A Taste of Persia in Aloft Kathmandu

Events
Food And Drinks
The Buzz Nepal
March 21 , 2025

The Persian Food Festival at Aloft Kathmandu has officially started. The food festival offers a unique flavor to the Nepalese palate that thrives on spices.

You can start your feast with a complimentary refreshing and healthy juice and jump to a live snack bar. There they have options of both vegetarian and nonvegetarian appetizers. While the vegetarian option is limited to paneer only, meat lovers can choose from chicken, fish or lamb.

The main course was where visitors could actually taste the flavor of Persian cuisine. As Chef Mona shared, Persian cuisine is a slow cooked perfection, and the perfection actually reflected on the main dishes such as Baghali Polo ba Mahicheh; which is a Dill and fava bean rice served with lamb. The meat was tender and flavorful with the art of slow-cooking allowing the meat to soak all the flavors.

The speciality of Persian cuisine is the delicate balance of sweet and sour flavors. The use of ingredients like pomegranates, saffron, and nuts play a vital role in enhancing the taste. As you take a spoonful bite of the dishes, the sudden burst of pomegranate seeds leave a tangy, sweet, and lingering taste.

The dessert course was equally inviting. The selection ranged from Sholeh Zard to Baghlava to Fruit Tarts, and Strawberry Eclairs. The Sholeh Zard, a saffron rice pudding, was another surprise whose taste is similar to Nepali kheer. The Persian or Iranian Baklava, as shared by the chef, is more delicate than Syrian Baklava, as they have more use of nuts rather than syrupy and sticky sweetness and also offer a fragrant bite.

The Persian Food Festival is truly a unique culinary experience. For food lovers who are always on the lookout to try new cuisines, the huge contrast of Nepali and Persian taste is a must-try. Even if you missed the feast yesterday, you still have two more days (March 20 – March 22) left to dive in the Persian flavors.