Food & Wine Pairing Lessons from Julia Child’s Friend, Tor of Tor Wineries in Napa!

Hello Feast in the Middle East Family,  I hope you are all doing well! In today’s blog I thought I would take a break from sharing a recipe to instead focus on a short and sweet wine pairing 101. While I am not a drinker, I do appreciate the complementary relationship between wine and food,…… Continue reading Food & Wine Pairing Lessons from Julia Child’s Friend, Tor of Tor Wineries in Napa!

My Favorite Childhood Treat: Spinach Pies! (Fatayer Sabanekh)

With Arab American Heritage Month, Eid al Fitr, and Greek Orthodox lent upon us at the same time, there is one dish that fits the bill for all 3 occasions, Fatayer Sabanekh, or Arab style spinach pies! The word “fatayer” itself means pastry in Arabic.  These vegetarian hand pies, which are popular in Palestine, Lebanon,…… Continue reading My Favorite Childhood Treat: Spinach Pies! (Fatayer Sabanekh)

Bread Baking Tips from a Sourdough Master!

There is something about a cold rainy day that makes me yearn to bake homemade bread. The art of baking bread makes me nostalgic for the days of my childhood, reminding me of my gentle great auntie Bahieh. She NEVER bought bread from the store, instead baking her own loaves every Saturday. I could smell…… Continue reading Bread Baking Tips from a Sourdough Master!

BBQ Shrimp: A Taste of New Orleans in Your Kitchen!

Living in the San Francisco Bay Area my whole life, I never understood the celebratory nature of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The whole city comes alive with massive get togethers with friends and family, and of course, decadent food. It is not uncommon for people cooking outdoors to invite strangers passing by to join…… Continue reading BBQ Shrimp: A Taste of New Orleans in Your Kitchen!

Sugar Free Ghraybeh! (Arab Shortbread Cookies)

Hello Dear Friends,  I realize that it has been a while since I have posted a recipe, please know that I have not forgotten you! I have been busy working on a lot of charity events, as well as my job at NBC, and I will be sure to share some of my favorite NBC…… Continue reading Sugar Free Ghraybeh! (Arab Shortbread Cookies)

Some Silver Linings In a Dark World…

Hello Dear Friends, If you are seeking recipe ideas for Thanksgiving, you can check out my Thanksgiving playlist, with recipes for side dishes, salads, desserts, and Momma Vera’s fantastic turkey tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm5-PI4h0s4qF4WqDWPgz5Pdb8ab6BEC7 First, some positive news. Recently a professor from Indiana University, who is an avid viewer of Feast in the Middle East, invited…… Continue reading Some Silver Linings In a Dark World…

Over 22,000 People Showed Up, Incredible!

The San Francisco Bay Area is well known for its ethnic food festivals. You can literally hit a Greek Festival, an Armenian Festival, and an Italian festival all in one weekend in different areas if you wanted to! One festival that has been close to my heart since I was a child was Palestine Cultural…… Continue reading Over 22,000 People Showed Up, Incredible!

Mabrousheh: Middle Eastern Streusel Jam Bars

Childhood summers spent at my grandmother’s home in Bethlehem, Palestine meant playing among trees brimming with sun ripened fruit. I spent hours climbing trees, observing busy fire ants, kicking a ball around with my sister, and feeding the chirping baby chicks my grandmother bought us from the market. We were surrounded by trees bursting with…… Continue reading Mabrousheh: Middle Eastern Streusel Jam Bars

What’s it Like to Cook Italian Food on a Yacht?

I have always had a bucket list of things I wanted to do in my lifetime…and hanging out on a yacht in Italy was one of them (even if I realistically get ultra seasick, we can all have fantasies right?) Fortunately for my recent assignment for NBC, I got to experience the yacht without having…… Continue reading What’s it Like to Cook Italian Food on a Yacht?

The Ultimate Grilled Pita Sandwich- Arayes!

Let me give you a visual of one of my camping trips from childhood in Blue Lake, California. Imagine a large campground next to the lake. The sky is a deep blue, pink, and crimson red at sunset. My father fires up the grill, then retreats to a lawn chair, tabla in hand playing some…… Continue reading The Ultimate Grilled Pita Sandwich- Arayes!