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For the last two episodes, we are doing a two-part special on one of the most celebrated and highly decorated chefs of our time.
He is known to most as the godfather of modern Middle Eastern cooking, the one and only Greg Malouf!
http://gregmalouf.com
In the second part, we now discuss all the award-winning books that he has co-written with Lucy Malouf, as well his love of the Middle East.
With so many to chose from , I wanted to delve into which ones were the most tricky to write.The ones he found the most challenging, were Saha, Turquoise, Saraban, as travel books, these are an interpretation, specifically of Persian food, the taste was not the issue, it is how to make it look attractive. It was all about keeping the integrity of the dishes, but it was a way to play around with the cuisine but keeping the respect and the culture.
We also talked about how he feels about Lebanese food, all about how the food has hit a brick wall, he wants to push the boundaries, a new world thinking if you like! What Greg is doing, is to elevate the food up a notch, with always keeping the foundations of a place he truly loves.
Dubai came in the way of an opportunity, he came here to be close to Lebanon, and to cook in the Middle East. He opened a beautiful restaurant called Zahira, the food was a representation of the entire Gulf region, focussing on the produce, ensuring the quality is delivered to his guests. He is also a consultant, for many other projects, and is also embarking on another book.
His life has always been about his love of Lebanese food, the fond memories that are discussed, not just came from his Mum, it also came from his dad who used to go to the weekend markets. His childhood to this day still plays a significant role, whether writing books or menus, it something that he talks about with a huge grin on his face.
Greg has made a huge impact on the culinary world, his books have won awards, his restaurants have won major accolades, the mark on Middle Eastern cuisine is one that will influence the world over.
One of the greatest and humble chefs of our time.
For me, it was one of the most memorable and interesting interviews I have had the pleasure of conducting, thank you Chef Malouf for the opportunity and the time.
To see what he is doing, you can follow him on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gregmaloufchef
Thank you to our partners Gulfood and Meelz, make sure to click on their links at the very top of the page.
Until next time, food is memories!
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