“My name is Saeid and I was born in Mashhad, in the far North-East of Iran. It is one of the largest and most beautiful cities; it sits among mountains and is very green.

Since childhood, I have always loved food and cooking, especially traditional Persian dishes. I learned Persian cooking techniques from my mother, but also particularly from my grandfather. He was a chef who loved to cook with the food he had grown. He had a large field of crocuses – which are the source of saffron, a very important ingredient in Iranian cooking.

Cooking was always a passion of mine, alongside my main profession; I trained and worked as a lawyer in Iran. I also worked as a head chef in Iran. For me, cooking is not only about making food, it’s about sharing happiness, my culture and my memories, and bringing people together. Through a friend in my English class, I was very lucky to hear about Migrateful – it is giving me the chance to share my culture and the amazing Persian food from my childhood. I am also improving my English and confidence and my communication with people. I believe food can bring people together and create connection, happiness and understanding between cultures.”