The Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies hosts cookbook author Najmieh Batmanglij for a Welcome Gathering of talk and for samples of dishes from New York’s Ravagh Persian Grill on Friday, from 3:30-5 p.m. at Green Hall, Room 2-C-18.

Batmanglij, called the Persian food guru by The Washington Post and a longtime favorite of chefs who appreciate her skills in nuances of food, often teaches at the World of Flavors Conference at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa Valley. She is the author of “Food of Life: Ancient Persian and Modern Iranian Cooking and Ceremonies,” now expanded into a 25th anniversary edition and containing more recipes and stories; “Silk Road Cooking: A Vegetarian Journey;” and “From Persia to Napa: Wine at the Persian Table,” “Happy Nowruz: Cooking With Children to Celebrate the Persian New Year,” and others.

All reunion attendees are welcome but space is limited, organizers warn.