Dera and Dastarkhan are two words deeply rooted in Afghan culture.

Dera represents a welcoming home—a place where guests are embraced with warmth, comfort, and generosity.

Dastarkhan is the traditional spread laid out for family and visitors, symbolizing hospitality, abundance, and the joy of sharing food together.

Together, Dera & Dastarkhan reflects the heart of Afghan tradition: opening our home, our kitchen, and our culture to the community with love.

My name is Javi Ahmad, and I am a mother of three from Afghanistan. My husband, our children, and I came to the United States to pursue our dreams and build a better future. Adjusting to a new country has been a journey filled with challenges—new language, new culture, new responsibilities—but also hope and determination.

One thing that has always stayed with me is my love for cooking. Over the years, I have received more than a thousand heartfelt compliments from guests who tasted my food. Every time someone sat at my table, they left with warm words about my cooking—words that encouraged me, uplifted me, and reminded me that my skills could become something bigger. Many of them told me, again and again, that I should open a restaurant someday.

To support my family and to honor the encouragement of everyone who believed in me, I created Dera & Dastarkhan Catering. This business allows me to share the flavors of my homeland while serving the community that has welcomed us. With your support, I hope to grow this dream into a full restaurant—one built on love, tradition, and the belief that food brings people together.

Your support means the world to me. Every order helps my family, strengthens our future, and brings me one step closer to opening the restaurant so many have encouraged me to create.

From my kitchen to your table—thank you for being part of this journey.