@ottolenghi

My good friend Samin Nosrat came into the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen to show us how to make her ultimate salad dressing, which doubles up as a chicken marinade. The recipe is from her latest cookbook, Good Things, which is available in bookshops and online now.

♬ original sound - omii5t

🌙 Jazz, Cafés, and the Ritual of Connection

Just as the Farsi Jazz song “Café Astoria” evokes the warmth of nostalgia and the intimate atmosphere of gathering in a café, Chef Samin Nosrat’s weekly Monday dinners embody the same spirit of simplicity and connection. Both highlight how routine moments—whether through music or meals—become rituals that nurture community and memory. Nosrat’s focus on big-batch cooking and shared time mirrors the improvisational flow of jazz, where perfection matters less than presence, and the joy lies in rediscovering familiar notes together.

🎶 🌐🍷🥖🌸🍲🕯️☕🌙🤝 🔊 Café Astoria - Farsi Jazz

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For the past five years, chef and author Samin Nosrat has done something that many people find nearly impossible: she’s kept up a weekly dinner with friends.

Every Monday night, about ten guests gather at a friend’s house for a meal that has become, in Nosrat’s words, “a grounding, meaningful practice in all of our lives.” One friend even described it as her version of church.

🍴 Good Things by Samin Nosra

Nosrat, best known as the New York Times–bestselling author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, shares the magic behind these gatherings in her latest book, Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love. Published in September, the cookbook offers 125 of her favorite dishes designed for sharing, including creamy spinach lasagna, slow-cooked salmon, and Pane Criminale—a garlic butter–infused loaf of bread her friends dubbed “criminally good.”

✨ Ritual Over Perfection

The secret to sustaining these dinners, Nosrat explains, is ritual. By keeping the same day, time, and location, the group eliminates the stress of coordination. Familiarity with the kitchen and pantry makes cooking together seamless, and the focus shifts from elaborate menus to the joy of shared effort.

🍲 Keep It Casual

Nosrat emphasizes simplicity. Big-batch dishes that can be prepared in advance—braises, stews, or salads served at room temperature—are ideal. “This is not the time to make a soufflé,” she laughs. At one recent dinner, the menu was nothing more than a noodle salad and watermelon.

👧 Involve Everyone, Including Kids

Children are welcome in the kitchen, where they can fold dumplings, whisk dressings, or sprinkle cheese. Nosrat believes that when kids help cook, they become more curious about food. The key is to keep tasks manageable so the process remains fun rather than overwhelming.

🤝 Contribution Matters, But Presence Matters More

Guests are encouraged to bring what they can, but showing up is the most important part. If time or budget is tight, a simple gesture—like picking up ice cream or grabbing a last-minute item from the store—works just fine. Nosrat also stresses open communication to avoid resentment if someone consistently arrives empty-handed.

🌸 Elevate the Ordinary

Though casual, these dinners are meant to feel special. Cloth napkins, flowers picked from the yard, or a shared bottle of wine can transform the evening. Nosrat encourages everyone to pause and admire the food on the table, recognizing the sacredness of having created it together.

🥖 Pane Criminale: A Signature Dish

One of Nosrat’s favorite contributions is Pane Criminale. By slicing the bread vertically, every piece is infused with garlic butter, making it irresistible. Placed at the center of the table, it becomes a communal experience as guests pull it apart, savoring what her friends call “criminally good” bread.

In essence, Nosrat’s weekly dinners are less about culinary perfection and more about cultivating connection. By ritualizing the practice, keeping meals simple, and elevating the moment with small touches, she has created a tradition that nourishes both body and soul.

📖 Learn more in her new cookbook: Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love

#ComfortMeals 🍲 #WeeklySanctuary 🥖 #SharedWine 🍷 #JazzCafe 🎶 #SacredGathering 🌙