Packed with aromatic spices, fresh and vibrant salads and hearty meat dishes, Syrian cuisine is designed for sharing – and it is this sense of community that a new charity initiative is hoping to tap into.
Throughout November, Cook for Syria brings together some of the UK's leading chefs and restaurants in a bid to not only bring this country's diverse food culture to the fore, but raise much-needed funds for what is the largest humanitarian crisis of our time.
Culinary names including Yotam Ottolenghi, Jose Pizarro, Hemsley & Hemsley and "Deliciously" Ella Mills have provided Middle Eastern-inspired recipes for a dedicated cookbook.
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A number of restaurants are also laying on special events for the cause, offering little excuse not to try out these one-time-only menus. Mesmerising social media stars Symmetry Breakfast have teamed up with The Good Egg in Stoke Newington, London, to create an aesthetically pleasing morning feast in homage to the city of Aleppo. Available between 9am and 3pm on 26 and 27 November, expect a plethora of small plates such as lamb and pumpkin babka, manoushi flatbreads with smoked aubergine labneh, orange blossom pistachio pancakes and freshly grilled grapefruit, washed down with a fig cocktail or date and banana smoothie. Tickets cost £39 and tables can only be booked in twos or fours, ensuring the inevitable food selfies are suitably Instagram-worthy.
If there's room for lunch, head to the capital's Arabica Bar & Kitchen, which will be hosting a Sunday sharing-style meal on 27 November, with tickets available for a minimum donation of £40. The restaurant specialises in dishes from Syria and the Levant, and will be cooking up a multicourse menu encompassing a range of hot and cold mezze, a choice of main and finishing with signature sweet pastries and fresh mint tea. The afternoon will also include a raffle and the prizes include a selection of six Lebanese wines along with a signed copy of Wines of Lebanon, French cheeses from Mons Cheesemongers and a hamper of tasty treats from nearby Borough Market.
Cook for Syria is taking place at restaurants across the UK until 30 November; cookforsyria.com
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