@samarasfood

THIS MONTH, WE’RE FOLLOWING SAMARA ALKHAMMACH, A SYRIAN-PALESTINIAN FOOD BLOGGER LIVING IN CAIRO

What kind of food did you eat growing up?

Our kitchen was always very diverse. I grew up in Kuwait, and my family cooked mostly Syrian and Palestinian food, but with some Kuwaiti, Filipino and Egyptian influences.

What are some of your favourite Syrian and Palestinian dishes?

That’s a tough one! My favourite Syrian dishes are kousa mahshi (stuffed courgette), sfeeha (flatbread cooked with mincemeat and spices) and freekeh with chicken. For Palestinian, I’d say musakhan (sumac chicken with onions and flatbread), makloubeh (rice with lamb) and mana’eesh (flatbread topped with za’atar and olive oil).

What are your favourite cuisines?

I’m a huge fan of Asian food — Indian, Chinese, Korean... you name it! But Middle Eastern is my number one.

Where do you get inspiration for your recipes?

Mostly through family stories and memories and my love for recreating childhood dishes. I also get a lot of inspiration from social media, especially Instagram and Pinterest.

Where are some of your favourite places to eat in Cairo?

I like a mix of cuisines and enjoy both casual and fine dining places. Some of my favourites are Eish + Malh (Italian) in Downtown, Ibn Al Sham in Rehab (Syrian) and Kazoku (Japanese) in New Cairo.

What destination is on your culinary wishlist?

Definitely Mexico! The culture, spices, flavours... what’s not to love?

Who do you look up to in food?

I really can’t name just one person. I’d say I look up to and learn from my family more than anyone else — especially my mum and aunt.