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created by plsssssshelpthisgal on 02/02/2025 at 15:26 UTC
493 upvotes, 30 top-level comments (showing 25)
Hi, I recently read the Falastin cookbook by Sami Tamimi, Yotam Ottolenghi, and Tara Wigley, but I ended up feeling deeply disappointed. As a Palestinian-American woman, I was excited to connect with my heritage through this cookbook, but I couldn’t ignore the fact that i felt they used Sami Tamimi’s involvement to appropriate Palestinian cuisine while failing to genuinely support Palestine.
It left me so upset that I ended up tearing out several pages where Israel was painted as a savior to Palestinians. The book now feels tainted to me.
I’m looking for authentic Palestinian cookbooks and resources that truly honor our culture and people, without any “both sides” narratives or compromises. If anyone has recommendations, I’d really appreciate it.
P.S. I called out Tara Wigley for her appropriation on Instagram and she blocked me. 🤷🏻♀️
Comment by AutoModerator at 02/02/2025 at 15:27 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
1: https://www.reddit.com/r/Palestine/wiki/rules/#wiki_rule_.234._sourcing_policy
2: /message/compose/?to=/r/Palestine
Comment by watermelon_fries at 02/02/2025 at 16:40 UTC
119 upvotes, 4 direct replies
Joudie Kalla - Palestine on a Plate and Baladi
Laila El-Haddad - The Gaza Kitchen
Heifa (fufuinthekitchen) - Dine in Palestine
Comment by Soggy-Life-9969 at 02/02/2025 at 16:19 UTC
135 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Ottolenghi is Israeli, I wouldn't buy anything involving an Israeli unless they were an avowed antizionist who hasn't served in the IOF
Comment by wouldntknowever at 02/02/2025 at 16:01 UTC*
40 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Return the book, don’t give them any profit
Comment by giayatt at 02/02/2025 at 17:23 UTC
69 upvotes, 1 direct replies
So I really hate how anytime you see a medi restaurant it's usually run by some Israeli because they don't actually have a cuisine and they just stole it from everyone else.
Comment by yenoomk at 02/02/2025 at 16:28 UTC
37 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Baladi by Joudie Kalla
Her IG is also worth a follow for her activism
Comment by lunar-shrine at 02/02/2025 at 16:48 UTC
27 upvotes, 1 direct replies
“The Palestinian story, post 1948 and with the creation of Israel, could be seen as one of relocation.” Lol
Comment by Evarchem at 02/02/2025 at 16:54 UTC
29 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I’m not a cookbook person so I can’t help you with that, however, I am a *book* person, and a while ago I made this[1] post about supporting Palestinian authors. There were a lot of great suggestions if you were interested!
1: https://www.reddit.com/r/Palestine/s/I7souuAfkX
Comment by OrganicOverdose at 02/02/2025 at 15:44 UTC
54 upvotes, 1 direct replies
That's just such a dog move from the authors. Typical of capitalists and colonials to leverage minorities for personal gain. Sorry that you were fooled. Thank you for raising awareness. I would wholly support you if you were to create your own cookbook. It would give you a chance to dive deeper into your culture and to share it with us all.
Comment by Beginning-Complex693 at 02/02/2025 at 17:04 UTC
50 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Are we really still surprised when Israelis steal things? That explains their entire existence.
Comment by kreludorian at 02/02/2025 at 18:31 UTC
42 upvotes, 0 direct replies
My mom owns Jerusalem by Ottolenghi and Tamimi and that book just gave me the ick. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that whole project is kind of sinister.
Comment by Bruv023 at 02/02/2025 at 20:16 UTC
17 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Check out Interlink Books, an independent publishing house in the US owned by Palestinian-Americans with a lovely section on cookbooks (https://www.interlinkbooks.com/?fwp%5C_category=cookbooks[1]).
1: https://www.interlinkbooks.com/?fwp%5C_category=cookbooks
Comment by Professional-Plan-66 at 02/02/2025 at 17:02 UTC
16 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Bethlehem is a good book until told otherwise
Comment by Delicious_Budget_755 at 02/02/2025 at 20:57 UTC
15 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Palestine on a Plate and Baladi by Joudie Kalla Arabiyya: Recipes from the Life of an Arab in Diaspora by Reem Assil
Comment by thedevilmademedoit81 at 03/02/2025 at 00:41 UTC
14 upvotes, 0 direct replies
The Gaza Kitchen by my sister Laila El-Haddad
Comment by HKJ-TheProphet at 03/02/2025 at 01:13 UTC
12 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Fadi Kattan's book Bethlehem is pretty good!
Comment by yaznasty at 03/02/2025 at 00:21 UTC
10 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Surprised no one said The Palestinian Table, I that book and love it
Comment by Introverted-Gazelle at 03/02/2025 at 01:11 UTC
10 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Forget the pair of them and buy Fadi Kattan’s beautiful cookbook: https://www.waterstones.com/book/bethlehem/fadi-kattan/9781958417287[1]. Have been to his amazing restaurant in London and it was one of the best restaurants of my LIFE! And I’ve eaten .. a lot! Also spotted him in Westbourne Grove (very upmarket West London) and had an amazing chat with him in the street outside his restaurant. Please support! Amazing ode to Bethlehem, wonderful ideas, fantastic food and an amazing person. What’s not to love?
1: https://www.waterstones.com/book/bethlehem/fadi-kattan/9781958417287
Comment by Suzieqbee at 02/02/2025 at 15:49 UTC
16 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I’ve been wondering about Ottolenghi.
Comment by plsssssshelpthisgal at 02/02/2025 at 15:38 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Link to her publishing house: https://www.harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/tara-wigley
Comment by thesqueezeofjesus at 03/02/2025 at 13:55 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Thank you for sharing this! I always see this at the bookstore and was gonna buy it but thank god I saw this before I did! I’ve heard really great reviews on The Gaza Kitchen by Leila El-Haddad (Anthony Bourdain interviewed and ate with her when he visited Gaza in his Jerusalem episode of Parts Unknown if you would like to see more of her) so I think I will grab that instead!
Comment by TheKidWithWifi at 02/02/2025 at 18:01 UTC
17 upvotes, 0 direct replies
wait till you find out messi is a zionist too
Comment by Karapounaris at 03/02/2025 at 00:04 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Mona Zahed - Tabkha
Comment by Extension_Earth9233 at 03/02/2025 at 04:11 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I don't own this book so I don't know the context here. Does she support Israel?
Comment by dogmankazoo at 03/02/2025 at 09:19 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
just checked a few books and a lot of them are not Palestenian...
