On Saturday, July 22nd, Mammoth Tap Room in Leytonstone’s railway arches will play host to Waltham Forest’s second #CookforIran barbeque of the summer.
Last month, #CookForIran’s Anna Ansari cooked for 40 hungry punters at Leytonstone’s Arch Deli, and raised over £500 for charity.
As at Arch Deli, those who come to Mammoth can expect soulful and lovingly-prepared Iranian dishes such as lamb shish kebab, saffron chicken jujeh kebab, basmatic rice, grilled mixed vegetables, salad shirazi, and borani esfanj (a spinach yogurt dish), with quality ingredients such as Isle of Wight tomatoes and free-range meats generously donated by Swaledale Butchers.
But what’s the campaign all about? Started in autumn 2022, in direct response to the death of Mahsa Amini and the Iran-based and international protests that ensued as a result, #CookForIran works to highlight rights issues in Iran through the sharing of food and culture.
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All profits from the barbeque go directly to #CookForIran’s chosen charity, the California-based Center for Mind Body Medicine (CMBM), whose Iran program helps to heal personal and population-wide trauma and build resilience.
An Iranian-American, Anna Ansari is a lawyer-turned-food writer who has been involved with #CookForIran since January 2023. This spring, she hosted and cooked sold-out Iranian supper clubs at Walthamstow’s Hucks and, most recently, at Blackhorse Workshop Café.
While Anna’s #CookforIran supper clubs are pre-booked sit-down affairs, the BBQs are first-come, first-served joyful celebrations of Iranian summer dishes prepared with seasonal British ingredients over an open flame.
And, of course, enjoyed best with a cold craft beer from Mammoth Tap Room.
#CookForIran BBQ dishes cost £16 per plate, which includes one meat kebab, one veg kebab, yogurt, rice and salad. All profits go to charity. Saturday, July 22nd, Mammoth Tap Room, from 2pm until the food runs out. Follow Anna Ansari @thisplacetastesdelicious, Mammoth Tap @ mammothtaproom and #CookforIran @cookforiran
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