My Curiosity for Food

My curiosity for food and cooking has been with me for as long as I can remember. I was born in the Muslim quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem to a liberal but traditional family, and always had dreams and ambitions to escape beyond the protection of the old city. I felt hemmed in and was hungry to see more.

Following my appetites, though, I spent most my childhood trying to step into the kitchen – it’s where everything happened! – only to be dragged out again straight away and told it was no place for a boy. I was told that this was, and for many still is, women’s territory.