What does it take to recreate the taste of home?
In this special episode of the Modern Persian Food Podcast, Beata sits down with Sahar Shomali, the passionate baker and founder of Kouzeh Bakery in Los Angeles. They explore Sahar’s inspiring journey from home baker to small business owner, driven by a mission that many Iranians know well: finding—or recreating—the perfect barbari bread from childhood memories.
Sahar shares how nostalgia became inspiration as she worked to capture the authentic flavors and textures of Persian baked goods while adapting recipes for today’s ingredients, equipment, and customers. Her bakery celebrates the incredible diversity of Iran’s regional baking traditions, introducing both the Persian community and newcomers to specialty breads, pastries, and sweets that are often difficult to find outside of Iran.
In this episode, we discuss:
-
Sahar’s journey to becoming the founder of Kouzeh Bakery
-
The childhood memories that inspired her pursuit of authentic barbari bread
-
How she recreates traditional Persian flavors while adapting recipes for a modern bakery
-
Regional Persian breads and baked specialties that deserve more recognition
-
The challenges and rewards of owning a small food business
-
Preserving Persian culinary traditions through baking
-
Sharing Persian culture with customers from all backgrounds
Whether you grew up enjoying fresh Persian bread or you’re discovering these flavors for the first time, this conversation offers a heartfelt look at the connection between food, memory, and cultural identity.
Connect with Kouzeh Bakery
Follow Sahar and learn more about Kouzeh Bakery: https://www.kouzehbakery.com/
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave us a five-star review, and share it with a friend who loves Persian food, baking, and discovering the stories behind the recipes.
All Modern Persian Food podcast episodes can be found at: Episodes
Sign up for the email newsletter here!
Check us out on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube
Follow us on Instagram: @modernpersianfood
Subscribe+ to the Modern Persian Food podcast on your favorite podcast player, and share this episode with a friend.
Opening and closing music composed by Amir Etemadzadeh, www.amirschoolofmusic.com
Podcast production by Alvarez Audio
Leave a Reply