Languages: English, Arabic

Interests:

I’m a chef. I’m passionate about cooking Middle Eastern home food from scratch. After people became impressed with my 30+ years’ cooking skills, I felt eager to practice my passion. So, I opened a food truck business in LA, catering private events, corporate accounts, and now teach cooking classes and hosting social dining. I am originally from Lebanon. Born and raised in Jordan where food has important cultural and symbolic meanings that go beyond what's on our plates. I travel to Lebanon, Syria, Greece, Egypt, Dubai, Qatar, and other Mediterranean destinations occasionally. This dizzying list of hometowns and traveling served as an excellent educational tool in forming my Middle Eastern cuisine. I cook a wide range of Middle Eastern dishes, such as Chicken & Meat Shawarma, Kabob, Shish Tawook, Falafel, Manakeesh, Hummus, Baba Ghannouj, ful, Fattoush, Knafeh, Baklava…..Nothing is impossible in my classes! Anytime my guests feel like they have a special meal in mind or they might want to try something new, they contact me and I cook it for them. I can cook anything and everything from the region. This includes things like Mulukhiyya, Maqluba, Musakhan chicken, Kabsa, Kofta in tahini sauce (Kafta), Kafta patties topped with potatoes, onions and tomatoes, Pastries (Moajanat), Freekeh or Mahshi with roasted chicken, Chicken Fatteh, Couscous, Mansaf, homemade bread…..Just Name It! I am also a Human Resource Manager for our family business, United Language Services. I graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia in 2016, where I gave the graduating class’s commencement speech. Before that, I worked as an accountant for 8 years at Terra Sancta College in the capital of Jordan, Amman. Even further beyond that, I was the co-owner, human resource manager, marketing manager, and executive director for 6 years at Baboun Computer Company in Bethlehem, Palestine. I tell my guests about our spices' history and how to best use them to enhance flavor while maintaining a healthy meal. I have a unique style of preparing food; while people having their meal, they’ll enjoy a positive atmosphere, a lot of laughing, learning, listening to my favorite Chic Chac Choc belly dance music, and maybe even dancing! The ingredients I use in my kitchen are always fresh, tasty, and unique, and I always cook with lots of love. In my spare time I enjoy gathering with friends, hiking, discover new places and volunteering. I can be found now in my humble house in Canoga Park, California where I teach a vast selection of what Middle Eastern food, tradition, and culture have to offer. Take a flight to the Middle East without leaving Los Angeles. In my menu, you'll find the Middle Eastern best national dishes