Meet Niki Gavahi | Owner + Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Niki Gavahi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Niki, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

I had always had a desire to create something that was true to me, my  passion, and my culture. At a very young age, I remember always being in  the kitchen with my mom as she put together the most elaborate dinner tables  with all the traditional Persian dishes and desserts. I would watch her in awe  as has always had a special gift in the kitchen with an innate knack for  reinventing dishes and making them her own. Over the years, our bond grew  stronger as we shared many memories alongside each other cooking and  baking, and I soon realized that her love of baking and cooking had been  passed down to me. In early 2021, I decided that I had to pursue my passion  and share my mom’s delectable Persian recipes with everyone, and that is  how Knead to Savor was created! 

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

Knead to Savor offers fresh made-to-order Persian pastries and bread. We  take traditional Persian recipes and give it our own unique spin. We have  been testing away in the kitchen and are most excited about new additions to  our menu; Pistachio-Saffron Ice Cream (Bastani Sonati), Persian Donuts and  one of our favorites, Piroshki. Our Persian Piroshki is a light and fluffy  dough, deep fried and filled with our luscious custard cream. 

Knead to Savor is a little over a year old, and we are so truly grateful for all  the love, support and encouragement we have received along the way. We are  beyond excited about the path we are on and can wait to see what the future  holds for us! 

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I recently moved to Grant Park and have fallen in love with the area and  people. There are some great places to eat, visit and venture through. I have a  full list of places I have discovered that have quickly become my to-dos! Just  to name a few…

– I love visiting with neighbors, taking our dog for a walk along Grant Park  and through the Zoo area where you can capture the perfect sunset or a quick  glimpse of a giraffe or elephant! 

– The Grant Park Farmers Market: My neighbor and I will walk here on Sundays for our weekly veggies, fruits and bread. (Knead to Savor is a  vendor here first Sundays of the month!) 

– The Beacon: whether I’m grabbing a cup of coffee from Buteco, or a drink  from Eventide Brewing, it’s always a great vibe here! 

– Summerhill: Probably my go to for a bite from How Crispy, Junior’s Pizza  or Woods Chapel BBQ, and then a little dessert from Big Softie or Little  Tart, I mean it’s no secret I love dessert!!! 

– Southern Feedstore in EAV is another area of mine with great food options  inside and next door, not to mention Buteco’s live music calendar and DJ.  Just in case you were wondering, I frequent Woody’s cheesesteaks and  Emerald City Bagels next door! 

– The Glenwood Park area has some hidden gems as well with Emmy  Squared Pizza, Jeni’s Ice Cream and Vesper ATl with their cool décor and  tasty drinks. 

– Of Course no week is complete for me without my routine run to Pollo  Primo for some chicken, beans, and the heavenly frozen margarita!!! 

– So by now you probably think all I do is eat, which you would be correct.  All jokes aside, there are so many great places to visit and every person you  encounter is genuine and kind. There is a great sense of community and  support here that makes you feel so welcomed! 

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

My mom, Dokhi has and always will be the single most important person in  my life. She is my strength, my best friend, my role model, confidante, and  my inspiration. It never ceases to amaze me just how caring and 

compassionate she is. She touches everyone that she crosses paths with, and  never fails to make them feel immensely loved. I have the utmost respect,  love, and admiration for her, and words cannot express the gratitude and  appreciation I feel in my heart. She is the backbone of Knead to Savor and  without her support, encouragement, and out-of-this-world recipes, we  simply would not be. Knead to Savor is dedicated to my mom and as we  continue on our journey, I look forward to creating everlasting memories,  baking our hearts away, and sharing a bit of our Persian culture with  everyone through our sweet and savory treats! 

Website: www.kneadtosavor.com

Instagram: @kneadtosavor

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kneadtosavor

Image Credits
Sara Hannah Photography