Fadi Kattan’s ‘Bethlehem’

Palestinian Chef Fadi Kattan is set to release his new cookbook, Bethlehem, in May 2024. The book is an ode to Palestinian culture, rooted in Fadi’s upbringing in Bethlehem. The book design was done by Nourie Flayhan, who is a very special part of our #NBcommunity.

“Bethlehem has been in the making for two years, where I wanted to take the reader by the hand into my Bethlehem. Through recipes, portraits, stories, the reader will discover the beauty of this city, the richness of Palestinian culinary culture and the history of families, such as my family, who span across continents and time,” says Fadi.

Fadi’s family has had a deep history in Bethlehem and his cooking pays homage to his ancestry. His paternal grandparents lived in Kobe and Bombay for some time before they returned to Palestine. “Sadly my grandmother passed away before I was born. Her cuisine influenced my grandfather's home and trickled down to me. My father, to this day, influences my cuisine and has instilled in all of us children the importance of food as a moment of gathering around the table.”

Fadi’s maternal grandmother was one of the founders of the Arab Women’s Union. “My grandmother was a major influence in my cuisine, with her love for local produce and her sense of hospitality. My mother is an exceptional cook and I enjoy calling her to ask about a recipe, to which she always replies, ‘and how are you going to be twisting this one?’"

Fadi is also the creative mind behind akub, a Palestinian restaurant in London’s Notting Hill, and Kassa, a boutique hotel in Bethlehem. He aims to provide special experiences for people through food while preserving and celebrating Palestinian culture. “I always enjoy sharing this city of mine, one of the most beautiful in the world and yet one of the saddest due to the occupation and the Segregation Wall around it. Food has always been about hospitality, generosity and those magic instances.”

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