'In this book, I bring to life the stories behind the recipes, exploring
the culture behind the ingredients and the poetry of their stories
through a playful translation of language. It is a fusion of words and
food; a cultural education.
'Each recipe in this collection is inextricably linked to a memory or
story from my colourful past; from watching a Lebanese neighbour cooking
tomato paste on woodfire to exchanging recipes with my friends at
college. My food expands the repertoire of Lebanese cooking by importing
from the multicultural melting pot of contemporary London.
'This is a celebration of seasonal fresh produce, family connections and
friendships, and takes you back to basics. Something as simple as "Baked
Potato with Kibbeh Spice" is a celebration of ingredients, flavour, and
rural village life. This is food to nourish, to share, to enjoy, and to
show the healing power that good food has on our lives.'
Mervat Chahine