Cooking Up a Dialogue
by HAMED ALEAZIZ
07 Jul 2010 02:545 Comments
Sandwich stand serves a meaty mission.

There's only one thing on the menu at Kubideh Kitchen: a sandwich with kubideh -- a traditional style of ground meat -- mint, onion, and basil served on Iran's staple bread, barbari. The tasty sandwich's wrapper contains more than a good lunch: it is covered with the words of Pittsburgh-based Iranian Americans and Iranians in the home country, whose answers to questions about Iranian poetry, religion, youth, and women provide insight into their views.
One of the project's creators, Carnegie Mellon professor and artist Jon Rubin, explains the reasoning behind it: "In a small way, the Conflict Kitchen project is trying to initiate or start people toward a degree of understanding for a culture that is more nuanced...looking at the nature of the conflicts we're involved in and the people that are affected by them."

To further the cultural exchange, in June Kubideh Kitchen used Skype to host a live discussion between a group in Tehran and 40 Pittsburgh residents at the restaurant. The two groups feasted on the same dishes, including Iran's famous spice-laden stew, ghormeh sabzi, as they discussed issues ranging from dating to everyday life over the course of two hours.
Sohrab M. Kashani, a young Tehran-based artist and the curator of Sazmanab Project Gallery, orchestrated the Tehran side of the event, bringing Iranians to his gallery for the transcontinental conversation. "The intention was to open up a dialogue between the two sides of the table and it did happen very organically in my opinion," he said. "Everyone here was surprised to see tables from the two countries joining one another. I could see people staring at the projected image on the wall and wondering if that was in fact live footage of a table setting in Pittsburgh!"
Kashani and Rubin have been working together on a 2.0 version of Rubin's project dubbed "Never Been to Tehran" in which people from all over the world were encouraged to send pictures of what they imagined Tehran to look like. Last year, they organized "Tehran/Pittsburgh in Random" a video essay curated from YouTube videos that were uploaded by Pittsburgh and Tehran residents on topics such as dancing, nose jobs, and cooking.
On July 10, Rubin and Kashani will again stimulate interaction between Americans and Iranians through a second Skype-powered discussion at Kubideh Kitchen. Before the group exchange discussion, they will be airing a new Tehran/Pittsburgh video essay.
Kashani believes in the power of collaborative art and discussion to create change. "I don't want to sound cliché, but I would very much like it to help people engage in open dialogue with each other," he said.
Copyright © 2010 Tehran Bureau
5 Comments
They have Barberi bread? Those lucky's.
I have to drive an hour each direction, in the SF Bay area, to get Barberi bread.
Pirouz / July 7, 2010 3:58 AMthis is such a great idea,only thru other avenues,of common denominators,we can close this gap,and misunderstandings,that has been created,by the media.food is the best vehichle,we all love to eat,and that is the best way.
fay moghtader / July 7, 2010 9:09 AMthere are so much questions about iranian people and what they are like,iran is not AHMADINEJAD.
Pirouz,
Ok, now you've made me want to try some Barberi bread. Maybe someone can give a receipe and instructions. I'm still looking for a receipe for tortilla's like they have in the latino community around San Antonio. I just can't seem to get it right!
muhammad billy bob / July 7, 2010 8:00 PM@pirouz : At least u guys have some persian food in Bay area, there is nothing in Louisian that resembles Iranian food!
MirAmin / July 8, 2010 3:55 AMWe are indeed fortunate in the SF Bay Area to have fine Persian food restaurants.
My favorite place is Paradise Restaurant in Redwood City, California. It's a mom and pop restaurant, with great food. The owners are so charming and down to earth, going there to eat is like visiting family. A wonderful experience, I assure you.
But the closest place for Barberi bread (last time I checked) is all the way out in Fremont, Califonia, at an Afghani food stand!
Pirouz / July 8, 2010 8:40 AM