Unexpected acquaintance with Persian culture in the center of Vilnius
That day we came here by complete accident. Lights on the window which reminded us of Christmas spirit and the title Vegetarian food restaurant “Petražolės” (parsley) tempted us to come in.
As soon as you come here, you will realize that something is different. The interior doesn’t look special, but the atmosphere is somehow different. On the walls, you can see images of Iran. There are some flowers around, and everything else is simple, just like at home.
We really enjoyed the food here, especially it’s freshness, but this time I do not want to tell you about that. I Just want to share a short but very sincere impression. It turned out that we were in the home of Persian cuisine and culture. The family from Iran came here, to Lithuania, with large aspirations.
“The most important thing for me is the forming of friendships between people who like meat and people who live vegetarian lifestyles... It's like a dream come true. Secondly, I want to introduce Persian culture“, - smiles the restaurant owner and chef, Parya.
Why Lithuania. Parya states, “In my opinion, when something happens, some reasons go hand in hand. One being that Lithuania is a small and relatively new country, so me being a person with ideas, I feel I can be more successful in a country such as this. When I researched Lithuanian culture I found out that we have many similarities. For example, we have some similar words (especially numbers). One I find interesting is the Lithuanian word “vardas” (name) means “I am“ in Persian. Also, we have the same superstitions about black cats crossing the road, knocking on wood, and we also do not put a handbag on the floor, etc. What is more, we Persians also have dishes like “šaltibarščiai”, “kotletai”, “plovas”, and “cepelinai”. It’s amazing! We are so far apart from each other, but at the same time so close.“
The secret of “Petražolės” (parsley). “This word sounds like Persia+Lithuania. Plus, it’s a plant - it’s vegetarian, as is our restaurant. We wanted a Lithuanian name, because we respect this country in which we have the honor to live.
90% of our foods are made from authentic and traditional Persian recipes. Falafel is a Persian recipe with chickpeas and saffron. Veg. sausage stew is known in Iran as BANDARI and made in the south. In northern Iran, Eggplant stew is known as MIRZA GHASEMI. Our spaghetti is made with eggplant sauce and this sauce is made with an authentic Persian touch. Our rice is cooked with saffron, which is also popular in Iran. The eggplant soup is a traditional food in Iran, which is eaten on YALDA, celebrated by the Persians.
Yalda night is an Iranian festival celebrated on the "longest and darkest night of the year". It is a winter solstice celebration, that is, in the night of the Northern Hemisphere's winter solstice. Calendrically, this corresponds to the night of December 20/21 (±1) in the Gregorian calendar, and to the night between the last day of the ninth month (Azar) and the first day of the tenth month (Dey) of the Iranian civil calendar.
The longest and darkest night of the year is a time when friends and family gather together to eat, drink and read poetry (especially Hafez) until well after midnight. Fruits and nuts are eaten and pomegranates and watermelons are particularly significant. The red color in these fruits symbolizes the crimson hues of dawn and glow of life. The poems of D. Hafez, which can be found in the bookcases of most Iranian families, are read or recited on various occasions such as this festival and Nowruz.
We also make a homemade lavash, traditional spinach sauce, along with many other dishes.“
Do Lithuanians like it?! “Yes! We are working to make a comfortable atmosphere for customers to come which will feel like home, but with a touch of Persian culture added to the interior design. I’m so happy that people come and bring their friends, and it's very exciting that Lithuanian people love Persian traditional music.
And what is more, we adore Lithuanian people - they are very friendly, always helpful. Unfortunately, sometimes they think too negative of themselves, which is a big mistake!“