A wholly original blend of Iranian culture and history whose deeply personal stories are elegantly woven into a stunning tapestry of universal resonance. This Is Not a Cookbook is not a cookbook: it’s a work of art that makes something brand new from recipes handed down through generations.

As the title suggests, this book is rooted in food, yet delivers a deep cultural, personal and colourful insight into Roxana’s fascinating life and journey. The recipes are delicious and practical, and I can’t wait to try them.

Within minutes of opening Roxana’s beautiful book I feel the urge to cook my first Shami. Roxana has a magical way of making her memory of her childhood home come to life. The only problem I had is the worry I won’t enjoy my Shami as much as I should without my own ‘hoz’ to sit beside! If ever a cookbook weaved its cuisine, ingredients and sense of place together, it’s this one. Just beautiful.

This book is a poetic and generous invitation into the story of a family, told through food. With her words and images, Roxana has extended the table of these intimate spaces to fit us in as guests. She sets a place for us. We join in by tasting these moments in history, savouring these glimpses into Persian culture. This book is a tendril of connection between Iran and Ireland. The ingredients and approaches might be new, but the intent is familiar to us all: food is a language, a way of saying things that can’t be said. It is survival, identity, defiance. It is an act of co-existence.