4
Mar
I had been wanting to meet Najaf Daryabandari ever since a London friend had told me about the fascinating lunch he’d had with him in Tehran. Najaf is a distinguished academic who has translated many classics and also written a two-volume tome on Iranian cuisine. My friend had lost his contact details but fortunately Nasrine, my Iranian friend knew him and it wasn’t hard to set up a meeting with him except that by the time I got to Tehran, Najaf was in the middle stages of dementia. He was still able to explain about his book and Iranian cuisine but his mind would wander every few minutes and he would fall silent for quite some time that by the end of my visit, I knew there was no chance I could cook with him. Still, I loved meeting him and his charming son Sohrab and like all Iranians, their hospitality was delightful. Amongst the many things they offered us with tea were these amazing cardamom-flavoured hard candy called abnabat. Nabat means sugar and ab water and the name literally means sugar water. They can also be made with saffron which must be very luxurious or other flavourings. And of course, I immediately rushed to Tavoz to buy a bag which lasted a very short time. You can buy them online and I am sure you can also find them in London, perhaps even at Persepolis in Peckham, or other Persian shops!
As for Najaf, here is a picture of him looking very handsome in Alimo‘s photograph of him and suitably interested in my questions. I do hope he is well. I loved meeting him and I loved listening to his story of how he started cooking: in prison to feed himself and his fellow prisoners of conscience.
Tagged : cardamom hard candy, hard candy, iranian hospitality, Najaf Daryabandari, saffron, tehran 
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There is 5 comments on this post
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March 5, 2012 at 11:41 am
You had me at “cardamom candy” … the very idea of it sounds like HEAVEN!
PS He is very dashing!
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March 5, 2012 at 11:44 am
he is. shame he is suffering from dementia because he is also very intelligent and very talented. too sad.
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October 5, 2014 at 9:39 am
Hello Anissa, I just finished to read a book from him. Interested in cooking book , I knew him only as , cooking book writer , I am so well surprised to discover this translation of a book titled ???? ???? ?????? .i tried to search about him to send a message , to tell him how much I admired his humorous style.
And just by chance I found your blog , I am not in Facebook so there were no other way to reach him.
I am so sad to find out about his illness.
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October 5, 2014 at 10:24 am
he was quite wonderful and so handsome. and yes, very sad…
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November 21, 2014 at 3:19 am
Hi Anissa, what a nice memory. Thanks for sharing it with us.