Omid Roustaei

Omid Roustaei is an Iranian-American cookbook author and culinary instructor who has been deeply involved in the culinary world for more than 20 years. He attended the School of Natural Cookery in Boulder, Colorado, where he studied the art of improvisation and intuitive plant-based cooking. Omid now balances a career as a psychotherapist with his enthusiasm for teaching and writing. He shares Iranian culture and traditions through cooking and storytelling, using the power of food to foster connections and serve as a gentle form of advocacy and activism.

Omid's book, Bitter & Sweet: Global Flavors from an Iranian-American Kitchen, has been reviewed by Library Journal and received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. It has also been featured in The Boston Globe, The Seattle Times, and AP News. Omid has been a guest on KCRW’s Good Food podcast, made multiple appearances on Seattle’s NPR station, and has been featured on several morning television shows in Seattle and Portland. His work can be found on Simply Recipes.

Favorite music while cooking: "When I’m feeling upbeat, I enjoy listening to Seattle’s longest-running electronic dance station. But when I’m working on recipes, need to focus, or use cooking as a way to ground myself, I always turn to classical Spanish guitar, especially the music of Ottmar Liebert."