I am Fiona Afshar, also known as @cookingwithfiona on instagram. I love to cook, make pasta, and share my creations with the world! 

Fiona wears the Stephanie Bow Dress in peonia

I didn’t begin my cooking journey with making pasta. Actually, about five years ago, my daughter and I created an instagram account together in order to keep track of all of my recipes. This account was meant to be an archive of all the delicious meals I knew my children loved, for them to cook in houses of their own. Eventually, my posts began to gain traction when a video of mine was posted on buzz feed tasty- and that video happened to be of me making pasta. Since I got so much positive feedback, I decided to continue making my colorful pasta- and have absolutely fallen in love with the art form along the way. For me, it is more of a meditative, relaxing process that allows me to express myself creatively. All the practice I get, and all the support from my wonderful followers around the world, have allowed me to get pretty far. I’m not too focused on perfect, though, I am just happy to be inspiring people. 

Yes, I get inspired by fashion prints and textiles all the time. I love bright and lively colors, as well as fun patterns-  these help me to think up magical ways to transform my pasta sheets into artwork. I also adore the natural world, especially my garden. All of the buzzing insects and the vibrant plants help me to create. 

Follow along on Instagram to see how Fiona makes her pasta sheets @cookingwithfiona

I have always been a very creative person, and I have experiences as a florist and making jewelry. In the kitchen, I began with baking when I was young. Then, when I started a family, I became interested in creating delicious meals and healthy foods for my husband and my children. My earliest memory of getting creative in the kitchen was in my teenage years, when I loved baking- cakes, cookies, and sweets. Having three brothers that would eat everything I made encouraged me to make more. 

Cooking is a centerpiece of our Sunday rituals. Everybody participates by cooking- that is how we share our love, through food. Food inspires our conversations, our community, and is the lifeblood of my culture. 

I love the red rose print. The bright colors and gorgeous intricacy of the design really speaks to me. 

Fiona would use Mestiza's Red Rose Garden Print in her next pasta sheet. Shop the print on the Isla Sarong

Mestiza is a very special brand because of the beautiful patterns on many of their pieces.