Cooking for Lebanon
MASTERCHEF AND GOGGLEBOX STARS UNITE TO HELP STRICKEN MIDDLE EASTERN CITY
When news broke of an accidental explosion in Lebanon’s capital of Beirut in August, Rose Adam and her Adelaide-based family were in a state of shock.
The blast, at Beirut’s port, killed more than 178 people, injured more than 6500 and left 300,000 people homeless, while severely damaging the city.
Their hearts ache not only for their family’s homeland and relatives still living there, but also fellow Lebanese-Australians who were feeling the same pain.
“After the explosion, like many Lebanese-Australians, we felt so helpless watching our family members and friends struggle with the aftermath,” says the MasterChef Back to Win star.
“The people of Beirut and Lebanon were already struggling and the explosion made it worse.”
Rose, who first graced our television screens on season seven of MasterChef Australia, and her siblings Haefa and George run popular suburban cafe Middle Store, which has won a legion of fans for its contemporary brunch and Lebanese food offering.
“We wanted to find a way to combine our love of food, particularly Lebanese food, and our connection with hospitality,” Adam says.
After chatting with her friend, fellow Lebanese-Australian and TV personality, Jad Nehmetallah (Gogglebox Australia), she came up with the idea to create a cookbook to raise funds for relief in Lebanon. “Jad was on board and so Bake for Beirut was born,” she says.
Bake for Beirut features Lebanese-inspired recipes by chefs from across Australia. But it’s not all about baking. Sure, you’ll find two versions of baklava and Matt Preston’s orange blossom pavlova, but also savoury dishes such as chiche barak (lamb and pine nut dumplings in yoghurt), ras el hanuot (lamb shoulder with dates and raisins) and fish fatteh.
Chefs on board include Shane Delia, Warren Mendes and Karena Armstrong — even Rose’s own mum, Samira, has contributed.
Rose also got pal and fellow MasterChef favourite, Poh Ling Yeow, to create the artwork for the ebook’s cover, while MasterChef judge Melissa Leong did the foreword. The book was designed by Sarah
Anesbury of The Creative Union.
All money raised from the book will go to Australian not-for-profit charity Steps of Hope, which is working with organisations in Lebanon to help build and repair the main city.
“This just felt like something we could do to help,” Rose says. “We have the most amazing chefs, cooks and contributors involved.
“It’s exciting.”