John Nazari’s story is quite remarkable, especially when you realize that he’s on his way to building a business empire. Born and raised in Iran in 1970, John attended an international school until the 1978 revolution. The revolution led the country to turmoil, requiring him to finish schooling and move elsewhere.
Adjusting to life in a foreign country isn’t easy. Not only do you have to assimilate yourself in a new place, but you must also adapt to that nation’s language, culture, and traditions. So naturally, this took time. However, John Nazari persisted and eventually prospered. Things changed for John for the best, allowing him to land a job as an industrial engineer at a reputable company. His work would speak for itself, allowing him to soar up the corporate ladder and move into a management role. It would also mark the turning point in his culinary journey because he lived alone while working, meaning he had two options. He could eat out daily and accrue considerable expenses or start cooking himself.
Regularly eating out didn’t seem feasible or healthy. As a result, John opted for the latter. He was always passionate about cooking, but he now had the opportunity to develop his cooking skills. Those familiar with Middle Eastern culture know that the kitchen is important in any Middle Eastern household. Such was the case for John’s family. The kitchen was the main hub in his family’s home growing up, and everyone would convene there to spend time together. John recalls doing his homework on the kitchen table when he was a kid, leading to natural exposure to food and his mother’s cooking.
This exposure to food and cooking piqued John’s curiosity and interest. He would ask his mother for prep chores, and she would give him herbs to clean or vegetables to chop. Then, one day, she gave him a small knife and showed him how to clean and cut meat and poultry. The experience fascinated him and lit in him the fire for culinary arts. As he grew older and started living on his own, his interest became a passion. Thus, began his culinary journey.
Though he has attended several cooking courses at George Brown College to hone his craft, he is, for the most part, a self-taught cook. He enjoys sifting through cookbooks and watching cooking shows to get ideas and learn. In addition, John has also been fortunate enough to have professional chefs and television celebrity judges in his social circle. He often approaches them for advice and expert comments and uses their experience for learning.
This is not all! He also enjoys cooking because he feels it goes well with his background. Hospitality matters to Middle Easterners, and they pride themselves on serving as great hosts to family members and friends. Moreover, he is a host by nature. He enjoys having people over and believes cooking and sharing a meal is one of the quickest and greatest ways to bond with people. As a result, he enjoys planning and creating a multi-course meal for his guests.
John Nazari’s love for the culinary arts can be attributed to his latest business venture, Nazari’s Touch. The brand started during the height of the pandemic when he started using Instagram more and realized that people were selling brands and products online from the comfort of their homes. This discovery prompted him to brainstorm ideas that could allow him to enter the food industry without needing a commercial kitchen.
Eventually, he stumbled onto the perfect idea. He was hosting a party at his house and decided to serve his signature Za’atar blend with strained yogurt. No one knew what it was, but the dish was devoured quickly anyway. In addition, his guests left raving feedback about his concoction. It marked the birth of Nazari’s Touch. The spice blend business currently has three blends, with three more coming soon.
