Matbakh | Food of the Arab World

Matbakh is a podcast series about eating, making, appreciating and learning about the food and drink of the Arab world. We invite chefs, restaurateurs and food historians, critics and writers to share their takes on the best of what the Arab kitchen has to offer – both past and present. We delve into well-loved and under-appreciated dishes, ingredients and flavors, as well as the history of the region’s food and what its future might be, always highlighting little anecdotes and food stories that our guests know and cherish.

Matbakh | Food of the Arab World is a arts podcast hosted by afikra, with 42 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 81.

afikra hosts Matbakh | Food of the Arab World, a arts show with 42 episodes published.

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  Episode #43

  Aleppo is One of the Greatest Culinary Cities of the Arab World | Michelin Star Chef Mohammad Orfali

  Sep 30, 202655 min

  Chef Mohammad Orfali grew up in Aleppo and now runs Orfali Bros in Dubai, one of the region's most talked-about restaurants. He talks about the street food he grew up on, why he built a Michelin-starred kitchen that plays hip-hop, and how he cooks without alcohol while still making food that feels rich and complete. He also explains why home cooking matters to him, and why he refuses to cook the same tired dishes that sell well but say nothing. 00:00 A Shared Culinary Inheritance 01:05 Setting the Scene at the Test Kitchen 04:05 Unpacking the Identity of Aleppan Cooking 06:51 Historical Crossroads and Flavor Migrations 10:59 Craftsmanship, Preservation, and Tradition 19:46 Rethinking Traditional Culinary Education 26:59 Breaking Conventions in Modern Dining 31:18 Blending Music, Culture, and Ambiance 41:40 Evolving the Menu for a New Era 51:07 The Unseen Realities of Restaurant Management Mohammad Orfali is a Syrian chef and co-owner of Orfali Bros Bistro in Dubai. He is specialized in Aleppian cuisine and contemporary Arabic cuisine and is the leading Arab proponent of modern cooking. He grew up in Aleppo, where he studied at the Institut Hôtelier of Aleppo in 1997. He pursued further studies at Le Nôtre Culinary School in Paris in 2009. He is also credited with hosting the Middle East's first Arabic gastronomy cooking shows. Orfali Bros Bistro, which he runs with his brothers Wassim (pastry) and Omar (pastry), has been named the best restaurant in the Middle East and North Africa for three consecutive years (2023, 2024, 2025) by The World's 50 Best Restaurants, and ranked #37 in the world in 2025. He coined the term 'Orfari cuisine' to describe food that defies geographic labels, is not fusion, and tells stories through ingredients where every bite holds emotional and historical resonance. Connect with Mohammad Orfali https://www.instagram.com/m.orfali/?hl=en Hosted by Mikey Muhanna Connect directly with Mikey Muhanna https://instagram.com/mikey_mu Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani https://spoti.fi/47I59ns FOLLOW & RATE THE MATBAKH PODCAST: » Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/matbakh/id1646402301 » Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4GuszMVmvx0XM2zYLmVQK2 » Anghami: https://www.anghami.com/podcast/1035528225 THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl48-5Y0F7sx2xoexSoeBUWJ&feature=shared ABOUT AFIKRA afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity. Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts ⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #42

  The Sudanese Kitchen | Omer Al Tijani

  Oct 27, 202558 minS0

  <p>Discover an extensive amount of Sudanese dishes and ingredients (that you probably have never heard) shared by the author of The Sudanese Kitchen cookbook, who delves into them in nuanced detail. Sudan's culinary practices and history are extremely rich and diverse, changing from region to region in the country. This episode explores Sudanese food as a unique fusion cuisine, shaped by diverse cultural influences from the Levant, the Mediterranean, and East and West Africa. Al Tijani discusses his journey to document these recipes, highlighting the activism inherent in preserving Sudan's culinary heritage amidst political turmoil and aiming to place...

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  Episode #41

  Exploring Omani & Zanzibari Food With Chef & Cookbook Author Dina Macki

  Jul 18, 202549 minS0

  <p>In this episode of Matbakh, we're joined by Dina Macki, author of cookbook "Bahari: Recipes From an Omani Kitchen and Beyond," who shares insights into the unique flavors and culinary traditions of Omani and Zanzibari cuisines. Dina discusses her cultural heritage and diverse upbringing, and the intricate blend of spices and ingredients that define the dishes of Oman and Zanzibar. She dives into the influence of various cultures – including Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Swahili, and Portuguese – on the region's food, and how it transcends national borders. She also talks about the challenges of preserving traditional recipes, and offers her recommendations for...

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  Episode #40

  Palestinian Ingredients Through Time & Space | Fadi Kattan

  Apr 25, 202558 minS0

  <p>This special episode of Matbakh is the first in a series of talks and special menu events called "dawaween al diwan" at restaurant, louf, in Toronto. Franco-Palestinian chef, Fadi Kattan, and Salma Serry, a doctoral researcher specializing in food history in West Asia and Egypt, dive into the heritage of Palestinian ingredients, histories behind key products, how they can be sourced and used locally in modern settings outside of Palestine. They discuss how these traditions intersect with issues of occupation and colonialism, and the dynamic role of food as both sustenance and cultural heritage. The conversation touches on challenges...

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  Episode #39

  Ziyad Ayass | Innovation & Nostalgia in F&B Startups

  Dec 9, 202447 minS0

  <p>Join us for the second live episode of Matbakh in collaboration with What The Food, featuring Ziyad Ayass, the founder and managing partner of Wonder Restaurants, with Dubai F&B outlets like Ka'ak Al Manara – a Lebanese bakery specialising in kaak), and an upscale dining experience in the works which will be called Manaret Beirut. Guided by guest host Vanessa Zabi who is an entrepreneur in the food and health space, this conversation explores Ziyad’s journey from financial consulting to food entrepreneurship. He tells us how he transformed a midnight craving into a thriving business, balancing tradition and inno...

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