Matbakh | Food of the Arab World

In this episode of Matbakh, The VoiceNote Chef tells us about about transforming childhood memories into viral recipes, capturing his mom’s unique voice in voicenote form, and cooking to ease homesick hearts around the world. We discover how the account took off, how its changed his relationship with his mom, and his favourite videos to date.

We also discuss the importance of authenticity, the various aspects of content creation, and how Kareem stays true to no-frills and simple cooking.

Kareem, better known as The VoiceNote Chef, is a New York based Lebanese-Kuwaiti content creator. Kareem launched his now viral platform in April 2020 when he was feeling homesick due to the global pandemic. Now, together with his mom, Kareem creates viral recipe videos that feature audio instructions from his mom in voicenote form. Before launching his viral platform, Kareem worked in advertising.

Created & hosted by Mikey Muhanna, afikra

Edited by: Ramzi Ramman

Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/

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.‎ Join the live audience: https://www.afikra.com/rsvp

Follow

Youtube - Instagram (@afikra_) - Facebook -Twitter

Support

www.afikra.com/support

About afikra:‎

afikra is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region- past, present, and future - through conversations driven by curiosity.
Read more about us on afikra.com

FOLLOW & RATE THE MATBAKH PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matbakh/id1646402301
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4GuszMVmvx0XM2zYLmVQK2
» Anghami: https://www.anghami.com/podcast/1035528225
THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl48-5Y0F7sx2xoexSoeBUWJ&feature=shared
ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Ramzi Ghosn talks about the profession of wine and arak-making and its significance in the Levant, notably in Lebanon. From Massaya, he discusses the speaks about how Phoenicians valued viticulture and developed the finest wines that continues to be exported to the world.

Massaya is a Lebanese winery and arak distillery owned and operated by the Ghosn brothers Sami and Ramzi. The outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975 forced the family to leave the estate and both Sami and Ramzi Ghosn left Lebanon to study abroad. In the early 1990s Sami and Ramzi returned to Lebanon and decided to work on revitalisating the war-ravaged estate.

Created & hosted by Mikey Muhanna, afikra

Edited by: Ramzi Ramman

Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/

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.‎ Join the live audience: https://www.afikra.com/rsvp

Follow

Youtube - Instagram (@afikra_) - Facebook - Twitter

Support

www.afikra.com/support

About afikra:‎

afikra is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region- past, present, and future - through conversations driven by curiosity.
Read more about us on afikra.com

FOLLOW & RATE THE MATBAKH PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matbakh/id1646402301
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4GuszMVmvx0XM2zYLmVQK2
» Anghami: https://www.anghami.com/podcast/1035528225
THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl48-5Y0F7sx2xoexSoeBUWJ&feature=shared
ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Haya Bishouty talks about her techniques in recreating traditional Palestinian food through Haya's Kitchen. She speaks about her favorite dishes and desserts such as Christmas Kaak, Rummaniyeh, Shush Barak Bel Laban and more.

Haya Bishouty is the founder of Haya's Kitchen, a supper club that she started in order to revive the tradition of Palestinian grandmothers opening their homes and inviting people to feast communally. While she began with friends, word began to spread and eventually she would have strangers join her traditional Palestinian feasts where she would share the context and stories behind the dishes she was serving.

Created & hosted by Mikey Muhanna, afikra

Edited by: Ramzi Ramman

Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/

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.‎ Join the live audience: https://www.afikra.com/rsvp

Follow

Youtube - Instagram (@afikra_) - Facebook - Twitter

Support

www.afikra.com/support

About afikra:‎

afikra is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region- past, present, and future - through conversations driven by curiosity.
Read more about us on afikra.com

FOLLOW & RATE THE MATBAKH PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matbakh/id1646402301
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4GuszMVmvx0XM2zYLmVQK2
» Anghami: https://www.anghami.com/podcast/1035528225
THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl48-5Y0F7sx2xoexSoeBUWJ&feature=shared
ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Nadir Nahdi talks about his exploration of the world's cultures through their different cuisines. He discusses his revelations in Morocco, Yemen, and Palestine through Bastilla, coffee steaks, and Jaffa cakes.

