There is a certain kind of Italian cooking that never goes out of style. Not because it’s elaborate or trend-led, but because it understands that the very best ingredients rarely need overcomplicating. That quiet confidence sits at the heart of At Home With Nima, the debut cookbook from acclaimed Soho restaurateur Nima Safaei, which officially launched on 9 July.
To celebrate the book’s release, an intimate dinner was hosted at Safaei’s beloved Soho restaurant, 40 Dean Street, with a menu inspired by the recipes found within its pages. Throughout the evening, each course offered an insight into the philosophy that has long defined Safaei’s cooking: seasonal ingredients, generous hospitality and beautifully understated Italian food that proves simplicity, when executed well, can be the ultimate luxury.
An Evening Inspired By The Seasons
The evening began with a watermelon salad that perfectly captured the mood of one of London’s hottest weeks of the year. Crisp, cooling and wonderfully uncomplicated, it was a reminder that seasonality often delivers the most satisfying dishes of all.
A delicate crab pasta followed, allowing the sweetness of the shellfish to take centre stage, before a beautifully cooked rack of lamb arrived as the evening’s main course. Elegant without ever feeling fussy, each dish reflected the same restrained confidence that has become synonymous with Safaei’s cooking.
Dessert brought the evening to a close with a classic tiramisu served alongside pistachio ice cream, offering a rich yet balanced finale that lingered long after the final spoonful.
The Details That Elevate The Experience
Exceptional food is rarely memorable on its own. It is the details that transform a meal into an experience, and this was where the evening quietly excelled.
Every course was thoughtfully paired with wine, beginning with a beautifully crisp, dry Gavi that complemented the lighter dishes before moving onto a dry dessert wine that balanced the sweetness of the tiramisu with remarkable elegance. Rather than competing with the food, each pairing enhanced it, allowing every flavour to unfold naturally.
The service was equally deserving of recognition. Warm, intuitive and impeccably timed, the team delivered every course with genuine care, creating an atmosphere that felt relaxed yet polished throughout the evening. It reflected exactly the kind of hospitality that has made Safaei’s restaurants some of Soho’s most enduring favourites.
More Than A Cookbook
While the dinner served as an elegant introduction, At Home With Nima reveals something far more personal.
Rather than presenting a collection of restaurant recipes, the book unfolds across the seasons, following the meals Safaei cooks for family and friends throughout the year. Easter gatherings, countryside weekends, summer picnics and cosy winter suppers become the backdrop for recipes that celebrate simplicity without ever sacrificing flavour.
Expect dishes including Pappardelle with Blue Cheese, Pear and Walnut Pangrattato, Ham and Artichoke Lasagne, Beetroot, Bean and Hazelnut Salad, Roasted Game with Squash Salad, Orzo and Sage, alongside the Pistachio Tiramisu that proved to be one of the standout moments of the evening.
The Story Behind The Food
Safaei’s relationship with Italian cooking began long before opening the doors to 40 Dean Street.
After moving to London as a child, a first taste of ossobuco sparked an enduring fascination with Italy’s culinary traditions. Time spent in Florence, learning from local cooks and discovering regional dishes, deepened that passion, eventually shaping the ingredient-led philosophy that now runs through each of his Soho restaurants.
Those experiences are woven naturally throughout At Home With Nima. Personal stories sit comfortably alongside recipes, creating a cookbook that feels as much about memory, family and tradition as it does about food itself.
A Cookbook You’ll Return To
In an era of celebrity cookbooks and fleeting food trends, At Home With Nima offers something altogether more timeless. It doesn’t seek to reinvent Italian cuisine or overwhelm readers with technical precision. Instead, it celebrates the quiet pleasure of cooking well, eating seasonally and gathering people around the table.
Whether you’re already familiar with Safaei’s Soho restaurants or have yet to experience them, At Home With Nima is a cookbook that deserves a permanent place on the kitchen shelf. Better still, pair it with a visit to 40 Dean Street, where the warmth, generosity and ingredient-led cooking that define its pages can be experienced firsthand.
Book Here.
At Home With Nima by Nima Safaei is available now for £25 on Amazon, with both the hardcover edition and Kindle eBook available to purchase.
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