Courtesy Cafe Natasha's
Bernie Lee and Hamishe Bahrami
Hamishe Bahrami of Cafe Natasha's and Bernie Lee of Akar have just announced they’re teaming up to present a lamb ramen pop-up that will mesh Persian and Asian culinary traditions. The one night-only collaboration will take place at Cafe Natasha's (3200 S. Grand) on November 18.
Each chef will bring one of their signature items to the event. Lamb is a mainstay of Persian cuisine, and Bahrami puts it to deft use at in her gormeh sabzie lamb stew, biryani, and lamb chops. For the pop-up, however, she’ll also be putting her lamb broth in the spotlight for the first time. A press release from Bahrami and Lee says friends who've tried the rich, savory broth describe it as a “delicious cure-all base for soups and stock for most any savory dish.”
Malayshian-born Lee, who opened Akar earlier this year, was one of the first chefs to bring ramen to St. Louis at the now-defunct Hiro Asian Kitchen. Lee will be once again be serving ramen at next month's pop-up, with Bahrami’s lamb broth as the base.
It’s a busy time for Cafe Natasha's. Just last week, Bahrami reached a personal milestone, celebrating 35 years of cooking for the people of St. Louis with a dinner at the restaurant, featuring customers' favorite dishes from the past three-plus decades. Bahrami and her late husband, Behshid, opened The Little Kitchen downtown in 1983, before launching Cafe Natasha's in 1993, first in the Delmar Loop before relocating to South Grand. The restaurant was named for the Bahrami’s daughter, who now manages the restaurant alongside her mother.
Alluding to future events and pop-ups, Natasha quips, "We're honoring the restaurant but, just as much, my mom. I hope the celebration can go on for months."
The restaurant will host three seatings for the event, at 6, 7:15, and 8:15 p.m. Tickets are $23 and must be purchased in advance. Click here for details and reservations.
