Ash Famili is the face behind Yalda, a blossoming Middle Eastern restaurant in Sandy Springs!
Yalda owner/chef Ash Famili, 31, spent the first half of his life in Iran where food is central to his family history. While watching his mother cook for family parties, he recalls hearing stories about his grandfather being the best butcher in the country.
“That time together in the kitchen influenced everything. I wanted to accentuate my family and culture, and the best way to do it was with food,”
Says Famili, who moved to Atlanta at age 15.
What do you do for fun?
I like to stay in good shape— stretch, exercise, hit the [punching] bag. I like to go to the soccer field and play with my dog there. My brain works better like that. I go out for drinks with my guy friends and check out different spots in town. We like to listen to deep house music—weird European stuff—and hang out on rooftops.