When the pandemic restaurant shutdown landed in March, Chef Anoosh Shariat’s personalized pivot was to move forward the date for the launch of his non-profit organization Compassion & Cooking Inc. and begin helping to feed people in need.

Compassion & Cooking is built on the mindset that what you feed your body contributes to the healthy balance of one’s body, mind and spirit., With that mission mind, proceeds from the sale of this cookbook will be donated or utilized to teach people to combine good food with a love for life and overall well-being.

The cookbook, written by Chef Shariat, is called Eat Well, Love Life and was released four months ago.

192 full-color pages that include nearly 100 unique and easy to prepare recipes accompanied by incredible, up-close photographs for small plate Shareables, Vegan and Vegetarian dishes, Fish, Fowl, Meats and Seafood, Soups, Stews, yummy Sweets and, of course, the Chef’s favorite cocktails from Kentucky.

The next step is Dinner with Anoosh & Friends, a virtual dining and cooking series offered via Facebook Live, which debuts on Tuesday, September 1, with “‘A Labor of Love’ (Derby and Labor Day Tips and Recipes)”. The organizers suggest that donations be made to Compassion & Cooking Inc. and/or APRON Inc.

APRON, Inc. was created in 2011 to provide financial relief to food & beverage industry workers in the Louisville, KY metro area. The applicants must work at locally owned establishments who are in need during times of crises. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, APRON, Inc. has aided more local workers than ever before.

According to an information release, “Every other week guests will be invited to join in the fun of cooking, eating and drinking with Chef Anoosh and (his wife) Paula while you watch and learn from your own comfy quarters. There will be a theme, plus three featured recipes from Eat Well, Love Life. You will receive the recipes to cook along with Chef during (the live cast) or any time in the future. Another option is to call Anoosh Bistro and order the series dishes for curbside pickup.”

  • WHO: Chef Anoosh Shariat, his wife Paula Barmore, their friends and you
  • WHAT: A live, interactive dinner party series featuring recipes from Shariat’s cookbook, Eat Well, Love Life
  • WHEN: Tuesday, September 1, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Facebook Live; the first episode is “‘Labor of Love’ Derby and Labor Day Tips and Recipes,” with bi-weekly dates and topics TBA
  • WHERE: Chef Anoosh Shariat’s and Paula Barmore’s home and yuors
  • WHY: To celebrate life, eating well, and benefiting two caring causes, Compassion & Cooking and Apron Inc.

For more information on the dinner party series, or to place your order for featured recipes every two weeks, visit anooshbistro.com.