Iranian Traditional Dinner in Local House

Iranian Traditional Dinner in Local House

 

The traditional Iranian dinner served in local houses and families includes diverse traditional and modern dishes, all showcased on a menu. Before finalizing the menu for the guest’s dining experience, the tastes and preferences of the guests are carefully considered. These events are organized in local houses and families, where people can learn about the culture, tradition, manners, and customs of Iranian life. It is important to note that these dinner events are held in local houses with permission from the cultural heritage authorities.

 

It is essential to recognize that these plans extend beyond dinner. Some guests may prefer a lunch arrangement rather than a dinner option, and the lunch offerings are equivalent to those for dinner.

Generally, the guests can enjoy the plan in three parts: the menu and traditional meals, local house decoration, and live music.

 

The Menu

 

Typically, upon arrival, the hosts welcome the guests with seasonal drinks. These drinks vary depending on the season, like lemonade, Sekanjabin, and Sharbate Bahar Narenj (Orange Blossom Juice). Furthermore, the hosts make tea with distinct flavors, such as Bahar Narenj Tea and Flavored Teas. After that, guests get ready for dinner or lunch.

 

 

After the hosts entertain the guests with seasonal drinks, they prepare a dining table that showcases plates of appetizers, main courses, desserts, and beverages. In addition, a Seasonal fruit platter includes summer and winter fruits, such as grapes, peaches, melons, watermelons, cherries, cantaloupes, bananas, pomegranates, oranges, and tangerines. The hosts create the menus, paying attention to their guest’s time, nationality, cultural background, and preferences. The most popular meals are listed on the menus.

 

Appetizer

 

For appetizers, the hosts serve Eggplant Curd (in Persian Kashke Bademjan), Halim Bademjan, soup, Lentil Stew (in Persian Dal Adasi), Ash Reshteh, Fasl Salad, Shirazi Salad, and yogurt with grated cucumber or Spinach. In addition, some hosts serve a cheese and vegetable sandwich.

 

Main Course

 

The main course of the menu includes a variety of traditional Iranian dishes, including:

Havij Polo, Kalam Polo Shirazi (Shirazi Cabbage Rice), Estamboli Polo, Zereshk Polo (Barberry rice with chicken), Fesenjan Stew, Daisy (a traditional dish), Ghorme Sabzi Stew, Gheimeh Stew, Baghali Polo ba Mahicheh, Tahchin, Saffron Polo, and Halim Bademjan also serves as an appetizer.

 

 

Dessert

 

For dessert, diners can enjoy Halva, Shole-Zard, Masghati, Ranginak, and a selection of jellies.

 

Beverages

 

The items provided for the beverages include water, soda, Dough, and non-alcoholic beer.

 

Local House Decoration

 

Local Houses are decorated in different ways and follow Iranian traditions, reflecting the rich traditions of Iranian culture. Some houses adorn their walls with painting tableaux and ancient plates. These tableaus are distinct wood carvings, and the plates were once commonly used for dining. Some hosts prefer to furnish their houses with furniture made of original wood, like walnut wood from Hamadan city, which is handmade and has wood carving.  This city is well-known for its furniture and wood industry. Moreover, the furniture is often covered with appropriate fabrics. The tables are covered with traditional silverwork Termeh (Cashmere). Others have specific spaces, such as a room or a cabinet, dedicated to displaying ancient tools.

 

 

Live Music

 

In addition to entertaining and viewing the old and modern decorations, traditional music is also performed live. This performance features Traditional Iranian instruments and is conducted by the hosts or musicians who have permission from the cultural heritage authorities. The most popular instruments utilized in live music performances are the Tar, Sitar, Santor, and Daf. The duration of live music is between 30 minutes and 45 minutes.

 

These plans are generally categorized into three packages, each allocated a specific implementation period. In all packages, the hosts are attentive to the timing of the guest’s meals. All these packages involve eating meals, observing decorations, and listening to music. The details of these packages are mentioned below.

 

First Package: Dinner or Lunch

 

This package offers a dining service for lunch or dinner. The menu features traditional and modern dishes, and the host personally prepares the meals for the guests based on their flavors and tastes. This package is only for eating meals, observing decorations, and listening to music. Commonly, the duration of this package is about two hours.

 

Second Package: Training

 

Along with the dining program, guests can observe how the food is prepared and listen to the host as they explain the recipes for the menu items. Guests interested in participating in the cooking can assist the host directly. For example, guests can learn the preparation techniques while the host prepares small meatballs and then attempt to make them. This package requires more time than the first one due to the training and explaining part. This package takes about five hours.

 

Third Package: Buying Raw Material

 

The host should prepare the raw materials for lunch or dinner in advance. Guests can join with the host for shopping. They can visit and purchase from traditional bakeries, old and traditional confectionery, Vakil Bazar, and spice shops. Note that sometimes there is a local bazaar near the location of the host’s house, and the host and guest purchase there. Since this package focuses on shopping, the duration will be longer than usual. It may take one and a half hours or two hours. After shopping, they return to the house and prepare for other parts. Scheduling an Iranian dinner involves careful coordination between the guests and the host. The preferred dining time of the guests is a key factor in planning the event. Additionally, it is important to allocate two extra hours for training and purchasing the necessary raw materials, apart from the time required for entertaining and dining during lunch or dinner.