Persian Cuisine Challenge | Top Chef: California

The chefs were asked to meet on the roof of their hotel, where they were greeted by Lakshmi and guest judge Ludo Lefebvre. The contestants, split into four teams, were tasked with opening pop-up restaurants around the city of Los Angeles. Each team had to create a menu that embodied the neighborhood their restaurant was located in.
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Clip taken from season 13, episode 02, Top Chef: California
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[@babygiant6362]

Persian Cuisine without rice ain't Persian Cuisine

[@marmary5555]

The staple of Persian food is the RICE. These people cooked Arabic/Turkish food.

[@raz1739]

None of these were Persian cuisine! lol

[@yaqubebased1961]

Now I know why Italians seethe so much on yt.

[@ucanahdooit]

What's disappointing is that most of the chefs, minus dessert, didn't even seem to care about the Persian element, making the food much more Mediterranean or Arabic inspired. Not sure that the judges caught on to that. It's a disservice to the entire theme.

[@trillianmcmillian2660]

what would have been more Persian? just curious.

[@frankieseward8667]

@@trillianmcmillian2660 look up iranian cuisine on YT, you'll be amazed at the food. Especially the Lamb Patties.

[@l-wolverine2211]

This is more Contemporary Persian, because many countries may not be that receptive to certain cuisines.

[@bastalam]

Totally agree. I was waiting for one of the stews to make a scene but nope

[@camsaffari]

@@trillianmcmillian2660 for starters we don't cover the flavors with strong spices (we don't use a lot of spices at all). You add too much spice to our food and you end up with Indian food, which is delicious but not Persian. Most of the strong flavors in our food come from fresh herbs, nuts, and fruits. For kabobs, we focus on mixing different cuts of lamb and beef to create unique flavors, instead of adding spices.

[@l-wolverine2211]

I remember how the other teams took the other themes/concept for granted, and didn’t put in much of an effort, especially the Vegan Team.

[@FloraWest]

I can't believe they went to the restaurant and only talked about food--didn't get to eat anything. Seems like that could have made a huge difference to them in this challenge.

[@marmary5555]

1️⃣ Persians are NOT Arabs. 2️⃣ Persian cuisine is NOT spicy 3️⃣ humus is NOT Persian cuisine.

[@RossPacino]

I second this

[@camsaffari]

Except for the dessert that had some Persian elements, the rest of the items were not even close to Persian cuisine. We don't use a lot of spices in our foods.

[@JC-wn1sp]

And? Who made you the expert.

[@VarandMusic]

@@JC-wn1sp Persian food is simple and not over spiced. Most ingredients are in their natural forms and the different aromas and mixtures create the taste. Cam Saffari is spot on, one doesn't have to be an expert to call that out. Even the stews are kept simple. Persian ground beef kabob (koobideh) , unlike anything in the region has 4 simple ingredient beef/lamb meat, salt, pepper and onions , after cooking it gets brushed with a saffron/butter sauce. What these chefs made were mostly Arabic/Indian style meals.

[@JC-wn1sp]

@@VarandMusic Persian and Arabic are one in the same.

[@VarandMusic]

@@JC-wn1sp Yes, same way Chinese and Japanese are the same, right?

[@JC-wn1sp]

@@VarandMusic yes they are Asian decent

[@AhmedKhoga]

Persian Cuisine !!! where ?

[@lilylively8905]

They always have to remember Persian food is different from Arabic food. Different element. Maybe they had the chefs learn about history and food. Even though the Persian chef explained about how our food is and the taste, it totally went over these guys head.

[@paintboy123]

I am eating from that restaurant as I write this lol

[@ahoorakia]

what Persian cuisine? none of those were persian!! Mediterranean may be! but no where near any persian food

[@peymang]

That was nowhere near Persian cuisine. Except maybe the dessert. Not even close. Persian cuisine is distinct from other Middle Eastern food.

[@marmary5555]

Hence why we should refrain ourselves from calling it "Middle Eastern" in the first place

[@_mahdi_8]

I didn't see any Iranian food at all, and in Iran we have so meny culture and they have their own type of food

[@republicoftexas4651]

5:17 When Padma makes that face it's over.....

[@amirmohammadrezaei8074]

Why is it that in every Western program and video that talks about Iran and Iranians, they play Arabic songs or those who play Iranian songs speak with an Arabic accent? For the last time, we Iranians are not Arabs. When do you want to know?

[@suredaneshmand8757]

👍👍

[@bastalam]

That is not persian cuisine. Mediterranean maybe but not persian. Just cause you added zaffron and pistachio doesn't make it a persian. Disappointed.

[@RoyasCloset]

yes you are right. I grew up with an Iranian father and all of my culinary talents come from that. Rice and saffron are an ART and ALL DAY LOVE AFFAIR. Sending love from Sedona x

[@bastalam]

@RoyasCloset great attitude. Wish you all the best. Movafagh bashi.

[@marmary5555]

*PERSIAN CUISINE IS NOT SPICY* 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@gemmacharles6416]

I heard it's sour,that Persian food must be a little sour,

[@masoudvahabizadeh8500]

😍😍😍😍😍

[@amirkhozuey6159]

😋😋😋😋😋👌

[@adamkhabazian3249]

reality tv is still a thing?

[@matinmirnaghibi5846]

Only the dessert was Persian the rest not even remotely close ,you would think they would have had look at the menu or tried some dishes or key ingredients

[@aidina.shandi8449]

Persian food

[@samanthagreen9639]

Typical disrespectful and ignorant response to challenge requesting incorporation of international/foreign flavors or ingredients. Yet done with confidence & bravado, LOL. UGH!!!!!

[@hxhxhx91]

they didn’t even bother to see or eat any persian food? 🤔

[@hanifleylabi8071]

Apart from th dessert these flavours weren't very reflective of Iranian food although they didn't get a very detailed brief!

[@raisamagro751]

To everyone having heart attacks in the comments… on top chef when they are given a challenge like this they are supposed to take INSPIRATION from the cuisine or themes not replicate it. The judges are well aware at how long it can take to master a cuisine they don’t expect them to do that in a few hours

[@marmary5555]

Even the inspiration was not right. Just because some Iranian American serve humus in their restaurants to please their American customers doesn't mean that humus is Persian. HUMUS IS NOT PERSIAN CUISINE. Also, Persian cuisine is ANYTHING BUT spicy. The national spice of Persian cuisine is Saffron. The staple of Persian cuisine is rice. None of that was seen in this episode. So there was absolutely nothing Persian inspired in this farce.

[@Miaowry_]

Im flabbergasted there is no rice , and carrot really? No lamb is dont see tomato much this is legit not persian

[@samirarouholfada8552]

this wasn’t even Persian food. It’s a disgrace seeing my culture be treated like this

[@taniabani7791]

Those foods were not persian !!!!!

[@geddoe316]

You armchair chefs really need to shut up. If the talent at that table is satisfied, then you're wrong

[@benyaminorg9248]

This kind of cookiing of iranian food is really bad it is not even close to Iranian food