Chef Reem Assil [Matbakh]
Reem Assil talked about her culinary and managerial approach at her restaurant 'Reem's California.' Reem walked us through her entry into the world of cooking and summarized the challenges she's faced in bringing common Arab dishes to the American foodscape and nurturing community within that culture. In addition we discussed her cookbook Arabiyya, and her chosen single ingredient that can be used in different dishes and desserts: Ashta.
Reem Assil is a Palestinian-Syrian chef based in Oakland, CA. She is the owner of Reem’s California, a nationally acclaimed restaurant, inspired by her passion for Arab street corner bakeries and the vibrant communities that surround them.
About Matbakh
Matbakh is a conversation series that focuses on food and drink of the Arab world. The series will be held with food practitioners who study how food and the kitchen have evolved over time in the Arab world. The guests will be discussing the history of food and what its future might be, in addition to a specific recipe or ingredient that reveals interesting and unique information about the history of the Arab world. Guests will be chefs, food critics, food writers, historians, and academics. Following the interview, there is a moderated town-hall-style Q&A with questions coming from the live virtual audience on Zoom.
