Explore Syrian cuisine from two perspectives — Druze and Jewish — as we cook together and enjoy a communal dinner.
This special evening in the Asif test kitchen will open a window into the rich cuisines of Syria through two talented cooks who bonded over a shared passion for the food of their homeland. Safaa Ibrahim is a Druze woman living in the northern part of the Golan Heights, an area that was part of Syria until the Six-Day War in 1967; Sigy Mantel is a Jewish cook whose family moved from Damascus to Israel three generations ago. Together and separately, the cooks have researched the cuisines of their homeland, noting the similarities and differences in their food. They will share their journey and recipes throughout the event.
Menu
Fatteh Chicken with Fried pita and chickpeas in a tahini and yogurt sauce
Shishbarak Dumplings stuffed with meat and walnuts served with a yogurt sauce
Purslane Salad With onion, tomato and sumac
Mujadara Bulgur with fried onions and lentils
Mtata Eggplant with tahini
Eggplant Salad With tomatoes
Sillaya Chard stew with chickpeas
Kawaj Beef patties with potatoes
Medias Eggplant with meat
Kataif Sweet pancakes stuffed with kashta cheese and rose water
The food will be served with Chenin Blanc & Chardonnay from Nana Estate in Mitzpe Ramon
About the cooks
Safaa Ibrahim
Syrian Cook
Safaa Ibrahim is a member of a Druze family with roots in Syria. Born in a restaurant in the Golan Heights, where she lives to this day, she learned to cook from her mother, and describes herself as someone who “loves to cook and feed people wholeheartedly.” She shares this passion by serving Syrian-Druze meals in her home through her business The Little Kitchen.
Sigi Mantel
Syrian Cook
Sigi Mantel, who lives and cooks in Gedera, is the granddaughter of an Syrian-Jewish immigrant to Israel. The author of “Blessed Are Your Hands,” a collection of Jewish-Damascus recipes, Sigi learned to cook from her cheerful grandmother when she was still a child. She’s dedicated to preserving and studying the cuisine of Syria and dreams of sharing her grandmother’s flavors with the globe.
