Persian Flavors Benefit Online Cooking Class

Jun 20, 2020

The Seattle-Isfahan Sister City Advocacy (SISCA) presents a benefit for three organizations assisting food-insecure families and children in the Seattle area and in Isfahan, Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SUGGESTED DONATION, NO CLASS FEE
https://www.backpackbrigade.org/donate
https://www.hopelink.org/donate
https://www.childfoundation.org/page/persian-flavors

There is no class fee. Instead we ask that you join us in directly supporting one or more of these three nonprofits described below: Backpack Brigade, Hopelink, Child Foundation - بنیاد کودک. - The suggested minimum donation of $25 will help these organizations provide dozens of meals a month to children and families here in the U.S. or in Iran.

SISCA will match individual donations up to a total of $2,000 to the Seattle-area organizations and $2,000 to Child Foundation’s work in Isfahan. Individual donations may be made at any time via the links above, at registration, or during the event.

Please write "SISCA" in the comments section of the organization's donation page so your gift is credited for the SISCA match.

The Caspian Chef, Omid Roustaei
https://thecaspianchef.com

SISCA is so proud to have Omid Roustaei, aka The Caspian Chef, as a Board Member. Omid will teach class participants how to prepare Khoresh Gheymeh, a stew made with beef and yellow split peas and topped with crispy potatoes, and the famous Iranian rice dish known as Tahdig. Chef Omid will also discuss how to make a vegetarian Gheymeh!

Omid was born and raised in Tehran and spent his early childhood by the Caspian Sea building sandcastles, flying kites, and riding his banana-seat, high-handlebar bike. He has taught culinary classes for over 15 years, cooked as a private chef, and works as a psychotherapist by day.

Tickets are limited!! Reserve your spot NOW!
www.tinyurl.com/PersianFlavorsCookingClass

As Omid explains, Persian cuisine uses the careful blending of herbs and spices to create rich and subtle flavors and a playful balance of salt, sweet, sour, and bitter. “I take great pleasure in teaching Persian cooking in the greater Seattle area, where I introduce and explore this great cuisine while exploring culinary techniques and telling stories about Persian history and culture,” says Omid.

BENEFICIARY ORGANIZATIONS
NOTE: Make your suggested donation to one or more of the nonprofits listed below. Click on links to be taken to the organization's donation page. Please write "SISCA" in the comments section so your gift is credited for the SISCA match.

Child Foundation - بنیاد کودک
Child Foundation is a long-established international charity based in Portland, Oregon, that works in Iran, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Nepal. Child Foundation is responding to the urgent needs in Iran by sending funds for care packages with essentials or grocery store debit cards. This effort supports food-insecure students and their families in Iran who are suffering in the shadow of the pandemic. A donation of $20 supports a family in Isfahan for one month.

DONATE HERE: www.childfoundation.org

Hopelink
Hopelink operates food banks serving the communities of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland/Northshore, Sno-Valley (Carnation), and Shoreline, Washington. As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, Hopelink’s ability to provide food has been seriously disrupted. The organization is now providing pre-packed boxes of food that contain 21 meals. A donation of $30 covers the cost of one box.

DONATE HERE: www.hopelink.org/donate

Backpack Brigade
Backpack Brigade in Seattle provides meals on weekends to Seattle school children who would otherwise face hunger. Bags of nutritious, easy-to-eat food are distributed through area schools. Since COVID-19 hit, the number of children served by Backpack Brigade has increased dramatically, from 925 students per week to 1,600 per week. A donation of $25 provides a month of backpacks containing weekend meals for one child.

DONATE HERE: www.backpackbrigade.org/donate

ABOUT SISCA

The Seattle-Isfahan Sister City Advocacy (SISCA) is a Washington state 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our long-term goal is to establish an official sister-city relationship between Seattle and Isfahan, Iran. In the short term, given the animosity between the U.S. and Iranian governments and because Seattle has a moratorium on new sister-city relationships, we have focused on improving understanding about Iranian/Persian culture and fostering people-to-people events and activities.

SISCA is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Donations to SISCA are tax-deductible and may be made online or mailed to Seattle-Isfahan Sister City Advocacy, P.O. Box 757, Woodinville, WA 98072.

We always welcome VOLUNTEERS, particularly photographers, videographers, social media content developers, and more. Send us an email (info@seattleisfahan.org) if you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities with SISCA.
SISCA Board Members
Cathia Geller, President; Fred Noland, Vice President; Roy Ghazimorad, Treasurer; Nancy Penrose, Secretary; Saiid Amin; Maryam Hosseini; Danyal Lotfi; Mohammad Kashani; Shahrzad Naeini; Nadir Kianersi; Zahra Ranjbar; Omid Roustaei; Dan Smith. (Advisory: Jane Noland and Hassan Zand.)