The search for "authentic food" has been a frequent and animated topic of discussion among Iranians at various gatherings. This recurring conversation within the Iranian diaspora made me reflect on the significance of "authentic" Persian cuisine and the deep cultural connection it represents. Having been in Canada for just a year, I still consider myself a new immigrant. Yet, alongside family, friends, and my city, the flavors of home-cooked meals are among the things I miss most. I vividly remember the joy I felt when I first tasted authentic Persian food at a friend’s gathering, about six months after I moved. The familiar taste transported me back home in a way that music or literature—my usual comforts—hadn’t managed to.
Gradually, I discovered Iranian cafes and restaurants in Montreal and found myself spending time there—studying, meeting friends, or simply being around something familiar—more often than anywhere else. Observing the atmosphere in these spaces, I saw firsthand how Persian food becomes a unifying force in exile, bringing people together. I noticed that many Iranian cultural or literary gatherings are held in these cafes, where people enjoy Persian tea after a good meal, a customary tradition in Persian culinary culture.
These cafes have become havens for Iranians seeking a sense of comfort; as many have told me, they feel as though they’re briefly back in Iran. This fleeting but familiar experience is unique to the act of sharing food, embodying what Mannur insightfully describes in Chapter 1 of Culinary Fictions, where food becomes central to creating a sense of home after immigration.