#INSPIREDBY MANAL RAMADAN WHITE
Manal is the MD of Palestinian fine foods supplier Zaytoun and one of the most humble and hard-working people we know. Manal and her small team work to support Palestinian farmers by bringing their produce to the UK, raising awareness of the difficulties they face farming and trading under occupation, and selling the incredible products to wholesalers, independent shops, Oxfam and through volunteer distributors. We really don’t know how she does it.
What was one of the very first dishes you remember eating?
Makdous (walnut-stuffed pickled aubergine) made by my late Syrian grandmother Mariam. She was the most incredible cook and would prepare traditional Syrian dishes with so much love and attention to detail even though she was feeding a large family of at least a dozen or so people on a daily basis. She had a walk-up pantry above the kitchen packed with sacks of store cupboard staples, but the real magic was in the giant jars of home-made jams, preserves, labneh, cheese, and pickles. Those flavours take me straight back to happy childhood breakfasts with my grandparents in Damascus.
Who is your food hero?
Conscientious food producers all over the world have my full admiration because it's that much harder to compete when you're not putting profit above everything else. I would have to pick the women who produce our giant couscous Maftoul in Palestine. Their commitment to high food standards and resilience under the most challenging circumstances is nothing short of heroic.
What is your guiltiest food pleasure?
Pizza or cheeseburger. I've got a food intolerance that makes both of them extra guilty and extra yummy.
Which restaurant do you long to return to?
Our first meal out after almost 5 months was a Sunday roast at the Wolseley. It was exquisite.
What would be your last meal?
It would have to be my mother's Maqloubeh with an obscene amount of fried aubergine, and to finish an epic cheese board with an array of breads and salted butter, accompanied by my mother’s caramelised, chunky quince jam.
What dish do you cook the most at home?
Thai curry with my husband.
What restaurant T-shirt would you wear?
St John's, with one of Noble Rot's totes.
Favourite vegetable?
Aubergines. Tomatoes would be strong competition, but they’re a fruit.
Most-used condiment?
Olive oil and za'atar. Garlicky lemony tahini sauce is a close second.
Most overrated dish?
Vitello tonnato
Favourite restaurant anywhere in the world?
Cafe Diglas in Vienna because you can relax and read the paper or a book for hours undisturbed. They have staple dishes unchanged for decades as well as a daily changing seasonal menu, and everything is delicious: lunch, dinner, breakfast, coffee, snacks, desserts. I’ve been going there for over 30 years, sometimes more than once a day when I’m in town. Feels like a second home, despite the resolutely aloof service.
Favourite fast food joint?
Dukan 41 on Leather Lane when I'm in the office. The Fresh Falafel van on North End Road in Fulham on a weekend. Afteem in Bethlehem when I'm in Palestine.
Quick Fire
Breakfast in bed or in the hotel restaurant?
A long leisurely one in the hotel restaurant eating food I don't normally have for breakfast.
English Breakfast Tea or Long Black coffee, or something else?
Both, but coffee wins.
Martini - gin or vodka?
Vodka
Ketchup or mayo?
Mayo
Stella or Boli?
Boli
London or New York?
London! Or Barcelona.
City break or hideaway
All citied out for now. Craving a hideaway.
THE CONDUIT TO HOST THE NEW YORK TIMES' LONDON CLIMATE FORWARD
THE UK'S TOP RESTAURANTS ARE NAMED
COUNTERTALK TO LAUNCH BRAND NEW PLATFORM COUNTERTALK SPACES
CULT US BURGER SLINGERS LUCKY BUNS TO COME TO CAROUSEL
TOKLAS APPOINTS NEW HEAD CHEF AND OPENS TERRACE
DISHOOM TO OPEN NEW SITE IN CANARY WHARF
BEST SPOTS NATIONWIDE FOR AL FRESCO DINING
OTTOLENGHI ANNOUNCES BLOOMIN' BEAUTIFUL CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW PAVLOVA
CAROUSEL'S SUMMER CHEF RESIDENCY LINE-UP
ANGELA HARTNETT ANNOUNCES LASTEST CAFE MURANO BOOK CLUB LINE-UP
DISHPATCH LAUNCHES SPRING MENU SERIES
THE PLATINUM JUBILEE AFTERNOON TEA LAUNCHES AT FORTNUM & MASON TEA SALON
DISHPATCH TO DELIVER BBQ FEAST FOR FATHER'S DAY
COLETTE PARTNERS WITH GBBO ALUMNI MANON LAGREVE
WAREHOUSE LAUNCHES SPECIAL UBUNTU COCKTAIL
GODDARD & GIBBS TO LAUNCH BRUNCH
COLETTE’S PLATINUM PICNIC HAMPER
WILDFARMED: FIXING FOOD TO FIX THE PLANET
CELEBRATE CHAND RAAT WITH DISHOOM
SKYE GYNGELL IN CONVERSATION WITH ARIZONA MUSE
EASTER MADE EASY WITH DISHPATCH
CELEBRATE GLOBAL CUISINE WITH CAROUSEL
SPRING-TO-GO TO THROW A FINAL CELEBRATION
OTTOLENGHI LAUNCHES NEW MENU WITH DISHPATCH
JKS RESTAURANTS PARTNER WITH LUKE FARRELL
DISHPATCH'S SPECIAL DELIVERY FOR MOTHER'S DAY
#COOKFORUKRAINE
NOPI CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
CAROUSEL CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH ‘THE FEMALE CHEF’ RESIDENCIES
TOM KERRIDGE PARTNERS WITH DISHPATCH
PRAWN ON THE LAWN TO REOPEN PRAWN ON THE FARM
MARLE AT HECKFIELD PLACE AWARDED A MICHELIN GREEN STAR
DISHPATCH TO PARTNER WITH ST. JOHN AND FKA BLACK AXE MANGAL
THE BIB GOURMANDS ARE OUT
VINOTECA BOROUGH TO OFFICIALLY OPEN ON MONDAY 14TH FEBRUARY
GODDARD & GIBBS TO OPEN 3RD MARCH
CAFE MURANO BOOK CLUB
VALENTINE'S DAY IDEAS
ANNOUNCING THE COMPASSES INN
ZAYTOUN'S NEW SEASON OLIVE OIL
GOILA BUTTER CHICKEN TO LAUNCH
OTTOLENGHI TO OPEN A CHELSEA DELI
CAROUSEL 2022 RESIDENCIES
DRY JAN VS WET JAN