TELL US ABOUT YOUR HOME TOWN

I can never be sure where my real hometown is. I was born in New Brunswick, NJ, USA, a dull poor area in a gloomy rainy state on the East Coast of the United States. I grew up in a suburban neighborhood in Lebanon and attended a Catholic school - my parents are Catholic Lebanese. My parents, however, are from a gorgeous seaside ancient town in the North of LEbanon called "Batroun". Batroun is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. It is stunning, and everyone there is very dark and tanned and can swim like a fish.

HOW AND WHERE DID YOU LEARN TO COOK?

I grew up in Lebanon, where cooking is a hugely essential part of daily life. My mother and grandmother are both incredible cooks. I started cooking from a very young age - I remember my mother asking me to prepare a simple meal if she was working later than my school hours. 

WHY DO YOU LIKE COOKING?

I think the main reason is because I like eating. I love eating my own food, because I know I can guarantee myself the flavour and quality I am after. I almost never go to Lebanese restaurants because I know I or my mum can make it better. I also enjoy experimenting with ingredients that I find in my cupboard and improvising new recipes that I post on my blog! Cooking is so cheap. People think it's not, but that is a huge misconception.