Is Dubai a food destination? What expectations are true and untrue of its culinary scene? What's it like working in the kitchen of places like Burj Al Arab? Award-winning pastry chef Sahar Parham Al Awadhi gives us the answers on this episode of Matbakh, and shares her take on Dubai's culinary fabric – from Sudanese street vendors to Michelin-starred, fine-d ... Show More
Sep 30
Aleppo is One of the Greatest Culinary Cities of the Arab World | Michelin Star Chef Mohammad Orfali
Chef Mohammad Orfali grew up in Aleppo and now runs Orfali Bros in Dubai, one of the region's most talked-about restaurants. He talks about the street food he grew up on, why he built a Michelin-starred kitchen that plays hip-hop, and how he cooks without alcohol while still maki ... Show More
55m 20s
Jul 2025
Exploring Omani & Zanzibari Food With Chef & Cookbook Author Dina Macki
In this episode of Matbakh, we're joined by Dina Macki, author of cookbook "Bahari: Recipes From an Omani Kitchen and Beyond," who shares insights into the unique flavors and culinary traditions of Omani and Zanzibari cuisines. Dina discusses her cultural heritage and diverse upb ... Show More
49m 23s
Feb 2023
Sourcing and respecting ingredients, with Chef Sahar Al Awadhi
We’re joined on the show this week by the first female Emirati pastry chef in the region, Sahar Al Awadhi. She has worked with the Jumeirah Group in the UAE, and was Pastry Chef at the Burj Al Arab. She explains how chefs can source and use food more sustainably, and why they pla ... Show More
19m 31s
Dec 2021
The Palestinian Chef Behind Ottolenghi | Sami Tamimi
In this Matbakh event, we talked to Sami Tamimi about his career as a Palestinian cook in London. Sami had won several awards such as International Award and the Best Cookbook, James Beard Award, Cookery Book Award, and Dun Gifford Award for ‘Jerusalem.’Created & hosted by Mikey ... Show More
25m 22s
May 2022
A Movable (Arabesque) Feast | Reem Kassis
Reem Kassis talked about her work on the intersection of food, culture, and politics, notably in Palestine.Reem Kassis' debut cookbook, The Palestinian Table (2017), won The Guild of Food Writers Award and Gourmand World Cookbook award, was nominated for a James Beard Award, was ... Show More
57m 6s
Oct 2021
Sumac & Cooking in Bethlahem | Fadi Kattan
In this Matbakh event, we talked to Fadi Kattan about how his cuisine and savoir-faire combine worldly influences, a desire for perfection and a passion for the local terroir. When Fadi started his Fawda Restaurant in 2016, he created a cuisine honoring Palestine’s best produce w ... Show More
28m 42s
May 2023
Food is artistry and therapy, with Zahra Abdalla
Welcome to Season 7 of Savvy Talk, I am excited to bring you leading voices from those shaping Dubai's cultural scene. Today we are joined by Zahra Abdalla, someone I personally have been following and enjoying her approach to cooking. She considers herself a modern-day Bedouin. ... Show More
27m 37s
Sep 2023
A Taste of Saudi Culture, Motherhood, Laughter & Astronauts Drinking Saudi-Coffee in Space | Mayada Badr 95
Mayada Badr is a renowned Saudi chef and entrepreneur who studied at Parsons School of Design and Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. For the last 4 years, she’s been the CEO of the Culinary Arts Commission under the Ministry of Culture in Saudi Arabia. Prior to joining the Commission, she ... Show More
1h 29m