Two friends have been beating lockdown boredom – by sharing recipes from each other's countries and discovering a different culture in the process.
Omama Zankawan and Alby Earley, both 30, have been cooking up a storm together for the last three months – at a distance.
The pair met on a dating app, and although things didn’t work out romantically, they’ve held a standing dinner appointment where they swap recipes and stories virtually.
Omama, who lives in Chiswick, West London, moved to the UK from Homs, Syria as a student in 2018 and later received refugee status.
Like many others over the latest lockdown, she was running low on inspiration.
“When I was feeling down Alby suggested we do something fun and keep busy. The whole process is new, from finding ingredients to eating something completely different to usual,” she said.
Every fortnight they send a recipe, plus tips on sourcing ingredients and cooking techniques.
Both are self-proclaimed “foodies” – Omama was formerly a nutritionist and Alby has a history in exploring the lesser-known side of British cuisine.
He takes inspiration from ‘Porters English Cookery Bible,’ a detailed account of food heritage from ancient to modern times.
The digital strategist believes our “national character has been clouded,” with many spices and flavours long forgotten.
“So far, we’ve made cauliflower soup, open-faced pies, roast duck with apricot and honey and monkfish – recipes that date all the way back to 18th Century,” Alby said.
Omama –who jokes she was surprised to find there was more to British food than just fish and chips—has been sharing dishes from further afield.
Her menu has featured Syrian staples such as mujaddara, a lentil dish with rice garnished with crispy onions.
“It was a new take on Sunday lunch, scouring the basements of spice shops for vine leaves and rolling them for five hours,” Alby said.
The pair have been sharing their cooking attempts to Instagram, which has garnered attention from curious foodies.
After lockdown lifts, they’re looking forward to cooking in person together and plan to produce a video demonstration of their recipes.
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