular memory attached - which made the tour all the more special. I am already counting down to when I can experience the city through her eyes once again! 10/10

I’m also available for

Photo shoots

I have a couple of exciting projects coming up in the next months and I would love to undertake more editorial and commercial photography projects. Making a cookbook or renewing your hospitality brand’s image? Let’s talk!

Lectures 

One of the happy results of publishing Pomegranates & Artichokes has been ​​the honor of getting invited to speak about the food cultures of the Mediterranean and the Middle East at seminars, events and universities. Some of the universities I have so far held a lecture in are: Auburn University campus in Italy, University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo and John Felice Rome Center of Loyola University Chicago, as well as a talk in Ri.MED Scientific Symposium entitled "NUTRITION, MICROBIOME AND METABOLISM" in October 2024. I would be delighted to hold more of these lectures.

Photography workshops 

I used to hold many photography workshops in the golden era of blogs and instagram (which now feels kind of yucky to think about). I still think taking better pictures is a nice skill, regardless of whether or not we share them or where we do, and our phones these days are incredible tools to harness this skill. This class would be great for everyone but I think exchange students would particularly enjoy it. A short class of 3 hours.

Cooking

One of the main reasons that I’ve expanded my cooking classes this year is that I really want to spend more time in the kitchen, and somehow the kitchen at home is not satisfying enough. I love designing menus and creating events and then bringing that vision to life. I’m available to cook for small(ish) private dinners and events.

Let me know what you think please. What could be improved, what you’re excited about.

Have a lovely weekend.

Warmly,

Saghar