E61: The Memory of Za’atar and a Free Palestine

11/15/18 • 30 min

In this episode, we dive headlong into how the relationship between Israel and Palestine intersects with food politics. In our first segment, Food Book Fair co-director and organizer Kimberly Chou Tsun An speaks to chef and artist Amanny Ahmad about her advocacy work and about what she misses from Palestine. They also recap a dinner Ahmad cooked last year with Bay Area chef and restaurateur Reem Assil.

In our second segment, Soleil talks to chef and organizer Ora Wise about hummus, food media, and olive trees. Finally, we revisit a poem by George Abraham, “Ars Poetica in Which Every Pronoun is a Free Palestine,” recorded at the 2018 Kundiman writers’ retreat. We hope you enjoy this episode!

Produced by Juan Ramirez. Music by AF the Naysayer and Blue Dot Sessions.

Produced by Juan Ramirez. Music by AF the Naysayer and Blue Dot Sessions.

Previous Episode

E60: Sheet Pan Chicken With a Side of Social Justice (w/ Julia Turshen)

For our 60th episode, Soleil speaks with the inspiring Julia Turshen, author of “Now & Again,” about how cookbooks can be an effective vehicle for social and political conversations. They also talk about Turshen’s work forging supportive communities as the founder of Equity at the Table (EATT). But first, Soleil and Zahir reunite! They haven’t hosted an episode together since August, and they have a lot to catch up on: Samin Nosrat’s new Netflix hit, changes to James Beard Awards submissions and a Puerto Rican Christmas dinner at the Beard House.

Produced by Stephanie Kuo. Music by AF the Naysayer and Blue Dot Sessions.

Next Episode

E62: Sugar, Spice and Bananas with Rice (w/ Hamdi Ahmed)

This episode is all about Somali food: sambusas, bananas with rice and...pineapple upside-down cake? In part one, Soleil sits down with Hamdi Ahmed to talk about a cookbook she co-wrote in high school. Soo Fariista (Come Sit Down) is a collection of family recipes and a portal to her childhood food memories. They discuss her favorite dishes, fusing Somali and American cuisine and how her cookbook is just one way Somalis are becoming more visible in Minnesota. In part two, we do something a little different. Racist Sandwich isn’t a cooking show, but for one day, and one day only, Soleil cooks sambusas for us! It definitely *sounds* delicious.

Produced by Stephanie Kuo and Juan Ramirez. Music by AF the Naysayer, Lee Rosevere and Blue Dot Sessions.