Our Story
Introduction
Now many people here in Toronto may not be too familiar with Persian food, but you should try it out, you won’t regret it.
Conveniently located steps away from Chester station, Herby is a Persian cuisine where you get the chance to try authentic home-made Persian food, made by a friendly Iranian chef.
To your right as you come in, a large painting that takes you back centuries in time, and tells the legend of Simorgh in the language of Attar Neyshabouri. It’s a Persian story, but like every good story it’s one that everyone can understand – it tells the noble tale of life well lived.
Herby’s ambiance is simple and restful, and rich in cultural heritage, with a décor of Persian pottery and photos and music that softly fills the air. Ours is a place for romantic dinners, birthdays and family occasions. We also offer catering.
Food is deemed to be hot or cold in its effect on the metabolism, and Persian gastronomy looks for a balance between the two, in a way of thinking that’s comparable with the Chinese concept of yin and yang. Herby’s fare is based on the best fresh, organic, and preservative-free ingredients available, often imported directly from Tabriz.
What Does “Herby” Mean?
Herby is named after a small village of Herby (also known as Heravi) in Iran. It’s famous for the roses that figure prominently in local cooking.
Roses go into jams, syrups, sweets and desserts. The rose petals are used to season both hot and cold drinks— you may well find a rosebud in your tea! The delicacy of the scent and flavour is a thing of beauty.
Persian cuisine is both sophisticated and simple, a colourful and nutritious mixture of meat, rice, vegetables and beans, classically spiced with pomegranate saffron, turmeric, rose water, cardamom, pistachio, walnuts, mint and orange.
The Chef’s Story
Born into a culture of dedicated chefs, Chef Javad took on cooking from the age of 9, beginning with simple meals taught by his grandparents.
Chef Javad is passionate about what he does, creating joy and laughter with friendly conversation with his customers, and making sure that they go home having been fully immersed in the beautiful Persian culture that he’s so proud of.
“I want to make homemade, non commercial food because of what I believe in cooking. Well prepared food is a culture. It’s health, it’s love. For me, Herby is a symbol of all the good things that happen when people come together.”
What This Restaurant Means to Chef Javad?
When Chef Javad cooks, it’s more than just cooking.
– “Herby is literally and visually a taste of my homeland. I come from Tabriz, the capital city of East Azerbaijan Province in northwestern Iran — 9400 km as the crow flies, a region famous for its cooking and its carpets. It was a happy place for me in so many ways, and my aim is to recreate that feeling in my restaurant.”
“When I cook, I remember my mother and grandmother, who made the kitchen alive for me. I cook beautiful things I learned as a child, and as I cook, I thank them with all of my heart. In every way, food is a path to life.”