Like the intricate pattern of intersecting lines of an ornamental Arabesque pattern, so are the roots of the Arab cuisine intertwined. Reem Kassis has researched Arabic food for many years and wrote her first book, The Palestinian Table, about the classic dishes. As her research continued she studied how the cuisine has evolved over the course of history wit ... Show More
Apr 27
A Taste of Spain via Hemingway
Linda interviews author Howie Southworth about his new book, Hemingway’s Spanish Table. Part travelogue, part cookbook, this compelling culinary journey traces Hemingway’s travels through the provinces of Spain he visited and the foods he ate. Howie Southworth presents the allure ... Show More
41m 25s
Jan 2026
The History of Mac ’n Cheese, from Ancient Rome to Modern America
Today, macaroni and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, a staple of weeknight dinners, family gatherings, and Soul Food restaurants. Humble though the dish may seem, culinary historian Karima Moyer-Nocchi traces its history to Ancient Romans, Renaissance cardinals and popes and ... Show More
53m 7s
Dec 2025
Politics in the Grocery Aisle with Marion Nestle
Marion Nestle, America’s preeminent nutrition and food activist joins Linda to discuss her new book, What to Eat Now, a rewrite of her 2006 groundbreaking book, What to Eat. In those twenty years food in America has undergone a radical change. Ultra-processed foods dominate the s ... Show More
38m 33s
May 2022
A Movable (Arabesque) Feast | Reem Kassis
<p>Reem Kassis talked about her work on the intersection of food, culture, and politics, notably in Palestine.</p><p><strong>Reem Kassis'</strong> debut cookbook, The Palestinian Table (2017), won The Guild of Food Writers Award and Gourmand World Cookbook award, was nominated fo ... Show More
57m 6s
Jul 2024
Arab Hospitality and Culinary Activism with Reem Assil
Today, we have the pleasure of introducing Reem Assil, a dynamic force that sits at the intersection of her three passions: food, community, and social justice. Based in Oakland, Reem's journey is a compelling narrative of resilience, identity, and the transformative power throug ... Show More
57m 54s
Apr 2023
The Palestinian Home Cooking Community | Haya Bishouty
Haya Bishouty talks about her techniques in recreating traditional Palestinian food through Haya's Kitchen. She speaks about her favorite dishes and desserts such as Christmas Kaak, Rummaniyeh, Shush Barak Bel Laban and more.Haya Bishouty is the founder of Haya's Kitchen, a suppe ... Show More
57m 15s
Mar 2024
What the Mesopotamian Kitchen Passed On to Modern-Day Iraqi Food Traditions | Nawal Nasrallah
To kick off the new season of Matbakh, we sat down with iconic and award-winning food historian, researcher and educator Nawal Nasrallah. We travel back in time to Medieval Iraq and talk about inherited food traditions, social histories, and 10th century understandings of cuisine ... Show More
1h 3m
Apr 2025
Palestinian Ingredients Through Time & Space | Fadi Kattan
This special episode of Matbakh is the first in a series of talks and special menu events called "dawaween al diwan" at restaurant, louf, in Toronto. Franco-Palestinian chef, Fadi Kattan, and Salma Serry, a doctoral researcher specializing in food history in West Asia and Egypt, ... Show More
57m 41s
Sep 2023
S4E10 Delicious Delicacies, with Nawal Nasrallah
Join Nawal Nasrallah for a delectable dive into the world of Medieval North African cooking. Learn the connection between ostrich eggs and eggplants, how we have been stuffing birds wrong this whole time, and the brilliant historical stories behind these recipes. Listen as Nawal ... Show More
40m 29s
Aug 2022
Celeriac Shawarma & Other Lebanese Roots at Noma, Copenhagen | Tarek Alameddine
In this Matbakh event, we talked to Tarek Alameddine about his experiences in the culinary field between Copenhagen, Egypt, and Lebanon. Tarek believes that Levantine flavors and seasonal produce should be celebrated in the fine dining scene. In the process of creating dishes and ... Show More
27m 58s
Dec 2018
Table Tales with Hanan Sayed Worrell (12.12.18)
Hanan Sayed Worrell, author of Table Tales: The Global Nomad Cuisine of Abu Dhabi, takes Sally through the amazing personalities and recipes that paint a picture of the history of the UAE’s capital over the last half-century, as she brings her book to Sharjah’s Al Rawi.
Listen to ... Show More
40m 37s