Persian Fusion Cafe To Open On High Road

Food blogger and writer Maryam Sinaiee to open cafe in London Auctions

Well-known food blogger Maryam Sinaiee is to open a Persian Fusion cafe at the London Auctions premises at 30, Chiswick High Road in the next few weeks. It will be known as Maryam's Cafe and she hopes to be open in early December.

It's been a busy time for her, as she also published her first cookery book, Nightingales & Roses: Recipes from the Persian Kitchen a few weeks ago, which contains recipes going back to her childhood in Iran, as well as the Persian fusion food she intends to serve in the new cafe.

Her blog is where she shares her Persian-inspired recipes as well as some of her other favourites including cakes and pastries.

Maryam was looking for an opportunity to open her own cafe when she spotted an advertisement for the Chiswick premises. She came to visit W4, and loved the area so much she has now moved here, to be closer to her new business.

She plans to open seven days a week, starting with breakfasts around 8.30 as well as lunch and early dinners, closing at around 8 pm. People will be able to bring their own wine, until such time as she gets a licence to sell alcohol.

"I always had the dream of owning a restaurant or a cafe even though I am not a chef and I have worked in a very different career. I wanted to open a cafe, and also to write a cookbook and both those dreams are coming true. I knew it was time for me to do something I feel so passionately about. I like challenges, and this is a challenge."

She will offer a range of home cooked food, "the same things I would make at home for family and friends", which will be different from the usual fare found in Persian restaurants.

It could be thick chunky soups ,meatballs stuffed with breadcrumbs and walnuts and caramelised onions, hearty stews with rice, a range of vegetarian, vegan, or meat dishes. She will also cook egg dishes, similar to the North African shakshuka in spicy tomato sauce. There will be lots of use of smoked aubergines, tomatoes and garlic.

"I also plan to sell herbal teas that I blend myself as well as salads with a strong Persian influence."

The cafe space has been extended and she will manage about 30 covers.

Maryam is a former political analyst, journalist and researcher turned cook/food writer/food photographer/cafe owner.

Her previous jobs include five years as a political & media analyst specialising in Iran & the ME with the US Embassy, London, three years as a foreign correspondent at The National (an international newspaper based in Abu Dhabi), ten years in various positions with the Japanese Embassy in Tehran and two years as Iranian studies author/researcher at The Great Islamic Encyclopedia and The Encyclopedia of Iran.

November 22, 2018