Nadir Nahdi is a presenter, film-maker and producer from London with Yemeni, Indonesian, Pakistani and Kenyan heritage. Nadir was recently voted by the Evening Standard as one of 'the most influential Londoners'. His videos articulate the unique experience of children of the diaspora. His work has acquired 10 million views and has since been selected as a YouTube Creators for Change Ambassador. He is also the founder of BENI, a ‘Culture Lab for innovative Ideas’, providing an online and offline community with engaging events, content and unique products that address social issues.

Created & hosted by Mikey Muhanna, afikra

Edited by: Ramzi Ramman

Theme music by: Tarek Yamani https://www.instagram.com/tarek_yamani/

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.‎ Join the live audience: https://www.afikra.com/rsvp

Follow

Youtube - Instagram (@afikra_) - Facebook - Twitter

Support

www.afikra.com/support

About afikra:‎

afikra is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region- past, present, and future - through conversations driven by curiosity.
Read more about us on afikra.com

FOLLOW & RATE THE MATBAKH PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matbakh/id1646402301
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4GuszMVmvx0XM2zYLmVQK2
» Anghami: https://www.anghami.com/podcast/1035528225
THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl48-5Y0F7sx2xoexSoeBUWJ&feature=shared
ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Join us for the second live episode of Matbakh in collaboration with What The Food, featuring Ziyad Ayass, the founder and managing partner of Wonder Restaurants, with Dubai F&B outlets like Ka'ak Al Manara – a Lebanese bakery specialising in kaak), and an upscale dining experience in the works which will be called Manaret Beirut. Guided by guest host Vanessa Zabi who is an entrepreneur in the food and health space, this conversation explores Ziyad’s journey from financial consulting to food entrepreneurship. He tells us how he transformed a midnight craving into a thriving business, balancing tradition and innovation, creating emotional connections, and delivering nostalgic wonder. Discover how thoughtfulness and community fueled his brand’s growth, why every detail matters in crafting immersive spaces, and how a clear mission can guide success in even the most saturated markets.
00:44 Introduction
02:38 From the Corporate World to F&B
07:13 Insights Into Becoming a Food Entrepreneur
10:26 The Unique Experience of Launching a Pop-up
14:57 From Pop-up Events to Retail
21:30 Fostering a Strong Community
25:17 Future Plans
28:14 Expanding as a Lebanese Brand
31:38 Advice for Aspiring Food Entrepreneurs
37:00 Tackling Challenges in a Saturated Market
42:02 Community During Crises and Giving Back
44:13 The Importance of Seeking Professional Help in Areas Outside Your Expertise
Ziyad Ayass is the founder and managing partner of Wonder Restaurants, which owns and operates Ka’ak Al Manara and Manaret Beirut in Dubai. He began his career at PriceWaterhouseCoopers Dubai, spending eight years consulting on major real estate and hospitality transactions in the Middle East. After earning his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certificate, he left the corporate world behind with a mission to deliver the nostalgic wonder of Beirut through the development of F&B concepts. Since bursting onto the scene as a pop-up concept, Ka’ak Al Manara has come a long way. By the end of 2024, the group will operate three outlets and employ over 220 employees.
Connect with Ziyad 👉 https://www.instagram.com/ziyadayass/
Follow Ka'ak El Manara 👉 https://www.instagram.com/kaakalmanara/
What The Food by alserkal is a two-day celebration of food, sparking critical conversations around some of the most pressing questions about food through talks, exhibitions, screenings, and immersive installations. Now in its third edition, the festival brings together a curated lineup of homegrown chefs, artisanal producers, entrepreneurs, and artists, showcasing cutting-edge culinary concepts and emerging food trends. Building on Dubai’s reputation as a trailblazer in the food scene, What The Food pushes the city’s culinary landscape forward, adding an artistic, community-driven spirit that makes you rethink what food can be.
Explore What The Food 👉 https://alserkal.online/programme/what-the-food
Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns
Hosted by:
Vanessa Zuabi 👉 https://www.instagram.com/vzuabi/
Vanessa Zuabi is a former founder and entrepreneur in the food and health space, and now works in the crypto industry. She has been a long-time friend and supporter of afikra since 2015.

FOLLOW & RATE THE MATBAKH PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matbakh/id1646402301
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4GuszMVmvx0XM2zYLmVQK2
» Anghami: https://www.anghami.com/podcast/1035528225
THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl48-5Y0F7sx2xoexSoeBUWJ&feature=shared
ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http:...