Chef-Owner, ZoZoBaking; Los Angeles, CA

Fariba Nafissi is the founder of ZoZoBaking, a California-based studio and online shop dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich culinary heritage of Iran through handcrafted sweets, educational workshops, and community events. She is an Iranian pastry chef and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience specializing in traditional Persian baking. Born and raised in Kerman, Iran, Fariba’s culinary journey began at home and blossomed into a full-time career after she left a successful corporate job in 2016 to pursue her lifelong passion for baking. She trained at the San Francisco Baking Institute and continued her education at Lenôtre in Paris. She later returned to Iran to immerse herself in the study of regional and historical Iranian pastries, learning directly from family traditions and community bakers. Her signature cookie is Kolompeh, a delicately spiced date-filled pastry from her hometown of Kerman, which was recognized by Los Angeles Times food critic Bill Addison as one of the Top 10 Iranian Foods in Los Angeles. Fariba brings a unique perspective on Iranian pastry—one deeply rooted in tradition, cultural heritage, and craftsmanship. She is passionate about teaching, preserving Iranian baking traditions, and inspiring the next generation of chefs to explore and elevate regional cuisines through meaningful, hands-on practice. @zozobaking