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As the last light of the spring equinox settled over Los Angeles last week, Cult Gaia founder Jasmin Larian opened the doors of her historic Beverly Hills home\u2014a property that once belonged to Elvis Presley\u2014to mark Nowruz, the Persian New Year.<\/p>\n
The holiday is equal parts ancient ritual and an excuse to celebrate\u2014a moment to reset, gather your favorite people, and eat very well. For Larian, it has become one of the most anticipated nights on her social calendar. \u201cThis is our third or fourth year hosting,\u201d she told Vogue<\/em>, moving between friends, family, and new faces. \u201cI’m so excited to share my culture with everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Guests including Shanina Shaik, Sara Sampaio, Sarah Shahi, Aurora James, Mimi Cutrell, Ryan Destiny, Chelsea Neman Nassib, and Noor Pahlavi\u2014eldest daughter of exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi and granddaughter of the last Shah of Iran\u2014arrived dressed in Cult Gaia’s Spring ready-to-wear pieces. They were welcomed by the sounds of a sitar player performing Persian classical music, the notes drifting across the koi pond that wraps around a Japanese-style teahouse at the heart of the property.<\/p>\n This year brought a few new touches to Larian\u2019s tradition: an all-yellow floral scheme, goldfish drifting beneath glass-topped tables, and a soundtrack by Shirzan (Lioness) from Cult Gaia’s debut NYFW show last month that set the mood for the impending feast.<\/p>\n The menu opened with caviar, served in custom tins stamped with the words Gaia Caviar, alongside sumac-dusted potato chips and saffron cr\u00e8me fra\u00eeche, followed by a Shirazi take on a panzanella\u2014with pomegranate seeds, walnuts, and shards of crispy Barbari bread standing in for the Italian original. The main spread was pure Persian abundance: a traditional sabzi platter, two variations of tahdig, and plates of lamb, chicken, and beef. \u201cI switched it up a little bit,\u201d Larian explained, taking in the tablescape. \u201cI still have a special caviar, but with new artwork and the goldfish swimming inside the glass tables\u2014but I\u2019ve done less. I’ve toned it down a bit.\u201d (The vibrant room told a different story entirely.)<\/p>\n As the sun set, shots began to circulate. And the soundtrack shifted decisively: Erfan Tahmasbi\u2019s Gelooband gave way to Sandy\u2019s Dokhtare Ahvazi. Chairs were pushed back, hair was let down, and the dinner turned into a dance party as soon as the jewel-like, arak-soaked barberry tarts appeared. \u201cWe are just feeling more hopeful and joyful,\u201d Larian said over all the noise and the laughter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n