04/03/2022
I’m definitely feeling the nostalgia for the days of big family gatherings and my late Tata’s cooking after working on this wonderful Azoumeh feature for with Chefs Reem Assil and Mohammad Abutaha for Arab American Heritage Month. For those that don’t know Chef Mohammad describes it well, “Azoumeh is more than just a dinner party. It’s more like inviting your community and your friends and family and loved ones over to share a meal. And it’s always big. Never fewer than eight, nine people.”
And as a Palestinian food photographer I am very honored to be part of a project like this. I photograph quite a variety of ethnic cuisines on a regular basis, but don’t get many opportunities to photograph food from my own heritage. Here’s to more of continuing to connect with Arabic Palestinian food thru the lens inshallah. Also be sure to check out Chef Reem’s new book, “Arabiyya”, due out April 19th. I’m proud to say I knew Reem in her activist days before she started her restaurant. She is a shining example of how we can strive to live a cultured and abundant life while ALSO being political. And Ramadan Mubarak to all those who observe. Link to the article: https://www.thekitchn.com/dont-call-it-a-dinner-party-chef-reem-assil-and-chef-mohammad-abutaha-talk-azoumeh-arab-hospitality-and-cooking-in-diaspora-23322320