Cross Culture Without Walls

Together, they’ll explore signature traditions from their respective cultures, then collaborate on a thoughtfully crafted dish that brings together the techniques, flavors, and histories that define their cuisines.
As they cook, they will share the cultural context behind each dish and invite participants into the conversation, welcoming questions, reflections, and personal food memories. Designed to be intergenerational and inclusive, the event encourages guests of all ages and backgrounds to take part in a shared exchange of ideas and experiences.
This event is made possible by the City of Bellevue's Cross-Cultural Center. It is hosted at PCC Community Markets in Bellevue and presented by the nonprofit Peyvand, which has produced cultural programs across King County since 2011. This gathering offers an opportunity to experience how culinary traditions can influence one another and foster meaningful dialogue within a diverse community.

This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited, and a free ticket must be reserved in advance to attend.

Shri Repp is a Seattle-based culinary instructor, recipe developer, and founder of the IACP-nominated food blog Moon Rice. She bridges the gap between generations — carrying forward her South Indian roots while inspiring a new generation to cook with intention and understanding. In her classes, Shri unpacks the “why” behind Indian cooking, blending cultural heritage with a scientific and approachable style. She also shares the history of Indian food and highlights how it continues to evolve through the diaspora — shaped by migration, adaptation, and the influence of other cultures. Her work has been featured in Serious Eats, Bon Appétit, and Food52, and she continues to champion the next wave of home cooks to see Indian food as both accessible and deeply meaningful.
Omid Roustaei is an Iranian-American cookbook author and culinary instructor who has been deeply involved in the culinary world for more than 25 years. Born and raised in Tehran, he attended the School of Natural Cookery in Boulder, Colorado, where he studied the art of intuitive and improvisational 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. His writing can be found at thecaspianchef.com, and he is a regular contributor to The Kitchn, Simply Recipes and The Spruce Eats.

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Host or Publisher Peyvand NPO