A Book of Verses underneath the Bough,
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread–and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness–
Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow!
All that love stuff at Valentines: well, the Persians are partly to blame you know. Tomes and tomes of early Medieval Iranian poetry – Omar Khayam and Hafez and co – gave birth to the Western concept of courtly love and romance. So it’s only right that we mark 14th February. But in our own style, natch.
We’re giving you no less than two special events for Valentine’s Day this year.
Firstly at the Cinnamon Tree Bakery we will be offering an Anti-Valentines repast. No roses, no schmaltz, no lovey-dovey music, and bookings for 3 or more are positively encouraged. The menu for this option is below: as usual it will cost £35.00 a head and the price includes a complimentary Persepolitan cocktail on arrival. A £10 a head deposit will secure your reservation: call 020 7639 8007 to book now – or call in.
And then in the shop we will be featuring a slightly more loved up menu. There will be roses. And drippingly romantic Persian crooners on our sound system. And candles.
We will be offering a £20.00 a head vegetarian meze special menu featuring a range of platters, hot and cold (you’ll have to trust us as the menu won’t be determined until the day). The meal will finish with rose sorbet and Mrs.S’ secret-recipe amorous tea.
Cinnamon Tree Bakery Menu
Baskets of herbs and bread with marinated feta, olives and pickles
Baby meatballs (or pumpkin kibbeh for the vegetarian contingency) filled with nuts and barberries, served with moutabal and Peckham salad leaves
Moroccan style yoghurt with orange flower water and chilli
Dill and onion tabouleh
All served with warm Cinnamon Tree Flatbreads
Squid cooked with pepper, tomato and sour grapes
Persepolis fried fish with Kashmiri spiced chips and Persian pickle tartare sauce
Vegetarians will be offered an assortment of falafel with the same sauce
Khoresht-e-bamyeh – a piquant okra hotpot served with barley pilau
Persian lime-marinated chicken served with havij pulao – saffron rice with carrot and sour orange peel. Veggies get to enjoy the same rice but with a watercress and butter-bean vegetable sauté.
Cinnamon Tree Rose and Lavender Cake with kaymak
Coffee or Mint Tea
Please bring your own booze. Or not. As you wish.